01 May 2011: SC Heerenveen - Ajax

[Kowalczyk]

Eredivisie 2010-2011, matchday 33!

All games have the same dates and kick-off times: Sunday, 14:30 CET.

Heerenveen - Ajax
PSV - Vitesse
Twente - Willem II

Two more wins for the title; three for the double!

K.

[souras84]

HELL BENT FOR LEATHER or WINNING:headbang.gif:

[#14]

all you can ask for is that your fate will be in your hands. ajax is six points from a date with Michel Platini on August 25th....

[SPL]

We are not playing great but thats 4 wins in a row just get the feeling we are going to do it.

[aveslacker]

We are not playing great but thats 4 wins in a row just get the feeling we are going to do it.

I hope you're right, but I won't be resting until we have won our next three games.

[Orange14]

We are not playing great but thats 4 wins in a row just get the feeling we are going to do it.

I hope you're right, but I won't be resting until we have won our next three games.

Two weeks of sleepless nights?????

[aveslacker]

We are not playing great but thats 4 wins in a row just get the feeling we are going to do it.

I hope you're right, but I won't be resting until we have won our next three games.

Two weeks of sleepless nights?????

I have a one-month old baby at home so I'm not doing that much sleeping anyway!

[Philippe]

For the home game against Heerenveen (3-1), El Hamdaoui scored twice. Will he play this game ?

[souras84]

In the past years, the trips there ended in sorrow

[Orange14]

In the past years, the trips there ended in sorrow

No NEGATIVE thinking please! This is the new Ajax and the past is the past.

[ajaxcolombia]

Someone posted a lin in dutch about Aissaidi not being available for this game. Any truth in that? It would help a lot!

[saddlerian]

Two to go.....Two wins needed.....Sunday is a MUST as anything can happen on the last day, but at least Ajax are in control now....let's stay together and get these 6 points!!!

Heerenveen, here we come.......and we want to return to the Arena 3 points better off!!!!

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

[GangstaRiB]

Someone posted a lin in dutch about Aissaidi not being available for this game. Any truth in that? It would help a lot!

Yeah, he picked up his 4th yellow card I believe. He is suspended for one game.

Aissaidi is a good player, but if we play like last sunday we will lose. 100% sure.

De Boer must take action. NEC failed to execute, Excelsior was to weak, but Heerenveen is more dangerous. We have to step up!

[ajaxcolombia]

I don't know if yu believe in that kind of stuff, but I think its hard for De Boer to correct the teams weak play "tactically". To me it has to do with something of a mental phase of the gae, Specially vs. Exclesior that was clear. We proved we could overrun them but the team just went lazy after the first goal and when f-word scored againt philips.

[aveslacker]

I don't know if yu believe in that kind of stuff, but I think its hard for De Boer to correct the teams weak play "tactically". To me it has to do with something of a mental phase of the gae, Specially vs. Exclesior that was clear. We proved we could overrun them but the team just went lazy after the first goal and when f-word scored againt philips.

That's an interesting point. I would hope that Frank will use some voodoo to get them believing that they are already behind 0-1 when they step on the pitch. Last game, they only seemed to take their heads out of their asses when the equalizer went in. So they need to play with that kind of urgency from the first whistle.

The other issue is that, in several games this season, Ajax has played very well in the first half, only to fail to spot a tactical change made by the other team at the start of the second, often the addition of another player to the opposing team's midfield. I would hope that Frank is alert to this and will be ready to make a second-half adjustment if need be.

The pessimist in me is already convinced we're going to lose. Hopefully the pessimist is wrong. HUP AJAX!

[GangstaRiB]

I don't know if yu believe in that kind of stuff, but I think its hard for De Boer to correct the teams weak play "tactically". To me it has to do with something of a mental phase of the gae, Specially vs. Exclesior that was clear. We proved we could overrun them but the team just went lazy after the first goal and when f-word scored againt philips.

Mental strenght is also a part of the skills of a player that makes him good. We had a lot of "chokers" the last years. Its not lazy, its a lack of mental quality.

[ajaxcolombia]

But how exactly does one cultivate mental strength, not only indivudally but collectively? When I said "lazy" I didn't mean it literally as in "physically lazy", I meant mentally lazy.

[Philippe]

It will be tough. Trickier than the last game, home against Twente. Let's do it. And the tile will most likely be ours...

[GangstaRiB]

But how exactly does one cultivate mental strength, not only indivudally but collectively? When I said "lazy" I didn't mean it literally as in "physically lazy", I meant mentally lazy.

Mental strenght for an entire team must come from the coach. He has to create a tactical concept that players understand and believe in. Mourinho is the best example.

Individual mental strenght must come from the player. A lot of that has to do with the fact that a player must be 'on top of his game'. He must have no doubts about his own abilities.

Since Ajax cannot afford top notch players, we always will have players that have some minor 'defects'. Louis van Gaal takes a team by the hand and tells them what to do. For clubs like Ajax, this works. With bigger clubs with better players, they don't want everything to be told by the manager. So that's why I think De Boer must step up and start working on this proces. He cannot wonder about the fact that his players don't master certain skills. He must work with the players, so that they obtain those skills. That's the situation every Ajax coach is in, if the financial unfair play will continue in Europe.

[Orange14]

But how exactly does one cultivate mental strength, not only indivudally but collectively? When I said "lazy" I didn't mean it literally as in "physically lazy", I meant mentally lazy.

Mental strenght for an entire team must come from the coach. He has to create a tactical concept that players understand and believe in. Mourinho is the best example.

Not so sure after yesterday and the petulant CR7 sure didn't agree with the manager's tactics!

[souras84]

Well as for Mr. Special One.... I wouldnt dare opose him. He's proven his worth. And CR7 still hasnt managed to take any of his teams from the hand. With the biggest problem being his total inability to perform with Portugal

[ajaxusa]

USA viewers: espn3.com will be showing Heerenveen vs. Ajax live, 8:30 AM eastern. Yay.

[Amol]

nice

[ajaxcolombia]

HUP ajax hup!!!

[souras84]

Damn I will be out for food. Hopefully I'll catch the second half... And see a clear win from the first half