05 MAR 2017 Groningen - Ajax Match Day 25

[Orange14]

Off to Groningen on Sunday for another must win match. Table leaders Feyenoord have a derby tile with Sparta. Viergever looks to miss the match because of a groin injury so perhaps de Ligt and Riedewald man the left side of the defense.

[SPL]

Squad of 21 Sinkgraven back Viergever out. de Jong, v d Beek, Nouri Kluivert and de Ligt all included .

[Ayman]

I hope Neres starts, I want him to settle in quickly

[SPL]

Only change from last week Sinkgraven for Viergever.Must win and hope Feyenoord drop points today . Sparta 1-0 up at HT

[Orange14]

Back in the title chase. Paul Pogba gets a first minute goal for Sparta and they make it hold up. (Actually it was Mathias Pogba ). Fine save in added time by the Sparta keeper. Two points behind now!!!

[SPL]

Riedewald got injured in the warm up so de Ligt is playing

[Amol]

Feyenoord lost!

Lets go boys!

[SPL]

Another frustrating half ,2 long shots by Traore ,Younes unlucky hitting the post. Defence having to work hard but midfield poor as usual.Nil creativity from midfield and Traore just does nothing ,2 long shots, tripped when sent in the box.Ziyech and Klaassen doing nothing. Dolberg getting zero balls and struggling.

Maybe Neres comes on for Dolberg and try Traore in the centre. If Ziyech continues like this just bring Nouri on .

[Orange14]

The usually reliable Russian stream carried the Feyenoord match but are not showing Ajax. I have to "rely" on a rather poor web feed. Ajax had a couple of decent chances but couldn't seal the deal. They need to quit the long passes over the top as those are not working. there is space in the midfield if the team can see the passing lanes. We need a quick goal in the 2nd half

[rjf1]

What a total waste that Traore is!!

[SPL]

A disgrace ,take him straight off. If we dont win this game the title is over.

[Amol]

Excellent. Onana kicks the turf instead of the ball and we're down 1-0.

Hopefully that wakes Bosz and the midfield up.

[Amol]

Kluivert on for Traore. I would like to see Ziyech off as well.

[King Litti]

I have a crappy stream, but was there a foul on Onana? Well, he should have been more carefull anyway. Unnecessary risk with the ball.

[Amol]

I have a crappy stream, but was there a foul on Onana? Well, he should have been more carefull anyway. Unnecessary risk with the ball.

It looked like a foul the first time I saw it, but on the replays it was clear that he just missed the ball, kicked the turf and fell.

[SPL]

No excuse a Vermeer type howler. I would take a point at this stage we are rubbish

[Amol]

Van De Beek for Sanchez - moving into a 3-4-3 with Sinkgraven at LB. Very bold I say.

Groningen players are cramping and tired now. Time to make them pay.

[SPL]

Klaassen yet again.

[Amol]

1-1!!!!!!!!!!!

That guy does nothing all game but is almost always in the right places for tap ins.

[Amol]

Red card for Groningen. 11 v 10.

Seemed a little harsh for a straight red.

[Amol]

5 minutes of added time.

The last 10 minutes have been terrible. Apparently Veltman has become the main distributor now.

[SPL]

Apologies for saying Onana should be taken off. A dreadful mistake but not sure it cost us the win. We were really
dreadful today although we are only 4 points behind I really dont think we will overtake Feyenoord.PSV now only 4 points behind so I can see this underperforming squad still finish 3rd.

de LIgt and Younes had good games the rest poor to average.Midfield too slow and dont create, lucky Davy still keeps popping in the goals because he does little else. Ziyech very poor and Traore just sending him back to Chelski .

Everyone wanted de Boer out due to poor standard of football but I think we are looking worse this season. Bosz has not improved on de Boer.

Only positive today de LIgt is a hugh talent and headed for the top.Apart from Sanchez I would not put any other Cd in ahead of him

[Ayman]

When will Bosz make the necessary changes? van de Beek has to play instead of Ziyech. Kluivert for Traore. At this rate I can't see Ajax getting past FC Copenhagen. They are 2-0 up in their game today

[Orange14]

Ajax was supposed to show up and play; they did not! Another poor excuse for football that included a sweeper keeper play for the ages. This team is paying a lot of money for players who are not worth 10 euros. No other words can describe this so let's go straight to the...................

Player Ratings:

Onana (2) - a couple of good plays and one that cannot be described
Sinkgraven (5) - good assist on the goal
de Ligt (6) - worked hard on defense and will likely be a starter next season at the age of 18
Sanchez (6) - OK match but subbed off for an attacker
Veltman (5) - long, lazy, crossfield passes that went nowhere except to a Groningen player
Schöne (5.5) - best of the MFs which is not saying much
Ziyech (3.5) - did we get a money back guarantee from FC Twente?
Klaassen (4.5) - yes he scored and yes he did nothing else
Younes (6.5) - showed up to play and tried to make things happen
Dolberg (5) - worked really hard and did get a difficult shot off but never had the ball in dangerous positons
Traore (4.5) - back to Chelsea mate
van de Beek (6) - good pass to Sinkgraven on the goal lead up and a stinging shot near the end
Kluivert (3.5) - woeful performance, tried to do way too much and ended up doing very little
Cassiera (NR) - on at the end to score and was not involved at all

WTF is Bosz thinking with the substitutions? Why are under--performing players still in the starting lineup? This is just disgusting!!! What is the management thinking right?

Thursday night football in Denmark and a performance such as this one will lead to a quick exit in the Europa League. Home to FC Twente next Sunday.

[Orange14]

Red card for Groningen. 11 v 10.

Seemed a little harsh for a straight red.

He would have shattered the leg had Sinkgraven not jumped up. Studs up and a straight red card all the way.