19 Feb 2009: ACF Fiorentina - Ajax

[Kowalczyk]

First leg!

So far, 1,300 Ajax supporters to make the trip. I will be there, arriving in Florence on the Tuesday, end of afternoon.

Question to Orange Goblin... Someone informed me that Livorni vs Bari will be played on Tuesday evening. Cracking fixture in the Serie B (#2 vs #1). Livorno is only a short train ride from Florence, I think, so it would be a pretty cool day trip. But: what is the kick-off time? I can't find it anywhere...

By the way, peeps. Do you know what Fiorentina's home kit looked like back in 1926? Check their page on Wikipedia, scroll all the way down and see for yourself...

K.

[Thijs]

First leg!

But: what is the kick-off time? I can't find it anywhere...

K.

http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/fix ... 05&cc=5739

7.30pm

[DanK]

By the way, peeps. Do you know what Fiorentina's home kit looked like back in 1926? Check their page on Wikipedia, scroll all the way down and see for yourself...

K.

Cant say I blame them for changing it.

[Philippe]

missing the game due to injuries : Gabri and Cvitanich

[Rooie]

http://ajax.aegon.nl/index.php?id=1&video=18646

Ogararu gives his view on the match

[Kowalczyk]

missing the game due to injuries : Gabri and Cvitanich

Yeah.

To be tested tomorrow: Vertonghen.

Injured: Gabri, Enoh, Cvitanich.

Not eligible in UEFA competition: Wielaert.

Oh dear.

---------------------------- Stekelenburg -----------------------------

Van der Wiel ------- Oleguer -------- Vermaelen ---------- Emanuelson

---- Anita ------------------ Lindgren ------------ Vertonghen (Schilder)

---- Kennedy --------------- Suárez -------------- Sulejmani ---------


I know the two wingers (Kennedy and Sulejmani) were pretty shit against Feyenoord, but never change a winning team - and keep Leonardo as a 'supersub'.

I have to say: Anita was horribl against Heerenveen and Heracles, but he did well against the roaches yesterday.

K..

[Orange14]

Are they really contemplating slotting Urby in at left fullback? I thought that experiment was over and done with!

[DanK]

I think we have missed Enoh a great deal recently.

[Venezuelan Ajacied]

I hate to say this but...im scared like shit...i hope we dont get humiliated in this one....

[Kowalczyk]

I just hope we won't get stuffed.

If we lose 1-0, or even better 2-1, or even 3-1... I would be quite pleased. Maybe we can do something in the home leg, but in Italy... 'Limited damage' is all I'm hoping for.

K.

[SPL]

Would imagine Schilder will play left back if Vertonghen is unfit. Cannot see Urby being risked in that position again.

[ZoefdeHaas]

Just don't play Anita from the start. You can say I'm judging too quickly, but he's inexperienced and hasn't been in form. We can't take the risk against Fiorentina.

I think it'll be:

Stekelenburg
V/d Wiel Oleguer Vermaelen Schilder
Lindgren Sulejmani Vertonghen
Kennedy Suarez Emanuelson

[Ayman]

Is there a reason why we can not add Bodul to the first team to travel to Italy? It will lift a bit of a burden, since seem to be a little bit short upfront. Btw...whats up with Sulejmani? Is he going through a form crisis? I remember back in end of 2004, Pienaar, Heitinga and Stekelenburg had that. Talk of the devil, Stekelenburg hasnt returned to form, perhaps he needs a break, and a chance should be given to Vermeer, if things carry on the way they are in Goal.

[Philippe]

I doubt Fioretina can do better than a short victory. But we are more motivated than they are by the UEFA cup. So my prediction would be a 1-1 draw.

[aveslacker]

I doubt Fioretina can do better than a short victory. But we are more motivated than they are by the UEFA cup. So my prediction would be a 1-1 draw.

I think that would be a tremendous result for us.

With all the crap we've been through of late, beating Fiorentina would be a huge boost.

Which I believe we can do.

[Rubin Stark]

I'll be surprised if we manage a goal. Fiorentina to win comfortably. Ajax is playing no better than a mid-table English Championship team right now.

[Philippe]

Fiorentina score few goals per game, have a very good home games ratio, but very mediocre results in away games in serie A :
Home 8 wins 1 defeats 2 draws
Away 5 wins 7 defeats 1 draw
Goals scored : 1.45 per game

So I guess the strategy would to get a draw in Florence, and kick their ass at the Arena.

[Over Pasanens Head]

Fiorentina score few goals per game, have a very home games ratio, but very mediocre results in away games in serie A :
Home 8 wins 1 defeats 2 draws
Away 5 wins 7 defeats 1 draw
Goals scored : 1.45 per game

So I guess the strategy would to get a draw in Florence, and kick their ass at the Arena.

But they scored 3 goals last weekend away at Genoa to come back from 3-0 down. I think Mutu scored a hat-trick.

[Philippe]

Italian clubs don't do well in this competition :
18/02/09 Sampdoria - Metalist Charkov 0-1
18/02/09 Werder Bremen - AC Milan 1-1

Coach CPrandelli is without right-back Comotto, who twisted his left ankle on the eve of the game, has minor doubts over midfielders Jørgensen and Almirón, while winger Santana is a long-term absentee after rupturing the cruciate ligaments in his right knee earlier this month.

[orange goblin]

Italian clubs often see Uefa Cup just as a less important trophy. Fucking unbelievable and arrogant.
This is not the case, however, of Ac Fiorentina. They actually want to win this trophy now and built their image in Europe after CL they gained last year and their exit in the group stage.
Pretty young team, very good coach, offensive play: a rarity in Italy and a very tough match this one.
come one ajax

[Philippe]

Slightly worrying : 14 years since our last victory in Italy at the peak of the glorious van Gaal era with 2-0 over AC Milan on the 23 november 1994.

My prediction remains : 1 - 1, with excellent chances to qualify on the return home game.

[Ayman]

My prediction: Fiorentina 1-0 Ajax

I just cant see us scroing in italy, both teams will be cautious, with little creativity.

[Ajaxfanuk]

Haven't see much of Fiorentina since last years UEFA cup match with Rangers, where Rangers lucked out on penalties after some of the most heroic defending Ive seen in years. We will need to be on top defensive form...and of late we've been atrocious in most areas so I really am not hoping for much, I think a 1 - 0 loss would be kind. Lets hope Im wrong

Come On Ajax!

[Jeroen126]

I'd say we should play exactly like that Rangers team. Only difference between their side from last year and our current team is we have forwards with more pace and skill, and therefore should be more dangerous on the counterattack.

Let's play like Germans and Italians combined!

[saddlerian]

It all depends on what Ajax team turns up tonight. If the team of PSV and Heracles, (2nd Half), turns up, we could be on for a draw....BUT......