17 Nov 2012: Ajax - VVV-Venlo

[Kowalczyk]

Eredivisie 2012-2013. Matchday 13.

Kick-off time at the ArenA: 19.45 CET on Saturday night.

Moisander and Alderweireld expected to be fit and ready to play. Babel unlikely to see action.

K.

[Orange14]

Looks like those of us in the US will need to find a stream to watch this one as ESPN3 is not scheduling it for viewing.

EDIT: Just saw that Alderwiereld is being held out as a precaution so he is fit for Dortmund. Vermeer is ill and won't be on the team sheet, Cillessen to start and of course Babel is also out. I also saw that Sulejmani played 74 minutes the other day in the Serbia friendly. Maybe we will get lucking and someone will bid for him this winter.

[SPL]

squad is Cillessen V D Hart, V Rhijn,Veltman, Moisander,Blind ,Dijks, Denswil, Poulsen,Enoh,de Jong ,Schone, Fischer,Sana Eriksen, Hoesen, Lukoki ,Boerrigter.Toby being rested for Dortmund next week

Looks like Sulejmani wont play much more unless we get aload more injuries to wingers. Hope we get rid of him in January.

[Tom_]

Gonna have to miss this game. First time in ages! Hope to see a good score when I check later.

[King Litti]

If we are able to play at our own level, VVV should not be a problem. Just have to focus on the task at hand and not think about the upcoming Dortmund game too much. I'm confident we'll be three points richer after this one.

[Dubbel]

game

[Amol]

game

I could get only one of the streams to work and that is showing the PSV game.

Nevermind - I got the other one to work.

[martinkohout]

game

Thanks!

[SPL]

what a poor first half by us.

[Orange14]

Mediocre first half just as in the recent past. I saw a shot of Jari Litamen in the stands and the club would do well to get him dressed for the 2nd half. They are doing a decent enough job of getting the ball to the attacking area but then run out of ideas. Just very poor movement and VVV are quick to double team whoever has the ball.

EDIT: Litamen just being interviewed right now. Suit him up and we will get some goals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ajaxcolombia]

lukoki's pace would help, boerrigter offers very little on the right

[Orange14]

lukoki's pace would help, boerrigter offers very little on the right

Usain Bolt wouldn't help this team. they are clueless about how to create a shot.

[Orange14]

GOLAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZO - Boerigter. About time!

[rjf1]

Missed the first half -- just tuned in for the second half in time to see Boerighter put a beauty of a free kick in to make it 1-0 for Ajax!

[souras84]

If we concede a goal, I can't see us turning it around

[Cedric]

[souras84]

Wow I am afraid

[rjf1]

Hoessen makes it 2-0!! We can rest easy now.

[King Litti]

Only saw the last 20 minutes. I guess I didn't miss much. Well, three points are in the bag. That's the most important thing. Propably the players held back because of the CL game. Good finish by Hoesen. Nice to see him get to the scoreboard. So, Litti was in the stands. Would be so cool if he came to Ajax. Jari sure would have a thing or two to teach jong Ajax

[SPL]

a hard won win thank goodness for that 2nd goal as I feared VVV would get a late equaliser

[Orange14]

A single goal from the run of play just doesn't cut it in my book. Decent enough movement in the center third of the field but then there was no clue about how to break down the VVV defense which was packing things in very tightly. Interesting that FdB went to a three man back line with Veltman in the middle for most of the second half. Blind was moved up into the offensive end of the pitch to overload the left hand side but it really didn't do much for the inept offense. the 2nd goal was quite nice with good touches from Lukoki and de Jong followed by a cool headed finish by Hoesen.

Player Ratings:

Cillessen (7.0) - good game except for the bonehead decision at the 80 minute mark which almost gave the ball away with a 1-0 lead.
Blind (6.5) - didn't have to defend much but had some poor touches on offense
Moisander (7) - never under pressure and moved out to play left full back when they went 3-4-3
Veltman (7) - never under pressure and given a big responsibility as the sole defender for most of the 2nd half
van Rhijn (7) - had some nice touches on the ball and was able to go forward much more in this match
Poulsen (7) - contolled things well in the midfield
Schöne (7) - good movement but the incisive pass wasn't there
Eriksen (6.5) - not up to his usual standard of play
Fischer (7) - team preferred to attack down the right side and he didn't have a lot of touches for large parts of the match
de Jong (7) - OK match and nothing more
Boerrigter (7) - one bit of glory amidst a lot of average play
Lukoki (7) - good touch to set up the 2nd goal, his speed was evident but still needs to be aware of when the 2nd defender is coming over
Hoesen (7) - nicely taken goal
Dijks (7) - on for the final 10 minutes and was OK

Next up is the CL match against Dortmund and we will have to show much more than today's effort to get on the scoreboard in that one.

[ajaxcolombia]

I liked Veltman in this game, looked very composed. All serious, no nonsense, and I don't remember him puting a bad pass either, except maybe for the one that almost caused a huge Cillisen blunder.