25 Oct 2006: Ajax - ADO Den Haag

[Kowalczyk]

The game after the Classic. Old friends visiting the ArenA -- without their supporters, by the way.

K.

[Kowalczyk]

I don't need to tell any of you that we have gone through a few bad seasons in recent years: poor results, even worse football.

But you gotta accèèn-tchu-ate the postive when it happens, so let's just take a minute to tell ourselves that we've seen some pretty damn good football in recent weeks - in three spectacularly entertaining matches in a row. Utrecht away, Groningen at home and - in a different way - Feyenoord away, were three absolutely wonderful games for Ajax (and, especially Utrecht and Groningen, for the 'objective spectator' as well), in which Ajax looked quite good to say the very least.

It's good to be aware of that sometimes: these are good times. I look forward again to every Ajax game. Can't wait 'til tomorrow evening.

Keep it up, Ajax! At the moment it's great fun for you (the players) and also for us (the fans), but it will only stay this way if we stay focused. Against Den Haag, for starters. They are not great, but they've been a bit unfortunate in recent games and, ironically, the chance that they will roll over as easily as Feyenoord is close to zero. Come on, give 'em hell! (the scumbags...)

K.

[Dubbel]

Many say Den haag has a good team and that the side plays decent football. As it turns out though, Den Haag's start of the season(1 point in 8 games) is the worst Eredivisie-start in a decade. Equaled only by Sparta Rotterdam(2006) and FC Groningen(in 2002).

Yet Den Haag does have a certain reputation to surprise against top-teams. In recent seasons they managed to get points from all of them except perhaps Psv. After last year's 2-2 we can't let them pull a similar trick this year. Not if we want to win the title this time, anyway.

There probably lies an advantage in the absence of the away team's supporters. All in all it is still a game in which Ajax must make the dif early on. If Den Haag stays in the game then their defense will toughen and we could see some sort of Houdini act. If it's 2-0 after half an hour then our fans can relax to enjoy a hemroid-free night of football.

Ex-Ajacieden in their line-up: Michael Mols(0 games) and Richard Knopper(66 games).

No Stam, no Maduro against Den Haag.

[Kowalczyk]

Good decision to rest Stam. Not only because of his injury, but also because he will be suspended for one game after his next yellow card. We will need him in Heerenveen on Saturday, so I think this is a wise decision from HTC.

K.

[Dubbel]

Good point. I wonder if Jaap is professional enough to receive that suspending 5th yellow card against Heerenveen in the 85th minute, then miss Heracles, and be ready for Psv.

[Dubbel]

Ajax plays against a very defenisive visiting side. Both got some chances early on. Gabri broke it for us.

1-0 Gabri
2-0 Sneijder

Almost half time now. With a bit of luck it will be another big score.

EDIT: 2nd half extremely boring.

2-0 = final.

[Cedric]

Game ended : 2-0.

PSV - Sparta : 7-0 ;)

[dws]

Easy win for Ajax. Den Haag played very defensively and rarely threatened the Ajax goal. Nice first half, and as Dubbel stated: very dull second period.

[Kowalczyk]

The first half was actually better than people will remember (if you know what I mean), but the second was a 45-minute yawn-fest. Terribly boring. But hey: this was an 'in between' game. Feyenoord away last Sunday; Heerenveen away coming up. This was one of those games in which Ajax simply had to do the business - and they did. I'm happy. Three points (in the past two seasons we dropped two points against this lot at home), I'm a satisfied man.

K.

[Philippe]

ADO Den Haag currently is the weakest side of the league with only 1 point out of 9 games.
Same for Sparta R., and I really feel sorry for Yannis : what a terrible way to end his career.

[jamcocteau]

Well another 3 points on the board at least, was half expecting another collapse like last season going into injury time but wasn't going to happen. 1st half was good and 2nd half it appeared that the apathy which tends to generate round the stands of the Arena, was seeping into the players. The team did tend to lose its shape wheN Gabri went off and Perez moving into the centre channel from a wider role. Ajax look a far more effective team when the ball is played out to the wings than played through the centre where they tend to get bogged down.

Forgettable 2nd half apart from the "banger" launched onto the pitch which managed to blow a 2 foot piece of turf out and the large number of strap on dildos and vibrators which came flying onto the pitch as a small reminder of past indescretions of a certain Den Haag player.

When I got home last evening I did a quick comparison of the 9 games played so far this season with the corresponding home or away fixture last season. During 2006/7 from these corresponding 9 games we have 24 points out of a possible 27. In 2005/6 from the same 9 games we had 14 points - a difference of 10 points to the better.

The forthcoming fixtures against Heerenven, Heracles and PSV will show if we are truely to be considered contenders for this seasons title but so far the record does show a large improvement so far this season in terms of points won.

[saddlerian]

This was one of those games in which Ajax simply had to do the business - and they did.
K.

:headbang: :headbang:
That's the idea! Main target was to win, the 3 points being the most important!
Three more on Saturday....possibly!
Three more against Heracles......even bigger possibility!
Three more against PSV....a certain requirement!!

:xyxthumbs: :xyxthumbs:

[Kowalczyk]

Match report is up!

http://www.ajax-usa.com/matches/m06-07/ ... ut-it.html

K.

[Kowalczyk]

Really cool, by the way: Jaap Stam visited the F-Side in the first half. There are some pictures on the Ajax Foto Side:
http://www.ajaxfotoside.net/0607thuis/ado/ado.html

He seems a nice guy. Really took his time to take pictures with the fans, autograph stuff and have a quick chat here and there. Nice one.

On Saturday I want him on the pitch, though... :D

K.

[ZoefdeHaas]

Your elooking at Stam? Im checking those birds out in the Ajax shop!