05 Mar 2006: Ajax - Sparta Rotterdam

[Kowalczyk]

That's right: another team from the bottom 30% of the table. That's five of 'em in a rown. Another must-win, quite obviously. After that it's time for PSV...

K.

[Kowalczyk]

Ajax.nl reports that Sparta will come to Amsterdam without their top goalscorer Ricky van den Bergh, who has been suspended for one game due to accumulated yellow cards. This is good news. He is one of their better players, and the by far most dangerous one.

K.

[Venezuelan Ajacied]

Well thats the second time he will miss the game against us, if my memory doesent fail me he was injured in the clash at "the castle" some time ago.

Anyway i guess its good news, we should not have any problem beating them.

Lets keep the momentum going :xyxthumbs:

[ZoefdeHaas]

As for reports, Feyenoord are interested in ex-Ajacied Anthony Obodai.

[AsgAarD_xxx]

This is another game that we should win without any problems, but we have to be a little bit careful. 3-0 for Ajax, I hope. :eusa_dance:

[dws]

This is another game that we should win without any problems, but we have to be a little bit careful. 3-0 for Ajax, I hope. :eusa_dance:

The previous 4 league games have NOT been problem free.

Ajax to win: 4:1 or 5:2 :xyxthumbs:

[Dubbel]

Sparta doesn't seem to score a lot of goals in their away matches so far this season. Vd Berg's absence will hopefully further accentuate that. They do have a fairly decent defense but with the K-man on board we should be able to get one or two in. If Sneijder is back, and in any kind of good form, then I predict a 3-0.

[Blind3]

3:1 to Ajax. KJH to score twice and Markus Rosenberg once.

[ajaxperu]

I really hope Huntelaar scores again :headbang:
But I'm interested in knowing how our midfield will look like for this game. Sneijder is not ready yet and Sarpong apparently is injured. So will we see our "favorite" player Boukhari or Urby maybe in that spot...
Surprise me, Blind.

[aveslacker]

Is Juanfran really that out of form?

[Philippe]

the thing is that it will soon be hard to show any real interest in the coming league games before the play off.
BTW I would suggest that we save our strength for the inter return game, and not waste it on the p$v game 3 days earlier

[jamcocteau]

the thing is that it will soon be hard to show any real interest in the coming league games before the play off.
BTW I would suggest that we save our strength for the inter return game, and not waste it on the p$v game 3 days earlier

Can I discuss your two points here.

1. Every league game coming up is of vital importance - we are only 3 points above the team in 7th place at moment so any slip ups and we can forget about the play offs. Most of our coming games after Roda are against teams we have struggled against this year so every point and every game until the end of the season is important.

2. To go to Inter and win, which is what we need to do (unless we draw 3-3) is hard enough at the best of times, without us having our worst team in recent memory. To me, the PSV game is of equal importance, maybe even more, in that if we pick up 3 points there it puts us 3 points nearer to a play off place. A win against Inter would be wonderful, in fact totally amazing, but to suggest that we dont bother about the PSV game is absolutely ridiculous. A heavy defeat by either team is not good, as a heavy defeat at home prior to the Inter game would seriously affect morale for the game in the San Siro. Similarly, a heavy defeat in the San Siro could have consequences mentally for the rest of the season.

Each and every game until the end of the season should be treated as importantly as each other.

[Philippe]

having our worst team in recent memory. To me, the PSV game is of equal importance

The team who played against inter did not look that bad to me.

My point is that as soon as we are sure to reach the playoff, league game results will not matter that much. Moreover, we will have to think of the palyoffs games then.

[SPL]

We have to try and get a point off PSV. We have to concentrate on getting as many points as possible because we are one of 4 teams after 2 playoff places.

Beating Inter would be fantastic but getting into the playoff and beating Az and the Fword are vital. We cannot afford to miss out on Champions League next season.

[jamcocteau]

having our worst team in recent memory. To me, the PSV game is of equal importance

The team who played against inter did not look that bad to me.

My point is that as soon as we are sure to reach the playoff, league game results will not matter that much. Moreover, we will have to think of the palyoffs games then.

I am discussing the whole Ajax team over a whole season and not just the 45 minutes of exceptional football they played in the first half against Inter, even my team in Scotland, Partick, have played 45 minutes of good football all season but doesnt make them a good team. Overall, this season is the worst Ajax team that I can remember seeing in the five years I have been attending games and this is borne out by their league position. Far more capable Ajax teams have went to the San Siro and returned with nothing - my point is that it is going to take an exceptional performance from this current Ajax squad to acheive a win over there.

Re the play offs, your inital statement did not say what you are now saying. All I was pointing out is that every league game, including the PSV match, is going to be important. One slip up they way the league currently stands and we could be out of the play off spots.

[dws]

I'm hoping for a win at home to P$V followed by victory at Inter :eusa_pray:

Our Eredivisie record v's P$V is very poor: something like 5 or 6 wins in the last 40 games. X'C

[Dubbel]

Our Eredivisie record v's P$V is very poor: something like 5 or 6 wins in the last 40 games. X'C

Before 1985 P$V didn't really exist, so here's only the home wins since then. 8 wins in 20 seasons. Almost 50%... Far from brilliant but not as bad as you assumed. :aai:

08/02/2004 Ajax - P$V 2-1
22/01/1995 Ajax - P$V 1-0
05/09/1993 Ajax - P$V 2-0
19/01/1992 Ajax - P$V 1-0
28/10/1990 Ajax - P$V 3-1
18/02/1990 Ajax - P$V 3-2
09/10/1988 Ajax - P$V 2-0
31/08/1986 Ajax - P$V 3-0

[dws]

Our Eredivisie record v's P$V is very poor: something like 5 or 6 wins in the last 40 games. X'C

Before 1985 P$V didn't really exist, so here's only the home wins since then. 8 wins in 20 seasons. Almost 50%... Far from brilliant but not as bad as you assumed. :aai:

08/02/2004 Ajax - P$V 2-1
22/01/1995 Ajax - P$V 1-0
05/09/1993 Ajax - P$V 2-0
19/01/1992 Ajax - P$V 1-0
28/10/1990 Ajax - P$V 3-1
18/02/1990 Ajax - P$V 3-2
09/10/1988 Ajax - P$V 2-0
31/08/1986 Ajax - P$V 3-0

For an off the top of the head guess I was quite close ............ think we had maybe one win in Eindhoven over that period. So , overall we have had something like 8 or 9 wins in the last 40 Eredivisie fixtures. Not very good.But, as you point out: 8 wins from the last 20 home games v P$V is almost 50%; and it is a home fixture. :xyxthumbs:

[LouisXIV & co]

The Ajax-defense is soooooo poor that Sparta even without their striker can score.

2-2 :sad:

[Venezuelan Ajacied]

The Ajax-defense is soooooo poor that Sparta even without their striker can score.

2-2 :sad:

Our defense might not be very good... but it is in no way worse than Spartas, plus we got one hell of a forward line right now.

dont worry we should win this one :xyxthumbs:

2-0 Ajax( Rosenberg,Sarpong) :eusa_dance:

[Ayman]

We have plenty of injuries, we are already without long term absentees such as Mitea, Manucharyan and Vermeer, We also have serious doubts over Pienaar, Sneijder, Galasek and Trabelsi. While Heitinga (kidney) and Grygera (calf) are out for atleast a month. Not to mention Sarpong (achilles) is ruled out of the game. Probable line up.

Stekelenburg, Timisela, Maduro, Vermaelen, Emanuelson, Lindenburgh, Babel, Boukhari, Rosales, Huntelaar, Rosenberg.

If there was ever a time for Boukhari to silence his critics and haters, now is the time against his former club. Babel should be given a chance as a number 10, since he cant play on the flanks, I say lets give him first team football in this position, perhaps he can thread the ball into Huntelaar or give him the odd flick on now and again.
Prediction: Ajax Amsterdam 4-1 Sparta Rotterdam

[SPL]

I think Trabelsi and Pienaar are to play. Trabelsi missed last weeks game through suspension. Pienaar probably is not 100% match fit as he has not had a run out with Reserves but with Sarpong picking up an injury it seems we have no option .We have no other midfielders unless we delve even more into our reserves.

[dws]

A win today and we go 5 points clear of 5th place Groningen ............ more importantly, we will go 6 clear of Heerenveen and should go 6 clear of Utrecht who are being dominated by F'noord. Latest score F'noord V's Utrecht is 2:0 for F'noord. I'm watching the match via Sopcast: Can't recall Utrecht having a shot on goal ... no corners either.

[Ayman]

SPL said:

I think Trabelsi and Pienaar are to play. Trabelsi missed last weeks game through suspension. Pienaar probably is not 100% match fit as he has not had a run out with Reserves but with Sarpong picking up an injury it seems we have no option .We have no other midfielders unless we delve even more into our reserves.

NO WE CANNOT RISK THESE PLAYERS! WE NEED THEM FOR THE NEXT TWO IMPORTANT GAMES!!!!! JUST FOLLOW MY FORMATION AND SELECTION AND EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE :yes:

[ZoefdeHaas]

Too bad ;)

Stekelenburg; Trabelsi, Vermaelen, Maduro, Emanuelson; Pienaar, Lindenbergh, Boukhari; Rosales, Huntelaar en Rosenberg.