22 MAR 2015 Ajax-ADO den Haag Match Day 28

[rjf1]

Kishna off; El Ghazi on. A good idea as Kishna was having a piss poor game. He didn't do his bargaining clout any favors today.

[rjf1]

Goal from a free kick that found its way through a maze of players. Whew! I really thought we weren't going to score at all today.

[SPL]

Goal ,what utter relief.

[rjf1]

Well, it was a win in the end -- but why oh why did they start with that crap lineup. We had some good games with our young, dynamic, players -- what goes on in Frank the Bore's mind that makes him put out a lineup like that? Is there something in Sigthorsen's contract that says he has to play x amount of games, or what?

[SPL]

Well a lucky win ,with an og.We cannot breakdown these sides who come to defend.4 away left so we may score afew in those.

8 behind PSV but 8 clear of 3rd .Glad for a2 week break,mentally exhausting watching today

[Amol]

And it finally happened. Ajax literally managed to put me to sleep today. Missed the first 20 minutes of the 2nd half.

I think FDB put on that lineup because of the extended game we had to play on Thursday. We are currently missing someone who can take the team and wake them up during a game. Too much sleepwalking.

[SPL]

Sinkgraven missing through injury but would like to think Bazoer,Milik and El Ghazi would start ahead of Schone Siggy and Serero.All 3 had tough games on thursday and are young and still learning.

Kishna went off as his knee was troubling him.Given he has had serious trouble with both knees I hope he is ok.
Watching his 1st half today not sure who would buy him.

Biggest problem for the summer ,who on earth will buy Siggy.Too slow as usual and played most of the game with his back to goal.Somewhere like Stoke or WBA may like big forwards like that.I don't and not sure many Ajax fans do either.

[Cruijff]

Goal from a free kick that found its way through a maze of players. Whew! I really thought we weren't going to score at all today.

Makes me even more pissed off that Frank de Boer did not use Lasse Schöne against Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk for 120 minutes. This is a bl##dy lucky goal, but you only force the winning goals like this when you've got a player who takes his long distance shots with 100% persuasion.........

[SPL]

Agree Schone should of come on v Dnipro and not the ineffective Serero .Schone does make things happen.

[Orange14]

Just caught the replay and what a soulless match from Ajax. I almost thought it would be a soulless, goalless game but the own goal off the Klaassen header gave Ajax all the points. Ajax had the better of play but when the backline players are the only ones showing any signs of creativity you know the team is in trouble. Perhaps there was a hangover from Thursday but ADO were pretty disciplined on defense. 8 point shy of PSV now and the lead on Feyenoord is also preserved. PSV play Twente next and we'll see if they start to tighten up.

Player Ratings:

Cillessen (7) - didn't have much to do until the final five minutes, was brave challenging for the ball and had a good final save for the clean sheet
Viergever (6) - decent enough until an ankle knock kept him out for the second half
Moisander (7) - good game defending
Veltman (7) - good game defending
van Rhijn (7) - one of his better games both on defense and had the one decent shot on goal in the 1st half
Serero (4.5) - no major blunders but did not inspire confidence on offense
Klaassen (7) - worked his tail off and it was his header that got deflected in for the sole goal
Andersen (5) - only average, no more no less
Kishna (5.5) - really didn't do a whole lot; looked to have some leg trouble and came off for el Ghazi
Sigthorrsson (5.5) - had a couple of good headers but those were on defense
Schöne (5.5) - free kicks were surprisingly disappointing and his field play only marginally better
Riedewald (6.5) - good game on at left fullback, kept his position well on defense
el Ghazi (5.5) - never met a shot he didn't like but Anwar, please, please, pass every now an then especially when someone else has a better chance to score
Milik ((5.5) - held the ball up OK on a couple of occasions but was never a threat to score

International break next week and then the short trip to Utrecht in two weeks.

[Tom_]

Only saw the second half. Really have to come up with something for these defensive teams. Oh, and I honestly hadn't realised Andersen was on the pitch when he got subbed off!

Edit: @ Orange, I would take a few points off Milik for that horrendous dive.

[rjf1]

... I would take a few points off Milik for that horrendous dive.

Horrendous? It was a beautiful dive -- such grace, such timing on the launch, and hardly a splash on the landing -- an Olympics 9.9, at least.

[Orange14]

Edit: @ Orange, I would take a few points off Milik for that horrendous dive.

He's getting ready for European football next year where cynical play is always rewarded!!

I was watching the Barcelona/Madrid match yesterday and Ronaldo got carded for a dive as well! His was not nearly as picturesque as Milik's.

[Orange14]

One other observation, early in the first half Sigthorrsson had a slight advatage to a through pass and wasn't quick enough to get to it and the ball was kicked away by the defender. I suspect that certainly Zivkovic and maybe even Milik would have turned this into a goal scoring opportunity.

[SPL]

Orange ,that was the moment where I posted you and I would not be any slower,I'm 64. Never seen a slower player for Ajax. I was pleased he was fit but groaned as FDB seems to rate him. I actually don't think an EPL team would buy him and his level would likely be championship league in England.