Ajaxtalk

The matches keep on coming every 3-4 days. Round of 16 Beker match is up now for Ajax in Alkmaar. ETH has shown no signs of significant player rotation so probably the same lineup will be put out on the pitch. This is going to be a tough fixture and Ajax face AZ again in the league at the end of the month.

Maybe I am the only one watching. Decent enough half of football with a lot of substitutes on the pitch. Ajax up 0-1 with a nice scramble goal after Tagliafico sent a great cross in and Ekkelnkamp got a shot off. Promes had the rebound but shot at Bizot but Labyad collected the ball and put it in. Lineup: Stekellenburg; Tagliafico, Martinez, Schuurs, Rensch; Gravenberch, Alavarez, Ekkelenkamp; Promes, Labyad, Neres.

Defense has done enough so far.

i have to admit i missed the first half,dont consider the cup very important we have too many fixtures and not a strong enough squad to bother with the Cup.

Will watch the 2nd half though

Watched all the 2nd half and we did well enough ,defence ok although I would not want Steks playing many games. Alvarez did ok at defending but he looked more like a 5th defender than a MF . AZ had a strong team out so it was a good win and ETH shuffled his squad well today.

On a windy night in Alkmaar, the first half goal by Labyad stands up and Ajax head back to Amsterdam with a 0-1 win. A number of substitute players tonight and they all played well. Gravenberch hit the post and crossbar with two shots from distance and it would have been nice to have one of them go in. Ajax used high pressure and AZ had difficulty getting the ball up the pitch. Stekelenburg did not have a difficult chance and the only time AZ came close was when Boadu handled the ball in the box. On to the next round of the Beker.

Player Ratings:

Steckelenburg (6.5) - was not all that busy and his kicking was quite good
Tagliafico (6.5) - had to do a bit of defending and missed his man on a couple of occasions but had a great cross that led to the goal
Martinez (6.5) - on poor pass that was easily intercepted in the Ajax half but was generally good
Schuurs (6.5) - decent defending and had a header off a free kick that just went wide
Rensch (6.5) - played 60 minutes and acquitted himself well
Gravenberch (7) - didn't think he would go the full 90 but he did and played well, mostly as the holding MF
Alvarez (7) - went the full 90 and did well making some good interceptions and controlling everything near him; had a header go off the crossbar in the 2nd half
Ekkelenkamp (6.5) - played well as the #10 and it was his fine take down and shot off the Tagliafico cross that started the scoring play
Promes (6.5) - had a couple of chances to score during the 90 minutes he played
Labyad (6.5) - got the goal, mopping up a rebound but otherwise didn't create a lot
Neres (6) - went 45 minutes and was rusty after a long layoff
Haller (5.5) - came in for the 2nd half and didn't have much of an opportunity to score
Timber (6) - on for Rensch for the final half hour
Klaassen (6) - on for Ekkelenkamp and put in a good shift
Tadic (6) - on for Labyad who got a knock and controlled the ball down the stretch

Fortuna Sittard on the early game this Sunday

Unfortunately I was only able to watch starting the 92nd minute Was double booked at work at that time and had to jump between both the meetings.

Glad that we were able to push ourselves past AZ and also more importantly be able to rest a bunch of our players. We have actually managed to do pretty decent (result-wise) in January.