27 APR 2025; Ajax - Sparta; Match Day 31

[Orange14]

Home to an improving Sparta squad that looked like relegation fodder earlier in the season. Just win this one!!

[Orange14]

I was hoping Ajax would get some help as PSV was in Enschede to play FC Twente. Twente took an early lead but their defense is just awful and they conceded 3 goals to lose 1-3. Ajas need a win on Sunday to keep things at six points.

[Tom_]

Ajax just needs to get the required 7 points. We should win this one and the following game against NEC.

I don’t think they’ll be expecting PSV to drop points although it may happen against Feyenoord.

[SPL]

PSV will have a hard game v Feyenoord ,as they are are in form and need to finish 3rd ahead of Utrecht. We just have to beat Sparta .

[SPL]

Rugani for Kaplan ,as Baas is still out.Edvardsen for Godts, Traore back and Berghuis in MF .Klaassen will play 6 role with Henderson suspended. I would prefer to see Fitz-Jim in Mf. Dont rate Berghuis anymore, he can come on as a sub and thats it.

A must win game, even a draw is not good enough as it would give PSV real hope . Also 2 games without a win and I could see us bottling the title. Today Brobbey will score and win the game for us.He owes us.

[Tom_]

Yikes, what is Traoré doing today?

Zero quality in MF, the only danger comes when our defenders push forward. Which is riskier and riskier as the game goes on.

[Orange14]

So many poor touches and passes. Ajax are really lucky not to be down 0-2. Passing is just too slow yet again.

[SPL]

Sparta have had 3 chances on the break but unlike Utrecht have not scored. Our wingers are completely ineffective and MF poor.

[Tom_]

At least Edvardsen is playing the ball quickly.

Farioli hasn’t made many HT subs recently but I think Fitz-Jim or Mokio need to come on for Traoré.

Two big saves from Mateus otherwise we’d be 2–0 down.

[Tom_]

The usual recipe, Ajax was really poor for 60+ minutes and then started getting chances in the final 30. It has worked a lot this season but not today.

Only six points required from the last three games but really I don’t think we can complain if we finish second with a squad this poor.

[SPL]

Plenty of near misses but Matheus almost cost us the match, what was he doing picking the ball up. Hope Pasveer is back for the last 3 games,Matheus should have prevented at least 2 goals in Utrecht last week.

Weghorst has to start in the remaining games, Brobbey rubbish again .All 4 who played on the wing were weak.

All depends on Feyenoord v PSV ,if PSV win that they will win their other 3 and we will blow it .

[Orange14]

WTF was Mattheus thinking?????????????????? He makes a bunch of great saves and then doesn't even realize he has a back pass to deal with. Maybe he forgot that they changed the rules on back passes 20 or so years ago!!!! The final 20 minutes plus stoppage time, Ajax played decent football. Three shots caromed off the post or cross bar and it took Reeger late to even up the score. The good news is Ajax got one of the seven points they need. The bad news is that they are still unconvincing other than defense. I'm puzzled why Fitz-Jim did not see a minute of action in this game. At least Henderson returns for the next match and maybe we don't see Klaassen at all. What a weird game.

Player Ratings:

Mattheus (2) - I was going to give him a ZERO but since Ajax got the draw and he did make some great saves in the first half, I decided to be charitable
Gaaei (6) - he had some good crosses and a couple of decent corner kicks
Sutalo (7) - good game and he took the opportunity to get forward opening things up a bit
Rugani (6) - decent enough
Hato (6) - still doesn't get the ball enough when he moves up the field
Klaassen (5) - just too limited to be on the pitch today
Taylor (5) - other than the shot that clanged of the upright he had little impact
Berghuis (4.5) - needed to show up and did not
Traore (3) - just horrible in all aspects of his game
Brobbey (5) - I'm now of the opinion that he needs to move on, maybe he can score for another team; he cannot for Ajax
Edvardssen (6) - put in a decent shift in his first start
Mokio (5.5 ) - had one bad ball loss but otherwise worked hard and almost scored
Weghorst (6.5) - put in a solid effort and at least knows where to run to get in a position to score
Godts (5.5) - better coming on as a sub than as a starter
Regerr (6) - usually late subs don't get a rating but Regeer hit a hard shot off the crossbar and then saved the point for Ajax

Fortunately, we won't be tortured next Sunday as Ajax have the weekend off. NEC at home in two weeks followed by a mid-week trip to Groningen and then wrap up with Twente at home. Will the team stumble over the line as the champions or not. Right now it's 50-50.

[SPL]

Berghuis,Brobbey Traore were woeful and must not start again. Need to cheer on Feyenoord in 2 weeks they can give us the title after these last 2 games.

[Tom_]

Not sure what to say about the midfield, they just have no way to create chances against a set defence because they all suck at passing. I guess Klaassen does what he can to play with his first or second touch but he is not super gifted technically.

Hato makes more chances than Godts and Gaaei is usually the one who brings the ball up the other side, although he struggled today.

The commentator made a crack about Gaaei playing the same way he always does when Maurice Steijn is coaching in the ArenA. Cruel but true.

[SPL]

PSV are away to Sparta in their last game so I still have hope we will be champs. How such a poor squad look like being champs is unbelievable.

[raymon]

PSV are away to Sparta in their last game so I still have hope we will be champs. How such a poor squad look like being champs is unbelievable.

If Sparta/Steijn are safe by then I’m sure they wont give PSV a game. A club from Rotterdam and a manager with a sour Ajax history.

[SPL]

8th and 9th places for conference league playoffs so Sparta may still need a result v PSV.
Best hope is that Feyenoord need 3rd place and wont want to lose.

[SPL]

Pray that Pasveer is back for the last 3 games but sadly no Baas. Berghuis must never play in Mf but he and Traore on the right. I dont like inverted wingers and thankfully that is one modern bit of footy that did not come out of South East Amsterdam in the 1970's

Press and fans comments on Brobbey that he should not start. I would not even play him again,yesterday we started with 9 in effect as Berghuis is a non event in MF and Brobbey is just a non event plays with his back to the goal and simply uses his weight to wrestle players to the ground.

Weghorst needs to start and let Rasmussen or Konadu be sub. The other week v NAC Konadu was responsible for getting the penalty and set up another goal.

After these last 2 games I do fear we will blow it.If PSV win v Feyenoord I do think they will nick the title.Groningen away will be tough and if we have to beat Twente in the last game we will blow it. Pressure is on us,PSV know its not in their hands but have got back into winning ways.

[Orange14]

I read a comment yesterday about how many more matches Ajax have played this season compared to Sparta. I suspect that even with all the rotation, players are tired now. It has been a very long season and some of the edge they had a month ago is not present right now. Maybe the two weeks off will help. I continue to believe that Farioli has done an amazing job given the talent he has.

[Tom_]

All up I think Weghorst is better than Brobbey and Edvardsen is better than Godts. I can see the reasoning for starting them on the bench though.

Farioli doesn’t start with the strongest 11 - he holds some better players back and brings them on in a phase of the game when he thinks they’ll be more effective. I’m pretty sure that’s the logic, I guess it’s up for debate whether it’s a good idea or not. I think it works well with Edvardsen and in general we’ve scored a lot of late goals this season.