Ajaxtalk

The matches are now going to come one on top of another with an International break in September. Thanks to the corrupt Qatar World Cup, the Champions League matches have to start quite early and Ajax will be playing two games a week through the beginning of November. Up this week is a home game against Cambuur and then CL football begins next week with Ajax hosting Calvin Bassey's former club Rangers.

Ajax spent over €110 M on transfer fees this summer so we can’t say they haven’t tried to find replacements for the players who were sold.

It is a very different team to last season. Bergwijn and Bassey both look good so far. I’m looking forward to seeing more of the other new players.

Kudus and Alvarez were back in training today. I guess there could be a question of how much disruption this has caused.

Boring first half until Bergwijn go the first goal. Ajax then woke up out of the funk they were in and really started pouring on more pressure. 2nd Bergwijn goal was magic. Stupid YC by Alvarez.

2 great goals by Bergwijn ,he is on fire and in effect he has replaced Antony in the front line but is going to get a load more goals.Obviously Brobbey wont get as many goals as Haller.

With 2 more goals the game was played in 1st gear for most of the 2nd half.A very comfortable win although we should have scored 1 or 2 more goals.

Ajax scored four nice goals for an easy win over Cambuur who did not look likely to score. Good to see Kudus get to play the better part of the 2nd half; I think he will have an important role to play with the congested fixture schedule coming up. I thought Bassey had a very fine match both on defense and in the attacking zone.

Player Ratings:

Pasveer (6) - was not put under any pressure at all
Rensch (6.5) -got on the scoreboard when Taylor shot ricocheted off off of him and into the net and over all was decent
Timber (6.5) - did not have to do much defending and had one wicket shot that was well saved
Bassey (7) - good overall game
Blind (6.5) - did well against this team but is really too slow for CL football; Wijndal must still be out injured
Alvarez (6) - decent half of football marred by picking up a YC for getting involved in a fight he should not have
Berghuis (6.5) - had a nice match with good passing and field awareness
Klaassen (6) - OK game and got free several times in the box but the ball was not at his feet
Tadic (6.5) - better than last week but really cannot beat defenders these days
Brobbey (6.5) - some good hold up play and is getting open more but the real test will be in the CL matches
Bergwijn (8) - Mr. Danger for Ajax, two great goals and drew extra defenders when he had the ball
Taylor (6.5) - I guess he ended up with a nice assist on the shot that came off Rensch for the goal, good movement on and off the ball
Kudus (6.5) - worked hard as the false 9 and picked up a goal along the way
Conceicao (5.5) - on for Bergwijn
Ocampos (NR) - on late for his Ajax debut
Sanchez (NR) - on late

Rangers coming up at home Wednesday for the start of the compressed Champions League group stage. We will see whether Schreuder is able to put the parts together and make a run.