27 April 2013: NAC Breda - Ajax

[Kowalczyk]

Eredivisie 2012-2013. Matchday 32.

This is a Saturday evening fixture. Kick-off time at Breda's Rat Verlegh Stadium is 20:45 CET.

Last week's draw against Heerenveen wasn't a disaster. Something like that will happen sometimes. But now it's time to wake up and do the business. If we don't beat NAC we will have to secure the title in an away game at FC Groningen. Undesirable.

A win in Breda and we can wrap it up against Willem II, at home.

K.

[saddlerian]

I've got a good feeling about tonight...need the excitement of an entertaining game to keep me awake...arrive in Amsterdam on Saturday at 8:00, but back out at 8:40 Sunday morning, very little sleep!!!!
Let's hope I'm celebrating 3 more points over breakfast tomorrow!!

[elliquido]

hi saddler,
what about the wolves today

[SPL]

have a good time Ian and lets get those 3 points tonight.

[King Litti]

The stakes are high tonight.

Cuenca returns to the squad which means that Boerrigter is out. Ligeon will replace the suspended van Rhijn, but FdB hasn't yet decided will he play Ligeon or Toby as the right back (in case it's Toby, Veltman will take Tobys place in the center). Vermeer is also back.

Joden, joden, joden....

[Kowalczyk]

D-Day...

K.

[SPL]

Vermeer back for Cillessen and Ligeon for V Rhijn the only changes from those who started last week

Pressure is on us tonight as PSV are currently 5-0 up at HT v Groningen . I quess after they lost to us the pressure was off PSV.Its still for us to lose and all they can do is just relax and win their games.

The last 2 games have been nerve racking for me and I am even worse tonight . Win and next week we will be crowned champs. Draw and it will be down to winning at Groningen and I would not put money on that .

[Tom_]

Don't worry, we'll be sending a message to Feyenoord tonight. 4 or 5 – nil!

[SPL]

a poor half for us just like the second half last week

[Orange14]

Don't worry, we'll be sending a message to Feyenoord tonight. 4 or 5 – nil!

After this first half display we will be lucky to score a goal. Fischer was the only one who put the ball on frame, everyone else was wild and from distance. This is looking like a team that doesn't care to win the championship and I hope FdB gives them heck at the half. Ligeon was terrible on the first try by NAC totally out of position and Vermeer came up big to save the goal. Again lots of possession and nothing to show for it.

[Tom_]

Phew, we needed something like that to happen

[SPL]

Goal now get a 2nd

[SPL]

Yes No 2 now lets win it in style

[Tom_]

Don't worry, we'll be sending a message to Feyenoord tonight. 4 or 5 – nil!

Got it right as usual! And a performance to match...

Jokes aside, I thought we had a decent second half. NAC pressed pretty well in the first half, but as soon as we got the second goal we never let them back in the game for an instant. We managed to hold the ball for almost the entire second half. Not pretty, but the pitch looked like a real cabbage field and I'm happy just to get the points. One more win!

[SPL]

A very good 2nd half which we dominated completely with the 2 goals coming quickly into the half.

Well we only need to beat Willem at home and if we cannot do that we do not deserve to be champs.I am sure we will win that in style .
I can now relax .

[Orange14]

Aside from the two quick goals in the early part of the second half this was a pretty boring game. I was having trouble staying awake during the last 20 minutes as there was little determination to score a third. I don't think NAC had a shot on goal in the 2nd half. We pick up all three points and now can clinch next weekend at home.

Player Ratings (at least for the times I was awake and watching )

Vermeer (7) - made a couple of quick saves in the early part of the match which was absolutely necessary
Blind (6.5) - one defensive lapse when he was faked out but otherwise decent enough
Moisander (7) - no mistakes at all and his ball control was first rate
Alderwiereld (7) - loved the cross field pass to Blind
Ligeon (5.5) - real defensive lapse putting Vermeer in danger early on but then settled down
Schöne (6) - the holding mid today and his clearance on the goal line was necessary
Eriksen (6.5) - one great free kick leading to a goal and a bunch of others that were mediocre
de Jong (6) - I guess he was given credit for the 2nd goal but it looked like an own goal to me
Fischer (6) - one good shot on frame but that was about it
Sigthorrson (7) - worked hard to get the goal
Babel (6.5) - lots of touches as the team focused on the right side of the pitch but really didn't do all that much when he did have the ball
Hoesen (5.5) - didn't see a lot of the ball coming in for Babel
Cuenca (5.5) - will he stay in Amsterdam another year? Hard to evaluate him given his scant playing time
Poulsen (NR) - on for the final five minutes but I don't think he had a touch (but I might have been sleeping).

Let's the trophy up next weekend so I can finally change my signature line!!

[souras84]

Why on Earth did Breda play so strong in the first half? They didn't have anything to win... Maybe they tried to help the others?

[Kowalczyk]

The first half: let's not judge too harshly. They were nervous. You could tell. 'Title pressure', especially when NAC started furiously.

Could have gone a goal down, but apart from that minute in which they had a huge chance and hit the woodwork, I don't think NAC created much. In the latter 15 minutes of the first half we were already in control.

I think Ajax were being patient; that was good. It's a sign of maturity. NAC were wasting a lot of energy. Ajax knew: they won't be able to keep this up.

Second half was good.

Surprising line-up, by the way. Must have been a last-minute change: Babel on the right wing, Schøne central midfield, Poulsen out.

My Man of the Match: Sigthórsson. I think he was superb. His movement, his running, the way he held up the ball, he always did something good with the ball. He has had some difficult periods this season, but this was 'old skool Kolbeinn'.

K.

[Kowalczyk]

Oh, and Ligeon did really well. Liked him.

The press were expecting Toby to move to the right fullback position (which is his position for Belgium) and Joël Veltman to play in the centre. But Frank de Boer decided to not shift his defence around and simply replace the right fullback. Ligeon. Excellent choice.

Frank de Boer used 33 (!) players this season.

K.

[ajaxusa]

Frank de Boer used 33 (!) players this season.

He should have used 32. 33 is next season.

[Kowalczyk]

Frank de Boer used 33 (!) players this season.

He should have used 32. 33 is next season.

*LOL*

More numbers: we grab out 32nd title, Willem II didn't even score 32 goals this year (31 at the moment)...

K.

[SPL]

If Willem score their 32nd goal on Sunday and get a draw Ko you are to blame ! If we have won about 5-1 or 6-1 I will let you off after all we will all be celebrating with a few drinks.

[aveslacker]

Frank de Boer used 33 (!) players this season.

He should have used 32. 33 is next season.

Ha ha.

Another interesting point is that Ajax really doesn't have anyone in the top of the goal scoring table, yet is, iirc, second in goals scored. For some reason I'm impressed by that stat.

[ajaxusa]

Here is my favorite moment from ESPN3's webcast of the game. I call this the Wall of Consolation.

[kezme44]

don't jinx it guys