23 Dec 2012: FC Utrecht - Ajax

[Kowalczyk]

Eredivisie 2012-2013. Matchday 18.

Kick-off at in Utrecht is 14:30 CET.

Final game before the winter break.

Let's beat those folks, for a change...

Very important.

K.

[SPL]

same 18 as per Thursday night plus Denswil as 19th player.

[rjf1]

And we're underway -- let's put this one to bed early.

[King Litti]

We're looking very good, but we just can't keep wasting chances like this.

[rjf1]

I hear you -- when you dominate a game the way we are doing but have nothing on the scoreboard you can often wind up losing to a goal "against the run of play."

[King Litti]

Can't believe this. Utrecht must have some kind of voodoo magic agains us.

[rjf1]

Maybe they need a wheelbarrow to carry the ball over the line and into the net.

[rjf1]

How many chances did Fischer cock up by trying to dribble the ball into the net instead of just shooting -- it's been so many that I've lost count.

[Rooie]

Chance after chance after chance....

[Orange14]

I can't remember us playing such a good first half in a long while. Too bad that our final touch or shot was lacking. Utrecht are terribly slow and their back four are really not keeping a good line allowing a lot of through passes. We have defended well so far against a tall team but given our past history we better get a couple of quick goals in the second half.

[SPL]

should be 2or 3 ahead by now but this our jink club .Utrecht are really holding on though .

[paladinby]

Oh man, this could have been 5-6 goals lead. So many chances blown up. De Boer is overplaying youngsters. A player can't be good every game at the age of Fischer.

[souras84]

We have the worst finishing I have seen in a top team in years... I wouldn't be suprised if we end up losing.
Fisher is just harassing the ball

[rjf1]

If I'm Utrecht, right about now I'm thinking maybe we can win this game, because after all the chances they blew there is no way Ajax is going to get the ball into the net. Let's get 5 in the second half and prove them wrong.

[SPL]

Hope Vermeer does not repeat last season here ,ie he gave away 3 howlers in a 6-4 defeat.

[paladinby]

Typically in such kind of games we concede a stupid goal and then lose blowing up 10 more good chances but we've managed to beat Utrecht away in a cup game and can win today. Just stay calm, cool and score!!!

[Orange14]

NO NEGATIVE THOUGHTS PLEASE!!

[rjf1]

Getting late - getting tense. We are suffering for our wasted first half chances.

[rjf1]

Fischer off - Hoesen on -- and not a moment too soon for me.

[rjf1]

Why they let Boerighter take that free kick is beyond my meager powers of comprehension.

[souras84]

we got what we deserved

[saddlerian]

What can you say??? Totally bossed the game and only got a point!!! Bloody pissed off...do they expect to walk the ball into the net EVERY game?
This is definitely 2 points lost....very disappointing result.....

OK, that's unbeaten away before the Winter break, but no good if you don't take your chances!!!

Most of the players deserve a kick up the backside for Christmas!!!

[SPL]

Oh dear a poor 2nd half but at least we drew and the defence ,with Poulsen outstanding ,gave nothing away . Vermeer had a superb save on about the hour mark . Not so many chances in the second half and Fischer should have gone off 10 mins earlier. Lukoki was sick today otherwise his speed may have caused some problems .

3rd at the break 3 points off the top 2 is very acceptable. We should have won this game and looking back should have beaten Heracles(3-3 with them scoring 2 late goals)but overall a decent 1st half of the season for us.

[Orange14]

We got a better result than in the last several matches with Utrecht. Poor finishing or final touches were the problem today as they have been in several other matches this season. Defense held strong against a larger physical side and good keeping by Vermeer kept the match scoreless. I don't understand why Alderwiereld was taking the free kick near the end of the match rather than Eriksen (FdB looked disgusted after the poor effort). We are in better shape this season than last year in terms of being close to the leaders.

Player Ratings:

Vermeer (8) - three really tough saves kept the clean sheet and he commanded the box very well on corners and free kicks, best match of the season
Blind (7) - very good match again today aside from the foolish Yellow card, really a threat going forward
Moisander (7.5) - very good on defense and drove forward well particularly in the second half
Alderwiereld (7.5) - aside from the poor free kick had a very good match and came back well to defend a breakaway that could have cost the team
van Rhijn (6.5) - lost his man on a couple of occasions but otherwise was solid
Poulsen (7.5) - excellent defending today and pushed the ball forward more than I've seen all season
Eriksen (6.5) - good match but the give away late in the 2nd half almost led to a breakaway goal for Utrecht
Schöne (6.5) - should have done better when he was in on goal
Fischer (6) - he's still young and not making decisions quick enough
de Jong (6.5) - decent match in the middle of the strike force today
Boerrigter (6.5) - best match in quite some time, left some Utrecht defenders with very sore shins
Hoesen (5.5) - on for Fischer at the end but couldn't capitalize on the one partial chance that came his way

Two difficult fixtures to start the new year with Feyenoord at home followed by Vitesse away. It looks like 6 points from those matches will be necessary. Happy New Year to a fine club and enjoy the beaches in Brazil!

[rjf1]

Very disappointing -- leaves a bad taste in the mouth -- but at least we didn't lose the game 1-0 which, the way the second half went, I thought was a possibility, and which almost happened.

Blind had an outstanding game -- as did Poulson. Schone had a good game, as well. Fischer and Boerighter I would have replaced at halftime -- Fischer was toothless as a finisher, and Boerighter doesn't belong on the right as he kept turning back to his left foot to try to make crosses. AAMOF, the right side was hardly in the game -- for some reason, they aren't making enough use of Van Rijhn on the overlap -- they need to start overlapping him again the way they did last year.