28 Nov 2010: VVV-Venlo - Ajax

[Kowalczyk]

Eredivisie, matchday 16.

VVV are 17th. Only 9 points.

This looks like a fixture we can actually win.

We'll be without Suárez, El Hamdaoui and Mido, though. Expect Bodul or Suk.

K.

[Orange14]

Was El Hamdaoui injured last evening? I wasn't paying attention when he was substituted.

[SPL]

Squad

Steks Verhoeven

V d Wiel, Alderweireld,Vertonghen, Anita, Blind , Oleguer

Enoh, Eriksen, de Jong, de Zeeuw, Urby, Tainio

Sulejmani, El Hamdaoui, Mido, Ozbiliz

At least we wont have Ooijer playing instead of Toby but instead of Lindgren coming on for de Jong to make it 3 defensive players I expect we will see Tainio instead !

More important lets just win and we will be 3 points off the top.The title is wide open at present with 5 teams in the race .

[rjf1]

...This looks like a fixture we can actually win...

Just so long as we don't have the attitude that the game is won just by walking onto the field.

[souras84]

wtf is going on with the line up????? urby as a DM????????????????????? after what happened on wdnesday

[Orange14]

We're making VVV look like Madrid! Not good.

[souras84]

2.50 minutes gone and vvv already had 2 chances

[rjf1]

not 5 minutes into the game and it could have been 2-0 against already.

[souras84]

what a miss!!!!!! OMG is that possible?

[rjf1]

Absolutely unbelievable that Urby missed that.

[Orange14]

It's also clear that Urby is not an attacking midfielder as he whiffs on a good cross from Sulejmani.

[saddlerian]

Well, 20 gone, and it's the same old story.....

[saddlerian]

At long last....a little bit of possession...but still have to make the keeper make a save!!!!

Will it come

[rjf1]

Possession where its pitty patting around the periphery doesn't mean crap -- and we almost gave another one away.

[saddlerian]

shouldn't have said that!!!! VVV had had 3 good changes since that!!!!

There's nothing up front for Ajax....NOTHING!!!!!!

[saddlerian]

watching this live on bet365 site...commentator doesn't seem to think that Ajax are going to make it....VVV have the bottle as their boss is up for the sack....wonder if the Ajax lad's know anything????

[rjf1]

Every play -- offence or defense -- I see 6 yellow shirts and only 3 or 4 for Ajax. Something is drastically wrong with this picture.

[saddlerian]

Good God! Nearly woke up then!!! Thought we were going to score!!!

[rjf1]

At least we came through the first half intact. Maybe when we attack the other end in the second half -- which looks a lot less slippery than the end we were attacking in the first half -- we will have better chances.

[paladinby]

Just tuned in. I guess i missed nothing interesting.

[saddlerian]

I suggest taking El Hamdaoui off as he's contributing f**k all!! Stick Mido on....and what about a little width on both flanks! Eriksen should be central to proceedings...give the lad a chance, some responsibility.....a complete change MIGHT do something!

[rjf1]

You missed what should have been 4 almost certain goals -- unfortunately, 3 of them were for Venlo.

[SPL]

Not very impressive so far and VVV could have been ahead on chances

[Orange14]

I think we are playing some kind of 4-4-2 but with the four midfielders out there we are not doing enough to create any space. VVV is parking everyone behind the ball and we are constantly either dribbling or passing into 1 on 2 or 1 on 3 situations. This is the exact same problem that we have had in the past five matches and our manager doesn't seem to have any clue about how to solve this. Unless your midfielders are constantly moving into space, there is no way that this kind of defense can be broken down. One solution (a little risky though) is for Vertonghen to come forward in the same manner that Pique does at Barca. This might create some imbalance in the VVV defense on the left allowing for an opening. I don't hold out much hope in the second half since VVV looks well organized and we are completely static.

[saddlerian]

Good Lord! Don't let Mr Jol hear you suggesting thing like that!!!! They are sensible!!!!!

Think we ought to give young Ozbiliz a chance...the only way for them to learn is to throw them in, after, Ajax are "a team struggling near the top" as the commentator on bet365 says!!!

LOOKS AS THOUGH HE Is COMING ON!!!!!!!!