Ajaxtalk

Ajax travel to Alkmaar for the second time this month to play AZ. AZ are a real Jekyll & Hyde team and one cannot tell which one will show up on any given match day. Ajax are four points up on PSV who are away to Feyenoord. Both Feyenoord and PSV have suspect MFs and this one is a tossup. Ajax just have to keep winning!!!

Tagliafico is out, A chance to see Lisandro Martinez.

PSV lose so we are 4 points clear and even a draw today and the gap is 5.Think it will be tough for us ,Rensch for Mazraoui and Martinez for Tagliafico

Martinez playing centre back while Blind at left back. Nice goal by Antony 0-1

Two fine saves from Onana and a well taken goal by Antony. Game is still close and Ajax need to be a little better on defense.

So far so good buts as usual when we are 1-0 up at Ht we need that quick 2nd

Nice comfortable win, difficult to pick an MOTM. That slip by Schuurs, which gave a chance for Boadu who was one on one with Onana, confirms that he is like Bambi on ice.

A good win and a better performance than Willem and Sittard games.Nice goal by Klaassen but AZ could have bought it back to 2-1 but our joy when Neres scored 10 mins from time was overruled by VAR.No idea why it was no goal but we held on comfortably and delighted Neres got his goal in the end.

Up front again Haller does not impress me but i do think having Davy at 10 with Alvarez at 6 works far better than Promes or Labyad at 10.
Alvarez a solid performance but when all are fit Martinez gets my vote to start over Alvarez ,he is a better defender for a start and just as effective going forward.

A week off now which is good. 6 wins in a row and 7 points clear ,a very good January indeed.

Solid win for Ajax to go seven points clear of second place PSV. There were a couple of glitches on defense but for the most part Ajax did a very good job of clearing almost everything that came into the box. Onana helped with three very nice saves to keep the clean sheet. Some clinical finishing on all three goals (four if you count the one that was marginally offsides). ETH got the tactics just right by pressuring the AZ MFs deep in their own zone slowing down the build up.

Player Ratings:

Onana (7.5) - saved three tough shots and handled the ball well when he had it
Blind (7.5) - solid match at LB which was a bit of surprise, some very good passing at both ends of the pitch
Martinez (7) - I think he was at fault for not picking up an open Gudmonsson on one of Onana's saves
Schuurs (7) - caught up field when Boadu broke away but I was surprised at how fast he caught up to the striker
Rensch (6.5) - had one poor challenge that resulted in a close in free kick but otherwise did well
Alvarez (7.5) - thought he played the best match so far in an Ajax shirt, good challenges and controlled balls in the air along with some fine passing
Gravenberch (7) - smooth match as usual
Klaassen (7.5) - really worked hard pressing and his volley for the second goal was excellent
Tacic (7.5) - really solid game again with great ball controll
Haller (6.5) - sad that he was marginally offsides on what should have been the third goal but I thought he should have been subbed off at 70 minutes as he was running on fumes
Antony (7) - excellent goal for the match winner and did well tracking back
Timber (6.5) - was that a good slalom run he had bringing the ball up field? Solid defending as well
Neres (6.5) - good match coming on for Antony and nice for him to put the ball in the net twice though only one counted
Labyad (NR) - on late
Brobbey (NR) - on late

Finally a week with some rest as Ajax do not play until next weekend when they are home to Utrecht.

This version of Klaassen reminds me of a Van de Beek type of 10. He's good at putting pressure and of making shadow runs in the area. We were lucky today, but we could have been easily 0-2 up in the first half. Anyway, I'll take the win and now we must be suicidal if we lose the championship

Big 3 points there. The pitch was poor and really deteriorated in the second half, which led to a sluggish game with loads of errors.

I’ve always liked the way Klaassen tries to use his first touch - paid off on that goal.

great result together with psv losing. so far of the other top four teams,we have beaten 3 and drew to psv while psv only drew against us and vitesse and have lost the other two. Alvarez had a very good game. glad that this formation can be competitive. still a lot of football to be played.

Getting more confident with the defense, if they carry on this way, we will officially have strength in depth. The midfield is a bit concerning though, ok for number 6 is Alvarez and maybe Taylor behind him. As for the other 2 positions B2b, Gravenberch, Kudus and Klasssen can play there, the latter can also play as a NO 10 along with Kudus and Tadic, although it's unlikely that Tadic will be allowed to play there, as his slot is on the left flank. Let's see what happens.

Alvarez did do well in the last 2 games. I'll be honest that I've not been his biggest fan as he generally struggles with the ball when pressurized. He's been getting rid of the ball quicker over the last couple games and passing it forward.

This formation worked as Blind was really playing as a LM providing creativity from the MF.