Ajaxtalk

Nine days to go...

Inter vs Ajax... :yes:

K.

I thought I'd post this here as well...

ajaxperu schreef:How many Ajax fans will be going to Milan for the game against Inter? As I was seeing the juventus game today I thought it was really a shame that such a big team can never fill up their stadium. Inter is different they have a big crowd but I would really love to see a huge amount of Ajax fans supporting the team there.

Well... forget it. Only 800 tickets sold so far. A number of Ajax fans won't buy tickets the 'official' way (they'll get them in Milan), but it's going to be 1,000 tops.

The reason for this is obvious: This is the fourth time we go to Milan and the San Siro in less than three and a half years' time (1x Inter and 2x Milan since Fall 2002). Many Ajax fans that I know are saying: "Don't feel like going there again." An extra reason for that is the fact that Milan isn't the best place in the world atmosphere-wise: pubs are not easy to find, many of them don't sell alcohol to away fans (or won't let you in at all), police presence is overwhelming (and quite grumpy) and you hardly get to mee any local fans in town before the game. Unlike the English or Danish fans we've met this season, Italian are normally hardly up for a few beers and some footie chatter before the game.

Many Ajax fans didn't particularly enjoy Milan as a city on previous occasions. And the chance of a win isn't too huge either, let's face it. That's why interest is low. Pity, but it's true.

I'm going, though. Absolutely.

K.

I have a feeling about this one. Can just see us snatching a winner. (is there an emoticon for having your fingers crossed?)

DanK schreef:I have a feeling about this one. Can just see us snatching a winner. (is there an emoticon for having your fingers crossed?)

We use prayers. :eusa_pray: :D

My prediction is that we will win by 1-2, with a last minutes goal thanks to a blunder by their goalie.;)

Spicy detail: the draw for the quarter final is this upcoming Friday. Which means that, by the time we play Inter, we will know whom we'll bump into if we make it... Not sure if it will make any difference, but it's... unusual.

K.

very strange indeed, hope we get an extra motivation from this (meaning let's hope to avoid another boredom session with AC Milan or Arsenal for instance)

philippe schreef:My prediction is that we will win by 1-2, with a last minutes goal thanks to a blunder by their goalie.;)

Hmm, did they sign a silly German as their keeper? ;)

If we qualify, let's pray for Villareal or Benfica. I want this Champions League to last a bit longer :D

carcajou schreef:If we qualify, let's pray for Villareal or Benfica. I want this Champions League to last a bit longer :D

A matchup with Benfica would be quite interesting, wouldn't it? :yes:

My choice for our next opponent would be :
1-villareal (not that difficult to beat)
2-benfica (not that difficult to beat)
3-arsenal (not that difficult to beat)
4-juventus (could be a nice revenge though)
5-lyon (nothing to gain, they never proved anything in European competitions)
6-ac milan (déjà vu and boring to death)
7-barcelona (I would save them for the final)

I say bring on Barcelona in the next round so we make them suffer and make the rest of Europe terrified

Would we be able to play Arsenal, given that they were in the same group as us?

By the way: let's not count our chickens before they're hatched. There is still the small matter of beating Inter in Milan.

I don't think we'll survive againt Inter, but if we do I will be hoping for Villarreal or Benfica - for sure.

As for travel: I will not go to Italy or Highbury again this season.

K.

If you ask me I think this game will be a turbulant one. Full of twists and turns, could go one way or the other. I just hope we dont get outclassed or thrashed like PSV! :eusa_pray:

Ayman schreef:I just hope we dont get outclassed or thrashed like PSV! :eusa_pray:

It's unlikely. Lyon were better from the start, no doubt about it, but it didn't look like a 4-0 game until Cocu got sent off (PSV's most important man, tactically) and their whole tactical plan could be flushed down the toilet.

After Lyon's first goal PSV were actually close to equalizing for a brief phase. The second goal just before half-time killed them. In the second half (11 vs 10) they collapsed.

Normally this won't happen to us in Milan, especially because Inter aren't solid defensively.

K.

Inter will play for a draw. Whenever they score they play with 11 defending players.

There is no doubt about it.

What would be dangerous for Ajax would be if inter score first : then we would have to score two goals at least, take risks (the 97 semi-final return game in Turin is still in my mind).

That's why it is crucial for Ajax to score the first goal.

BTW inter are only third, 14 points AC Milan, adn have lost all hope for the domestic league. Another season with no trophy. So crisis is not far

philippe schreef:Inter will play for a draw. Whenever they score they play with 11 defending players.

There is no doubt about it.

What would be dangerous for Ajax would be if inter score first : then we would have to score two goals at least, take risks (the 97 semi-final return game in Turin is still in my mind).

That's why it is crucial for Ajax to score the first goal.

BTW inter are only third, 14 points AC Milan, adn have lost all hope for the domestic league. Another season with no trophy. So crisis is not far

The match in Turin could have been so very different had Tijani Babangida not Fu**ed up a fantastic early chance.

We have a real chance to win at Inter if Rosenberg plays close to the touchline instead of pinched. Markus showed against Sparta that he can produce match winning wing play. He has to play like that at Inter. If he does, he and rosales can provide chances for Huntelaar to win us the tie.

Ajax has to play its own game. Almost our whole defense is injured, so we'll have to take some chances and just go for it. If we wait and let Inter make the play, we're lost. Inter has some fine players who will punish us.

It's the Ajax style to just play as offensive as possible, but this time it's necesary. Our offensive line is in great shape, but our defense is fucked-up.

dws schreef:
The match in Turin could have been so very different had Tijani Babangida not Fu**ed up a fantastic early chance.

I can remember the way he looked at van Gaal on the bench right after…

Back to this one : statistics show how a game with inter can be boring, they have one of the second best defense in serie A with 22 goals in 28 games. We obviously have to score first.

philippe schreef:That's why it is crucial for Ajax to score the first goal.

Yeah, that's right, but not too fast please. If Ajax start furiously and make it 0-1 after like 4 minutes, Inter will have plenty of time to turn it around and we the remaining 86 minutes will be like the second half in Amsterdam.

The longer it's 0-0 the better it is, really. If we can make it to the half-time break at 0-0 and notch a goal on the hour... then we'd be talking.

K.

philippe schreef:Inter will play for a draw. Whenever they score they play with 11 defending players.

There is no doubt about it.

BTW inter are only third, 14 points AC Milan, adn have lost all hope for the domestic league. Another season with no trophy. So crisis is not far

Philippe, where do you get this idea that Inter play with 11 defending players once they score. I have watched Inter about 7 times this season at the San Siro and they have been a more attacking side than Ajax for most of the season, they are still scoring on average 2.5 goals per game at home but less than 1 per game away from home. They are not great defensively so have add to rely on their attack to make up for defensive errors. Their star player, Adriano, is going through a confidence crisis at the moment and this is something which should be to Ajax's benefit.

BTW Inter are 4 points behind AC and not 14 as you suggest. They are 14 points behind Juventus, who as anybody who knows anything about Serie A will tell you are an exceptional team in the league over the last 18 months and so far have only lost 1 Serie A game this season.

Also Inter won the Coppa Italia last year abd are through to the Semi this year - so how can you say another season with no trophy.

jamcocteau wrote:

Also Inter won the Coppa Italia last year abd are through to the Semi this year - so how can you say another season with no trophy.

Winning a cuddly toy at Bingo carries more weight than winning the Copa Italia :yes: ;) :D :xyxthumbs:

dws schreef:jamcocteau wrote:

Also Inter won the Coppa Italia last year abd are through to the Semi this year - so how can you say another season with no trophy.

Winning a cuddly toy at Bingo carries more weight than winning the Copa Italia :yes: ;) :D :xyxthumbs:

Probably mate - like winning the Scottish cup this year or Amstel but a trophy is a trophy and counts on the record books :xyxthumbs: :headbang:

You off to Dublin at weekend

jamcocteau schreef:

dws schreef:jamcocteau wrote:

Also Inter won the Coppa Italia last year abd are through to the Semi this year - so how can you say another season with no trophy.

Winning a cuddly toy at Bingo carries more weight than winning the Copa Italia :yes: ;) :D :xyxthumbs:

Probably mate - like winning the Scottish cup this year or Amstel but a trophy is a trophy and counts on the record books :xyxthumbs: :headbang:

You off to Dublin at weekend

Have to make do with watching Ireland V Scotland on the telly ...........

Would have been going to Rome for the final match v Italy ......... had to change my plans for that X'C ......... would have loved a few days in Rome.


You seem to get around ...... Paris, Milan, Amsterdam ...... Travelling shoe salesman or Porn star ? ;) :xyxthumbs: