20 Dec 2012: FC Groningen - Ajax

[Kowalczyk]

KNVB Cup 2012-2013. Round 4 (Round of Sixteen).

Kick-off time at Groningen 'Green Cathedral' (Euroborg) is 20:00 CET.

K.

[Kowalczyk]

Frank de Boer has said that he's particularly unhappy with the fact that this fixture is on a Thursday night.

I can understand that, but on the other hand: we shouldn't moan. Come on. Two football matches a week; our boys can handle that, can't they? Go out there and play football. Give it your best shot.

Having said that: I don't really care about the cup. Utrecht away is more important to me.

K.

[Kowalczyk]

For the record, here are the fixtures for the round of sixteen... (in brackets: the level this club plays on).

Tuesday, 18.45:
FC Dordrecht (2) vs AZ (1)

Tuesday, 20.00:
FC Den Bosch (2) vs SC Cambuur (2)

Tuesday, 20.45:
Rijnsburgse Boys (3) vs PSV (1)

Wednesday, 18.45:
NAC Breda (1) vs Heracles Almelo (1)

Wednesday, 19.45:
Go Ahead Eagles (2) vs PEC Zwolle (1)

Wednesday, 20.00:
Vitesse (1) vs ADO '20 (3)

Wednesday, 20.45:
SC Heerenveen (1) vs Feyenoord (1)

Thursday, 20.00:
FC Groningen (1) vs Ajax (1)

Eagles vs Zwolle would be a nice one to attend. That's a proper derby: a real regional grudge game. It's referred to as the IJsselderby, the 'IJssel' being the river that connects Deventer and Zwolle. The two sets of fans really hate each other with a vengeance.

K.

[Orange14]

I agree that the cup tie is not as important as the league match against Utrecht. I don't quite agree with Ko on the scheduling issue. The FA knows what the league schedule is like and also that Utrecht were out of the Cup competition. It does disadvantage Ajax to have the two matches that close though truth be told it's the same schedule that they will face with the Europa League matches that are to come next March. That being said, I wouldn't be surprised if a couple of players are rested against Groningen.

[paladinby]

Why don't we just field a squad full of youngsters? Noone really cares about that cup and young players can get some first team expierience.

The schedule issue is crap. Europa League games are on Thursday so we must be ready.

[SPL]

well Dijks and Veltman went off injured for Jong Ajax tonight ,no idea what Veltman has injured ,but Denswil and Ligeon could be on the subs bench with Serero ,as Sana has started his holidays(he did play in Sweden throughout the summer so hasn't had a break since last winter).Hope that Andersen is at least a sub ,surely Enoh wont be needed with Poulsen and Schone probabaly being involved. Cillessen likely to be goalie and not many more changes. Lukoki had a full 90 mins tonight so I expect to see Fischer and Boerrigter start.

[SPL]

Andersen replaces Sana and Koppers replaces the injured Dijks in the squad, Veltman is fit,having evidently gone off with a minor injury on Monday for Jong Ajax. Sounds like Cillessen will play and a couple of others will be rested

[SPL]

Cillessen, V Rhijn, Veltman, Moisander,Blind ,Poulsen,Schone,Eriksen,Boerrigter,de Jong,Fischer is the line up. Just Hoesen and Toby rested.

[Orange14]

13th Stream is carrying the match!

[Orange14]

Rocket from de Jong's right foot; 0-1

[SPL]

so far so good and a fine goal by Siem.

[Orange14]

Nice first half both offensively and defensively. Had a couple of shots from distance that almost went in, one from Fischer and one from Schöne. Poulsen is really doing a nice job controlling the defensive center of the midfield and other than one poor kick, Cillesen has been steady in the goal.

[SPL]

what a beauty by Eriksen .

[SPL]

a very comfortable win with 3 well taken goals. Lets hope for 3 points on Sunday to finish off a good year by Ajax.

[Orange14]

Our four Danes were pretty great tonight in what turned out to be a very comfortable win of Groningen. Cillessen's net was only troubled in the last ten minutes of the match and I don't think he had a save until then. Good match from all involved and let's hope this carries forward to Sunday's match against Utrecht.

Player Ratings:

Cillessen (7) - was not called upon to do anything difficult and aside from one very poor kick that was intercepted distributed the ball well
Blind (7) - maybe should have shot when he got in on the keeper rather than pulling the ball back but a very solid match
Moisander (7.5) - strong match tonight and he moved forward with the ball when the space was there
Veltman (7) - really never troubled at all and stayed deep to protect the back when Moisander went forward
van Rhijn (7) - beaten once early on by his winger but otherwise played well
Poulsen (7.5) - just a rock on defense, always in position and had some really nice defensive headers to clear the ball
Eriksen (7.5) - much better play than on Sunday, strong on the ball and an audacious chip for a goal
Schöne (7.5) - excellent distribution tonight and amazing how he kept getting out of tight situations, great pass to Eriksen
Fischer (7) - much better tonight but needs to show some more patience when on the ball and recognize the situation, good shot from distance that just missed
de Jong (7.5) - very good on the ball and showed why he is out of position in the midfield (but we all know this)
Boerrigter (7) - good on the wing and very nice cross to Fischer for the third goal
Enoh (7) - solid match and kept his head and didn't make any silly passes
Lukoki (7) - even the match announcer talked about Newcastle interest
Hoesen (NR) - only had a couple of touches when he came on for de Jong

Let's beat Utrecht and go into the break on a run!

[SPL]

very quiet on here tonight probably the quietest game we have had all season for posters. I will await Orange's review but Eriksen showed his class tonight. Siem Schone and Boerrigter all had good games .Fischer looks class . The defence did not have to do too much.

[SPL]

Orange, would not give Lukoki a 7 not sure he did anything , the kid is just fast and nothing else! Fischer imo is in a different class to Lukoki and what would Newcastle have to pay for him now ? More like 14 m than the 4m for Lukoki

[Kowalczyk]

Good performance, this.

I expected this one to be sloooow and boooooring, but no.

Fantastic goals, too.

K.

[Kowalczyk]

Ooooohh yes!

http://youtu.be/2JlGhHBIy-o

K.

[zeux]

Ooooohh yes!

http://youtu.be/2JlGhHBIy-o

K.

Beautiful technique and wonderful shot, but shouldn't the keeper have had that one?

[Tom_]

We were pretty good, Groningen were not in the game at all and we had several chances to make it 4–0. I have to say, even though he's not very popular on this forum I'm a fan of Siem de Jong, and he played well again last night.

[Orange14]

Ooooohh yes!

http://youtu.be/2JlGhHBIy-o

K.

Beautiful technique and wonderful shot, but shouldn't the keeper have had that one?

I think the keeper was in the right position to begin with and just couldn't get back quickly enough. There were two perfect plays, the initial delicate pass from Schöne and then the chip by Eriksen. I've seen some well taken chips by Messi in the last several years and this one was just as good.

[zeux]

I think the keeper was in the right position to begin with and just couldn't get back quickly enough. There were two perfect plays, the initial delicate pass from Schöne and then the chip by Eriksen. I've seen some well taken chips by Messi in the last several years and this one was just as good.

Yes, I think you are right. I thought he wasn't positioned well, but looking at it again, I think he needed to be this forward. My thought was at first: would a keeper of Sar-quality have reacted better on the ball? We will never know. :-)

Beautiful goal.