19 Apr 2013: Ajax - SC Heerenveen

[Kowalczyk]

Eredivisie 2012-2013. Matchday 31.

Mind you: this is a Friday evening fixture! Kick-off time at the ArenA is 20:00 CET.

This is not a particularly easy one. Heerenveen had a shit first half of the season, but now they know how to win a football match. But we're at home; we should be able to deal with this.

I'll tell you what, something tells me that things might go really fast for Ajax now...

PSV visit AZ on Saturday evening. Feyenoord vs Vitesse on Sunday. If we beat Heerenveen on Friday, PSV will already have a shit weekend. I wouldn't be surprised if they collapsed completely now. And then, a draw at De Kuip...? Would be nice.

Something tells me we'll lift the shield on May 5th, at home.

K.

[aveslacker]

Eredivisie 2012-2013. Matchday 31.

Mind you: this is a Friday evening fixture! Kick-off time at the ArenA is 20:00 CET.

This is not a particularly easy one. Heerenveen had a shit first half of the season, but now they know how to win a football match. But we're at home; we should be able to deal with this.

I'll tell you what, something tells me that things might go really fast for Ajax now...

PSV visit AZ on Saturday evening. Feyenoord vs Vitesse on Sunday. If we beat Heerenveen on Friday, PSV will already have a shit weekend. I wouldn't be surprised if they collapsed completely now. And then, a draw at De Kuip...? Would be nice.

Something tells me we'll lift the shield on May 5th, at home.

K.

It's hard to believe that just a few years ago we were all wondering if Ajax was ever going to win another title, and now we're on the verge of three in a row. Our financial situation is a lot better, too. It's amazing how things change. Hopefully we won't ever go six years without winning a title again!

[Orange14]

^I think we are starting to see the impact of Cruyff's vision. Young players coming into the team and fitness level of everyone is much higher now, fewer injuries. I think Sigthorsson was the only one who was out for multiple matches this season.

[aveslacker]

^I think we are starting to see the impact of Cruyff's vision. Young players coming into the team and fitness level of everyone is much higher now, fewer injuries. I think Sigthorsson was the only one who was out for multiple matches this season.

The style of play is definitely more Ajax-like than it was under, say, Koster, Van Basten or even Jol.

I think Boileson is another long-term injury, but other that, I'm not too aware of any other major injuries.

[King Litti]

Hope the fact that we seem to be playing regular CL football can keep the young talent with us for a bit longer, cause we definitely have some talent and more are bubbling under in jong Ajax.

It's hard to say what's the thing that made us win trophies again in these past seasons. In fact I think we had a more impressive team under Jol and we played more dazzling attacking play with players like Suarez and Pantelic. We scored a hell of a lot more goals then anyone else (Twente just won 1-0 all the damn time).

In addition to Cruyff you can't forget FdB. He really seems to know what he is doing and because he was with young Ajax he knows the young guys, their potential and when they are ready to make the step to the first squad.

Now that our financial situation is better and we play (at least I hope so) in the CL next season I hope we can make a couple of decent signings (especially if we lose let's say Eriksen and Toby). Hoping to get a nice mixture of youth and experience.

And about the game, If play like we have been playing recently, we should take three points.

[Kowalczyk]

I'm shit at maths (and lazy too), so correct me if I'm wrong, BUT: if we beat Heerenveen, Feyenoord vs Vitesse ends in a draw and PSV drop two (or more) points at AZ, we can wrap it up in Breda on 27 April, yeah?

K.

[Orange14]

I'm shit at maths (and lazy too), so correct me if I'm wrong, BUT: if we beat Heerenveen, Feyenoord vs Vitesse ends in a draw and PSV drop two (or more) points at AZ, we can wrap it up in Breda on 27 April, yeah?

K.

You are correct; if all this happens a win at Breda makes the last two matches irrelevant since Ajax would have more than a six point lead.

[Kowalczyk]

I don't think that will happen, tho...

I think PSV will collapse completely and drop some more points at AZ, but I expect Vitesse to stuff Feyenoord, so I'm counting on May 5th.

K.

[Orange14]

Blind suffered a back spasm in training today and is 50-50 for tomorrow's match. Dijks will obviously start if Blind is not able to go. Cuenca is in training but will not be active for the match.

[Kowalczyk]

I can't wait. Really up for tonight's game.

K.

[ajaxcolombia]

Really hope Blind doesn't miss today's game. For me he is the Ajax player of the year.

[ajaxusa]

Tonight's game is available to my fellow residents of the Guntopia on espn3.

[Orange14]

Tonight's game is available to my fellow residents of the Guntopia on espn3.

At least my state, Maryland, is seeking to exit Guntopia with recently passed legislation!

[Tom_]

Was that a two-handed hand ball in the box? Next time just catch it...

[Cedric]

Good start but Ajax should score asap to avoid trouble. I don't have a good feeling with this game and the away game against NAC so...

[Orange14]

What a nice cross from van Rhijn and Fischer just buried it!

[Tom_]

Nice, so far so good...

[King Litti]

I think we started pretty careful and nervous. It's sometimes hard to take those decisive wins.
Glad to see us in front so early. Hope the goal takes most of the pressure away.

[Orange14]

Nice save by Cillesen to keep it at 1-0. Ajax should have scored at least one more given the superiority of play in the offensive end. de Jong looks out of sorts and a step slow tonight.

[SPL]

so far so good and a well taken goal by Fischer .A 2nd early in the 2nd half is needed

[ajaxcolombia]

I'd bring in babel to play on the right, schone going to midfield, and de jong coming off. But he's the captain so what can you do?

[Tom_]

Yeah, de Boer doesn't bring de Jong off so I guess Babel will replace Kolbeinn at some point.

Heerenveen can score goals so I'd also like to see at least one more from us in the next 15 minutes or so.

[Cedric]

and they did score.

[Tom_]

Literally as I hit 'Submit'. Sorry!

We seem to be sleepwalking a little bit ... time for some subs?

[King Litti]

Fuckin hell, we're playing for the title. Sometimes we look like a mid table team that hasn't got anything to play for.
We don't want to spill points in the arena as we still have two away games to play. We've been sloppy. Hope we wont pay for it.