29 Oct 2011: Roda JC - Ajax

[Kowalczyk]

Eredivisie 2011-2012, matchday 11.

More damage for Ajax...? Ajax are 6th, Roda are 13th, but this is a tough away game, for sure.

Early kick-off: 18.45 CET.

K.

[Orange14]

Don't forget, we play them twice this week; once in the cup and once in the league!

[orange goblin]

Kenneth Vermeer
Jasper Cillessen
Gregory van der Wiel
Toby Alderweireld
Jan Vertonghen
Vurnon Anita
Eyong Enoh
Christian Eriksen
Siem de Jong
Lorenzo Ebecilio
André Ooijer
Theo Janssen
Daley Blind
Nicolas Lodeiro
Dmitry Bulykin
Derk Boerrigter
Aras Özbiliz
Jody Lukoki

the young wingers are back: ozbiliz and ebecilio. sulejmani is still injured, as scandinavians sigthorsson and boilesen plus serero. lukoki still aboard, no other youths aggregated like koppers, ligeon and so on.

[Orange14]

Big question of the day is whether FdB comes out with a 3-4-3 like in the cup match. If he does will Toby be the man in the middle flanked by Vertonghen and van der Wiel. If so, this is worrisome given Greg's penchant for not defending.

[SPL]

Given Ebecilio and Ozbiliz have both been injured for well over a month and did not play Jong Ajax this week they are going to be match rusty if either start. Would like to see Lukoki get another game . As for defence I would play Anita at RB leaving Greg on the bench. Eriksen to come back with Siem I suppose up front instead of Bulykin although there is talk Eriksen may stay on the bench. A must win game .

[Flipster81]

Looks like the 3-4-3 is back!!

Vermeer, Alderweireld, Ooijer, Vertonghen, Anita, Eriksen, Enoh, Janssen, Lukoki, De Jong, Boerrigter.

[orange goblin]

I would call it a 3-3-1-3, but I like it.

[Orange14]

This really has to serve as a wake up call for van der Wiel; though I don't know how long term this will be especially with Grandfather Andre in the middle of defense.

[Orange14]

Well this experiment looks like it really is working. Eriksen on a great pass through with the first goal.

[Flipster81]

I really like the look of this... Movement is 100% improved, obviously we need a long term replacement for Ooijer but I hope Frank de Bielsa keeps this going.

[rjf1]

Little by little Roda is taking over this game.

[Orange14]

It has been a while since we have had a lead going into the halftime. the 3-4-3 seems to be working as players are rotating back when necessary and making sure of the safety first clearance with only the three man back line. We will see how this goes in the second half as it is no longer a surprise to Roda. With the additional midfielder we are more in control of the center of the pitch than in past matches. We are also able to get the ball forward to an open man with greater ease. Janssen was wrong footed on two chances which was a shame. Roda cannot cope with Lukoki. A quick second goal when play resumes will be helpful.

[Orange14]

I hope Frank de Bielsa keeps this going.

ROFL!!!!!!

[FearNoArt]

WAUW the 10 minutes was really ajax style.. red and white every where.. beatiful goal by a even greater setup.. after that they just stopped playing like the first 10 minutes.. wake them up in 2nd half fdb..

[SPL]

lovely goal by Eriksen and so far so good but a quick 2nd is needed. Old man Ooijer doing ok so far.

[ajaxcolombia]

FNTASTIC!!!

[Blind3]

Any chance we can play Roda every week ?

[ajaxcolombia]

Oh wow, 0-4...Is this the same ajax that ahs played susch crappy football lately??

[Blind3]

I like Lukoki's back flip come round off post goal . 10.0 from the russian judge !!

[ajaxcolombia]

Liked what I saw, I can only comment on the second half, Missed the first due to a miscalculation of time difference. Anyway, the 3-4-3 gives us more passing options in midfield. Vertonghen looked great everytime he strided forward, Anita and Lukoki looked great on the right flank, I'm sorry to say it but Greg should stay on bench for now. We were lucky with the offside calls a couple of times, so we should be a little wary when the defense line is too up high. Enoh has to be very careful with his back passes and when his passing forward from a deep position. Other than, I thought it went really well.

[SPL]

Great win and I agree Anita and Lukoki on that right flank looked very good . Ooijer for an old man and playing his second game in 4 days had a good game.The second goal came at just at the right time for us and Lukoki's goal was lovely to watch . Can we play Roda every week ?

[Orange14]

Frank de Bielsa had the team in a 3-4-3 for the second straight match. However, he should not take much comfort in the final score line as Roda were not a very good team. A 3-4-3 requires the three deep backs to make sure they keep position and the other players maintain pressure throughout the pitch. Turnovers deep in the defensive territory cannot be permitted. Unfortunately there were too may errant back passes and questionable plays by Ajax in this match. Enoh who was great in the midweek cup match had several glaring turnovers that were squandered by the Roda attack. Ajax were also helped by some questionable offsides calls (Janssen's goal was questionable because he looked a shade offside and Junker definitely was onsides to receive a pass through and in open on Vermeer). The choice of formations for the upcoming CL match against Zagreb will be an interesting one indeed (will van der Wiel be consigned to the bench again?).

Vermeer kept a clean sheet despite some shoddy play in front of him but really didn't have to make any challenging saves. Oojier had a very good game making sure that the center was kept clear and insuring safety first clearances. Vertonghen and Alderweireld were solid as the outside defenders and Vertonghen did make some threatening runs into the Roda half. Enoh was of slightly below average quality today conceding the ball by bad back pass or trying to dribble too much. Anita was outstanding as the freewheeling defensive/offensive midfielder. Great assist on the Lukoki goal. Janssen took his goal well even if he might have been offside, it was still a great break away to receive the pass. Eriksen had his best game in two months, getting a goal and handling the ball well finding the openings in the Roda defense. If Lukoki ever learns to deliver a cross he will be a very dangerous player as he's super fast and good on the ball. Boerrigter was quiet compared to the mid-week match and came off for Ebecilio who was active and his shot to beat the Roda keeper was first rate. de Jong didn't score but did well today on the ball and had there been a couple of better crosses would have scored. Blind and Ozbilitz came on late and didn't have much opportunity to either shine or screw up.

On to the CL qualifier that will determine whether we stay in Euro competition next year. A victory over Dinamo will secure at least a Europa slot and depending on how Lyon do against Madrid could mean more CL football.

[Flipster81]

I think the 3-4-3 experiment should carry on, it looks to be suited to our players, only thing I would change is: When Boilesen is fit play him as left defender and Vertonghen in front of Ooijer, that way he can rotate in as a 4th defender and is also much better than Enoh on the ball.

In 95 Rijkaard played this roll and I think Vertonghen will excel in it.

Then maybe look to a long term solution for the centre defender position. Whether Frank de Bielsa will start using Greg as the right defender and Toby the centre one, we will have to see.


All in all a good performance against a weak side, but you can only beat what's in front of you. If you want to compare this team with the great one of 95, which Frank was a part of, you can see a few similarities with our players and the ones in that team. I obviously don't mean in quality but in style.

See if you can guess who i'm talking about.

[Ayman]

Doesnt Boilesen return to action in 2 weeks?

[Amol]

Doesnt Boilesen return to action in 2 weeks?

He got injured again in training. Out for another month at least.