01 Nov 2008: FC Twente - Ajax

[Kowalczyk]

Tough game. No doubt about that. Very, very important one, too. If we want to finish 2008 as the league leaders, I reckon this is time time to beat a direct competitor - and show where we stand.

Will be interesting.

It will be an interesting weekend of football anyway. League leaders AZ travel to Heerenveen, which will be a tough one for them. The result of NAC Breda vs FC Groningen also concerns us. A draw would be perfect.

I don't expect Willem II to do much in Eindhoven, unfortunately.

Also: Roda vs f-word...

K.

[Kowalczyk]

In addition to that...

November 1st. It's getting cold and rainy. Winter is coming.

This is when we normally lose the plot for a week or five, six (or even 'til Christmas). This has been consistently the case in recent years, which makes November/December the phase of the season in which we normally lose the title race. Let's keep that in mind and make sure it doesn't happen again.

In my opinion Ajax can not win the title before January, but they can can sure as hell lose it before January, or make the situation pretty hopeless at the very least. We've been poor in away games so far and we always suck at home against PSV. If we blow it against PSV ((16 Nov) and in the away games at Twente (Saturday) and AZ (23 Nov) it will be the same old story: then we will start 2009 well behind the top group (AZ, PSV and possibly one or two others as well) - and I am convinced that we will not clinch that shield in that case. We really, really have to be tops by Christmas, or very close to the top at least. The deficit should be small.

K.

[DanK]

Also: Roda vs f-word...

K.

LMAO!!!

Seriously though. I might get totally grilled for this, but I don't want Fword to get relegated. That would be a shame for Dutch Football and for the best wins of the year for us

Maybe they can just go to the relegation playoffs and then scrape in on penalites.

[Orange14]

In addition to that...


This is when we normally lose the plot for a week or five, six (or even 'til Christmas). This has been consistently the case in recent years, which makes November/December the phase of the season in which we normally lose the title race. Let's keep that in mind and make sure it doesn't happen again.

K.

Fully agree with this assessment. This will be one tough match as Twente have been nothing short of spectacular going back to last spring. I don't know if you improving defense can keep a clean sheet on this one but that might be what it takes as it's not likely we get more than one goal.

[gordonvandekamp]

I agree, this is a big one especially as Twente have played well all season, better than I thought they would with a new coach and losing the players they did. I also agree about the title chase, it won't be won now, but can be lost; and we need to be top or very close by Christmas.

What is promising for me this season, compared to the past few, is that we're working our way up the standings, rather than starting at the top and losing it. I think if anything that provides more motivation to keep winning games, especially with it being van Basten's first season, and not slack off and lose points in games that aren't "big games". I guess we'll see over the next few weeks how that pans out.

[JohnyAjax]

We go into this one as slight underdogs in my opinion. Some really hard work will be required to get a result here. We obviously do have the quality but i think Twente are mentally and physically stronger than us. I think Van Basten may well consider sitting back and let Twente come onto us a little as our defense may shit all the hard work up when we attack as our opponents have the potential to play excellent counter-attacking football. At the same time we mustn't play too defensively as we face strong physical opposition. Quite a challenging task this one...

[Orange14]

I think Suarez has to sit this one out because of yellow cards (how can anyone get five already?). Who starts up front with KJH? Leonardo was rubbish on Wednesday. Sno scored for the reserves but isn't the threat Suarez is. I can't see us scoring now unless its via a set peice with Vermalen heading something in. Increased worry from me.

[Frans]

I think Suarez has to sit this one out because of yellow cards (how can anyone get five already?). Who starts up front with KJH? Leonardo was rubbish on Wednesday. Sno scored for the reserves but isn't the threat Suarez is. I can't see us scoring now unless its via a set peice with Vermalen heading something in. Increased worry from me.

From what I saw against Heracles, I didn't think Leonardo was that bad. Or rather, I thought he showed enough that when he gets some rhythm back he could do well. He got into a couple of possible scoring positions (and fucked them up quite impressively) but just looked a bit short on confidence. We can always throw Martina in...

[Kowalczyk]

Yes, we have a real problem upfront, with Suárez suspended and Cvitanich injured...

Personally, I was thinking about a 4-4-2 with KJH and Leonardo upfront, with a four-man midfield behind them: Gabri, Lindgren, Sno and Urby.

Defence: Silva, Oleguer, Vermaelen, Vertonghen.

Why no Van der Wiel? I like the guy, but not as a right fullback, and my men of preference for the centre are definitely Oleguer and Vermaelen.

K.

[kraz11]

With suarez suspended our chances of getting something out of
this game are close to zero...

i would prefer playing with sarpong upfrond with kjh
Leonardo doesnt deserve a starting place

i'd like to see that

Sarpong Huntelaar

Urby Verthongen Sno Gabri

V.D.W Vermaelen Oeguer Silva

im aware that vdw never played as a left back but he
has great technic and i think he can do it
worth a try since i think we need both verthongen and urby in
attacking positions

[Amol]

With suarez suspended our chances of getting something out of
this game are close to zero...

i would prefer playing with sarpong upfrond with kjh
Leonardo doesnt deserve a starting place

i'd like to see that

Sarpong Huntelaar

Urby Verthongen Sno Gabri

V.D.W Vermaelen Oeguer Silva

im aware that vdw never played as a left back but he
has great technic and i think he can do it
worth a try since i think we need both verthongen and urby in
attacking positions

Sarpong is out injured. We should have Goossens or Martina or both in the starting line up.

[SPL]

Martina may make a start.Would have Leonardo up front as well
otherwise Urby can play left wing Vertonghen back in midfield with Schilder left back .

Even at full strength this is tough game.

[Orange14]

Match is on ESPN 360 here in the US

[rjf1]

11 mins. in. So far not much of anything -- mostly pitty pat passing in the middle of the pitch. Nothing dangerous looking either way.

[Van basten]

Goaaaaal!!!!!

[Ayman]

S. de Jog scores 0-1 to Ajax...all credit to him he started up the move with martina

[rjf1]

Incredible! After 35 minutes of boring nothing a goal comes out of nowhere! 1 for the good guys!!!

[Orange14]

0-1 at the half. It is pretty clear that Marco is playing defense first football today. lots of holding up play by Vermeer which is not appreciated by the Twente fans. We are finally getting some good calls from the referee who as we all know has never been too kind to us. Let's put together a solid second half!

[Van basten]

Thank good Alia didn't fall in penalty box, coz it definetly would be a penalty..

[Orange14]

KJH off for Sno. Clarly a defensive move.

[Van basten]

Sno in, KJh out. Now we don't have any real strikers on the field

[rjf1]

Totally - wonderfully - unbelievable!!!!

[Orange14]

lindgren in stoppage time 0-2

[saddlerian]

Now we can start believing!!!

What a totally, utterly, great display of determination and guts!!

2 - 0.....we're on our way!!!

[Van basten]

Fucking great!!!!