06 Oct 2013: Ajax - FC Utrecht

[Kowalczyk]

Eredivisie 2013-2014. Matchday 9.

Another home game. Kick-off time at the ArenA is 12:30 CET.

K.

[Orange14]

van der Hoorn will start in place of an injured Moisander on Sunday; Veltman is the backup. Denswil was named to the CL team of the week for Match Day 2! Honor is well earned.

[Ayman]

This would be a good idea to try Daley Blind in the holding position instead of foolsen

[saddlerian]

This would be a good idea to try Daley Blind in the holding position instead of foolsen

Too true....Duarte's been playing far too deep in his apps......maybe force him to play as attacking midfield, but still need a playmaker.....he is in the junior ranks somewhere, and he will appear this season, even if he's only 16/17!!! (Note...at least I'm sure it's a "he")

3-0 on Sunday.....and if he starts, have a dream that Boilesen gets the 2nd!!! (mind you, could have been an alcohol induced dream )

[King Litti]

We have kind of a luxury problem with Blind and Boilesen. Both are good players in the same position, so one is always doomed to go to waste sitting on the bench.

In this sense it would be great if Blind could make the change to defensive midfielder. I think he has played games in that position at least when he was on loan at Groningen, though I'm not complety sure he has the ability for that position. But yes FdB should at least try it.

What about Fischer as a attacking midfielder?

[Ayman]

I think Fischer's best position would be attacking midfield, but who would occupy the left flank? Tobias Sana? Not good enough! Siem de Jong? Dont even go there!

[King Litti]

Maybe Andersen could play on the left. He has shown some talent, though i'm not sure is he fast enough for a winger. Too bad Bojan is injured.

[SPL]

Could play Andersen in MF as he is not a real winger .Fischer and Andersen's best positions are yet to be decided.

[saddlerian]

Don't think Andersen's got the build for midfield...much too light weight!!

[Ayman]

If Ajax had spent some euro's on Elia, then we wouldnt be in this problem of the left wing

[saddlerian]

....but, have to make a profit!!! WHY???? Are there shareholders who treat Ajax as a moneymaking scheme????

[Orange14]

....but, have to make a profit!!! WHY???? Are there shareholders who treat Ajax as a moneymaking scheme????

No, this is not the case. The club stated last year that they have to base their financials on Europa League qualification and participation. As you know that amount of money is far less than just playing in the pool round of CL. I don't want to see this club turn into a Feyenoord or PSV where financial mismanagement has resulted in real problems. It would be different if the club owned the ArenA and could leverage the facility by holding other events there increasing the cash flow but that's not the way things turned out.

As I've noted in the past, the transferable players who could make a difference to the club are too expensive or desired by teams who play in one of the major Euro leagues.

[Orange14]

This would be a good idea to try Daley Blind in the holding position instead of foolsen

While this is an appealing approach, do you do this in a league match when the player in question has not played this position at all in the past 3-4 years? AFAIK, he isn't even getting any practice time here. Long term the club is looking at Bazoer for this position (the 16 year old that I think Ian is referring to in his post) but he's playing mainly for the U-19 team right now. Will he be ready next year? I don't know.

With respect to left wing, I think Dejan Meleg has played there for Jong Ajax and has done a decent job. He might see a first team call up at some point.

[SPL]

Bazoer is only playing for the U19's in the CL U 19 but is otherwise playing for Jong Ajax although he is being played sparringly . Went off injured for our U19's v Milan U19 the other night and is injured enough to drop out the Dutch U19 squad for games in the next week. Not sure at 16 he is being looked at as a first team squad player this season as they are not rushing him.

At Jong Ajax level Andersen and Meleg do play on both flanks but are not real wingers.The only real wingers we have are Sana and de Sa . Sana is not good enough and de Sa we need to see more of.

I am all for the Cruyff way ie go to the youth for players before buying anybody but as for wingers we are woefully short.At U19 level the no 1 wing prospect Kishna is just coming back after 2 years out with 2 nasty knee injuries. And the best DM in our youth is Bazoer 16 and did not play from last November until the start of this season.

A LW and another DM need to be purchased in January.

[Amol]

This is the lineup tomorrow according to AD -

Midfield seems extremely static to me.

Cillessen
Van Rhijn
Van der Hoorn
Denswil
Blind
De Jong
Poulsen
Klaassen
De Sa
Sigthórsson
Fischer

[saddlerian]

This is the lineup tomorrow according to AD -
Midfield seems extremely static to me.

Static....de Jong and Klassen are both attacking midfielders, they like getting forward....could leave Poulsen very exposed!!!

[Tom_]

No way of watching this one where I am this weekend so I'm going out on the bike instead, expect to hear reports of a dominant victory when I get back.

[King Litti]

Good to see that FdB is reacting to the uncreative midfield in some way. Is Klaassen the answer, who knows?

I hope we can play a fast pace game as Utrecht are going to try to slow things down and defend. Big chance for Klaassen (I think this might be his first time in the starting 11?). Hope he can help in breaking down the Utrecht defence.

[saddlerian]

Tom...send me your mobile No.(PM), and I'll keep you up to date!!

[Ayman]

Good to see Klaassen in the line up, Ive been following his development and have high hopes for him!

[Ayman]

Its worth noting, that, for the first time since 1997, Ajax are fielding an all dutch back five

[souras84]

Both Klaassen and De Jong in the same team??? I was under the impression that they were the same type of players... That is if we know what type of player Siem is.

[Orange14]

Well Klaasen is now the fastest midfielder on the pitch for us today (and that's not saying a lot).

[rjf1]

Lucky to escape that one.

[Orange14]

Well that came from out of nowhere. Nicely taken by Serero.