15 Oct 2011: Ajax - AZ

[Kowalczyk]

After a weekend of Euro 2012 qualifiers, it's time for Eredivisie action again!

Matchday 9: Ajax take on the (surprising) league leaders.

No Alderweireld, no Van der Wiel, no Sigthórsson - oh dear.

Kick-off time is 18:45 CET.

K.

[Philippe]

Alderweireld will play.
http://www.parool.nl/parool/nl/13/AJAX/ ... n-AZ.dhtml

[Michael_B]

Maybe. No certainties yet. Even then... I foresee 3 points for AZ.

[Dubbel]

Yes, Alderweireld had full speed practice today and is fit to play. There is always Ooijer as back up. Leaves us missing Wiel and Boilesen. Ruben Ligeon is a likely candidate for the RB spot while Anita can take over LB again. Most troubling to me looks our front line without Sigthorsson at #9. Still, we should at least be able to get a draw, right?

[Orange14]

we should at least be able to get a draw, right?

Home match; we WILL win.

[Flipster81]

I would like to see

Vermeer
van Rhijn/ Ligeon
Alderweireld
Vertonghen (C)
Anita
Enoh
Janssen
Eriksen
Sulejmani
Boerrigter
de Jong

[Philippe]

Ozbiliz rather than Sulejmani.

[Michael_B]

I would like to see

Vermeer
van Rhijn/ Ligeon
Alderweireld
Vertonghen (C)
Anita
Enoh
Janssen
Eriksen
Sulejmani
Boerrigter
de Jong

Jup. Big chance.

Ozbiliz rather than Sulejmani.

Injured.

[orange goblin]

a few youngsters in the squad: ligeon, koppers and lukoki


Kenneth Vermeer
Jasper Cillessen
Toby Alderweireld
Jan Vertonghen
Vurnon Anita
Eyong Enoh
Miralem Sulejmani
Christian Eriksen
Siem de Jong
André Ooijer
Theo Janssen
Daley Blind
Nicolas Lodeiro
Dmitry Bulykin
Derk Boerrigter
Jody Lukoki
Dico Koppers
Ruben Ligeon

[Michael_B]

Yep. FdB has already said Ligeon en Koppers will not play and he isn't afraid to put Blind against Beerens. He should be imo, but well.

Janssen will play attacking left midfielder, Enoh defensive and Siem will play centre forward. That is more or less clear now.

[Orange14]

Janssen will play attacking left midfielder,

IMO this is the big match for Janssen to show what he can do. He won't have the defensive work to do and he can show how to create offense in the midfield. This should also give Eriksen some more opportunities to go behind de Jong and see if he can get some shots on goal. If Janssen cannot do this the experiment should be written off once and for all (though that probably won't happen).

[Dubbel]

Yep. FdB has already said Ligeon en Koppers will not play and he isn't afraid to put Blind against Beerens. He should be imo, but well.

Yes, I read that as well. Quite surprising I thought. I still expect Frank to start Ligeon because he'll have a revolution on his hands if he actually starts Daley at LB against AZ.

[ajaxusa]

On ESPN3:

10/15 12:45 PM EDT Eredivisie - Ajax vs. AZ Alkmaar

[Ayman]

Finally Frank is going to use a REAL defensive midfield in Enoh, To be honest I think it is a blessing that Sigthorsson is injured, because now Siem will play as a centre forward and there will be more balance in midfield. This is also crucial for Frank de Boer to see that Theo Janssen is not a defensive midfielder, and that Ajax need to start winning back to back games in the next 3 crucial games i.e.AZ F'word and (away to)Utrecht. Also the CL qualifying group stages. Pesonally I would like to see Eriksen Play as a Right winger, because Suleimani is not reliable imo. It will also give Janssen a free role that he thrives in, as for the other 2 midfielders I prefer to see Anita and Enoh start to play together.

[aveslacker]

Finally Frank is going to use a REAL defensive midfield in Enoh, To be honest I think it is a blessing that Sigthorsson is injured, because now Siem will play as a centre forward and there will be more balance in midfield. This is also crucial for Frank de Boer to see that Theo Janssen is not a defensive midfielder, and that Ajax need to start winning back to back games in the next 3 crucial games i.e.AZ F'word and (away to)Utrecht. Also the CL qualifying group stages. Pesonally I would like to see Eriksen Play as a Right winger, because Suleimani is not reliable imo. It will also give Janssen a free role that he thrives in, as for the other 2 midfielders I prefer to see Anita and Enoh start to play together.

It's a sad thing when we're all celebrating our most mediocre player filling in at striker or calling Sigthorsson's injury a blessing.

But still, it's even sadder that Frank refuses to see what's as plain as the nose on his face.

[Flipster81]

I for one do not think Kolbeinn's injury is a blessing. But it is sad that it's going to take this to be the catalyst for Frank to HOPEFULLY realise his midfield choices are floored. Siem, who is a mediocre player as aveslacker puts will do a decent job at #9 but lets hope the 'new look' midfield shows Franky boy that there is no place for both Janssen and Siem, only one can play (although I'd prefer neither did).

[souras84]

It's Ooijer in CB and Toby on RB with Anita on the left. Should we be happy that Daley aint on? Or is Ooijer a threat?

[Van basten]

It's gonna be tough, but we can't dropp any points right now. It's time to show some balls!

[Orange14]

Interesting choice in the back four. Will Oojier and Vertonghen be able to deal with Altidore who has been playing quite well lately?

[Orange14]

That has to be a card on Marcellis. Nasty foul and could be a crippling injury!

[Amol]

Great defending by Ajax. Down 0-1. WTF

[souras84]

with this midfield I dare to say already, that it looks more promisin

[souras84]

for FUCKS SAKE

[Amol]

Wow - Ooijer and Toby go to cover Altidore. For some reason Jan goes over to help them as well leaving Beerens completely open.

Down 0-2!! Surreal stuff.

[Amol]

Should've been down 0-3 there. Ball got caught under Holman's feet.