19 AUG 2023; Excelsior - Ajax; Match Day 2

[Orange14]

On the road this Saturday against Excelsior ahead of the Europa League playoff match against a team to be determined (I hope it's not the Khazakhstan team as that would be a long trip for Ajax). Rulli is obviously out but I've not seen any other injuries reported.

[elliquido]

Berghuis suspended

[Orange14]

Berghuis suspended

Right you are!!! I forgot it was a two game suspension.

[elliquido]

Berghuis suspended

Right you are!!! I forgot it was a two game suspension.

3 games

[Tom_]

Akpom won’t get his work permit in time according to AS, and no other transfers have gone through yet, so I guess it will be the same 10 outfielders as last week.

[Orange14]

Ajax dodged a travel issue and don't have to play FC Astana of Khazahkstan, as Ludogorets of Bulgaria won the tie for the Europa League playoff match.

[SPL]

Forbs on the right and Kudus at 10 with Taylor and Klaassen on the bench .Sanchez on the bench also.

[Tom_]

Sounds like an improvement to me.

[Tom_]

Hard to see exactly what’s happening with this camera angle but I think they’re playing a 4-4-2 with Bergwijn and Kudus both central and Forbs the only winger.

Not sure it’s working because the ball seems to be getting clogged in the middle of the pitch. But they did have a few good chances to score.

[SPL]

Brobbey took the goal well and nearly got 2 more , one offside.Their goal was a shambles by Ajax and shows why a new right back has been signed and 2 more defenders are coming in next week. We should still win this though.

[Tom_]

Enough chances to score 6 but the finishing was awful for the second time in a row. And if they keep giving away those embarrassing goals it’s going to be a long, painful season

[Tom_]

Should add I thought Hato had a great game.

[SPL]

Had enough chances to have won with Brobbey's missed header the clearest chance. Kudus looked like his head was in London but we only have 1 defender and at 17 Hato is in a different class to the other 4.Full backs are not good enough and Medic looks a bit slow and ordinary and not sure he is good enough for Feyenoord PSV AZ level.

Klaassen always criticised but got a beauty and was near to a winner and worked hard.Taylor played a lot better today. Forbs quick and promising but looks like a back up and a decent right winger will be needed if Kudus goes.

Only 1 league game in the next 3 weekends and I will miss that as its my wedding anniversary although by then I should be celebrating the birth of a little granddaughter.

Next up Ludogorets and hope BT sports shows the game

[Orange14]

So we bring in two deep lying MFs, neither of whom can defend (nether one of them was anywhere near to being in position on the first goal). One can pass but that's about it and the other is not even as good as our own youth product Vos. What a total joke. I wonder if Sutalo wants to come to this shambles of a team. I'm not sure that this team will even qualify for the Europa League and maybe the Conference League is more to the team's ability. I don't know what more Steijn can do with this roster and it looks like more money has been spent on players who are just not good. As Cruyff said, don't bring in any players from outside the system if they are not as good as those from the academy.

Player Ratings:

Gorter (6.5) - no chance on either goal but he was super quick to every other ball in the area
Rensch (6) - better but if the Dane who just came in is decent, Rensch will soon be on the bench
Medic (3.5) - horrible play on the second goal and not convincing on some other plays
Hato (6) - had a couple of stumbles but above average on the day
Salah-Eddine (4.5) - not good enough and rightfully subbed off
van den Boomen (4) - just too damn slow and his only positive is that he is the best passer on the club
Tahirovic (4) - Vos is better
Kudus (6) - looked disinterested at times but had a nice assist; his heart is certainly not in Amsterdam
Forbs (4.5) - did very little
Brobbey (5) - worked hard but should have buried the header
Bergwijn (6) - decent enough compared to everyone else
Wijndal (5.5) - had a fair game in the 2nd half
Davy One Goal (6) - brought Ajax back to even terms and had a couple other good runs into the box but otherwise his ball skills are dreadful
Taylor (5.5) - tried to push the game foward and had a couple of good plays but is too erratic
Hlynsson (NR) - on late

It's going to be a long season.

[SPL]

Agree with you on ratings. I do think Fitz-Jim Misehouy and Vos would be no worse than the Mf today. V D Boomen is nothing special and if we are to keep Vos as back up at least we should have bought in an experienced DMF. Not sure Forbs today is any better than Godts.