24 Jul 2009: Ajax - Atlético Madrid

[Kowalczyk]

Amsterdam Tournament. Day 1.

First game of the day is Sunderland FC vs SL Benfica (19:00 CET).

After that it's time for Ajax's first appearance at the Amsterdam ArenA in the new season. Against Johnny Heitinga's Atlético Madrid, kick-off time: 21:15 CET.

As always, teams get three points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat, but also one point for every goal scored.

K.

[orange goblin]

ok. martin jol selected for this one the following 18:

Maarten Stekelenburg
Gregory van der Wiel
Jan Vertonghen
Urby Emanuelson
Miralem Sulejmani
Ismaïl Aissati
Kenneth Vermeer
Bruno Silva
Luis Suarez
Rob Wielaert
Toby Alderweireld
Dario Cvitanich
Siem de Jong
Vurnon Anita
Evander Sno
Dennis Rommedahl
Mitchell Donald

Well, as you can see 14 players are left home.
Verhoeven, Ogararu, Oleguer, Gabri, Enoh are all injured.
Atouba is just arrived.
Blind, vd Heijden, Sarpong, Martina, Zegelaar and Bodul are the babies,although I would have liked to see at least 3 of them in action.
Luque is out of grace this time.
BUT: wtf is Lindgren??

anyway changes are possible to be made for the second game against benfica, ajax.nl say.

[afcajax73]

Its a strange one with Lindgren not being there, also why no Luque. He showed some promise at Bristol. Granted its not the best team to shine against but even still. He can be a good back up for our front line.

Im also not sure why Atouba isnt playing. Fair enough he only just arrived but how much time does he need until he can make an appearance, if onyl as a sub for last 10-15mins.

Also i agree that we should have included some of the younger players, for a little first team experience. I always think every year when i go to this tournament that we take it a bit too much as a we need to win it rather than a getting used to playing with new players as a team. Ofcourse it would be nice to win it, but id prefer that we played a few players who dont usually get a game together and give some of the younger lads some more experience at a higher level.

[GangstaRiB]

Jol stated that he will use the Amsterdam Tournament to play with is strongest roster.

Luque: The biggest joke that ever played at Ajax.

Lindgren: he must step up his game.

Atouba: He is not fit enough to play a game.

[Kowalczyk]

Luque: The biggest joke that ever played at Ajax.

Totally disagree, to be quite honest.

Not that I'm much of a fan, but... come on.

K.

[GangstaRiB]

Luque: The biggest joke that ever played at Ajax.

Totally disagree, to be quite honest.

Not that I'm much of a fan, but... come on.

K.

He is only here for the money. Really... he spend 100 years on the bench at Newcastle for a huge salary. Then Ajax wanted to sign him. They made him the best payed player in the Eredivisie and still Luque hangs around like he doesn't care. We had other 'jokes' playing for Ajax, but they at least tried their best.

[afcajax73]

i dont really agree with him being the biggest joke ever, but he doesnt do himself any favours, when hes on his game hes a good player and could do some real damage in our league, but he just doesnt have the passion for it, and maybe thats the only reason i would get rid. other than that.. (if he can find some passion for us) id love him stay

[Amol]

Luque: The biggest joke that ever played at Ajax.

Totally disagree, to be quite honest.

Not that I'm much of a fan, but... come on.

K.

He is only here for the money. Really... he spend 100 years on the bench at Newcastle for a huge salary. Then Ajax wanted to sign him. They made him the best payed player in the Eredivisie and still Luque hangs around like he doesn't care. We had other 'jokes' playing for Ajax, but they at least tried their best.

That's such BS. If I give you a job which pays 10 million dollars for you doing the same work you're doing. Then once you come over I don't let you work at all. What would you do?

Plus I don't think you've seen this guy play for Deportivo.

[The Purple Cow]

I think Luque is a decent player who has done well on the rare occasions he's been allowed to play.

Obviously there are other forces at play here that we know nothing about, but he's not a joke player.

[GangstaRiB]

K.

He is only here for the money. Really... he spend 100 years on the bench at Newcastle for a huge salary. Then Ajax wanted to sign him. They made him the best payed player in the Eredivisie and still Luque hangs around like he doesn't care. We had other 'jokes' playing for Ajax, but they at least tried their best.

That's such BS. If I give you a job which pays 10 million dollars for you doing the same work you're doing. Then once you come over I don't let you work at all. What would you do?

Plus I don't think you've seen this guy play for Deportivo.

Huh?! They won't let him work? Help me out here.. I'm puzzeled. He should have worked his ass off to get into the first eleven. But he was never fit and when he was fit, he played like a 40-year old.

Yeah I saw him play at Depor together with Makaay... But that was 10 years ago.

I don't understand the love for Luque. He was never motivated when he came to Amsterdam.

[Amol]

Huh?! They won't let him work? Help me out here.. I'm puzzeled. He should have worked his ass off to get into the first eleven.

He had a fight with Suarez. I don't know if you don't want to remember that or have forgotten. That's why he doesn't play anymore.

But he was never fit and when he was fit, he played like a 40-year old.

Lol - played in which spot? Van Basten always wanted to play Sulejmani since he spent 17 mill on him and Suarez on the other wing.

Yeah I saw him play at Depor together with Makaay... But that was 10 years ago.

Umm Luque left Depor at the peak of his career (in 2005) and had two bad seasons at Newcastle.

I don't understand the love for Luque.

You quite obviously have not seen him play enough.

He was never motivated when he came to Amsterdam.

Whose problem is that - Ajax management's or Luque's? Ajax shouldn't have signed him then.

You still haven't answered my original question - If I give you a job which pays 10 million dollars with you doing the same work you have been doing. Then once you start your new job, I don't let you work at all. What would you do?

[GangstaRiB]

Answer to the question: I would work hard and show the trainer that I'm the one.

Face it: Luque was a flop at both Newcastle and Ajax. He is over the hill. Ajax should NEVER signed him, that's right. But on the other hand: Luque never fought (yeah.. he was fighting during the Classic for god sake) for his spot. It seems that we have to pamper Luque and that we have unconditional trust in Luque and that he always must play from the start.

In all other cases: Luque is a sad little person sitting on his money.

[saddlerian]

Game is live on Bet365 site...great quality pictures and English commentary.

[SE6Ajacied]

Game is live on Bet365 site...great quality pictures and English commentary.

Cheers Ian, excellent. But it doesn't seem to be on yet, or is that just me??

[saddlerian]

Doesn't start until 8:15. Sitting here in Krakow...on the pavement, couple of beers, and quite a few inquisitive locals!!! Thank God for wi-fi....

[SE6Ajacied]

Doesn't start until 8:15. Sitting here in Krakow...on the pavement, couple of beers, and quite a few inquisitive locals!!! Thank God for wi-fi....

Yesh that's what I thought, but then it sounded like you had it already, Hope you're able to get it OK in Poland - should be OK for a pre-season game but I know for example you can't watch the BBC site o/s the UK.

Anyway, Hup Ajax

[saddlerian]

Yes, I can get it ok. Just watched the Sunderland game....also just put a bet on them to be relegated!!! God, they were CRAP!!!

Now for some more......................football???? (What's Heitinga doing with a tan? He's supposed to be a footballer, not a sun worshipper!!!)

[saddlerian]

Good start...1-0 Cvitanich...but Aissati injured!!!

[Van basten]

Great pass by Aissati, great pass by Suarez and cool fnishing by Cvitanich!

[saddlerian]

Is this the commentator who used to work for Setanta....? He's CRAP!!!!

Team playing well...might not be TOO bad!!!

Spoke to soon!!! CRAP defending......1-1, whole defence is to blame!!!!

[GangstaRiB]

Urby made an error, leading to the 1-1.

[saddlerian]

It's the same old problem....we need a central defender and a left back!!!

1-2
MY GOD!!!! WHAT SORT OF CRAP IS THIS TURNING INTO??? WHERE'S THE F***ING DEFENCE???

[Van basten]

Oh, that's the Ajax i know!

[saddlerian]

Half Time... 1 - 2. First 20 m inutes were good...then the old defensive frailties appeared again! When will they learn???

just get us a defence!!!

[orange goblin]

a shame..great first 15 min, but then we totally disappeared. and the same old problems..v d wiel, wielaert and emanuelson were so poor in atletico's goal..
let's think positive: aissati and suarez seem in great shape. cvita also moved well.
kennedy was totally useless. never a dribbling, a run on the right. never. only bad crosses.
sno is slow but when things were going well was positive to me, playing solid and simple. but then was the fuckin' first to disappear from the pitch.