09 DEC 2020; Ajax - Atalanta; CL Group 6

[Orange14]

Ajax have absolutely no luck in the CL! The Atalanta match at Udinese was called off today because the pitch was waterlogged. they will be fresh for the match mid-week. The Neres injury last week was to his ankle but Ajax do not have any medical update at this point. Mazraoui who missed yesterday's game is expected back. This is going to be a difficult game for Ajax to win, particularly if Atalanta park the bus. Best hope is for a very quick opening goal.

[kezme44]

I’m not sure atalanta know how to park the bus fortunately so I expect goals. I was hoping they would play their match today but that pitch was a lake so they should be fresher than us. Gosens might miss the game for them due to positive test result but they think it’s a false positive so we shall see. Honestly, I’m not feeling great about the game. Our track record of trying to get a result at home has been terrible in the past year with Tottenham, Valencia, and getafe. It’s a 12:55 kickoff and I have a meeting from 9-3 so will have to avoid seeing the result and watch after work.

[Orange14]

It’s a 12:55 kickoff and I have a meeting from 9-3 so will have to avoid seeing the result and watch after work.

One of the advantages of being retired!

[Ayman]

Just to soften the blow, I have accepted that Ajax finishes third in the group stages and it's Europa League. Ajax will likely draw. That means they get 8 points, last season it was 10 points, two seasons ago it was 12 points. There is a steady decline, the only way to stop this is to regroup and give the likes of Rensch and Taylor more minutes on the pitch, at the same time keep as many players as possible, with the exception of Tagliafico, if he is the only one to leave Ajax at the end of the season, then it should be ok. However Ten Hag may also leave, if that is the case, I would go for Ron Jans of Twente Enschede.

[Orange14]

This is the first time in a while that I am not optimistic about Ajax chances in a match. It's unclear who will be healthy tomorrow. Blind missed training today because of flu symptoms. Neres, Tagliafico and Traore trained separately and are carrying various muscle injuries. Mazraoui was in training but not 100%. The best bet is for Ajax to score early and force Atalanta to attack opening up the field.

[SPL]

A lot depends on who is fit .We cannot expect to progress with the likes of Kleiber,Labyad,Alvarez or even the out of form Promes

[Amol]

Rumours of Martinez and Brobbey starting today

[Ayman]

Neres and Blind won't be playing tonight. If Brobbey does play, I can't see him setting the field alight, he is really young and it will be the first time he has played at this level.

[kezme44]

It’s a 12:55 kickoff and I have a meeting from 9-3 so will have to avoid seeing the result and watch after work.

One of the advantages of being retired!

my meeting will end early so i can watch the game from the start. the lord works in mysterious ways...

brobbey and martinez starting. ilicic is not in the starting lineup for atalanta, that should hopefully help. everything in that team goes through gomez, i hope eth realizes this

[Amol]

Read an article yesterday about how Gasperini (Atalanta coach) has been at loggerheads with Ilicic and Gomez for the past 7-10 days. Lets see how this plays out.

[kezme44]

yes, i think he had a bust-up with gomez during a league game. anything helps!

[SPL]

Martinez for Blind ,Labyad at 10 and Brobbey at 9. will be tough.

[Ayman]

sloppy passing at times, Antony seems to be finding his form, if only Brobbey guided it a yard to the left of the goal keeper. Labyad isn't good enough, but there is nobody of good quality that we can sub him with.

[Orange14]

Brobbey has been unbelievable given this is his first start. I think his hold up play is great. I don't think ETH has any good options the way Atalanta is setting up. Klaassen is a real liability in a match like this because he doesn't handle the ball well. There is no good outlet from the back line except to the full backs who are pressed against the sideline. Don't know where the goal can come from except on a fluke play. This looks to be going down to the final few minutes.

[kezme44]

i think this will end as a draw. cannot see us scoring. the buildup is way too slow and there's no one on the bench that can make things happen. tadic also has been very disappointing, not much coming from him

[SPL]

Not a lot to add MF is not good enough.Labyad and Tadic not in the game but Antony finally went around the outside and we got a chance.
Brobbey is doing ok very impressed compared to Traore.

Hard to see where a goal is coming from.

[Amol]

Tight first half. You can see stress on everyone's face, but I thought Brobbey started growing in stature through the game.

I would bring on Promes at LW and move Tadic to #10 and sub Labyad out.

[kezme44]

promes giveaway leads to big mess in the back with nico getting a yellow

EDIT: another ball given away by promes

[Tom_]

Just cannot see Ajax scoring here. Let’s hope for a penalty or something.

[kezme44]

i like the subs. ekkelenkamp cannot be worse than labyad

[kezme44]

oh klaassen with a great opportunity

[Amol]

Klaassen needed to drill that ball into goal. 2nd yellow for Gravenberch and we're now down to 10.

[kezme44]

what a joke. that was never a yellow

[kezme44]

i think promes has fucked up every time he's had the ball. like literally EVERY TIME

[Amol]

Martinez plays the Atalanta attacker on and we give up a goal. This is now officially over.