21 September 2014 Feyenoord - Ajax Match Day 6

[Orange14]

Why take of el Ghazi who is doing a good job and not Sigthorrsson?????

Because he is the only one on the team who stands up physically to the effers' bullying. I know you don't like him, I find him lacking in many ways, as well. But he played an important part in this game.

He was horrible. Sure he is big and strong but so is Arnold Schwarzenegger, neither one can play football.

[Tom_]

I'm not sure what he's meant to do if the rest of the team can't get the ball over the half-way line...

[rjf1]

Well, one thing we can take satisfaction from is thinking of all those Fer supporters grinding their teeth and tearing their hair wondering how in the world they ever lost that one.

[afcajax73]

I'm not sure what he's meant to do if the rest of the team can't get the ball over the half-way line...

i think this is the main point, he was completely isolated for 95% of the match. We really do not offer much going forward other than the odd quick break, which is useless to siggy as hes too slow.

also, id just like to ask if anyone has any idea what so ever why we are still playing boilesen? I've watched every game so far this season, and every game he has played hes looked beyond awful. Ive lost count the amount of games hes been to blame for extremely awkward situations or goals. he wanders off up the pitch, doesnt chase back well enough, is constantly caught out of position, gets the wrong side of his man, and more than that, has no strength to hold anyone off.. and to top it off, even though he goes marauding up the field he doesnt really add anything to the attack as he cant cross.

[Orange14]

also, id just like to ask if anyone has any idea what so ever why we are still playing boilesen? I've watched every game so far this season, and every game he has played hes looked beyond awful.

I'm one of the contrarians on Boilesen. I think he is a good player that occasionally goes on walk-abouts. He does have a decent cross and his ability to play in the midfield when they shift to a 3-4-3 is a real plus. I would agree that his mental mistakes particularly deep in the defending half cannot be tolerated. With all this being said, I doubt that there is a replacement for him at this point (I obviously don't think one is needed) and Riedewald seems to be playing mostly central left defense for Jong Ajax.

[saddlerian]

I'm one of the contrarians on Boilesen. I think he is a good player that occasionally goes on walk-abouts. He does have a decent cross and his ability to play in the midfield when they shift to a 3-4-3 is a real plus.

I would agree with this, in fact the person who SHOULD be criticised when Boilesen "goes for a walk" is the midfield player who should cover his forward movement!!! Whenever a defender goes forwards then a midfielder SHOULD provide cover.....otherwise, why would a defender leave a gaping hole in the defence? Surely it's the "lazy" midfield players who don't "understand" what is happening!!!!

[afcajax73]

I'm one of the contrarians on Boilesen. I think he is a good player that occasionally goes on walk-abouts. He does have a decent cross and his ability to play in the midfield when they shift to a 3-4-3 is a real plus.

I would agree with this, in fact the person who SHOULD be criticised when Boilesen "goes for a walk" is the midfield player who should cover his forward movement!!! Whenever a defender goes forwards then a midfielder SHOULD provide cover.....otherwise, why would a defender leave a gaping hole in the defence? Surely it's the "lazy" midfield players who don't "understand" what is happening!!!!

Its fair enough to expect a midfielder to cover you when you have the odd run up the field, but he is constantly up. Whats the point in having a defender who wants to run up for 95% of the game (even when were being attacked) and expect a midfielder to almost permanently cover.

the biggest one for me was against PSG in the first half, they had Lucas (if memory serves) who has pace, on the right wing/side pushing on a lot. and rather than stick with his man, he just wandered off, not down the wing but in centrally. This led to a whole host of chances for them, all coming from our left side. He also did this on sunday, im 100% convinced he thinks he is a central midfielder in a left backs body.

point in case is van rhijn, he does go up, but he also puts his defencive duties as a priority, and thus not leaving the team exposed.

i dont doubt he can be decent, but to me he doesnt have the mentality to be a good player. hope im wrong though.

[Orange14]

Good discussion about Boilesen. I do think the comparison with van Rhijn is a little off the mark. Ajax favor building the attack up on the left side and this was the case also when Blind was still with the club at left back. This is part of the reason why van Rhijn seems to hang back; the other is that Klaassen's role is more of a runner to the middle of the box as opposed to a creative type of play maker. Even so the problem with this approach is that we don't have Eriksen on the left midfield any longer and his replacements are mediocre.

Some of the times that Boilesen was caught out of position was when the team went into the 3-4-3 and he moves up to the center of the midfield with Viergever dropping back to central defense (didn't see Zimling do much of this the other day) and Serero drops deeper in the center of the midfield. The problem is then when the ball is lost and it's tough for Boilesen to get back in time.

Don't get me wrong, I don't absolve Boilesen of all blame; he certainly needs to improve the defensive part of his game. I do think he is a good footballer and has lots of promise.

[aveslacker]

It was only a few years ago that people on these very boards were saying that Daley Blind wasn't fit to be an Ajax player. Sometimes I think the Ajax publiek is too critical. Boilesen has potential, and we have a good track record at developing that potential (and then selling it while it is young, but that's another sad story).