27 Nov 2008: Hamburger SV - Ajax

[aveslacker]

I am left with the feeling that the Ajax we used to know and love is slowly but surely re-emerging after all these long years in the wilderness.

It's great to see.

[Frans]

Finally a solid, hard fought victory, the lads were in control for almost the entire game :hupajax.gif: its about damn time they realize they can play better....we would have beaten aston villa if the team had played the same way in england. I think we have our ticket to the second round in the bag....well done.


Best european game since 2003...its been a while.... lets keep it up.

Really happy with the win, but I can't put my hand on my heart and say the team was in control 'for almost the entire game'. In fact I thought they were playing crap mostly - couldn't string three passes together. That is until Leo scored the goal and space opened up...

Frans I can't agree with you here. Yep, there were parts of the game (maybe 15 to 20min) where Hamburg where in control, but this is expected playing at home.

We did make some bad passes, of which 99% of them came from Kennedy imo. Other than that, we had some great movement and 1 touch passing. van Basten is getting this team heading in the right direction.

What impressed me mostly though was when we went ahead, we kept pushing, and in reality should have buried them.

Im not getting carried away, but if we can show guts like this every week. I am liking where this team is heading.

Well, I agree with you that Ajax showed some fight, and that's good. I also agree that MvB is doing a good job. And I'm also pleased with the progress.

It just seemed to me (I'm no expert btw) that Ajax doesn't really create many meaningful chances with good passing and movement in the final third. And I'm not just talking about this game. Most of the chances that come about are due to individual actions. It's good to have that class, but not so good to have to rely on it. When I see AZ play they seem much better at creating chances.

I saw some of Real Madrid's game against Recreativo, and in 20 minutes I saw Sneijder make more incisive passes than I saw from Ajax in the last couple of games. And he got a goal...

But yes, there's a lot to be happy about, especially in the first two thirds of the pitch.

But the most amazing thing about yesterday's game... Suarez got into the box and stayed on his feet! Ironically I was so surprised that I fell off my chair

[DanK]

I agree the game could have gone either way, but overall I was impressed how we played, not perfect, but there was movement and pressure in the opposition half. Its no 1995, but its better than I have seen for a few years.

Much to improve upon still for sure, but things are looking up.