05 FEB 2017 Roda - Ajax Match Day 21

[Orange14]

Ajax journey to Roda and first place Feyenoord go to Enschede to play Twente. Ajax still in a position of winning out until it is proven that the Rotterdam team can drop points. Dijks is gone as is Krul who never saw a competitive first team match. Traore's Burkina Faso team play today and a win will mean another match in the African Cup. Have not heard whether Cerny will be fit enough to play against Roda.

[SPL]

Traore's team out of the African Cup so he will be back but cannot see him getting a full game

[Orange14]

Traore's team out of the African Cup so he will be back but cannot see him getting a full game

They have a 3rd place game against Ghana on Saturday so he's definitely out for Sunday's match.

[SPL]

I did see that last night so Kluivert will start.

[SPL]

Squad of 20, Traore in Africa and de Ligt is injured ,thigh problem. So Carel Eiting is in the squad.

[SPL]

Kluivert starts so no change.If Younes is as bad as usual I would like to see Nouri playing on that left side

[Orange14]

NIce to see Justin's dad and brother in the stands!

[Ayman]

This isn't going to be easy, Roda JC are fighting relegation

[Orange14]

Not a lot to get excited about. The Ziyech shot from distance was the only one that required anything more than a routine save. Klassen seems to be nothing more than a traffic policeman, doing a lot of pointing for where he thinks balls should be passed. SPL's favorite player, Younes, is having the best half of all the attackers. The midfield stinks as usual, maybe they don't know Roda is playing a 4-4-2 as they always do. I'm going to fall asleep if this continues into the second half.

[SPL]

Deadly dull and boring ,is anyone awake out there! Their only chance should have been offside,we have had one save from Ziyech.

Time to gamble and take Younes off and stick Nouri on.

[rjf1]

Roda playing 'not to lose' -- don't know if we can break through -- based on 1st half, I have my doubts.

[SPL]

Not saying Younes has been poor but Nouri can make things happen.Maybe after an hour he will replace Kluivert.

[Orange14]

Not saying Younes has been poor but Nouri can make things happen.Maybe after an hour he will replace Kluivert.

He really needs to replace el Capitan but we know that will never happen.

[SPL]

Exactly. Mind we will all be happy if Klaassen sticks the ball in the net for the winner.

Its games like this when it would be great to see Nouri de Jong and v d Beek being our midfield. I dont think they would be worse than our 3 in that half.I am dreaming

[Ayman]

Nouri should come on for Younes. Schone is so slow let Klaassen play in his position and bring on Frenkie de Jong. Or a straight swap between schone and Reidewald

[Orange14]

Out of nowhere like a ghost, el Capitan to the rescue. Very nice goal.

[SPL]

Klaassen scores the goal ,no surprise really , he has had a poor game but sticks the ball in the net

[rjf1]

He really needs to replace el Capitan but we know that will never happen.

......

[SPL]

Got my wish Nouri is on. Our defence suddenly looks weak they have had 2 good chances

[Ayman]

Got my wish Nouri is on. Our defence suddenly looks weak they have had 2 good chances

I can't wait till de Ligt is back from injury. I know he is very young, but he is amazing

[rjf1]

Giving away too many fouls where they can put long balls into the box. Keep it up and we will get burned.

[Orange14]

I thought Younes might have been off sides but it was a good pass from Veltman and nice finish to make it 0-2.

[rjf1]

Oh no!!! First Klaassen, and now Younes!! What is the world coming to?????

[SPL]

Agree about de LIgt a great talent.

Delighted for Younes to finally score. He so badly needed that maybe will perform better now. Nouri got 2 chances and needs more playing time ,he is ready.

Hard fought but luckily Roda spent most of the game with 11 behind the ball and cannot score goals.

[Orange14]

Some good goalkeeping and decent defending made made the match winner from Klaassen stand up and then Younes sealed the deal with a goal at the death. It was the usual Ajax match with a very dysfunctional midfield and an uncharacteristic poor match from Schöne.

Player Ratings:

Onana (7) - Had to make one very good save and needed to be alert as some long balls were coming into the box.
Sinkgraven (6.5) - some nice interventions on defense and a couple of good passes when he went into the offensive end
Viergever (5.5) - not as solid as in previous games; missed marking his man and a lazy back pass to Onana caused some danger
Sanchez (6.5) - decent enough save a couple of sloppy passes
Veltman (7) - defended well and had a nice pass to an open Younes for the second goal
Schöne (4) - poorest player on the pitch and should have been subbed off
el Capitan (6.5) - right place at the right time and a clinical finish for the match winner; had some good defensive plays in the 2nd half and was absolutely awful in the first 45
Ziyech (7) - good passing and three decent shots on goal that required a good save by the Roda keeper
Younes (7) - good match as he looked to pass rather than dribble into double teams; one nice goal and another that clanged off the cross bar
Dolberg (5) - not a factor at all today
Kluivert (5.5) - just a shade above average with a few too many turnovers
Nouri (6) - best on the ball of all Ajax players and a bit unlucky to have not finished a decent chance
van de Beek (6) - good coming on for Ziyech and almost had a nice assist

Feyenoord just kicked off against Twente. PSV put four past our former loanee Krul yesterday. Home to Sparta Rotterdam next week and Ajax still have to win out the rest of the way.