03 MAR 2024; Ajax - Utrecht; Match Day 24

[Orange14]

The great comeback starts this coming Sunday as Ajax host Utrecht. 11 league matches left to go and Ajax will surprise us all with a total win out!!!! UP from the depths of despair.

[SPL]

Unrest in the camp as they have been given 3 days off this week and some players are coming in to train as they feel it needed.
Seems like Van t' Schip is losing the players. If we lose this match and current form of both sides suggests we will lose then the fans will revolt.

After the good performance v PSV the wheels have come off but Bergwijn being injured, also Berghuis and Henderson missing so no experience. I do fear we will be 6th and in the Conference play offs and lose so no Europe next season . You can kiss goodbye to Brobbey although Hato will stay another year as he is not a De Ligt and not ready for a bigger league just yet.

As every fan knows Mislintat has destroyed this season ,even Ramaj,the only player worth keeping is being scouted by the EPL clubs. Those running the club are the real problems and we have been saddled with poor coaches for 2 years.

[Orange14]

v'ant Schip will see out the end of the season and then move on to a technical role with the club for which he originally signed. I tend not to believe press reports about unrest in teams. Sometimes it is true and others not. Everyone knows that the problem is a lack of quality in the team and if you lose two starters such as Bergwijn and Berghuis, the attack is reduced to Brobbey and a prayer. The new Technical Director finally comes aboard in a week or so and I'm sure he will hit the ground running. Lots to do and big problems with a lack of money next year.

[souras84]

I guess Kroes is joining soon?

[Orange14]

I guess Kroes is joining soon?

March 15, I think is the date.

[Tom_]

No names on any of the quotes so there’s a fair chance it’s all made up. It’s a crap team that is going through a tough spell of games so I’m not surprised the media are looking to stir up some controversy.

Either way, this looks like a hard game and they really can’t afford to drop more points. I’d be ok with three CDs again.

[saddlerian]

Got a choice this afternoon...watch the match, or take my wife for a beer........wins

[Orange14]

Henderson captains the team and pairs with Mannswerk as the deep MFs. Five in the back agains.

[Tom_]

Where do you think we’d be on the table this season without Brian Brobbey?

[Orange14]

Where do you think we’d be on the table this season without Brian Brobbey?

Fighting against relegation. Anyway, great pass by Kaplan upfield to Sosa who gets it to Brobbey who left foots it into the goal for 10. Ajax look more stable at the back with this formation and only had one troubling moment when Lammers had a half chance. 70% possession by Ajax but they have not created more than some half chances.

[SPL]

So far so good

[Tom_]

Not very nice to watch but they barely gave away any chances and finally got a clean sheet. I think we will see this setup a lot for the rest of the season or at least while there are no fit wingers.

Kaplan seems solid and he is much more comfortable with the ball than Sutalo.

[SPL]

Blimey after holding on at 1-0 for so long we get the 2nd and win with last 16 mins down to 10 and our first zero against for many games.Clearly a much better performance and we are 5th and AZ are only 4 points ahead.

[Orange14]

Finally a clean sheet!!! Rensch added some drama to what should have been an easy win by recklessly stomping on Lammer's ankle. VAR signaled down for a look and a RC was rightfully given. Another strong match from Brobbey who was MOTM with the match winner and then a nice asssist to a breaking Taylor who slotted home the insurance goal. Ajax looked very comfortable in the new formation which I guess is a 5-2-2-1. Taylor and Hlynsson are not wingers but do move up to press when Utrecht had the ball deep. Mannswerk and Henderson sealed up the deep MF and until going down to 10, the Ajax goal was seldom threatened. One win in the books and 10 more to go as Ajax seek some late redemption in an otherwise horrible season.

Player Ratings:

Ramaj (6.5) - didn't have to make an hard saves and did manage the back with some decent kicking
Goojier (6.5) - no mistakes and did venture forth on a couple of occasions but it looks like the instructions are safety furist
Rensch (4.5) - was decent until the sending off for a stomp on the ankle
Kaplan (7) - solid in the middle of the back 3 CBs, great upfield pass to Sosa on the match winner
Hato (7) - good enough match as the Cal Ripken steak continues
Sosa (7) - actually a good defensive match!!! very nice pass to Brobbey for the match winner in the first half
Mannswerk (7) - I counted only one turnover and it's clear he has a much better awareness of the game than Tahirovic
Henderson (7) - skippered the team and was solid
Hlynsson (6) - did a workmanlike job but had little opportunity in the attacking half
Brobbey (8) - utterly dominated whoever tried to defend him, great shot with the left foot for a goal and better assist on the Taylor goal
Taylor (7.5) - did nothing wrong and got the insurance goal
Akpom (NR) - on for Brobbey late in the 2nd half but had little impact on the game
van den Boomen (NR)- on for Mannswerk late
Medic (NR) - on after the Rensch RC and had a couple of good clearances

Aston Villa up on Thursday in Amsterdam. I hope this type of solid performance can continue. Fortuna Sittard up next Sunday

[saddlerian]

Good result yesterday, watched highlights on returning from the pub...still frailty in midfield, even though Taylor always seemed to be up there accompanying Brobbey..the main worry now seems to be BB, who's been MoM in over 60% of the games this season, will surely be tempted by any EPL offers as his "Dougan" attitude of holding the ball up is brilliant ...Get someone who can work with him...a winger who DOESN'T stop and pass backwards!!

[SPL]

I too fear Brobbey will be off in the summer to EPL.

Back to the game ,I watched the highlights and did not think Rensch deserved a red card .A couple of minutes later the highlights showed Taylor being stamped on the foot a lot harder but no red . Ref and VAR seem to operate different rules.Rensch now out for 2 games so maybe Sutalo will play in a 5 man defence.

[Tom_]

One of those ones that look bad in slow mo. Once the ref gets called over to review it it’s always a direct red. Don’t think Rensch can really complain, although it’s another situation where VAR is used inconsistently.

[Orange14]

One of those ones that look bad in slow mo. Once the ref gets called over to review it it’s always a direct red. Don’t think Rensch can really complain, although it’s another situation where VAR is used inconsistently.

Dutch league is the most aggressive at using VAR to review possible RCs. Tom is right in terms of it always being called. I think it's good for protecting players.