19 Aug 2012: NEC - Ajax

[Tom_]

Weren't they just discussing their dinner plans?

[rjf1]

Glimpse of the bench showed what looked like Lukoki with his right thigh strapped and him limping a bit.

[saddlerian]

6-1....satisfying result....now let's start playing well!!! I want to be entertained next Saturday!!!!

[SPL]

easy win

[rjf1]

VdW played better today than he did all last year -- but I'd still prefer Van Rijhn as the regular right back and for us to get a true LCB. We won't get off so easy against the better teams.

[Orange14]

Just back from Yoga. A slow motion game because of the heat but Ajax were two steps quicker than NEC who were absolutely horrid on defense. Rightly Ajax should have had a couple of more goals but missed some very good chances but then NEC also should really have done better when the exploited some real bad plays by the two central defenders. NEC seemed to have good possession in the first 15 minutes but then Ajax took over controlling the ball and opening up passing lanes all over the pitch. NAC at home next Saturday which should turn out to be a relatively easy fixture. The key question now is whether Van der Wiel and Janssen will be leaving and who if anyone will be coming into the squad. It was good to see Boerrigter back today but I don't know how Sulejmani's recovery is coming along.

Player ratings:

Vermeer (7) - I think there were only two shots on frame and he saved one and had no chance on the Nuytinck goal off the corner; decent job today
Van der Wiel (7) - pretty good match but is he staying with the team
Alderweireld (6) - really bad on the Sno through pass letting NEC get in 2 on 1 but lucky their shooting boots were not on; was he at fault on the Nuytinck goal, I couldn't tell
van Rhijn (6) - lost his positioning on the pitch several times but was as lucky as Toby that NEC could not shoot
Dijks (6) - a couple of dicey plays on defense and a deserved Yellow card when he wasn't paying attention and had to grab his man
Schöne (7) - looks like he was the holding mid today and didn't have much to do defensively; very good passing in the midfield
Janssen (7) - didn't have to play defense at all and was incisive taking some good shots on goal and passing to the open man
Eriksen (7) - I don't think he even touched the ball in the first 25 minutes of the match but then really came alive passing and taking some good shots that just missed; good to see him go a full 90
Lukoki (7) - an absolute terror down the wing creating a lot of danger
Sana (7) - delightful chipped goal and may turn out to be the best transfer we've brought in over the last six or so years
de Jong (7) - good passing and ball handling; one can't really credit him with the goal though it does go down on the score sheet
Boerrigter (7) - somewhat rusty but had some decent plays
Blind (6) - one really dumb back pass that almost cost the team; looks like he has lost his position to Dijks and certainly when Boilesen comes back FDB may not need him other than as a real emergency player
Veltman (NR) - not on long enough

I didn't give anyone more than a '7' today because the quality of the opposition was so poor that we really did not require any exceptional plays to win this. In terms of the best all around play, I think Lukoki was my MOTM.

[Orange14]

Kinda amusing watching Frank read the riot act to the troops -- wish I knew what he said.

He quite rightly ripped them for not caring at all to defend. When Van der Wiel is the best defender on the pitch (as he was today) you know that something is wrong.

[Cruijff]

Kinda amusing watching Frank read the riot act to the troops -- wish I knew what he said.

He was angry because the team lost their concentration what caused the NEC goal. He was pissed off about Christian Eriksen because in Franks eyes he was behaving like he was the only person on the pitch.

[Kowalczyk]

I was at the Lowlands Festival and missed this game but completely... but I like this, Sir.

K.

[Blind3]

Now that's what I call working the goal difference . Four points from two matches and the likes of Lukoki, Van Rhijn, Dijks, and Veltman blooded/blooded further in the process. No complaints from this vantage point . I'm really enjoying the play of Sana and Schone so far . Hoping Enoh gets fit so that Schone can revert to a more offensive role. Still, nice to see his versatility. Welcome back Christian.

[Amol]

Missed the game - but extremely happy with the result. Saw highlights of the Sana goal. I am really liking this kid.

[Philippe]

Watched the whole game on MCS. Enjoyable.
All of our players did well, especially Lukoki, Sana, Vermeer and Janssen.
However Dijks once again failed to impress me.