03 NOV 2020; FC Midjylland - Ajax; CL Group Game 3

[GangstaRiB]

We have to start to kill games when we’re two up.

[kezme44]

pretty poor half imo despite the lead. the score could be 3-2 for the danes. gravenberch giving almost every ball away and schuurs is too slow. need to bring klaassen on

[Orange14]

Maybe it was the disrupted travel plans, Ajax have been poor. Worst passing of the season all around and the defense seems out of sorts, not closing players down when they needed to. Gravenberch has been poor so far and I would not be surprised to see Klaassen come on for him in the 2nd half.

I have a business call in ten minutes and will miss the 2nd half so I'll catch it up on the replay. I hope the club gets things sorted out.

[SPL]

Only watched from 17 mins onwards ,saw their goal and expected to see them score more.Schuurs is too slow and Mf blown away.Klaassen must come on.

If we play like that in the 2nd half we will lose.

[Ayman]

I wanted Promes, Ekkelenkamp and Schuurs to start and do well, they haven't they need to be benched and replaced by Neres, Klaassen (of course) and Timber

[SPL]

Klaassen at least gave us a Mf although they were pressed back more and created little.After Antony non goal it was agony just hoping we would not give it away. Sums up how effective their attack was when Alvarez as Cd was never under pressure and had little to do in the box.

3 points and relief.

[Orange14]

They did not have the replay up so I missed the 2nd half. Sounds like I didn't miss much.

[GangstaRiB]

They did not have the replay up so I missed the 2nd half. Sounds like I didn't miss much.

Indeed. 2nd half was quite bad. Mostly consisted of Ajax playing the ball to Onana, who kicked it upfield, lost possession, regained possession, ball back to Onana, and repeat.

[Cruijff]

Orange14 no player ratings??

[Orange14]

Orange14 no player ratings??

I missed the second half and CBS All Access who have the CL rights did not put the replay up until late in the evening. I was more interested in the election results than seeing if the Ajax game was finally posted which was probably a bad idea. It might have given me as much heartburn as watching the election results come in.

[souras84]

Your election results are going to be a mini-series. Can't see it ending soon. Although last night I saw Promes ending his career. What a new low.... I am actually feeling sorry for him. Maybe we should have sold him instead of Lang

[Cruijff]

Orange14 no player ratings??

I missed the second half and CBS All Access who have the CL rights did not put the replay up until late in the evening. I was more interested in the election results than seeing if the Ajax game was finally posted which was probably a bad idea. It might have given me as much heartburn as watching the election results come in.

The Ajax team was also good on it's way to give the fans at home a heartburn.
The struggle not to drop points in Denmark was big.

You could have expected the election results would not come in within 48 hours and probably after Thursday or Friday it's still not over.

I saw Promes ending his career. What a new low.... I am actually feeling sorry for him. Maybe we should have sold him instead of Lang

Arsenal showed interest in buying Promes last summer.

[Tom_]

2nd half was marginally better than the first but only because Midtjylland weren’t getting open scoring chances every 5 minutes.

Agree that Promes was awful. Also not impressed by Martinez and Schuurs.

Did anyone notice the stealth supporters in the stands? This was meant to be supporter-free, but there were several hundred in the upper tier, and they were all wearing all black, so I’m wondering if they were trying not to be seen?

[Orange14]

Did anyone notice the stealth supporters in the stands? This was meant to be supporter-free, but there were several hundred in the upper tier, and they were all wearing all black, so I’m wondering if they were trying not to be seen?

Maybe Ninja warriors???

I finally watched the second half of the game. Good example of catanaccio by EtH's team. I though for a moment I was watching the old Frank de Boer days. I guess the manager figured the weird travel stuff had taken something out of the team and he told them to close the match down. There were a couple of dicey moments but by and large they kept control of the ball and avoided danger. Klaassen continues to impress, Alvarez did just what needed to be done coming on for Schuurs. Blind is still one of the best passers on the team but too slow to be in the MF. Gravenberch had a much better second half. Ahead of Atalanta on goal difference as they got crushed by Liverpool.

[souras84]

When we got Alvarez, we thought we would be De Ligt's replacement. Maybe we should start using him there! Pairing him with Martinez because of their common language, it could be wrong. That would push Blind in the midfield. He's more than capable as a #6, but his speed isn't adequate for the CL level. So maybe we should play Blind - Alvarez together in the back. Martinez may or may not play in the #6 position. I don't know. Thoughts?

[GangstaRiB]

When we got Alvarez, we thought we would be De Ligt's replacement. Maybe we should start using him there! Pairing him with Martinez because of their common language, it could be wrong. That would push Blind in the midfield. He's more than capable as a #6, but his speed isn't adequate for the CL level. So maybe we should play Blind - Alvarez together in the back. Martinez may or may not play in the #6 position. I don't know. Thoughts?

My thoughts are: Martinez and Alvarez are unfortunately not good enough. While Blind is vulnerable on speed he is almost irreplaceable for the build-up play. He has to get somebody next to him who can do all the man-to-man defending. De Ligt was extraordinary, but there must be a defender that, at minimum, can deal with a striker leaving Blind free to do his thing.

Martinez and Alvarez (and Schuurs for that matter) are all too slow and not skilled enough to relieve Blind.

Martinez maybe useable in left midfield where he just follows orders and can't do harm when he looses possession. But Alvarez and Schuurs are simply not good enough.