28 JAN 2021; Ajax - Willem II; Match Day 19

[Orange14]

The ridiculous fixture congestion continues this Thursday with a home match against Willem II and the Sunday a league game with AZ away in Alkmaar who looked more than decent beating Feyenoord yesterday. There will be no rest for the weary warriors as February sees that start of the Europa League group stage and a Beker match against PSV (yes, Ajax again gets the worst draw) and also an away game in Eindhoven! February sees the team playing seven matches!

[Tom_]

AZ lost to Utrecht, Vitesse about to lose to VVV, Feyenoord 2-0 down in Heerenveen at HT. 3 points from this game would be nice.

[Amol]

AZ lost to Utrecht, Vitesse about to lose to VVV, Feyenoord 2-0 down in Heerenveen at HT. 3 points from this game would be nice.

This is too good to be true. I trust Ajax to somehow find a way to give up points tomorrow.

[Orange14]

AZ lost to Utrecht, Vitesse about to lose to VVV, Feyenoord 2-0 down in Heerenveen at HT. 3 points from this game would be nice.

What a strange day! I think PSV are the true competition and Ajax just need to keep on winning!.

[SPL]

Stuck my comments in other teams. Yes a great night for us and we now have to beat lowly Willem.

[Ayman]

Ajax have to sort out the centre backs, Blind needs time off, Martinez should start. Also the midfield double pivot isn't so great. I would hope to see Kenneth Taylor get some minutes on the pitch

[Amol]

Starting 11 for today -
Onana; Mazraoui, Timber, Blind, Tagliafico; Álvarez, Gravenberch; Antony, Klaassen, Promes; Haller

Tadic and Labyad start on the bench.

[SPL]

Dont see Tadic's name on the bench . Kleiber is fit for the bench so Rensch gets dropped!!

No creativity in the MF,yes Alvarez had a decent game last week v AZ but thats the only one and we have played nearly 60 games since he arrived. Promes is played even though we hope to sell him.

Hope we dont underestimate Willem again.We did before Christmas and it cost us 2 points.

[Tom_]

I’m usually a fan, but... Klaassen is a complete tragedy today

[SPL]

Just like the game before Christmas we dont look like scoring against a team right down the bottom. MF creats zero and likewise the wingers .Alvarez is doing ok but not for a 15m signing. 5m like Martinez, who I rate far better, I would not moan.

Promes ,also 15m a waste of money .

[Tom_]

I’m usually a fan, but... Klaassen is a complete tragedy today

I’ll just leave this here

[Tom_]

Brobbey the new Huntelaar?

[souras84]

FOOTBALL IS A SIMPLE SPORT!!

WHY DO WE MAKE IT SO COMPLEX?

[SPL]

Got out of jail again ,thats 5 wins in a row but every game we have not convinced. Brobbey is my MOM on the grounds the others did little and his goal,then assist won the game .In between he had a shot which looked like going in but hit a Willem player.

He did more in 10 mins than Haller did in 90. Not convinced by Haller so far. Their goal was shocking defending as Timber lost the ball and Blind and Alvarez just seem to watch Willem score.

Ajaxshowtime did not list Tadic as a sub and comments from fans wondered why,clearly they made a mistake. At least Tadic gives a boost as Promes was woeful as ever. We have turned down 10m for Promes but want 15m just hope we sell .

[Orange14]

Ajax left it until late to take home all three points thanks in large part to Brian Brobbey. Our match commentator said he is close to signing a new contract. I hope so and wonder if he and Traore did not get injured in December whether Ajax would have spent big for Haller. Ajax had 17 shots with 9 on goal and really should have put more into the goal with some better finishing. Ajax keep the small distance between PSV and were helped as the other top teams all lost mid-week.

Player Ratings:

Onana (6) - everything was routine
Tagliafico (6) - had to come off in the 2nd half as his eye was swelling shut, decent enough while he was on
Blind (7) - good passing game once again and he did have a good complaint that his shirt was grabbed late in the match when a free kick was called against him
Timber (6.5) - good enough before coming off for Schuurs
Mazraoui (6.5) - had a better match tonight than on the weekend getting himself into some good positions and defending well
Alvarez (6.5) - don't know if he was at fault on the goal as he was forced to choose between two to defend and someone else should have really picked up the cutter
Gravenberch (6.5) - decent but not up to his usual standard
Klaassen (6.0) - two very well taken shots on goal that were difficult to execute
Promes (5.5) - lots of movement with the ball but not creating danger
Haller (6.5) - had a couple of good chances to score with one saved by the crossbar and the other by the keeper who was going the wrong way
Antony (6) - OK match but Neres played a little better coming on in the 2nd half
Tadic (6.5) - added a spark to the team and his hold up play was superb
Schuurs (6) - came in for Timber and had a couple of good interventions to break up play
Martinez (6) - put in a good shift coming in for Tagliafico and had a header that just went wide of the goal
Neres (6) - good play with the ball and almost created a goal when the keeper fumbled a save
Brobbey (7) - have to give him a high rating even though he was on for such a short period of time, scored the match winner and set up the clincher

Away to AZ on Sunday for the second time this month. Big question is which version of AZ shows up for the match, the exciting offensive team of the mediocre team that can't get things right. I suspect the former as every team gets up for Ajax!

[Orange14]

I’m usually a fan, but... Klaassen is a complete tragedy today

His first five games back from Werder were quite good, he is now a perfect example of reversion to the mean - back to normal Klaassen play with poor ball control and passing

[kezme44]

with the lack of creativity eth played him further up in the last few games. yesterday it partly worked because he scored ( though from a corner really) but I still prefer klaassen further back. I also thought alvarez had a decent game, he looked lively. I don’t blame him for the goal, the whole defense was ball watching

[Amol]

Was watching the game while working so couldn't focus 100% on the game. However I saw what I was fearing - slow movement in the midfield. Willem II had the middle packed up and were in a low block. So all our crosses were failing since they mad multiple defenders marking Haller. As soon as we got Brobbey in, their defense had to deal with 2 target men and they weren't able to manage that.

[Tom_]

I agree about Álvarez - he’s played better in his past couple of appearances. He’s too slow for the attacking roles in the MF IMHO, but he’s a good defender and his passing is good. Wonder where he fits in with Kudus coming back and Timber taking the other CD spot over from Schuurs.