16 AUG 2016 Ajax - Rostov CL Qualifier

[Orange14]

After a lackluster performance against Roda, a team Ajax should have dealt with quickly and efficiently, they face Rostov in a two way tie to see which team advances to the CL group play. Rostov stand 7th in the Russian Premier league which kicked off at the end of July with a 1-1-1 record. They lost to Zenit yesterday 3-2. I don't know much more other than they have had some financial problems in recent years and their trainer just left to manage another Russian team.

The big question is whether Bosz can get this team prepared for the match. They are conceding cheap goals again and the lack of dynamic movement is troubling since this is what Bosz does not want. They did a good job of pressing in the first PAOK match but have not really done this since then. While I expect Ajax to win every match they play, my patience is wearing thin.

[Ayman]

Rostov may concede goals, but they can score pretty easily. I was optimistic a week ago, but if he is going to play Gudelj and Bazoer in midfield, then Ajax will struggle, I can see Rostov scoring at least twice, even in the first half. Which means there will be a blunder in the Ajax defence/goal keeping area. Ajax will definitely struggle and will be very lucky to come away from this game with a draw.

[King Litti]

Since away goals are so important in these fixtures, I'm too worried about are defense. We haven't kept a clean sheet in a while. We just cant' give any cheap goals this time. I too think we can score against them. hell, not that Roda is the same caliber, but from the chances we created we should have scored 3-4 goals last night.

Very interesting to see the starting 11 in this one. Question marks all over the formation. I too would like to see more speed and creativity in the midfield and real wingers on the wings.

What about the striker choice? You can not deny Dolbergs talent for scoring. The long shot against PAOK and the great cut in front his marker to score his second last night. Then again we spent big money for Traore and the very reason he came was to get regular playing time. I'm sure he will raise hell if the young Dane will drop him to the bench.

My feeling is Traore will get more and more time from Bosz, but I'm sure he has noticed that he has a great option in Dolberg and it would be unfair to not give him at least some time on the field, cause he has really delivered when he has gotten a chance.

[King Litti]

Traore can play as a winger and as a shadow striker too right? Maybe that would be worth trying?

[Orange14]

Traore can play as a winger and as a shadow striker too right? Maybe that would be worth trying?

El Capitan Klaassen is our shadow striker. Do you want to bench the Captain? I do!!!

[Ayman]

Safe to say that I speak for 99% of Ajax fans, that I am dreading tomorrow's fixture. It's going to be 'The midfield is non existent', 'That winger is useless,' 'Our defence has more holes in it than a swiss cheese' . It's worse than a horror movie.

[Orange14]

Safe to say that I speak for 99% of Ajax fans, that I am dreading tomorrow's fixture.

Not me, I expect a wonderful win with flowing football. Of course I have often been disappointed in recent years!

[SPL]

No Westermann or Cerny. Westermann looked very slow and aweful in his only game

[Orange14]

Westermann looked very slow and aweful in his only game

Probably a repeat of the Heitinga experience from last season. There is usually a good reason why a 34 year old player is not resigned by the team he has played for.

[SPL]

Actually he was 33 last Sunday. Really not sure why he was signed.Sanchez is ahead of him as standby RCD Viergever on the LCD and de Ligt is going to be the best of the lot and will be involved in our squad by christmas.

[Tom_]

Yep, from what i could tell Sánchez did ok apart from that one mistake that led to the 1–1. We're in Europe so we could need Westermann for cover at some point.

Looking forward to this game, I'm hoping for a 2–0!!!

[Orange14]

Oojier was a little older I think when he came to Ajax and he did OK.

[Cruijff]

Oojier was a little older I think when he came to Ajax and he did OK.

Westermann looked very slow and aweful in his only game

Probably a repeat of the Heitinga experience from last season. There is usually a good reason why a 34 year old player is not resigned by the team he has played for.

Meanwhile PSV Eindhoven signed another experienced, 27 years old German player, #5 Daniel Schwaab:

http://www.transfermarkt.nl/daniel-schw ... eler/38434

[saddlerian]

Safe to say that I speak for 99% of Ajax fans, that I am dreading tomorrow's fixture. It's going to be 'The midfield is non existent', 'That winger is useless,' 'Our defence has more holes in it than a swiss cheese' . It's worse than a horror movie.

I'm afraid that I watched the whole match when Zenit played Rostov, and they will NOT be a walkover!! The only way that Zenit won, after being 0-2 down, was to use high pressure, VERY QUICK football...and I mean, QUICK!!!! Any lounging around looking for a pass will just get the ball stolen cos the Rostov players give 110%

Ajax will, in fact MUST, play the game of their lives in order to leave the Arena with a win. Many says that Rostov will concede goals....I beg to differ....they will if Ajax use rapid passing/movement football....so I am VERY pessimistic!!!

The atmosphere will help if the fans encourage, vocally, for the whole game....I consider the Zenit/Rostov match to have had one of the most passionate atmospheres that I've "experienced" from a Russian match...

Lastly, Ajax have to realise that the match is NOT 90 minutes....it's from when the referee starts it until he finishes it....none of this switching off....I fear that Europa League is beckoning!!!

[King Litti]

Traore can play as a winger and as a shadow striker too right? Maybe that would be worth trying?

El Capitan Klaassen is our shadow striker. Do you want to bench the Captain? I do!!!

Yes, Klaassen does disappear from the field from time to time. Then again this young team needs leaders. I feel like Klaassen and maybe Veltman are important in that sense. Maybe we could drop Klaassen in to a more defending role. To a kind of "box to box" player. I mean he works really hard. Maybe that kind of a role would suit him better.

[Ayman]

Traore can play as a winger and as a shadow striker too right? Maybe that would be worth trying?

El Capitan Klaassen is our shadow striker. Do you want to bench the Captain? I do!!!

Yes, Klaassen does disappear from the field from time to time. Then again this young team needs leaders. I feel like Klaassen and maybe Veltman are important in that sense. Maybe we could drop Klaassen in to a more defending role. To a kind of "box to box" player. I mean he works really hard. Maybe that kind of a role would suit him better.

Maybe a van de Beek - Klaassen - Nouri midfield? (For the near future)

[Ayman]

Here is a glimmer of hope, most likely for the return leg. Their coach signed for Spartak Moscow, and wants to sign players from Rostov, the same players he brought to Rostov from their previous team Ruben, where he coached.

Worries going forward concern further exits, with a number of the “Berdyev contingent” set to jump ship to join their coach at his new club Spartak Moscow. Rostov’s player of the night in Brussels Sardar Azmoun alongside Ecuadorian midfielder Christan Noboa, who made similar moves alongside Berdyev from Rubin to Rostov in the last two years are muted to be treading the same path of their Turkmenistani mentor once again.

http://russianfootballnews.com/preview- ... l-playoff/

[Orange14]

Maybe we could drop Klaassen in to a more defending role. To a kind of "box to box" player. I mean he works really hard. Maybe that kind of a role would suit him better.

I thought Klaassen's best play was two seasons ago when he was injured. FdB played him as the holding midfielder in several matches and he did well. Klaassen's best attribute is that he can run all day (makes him an ideal EPL player) but I'm afraid his ball handling skills are just not Ajax worthy. Besisdes, if we play him at DM Riedewald doesn't play there. Bazoer is the ideal B2B midfielder but he doesn't show it.

EDIT: I just saw that we have never defeated a Russian team in Euro competition. Here is the chance to do so (or to continue our record of futility).

[Ayman]

Maybe we could drop Klaassen in to a more defending role. To a kind of "box to box" player. I mean he works really hard. Maybe that kind of a role would suit him better.

I thought Klaassen's best play was two seasons ago when he was injured. FdB played him as the holding midfielder in several matches and he did well. Klaassen's best attribute is that he can run all day (makes him an ideal EPL player) but I'm afraid his ball handling skills are just not Ajax worthy. Besisdes, if we play him at DM Riedewald doesn't play there. Bazoer is the ideal B2B midfielder but he doesn't show it.

Riedewald can play on the left side of the midfield, Bazoer can play on the right side of the midfield. Problem solved

[Ayman]

One of the regular players, Bastos, a defender who's move to Lazio is imminent, but may play his final game at Ajax http://www.football-italia.net/89763/la ... s-imminent

[Orange14]

For those of you in the USA, I see that ESPN3 has scheduled the Ajax/Rostov match today!!!!

[Amol]

For those of you in the USA, I see that ESPN3 has scheduled the Ajax/Rostov match today!!!!

Get out of here!! Thanks for the info. Going to watch this from work then.

[King Litti]

Opening 11:

Cillesen, Veltman, Riedewald, Sanchez, Bazoer, El Ghazi, Traore, Klaassen, Younes, Gudelj, Dijks

So, Tete out. Why? Sanchez or Veltman as the right defender?

[Tom_]

Apparently Traoré starting. Same MF as Saturday.

[Amol]

Opening 11:

Cillesen, Veltman, Riedewald, Sanchez, Bazoer, El Ghazi, Traore, Klaassen, Younes, Gudelj, Dijks

So, Tete out. Why? Sanchez or Veltman as the right defender?

Maybe a 3-4-3 with Veltman-Sanchez-Riedewald as back 3? MF of Bazoer, Klaassen, Gudelj, Dijks and El Ghazi, Traore, Younes