07 AUG 2016 Sparta-Ajax Match Day 1

[Ayman]

I would like to see Cerny coming on for Sinkgraven, at least he is an orthodox winger and of course van de Beek for Gudelj.

[rjf1]

I don't know why Gudelj is playing. He is not good enough. van de Beek is more effective

Is Gudelj on the pitch? I had no idea.

[rjf1]

...Seems to be a LITTLE quicker than FdB....but it's still bloody slow...

Very frustrating when the right wing is wide open for a pass; the left central defender has the ball; does he put it out to the wing? no -- he gives it to the right central defender, who gives it to the right back; who finally gives it to the winger -- who by now is double teamed because everyone in the whole stadium knows where the ball is going.

[Tom_]

Why is Bazoer never tried in the DM role? I would drop Gudelj then and put Van De Beek/Sinkgraven in the left AM role and Cerny at LW.

Or, you know, simply move Sinkgraven to his actual posision and play with four midfielders, since we don't have any LWs in the squad...?

[Amol]

Another option is to bring Viergever to replace Gudelj. Riedewald takes up Gudelj's spot and and Viergever slots into LB.

[Orange14]

That was really nice!

[Tom_]

See? Go down the middle, better chance ;)

[Ayman]

It's time to bring on a sub or two, since Ajax are 1-2 up

[rjf1]

Well, that was a relief.

[SPL]

Relief to get the 2nd

[Amol]

Great ball from Sinkgraven to release Cassierra. 1-3 Ajax!!

[rjf1]

Nice to see a 1 on 1 with the goalie end successfully! Now a few more to close the goal difference and it will be a game well won.

[SPL]

Lovely goal. My wife has come into our lounge twice in the last few minutes,started talking and both times we scored.I have told her to come back in another 5 mins.!!

[Amol]

Nice to see a 1 on 1 with the goalie end successfully!

That felt very strange to me. Almost felt like something wrong happened when he put the ball into the net. We're used to our strikers missing, hitting the keeper or missing the ball altogether.

[Amol]

Lovely goal. My wife has come into our lounge twice in the last few minutes,started talking and both times we scored.I have told her to come back in another 5 mins.!!

Haha.

[Orange14]

Bad call by Kevin Blom. No way was that a foul by Veltman.

[SPL]

Veltman a red card had a poor game

[Amol]

Veltman just collected his 2nd yellow and is now heading for a quick shower. Totally unnecessary.

[rjf1]

When you already have a yellow, you have to play a lot more carefully -- stupid and unnecessary to get the second one.

[SPL]

Well a comfortable win in the end with 3 fine goals and a stupid goal conceeded. Cassierra took his goal very coolly looks a good prospect.Sinkgraven with a fine goal and making the 3rd will have done wonders for his confidence.

Down side Veltman with 2 rash yellows,Klaassen and Westermann both yellowed at the end as our discipline went.

[Orange14]

Some nice football on each of the three goals but that was about it for the day. I had a nice Spanish TV feed and the announcers were constantly harping on the lack of speed and passion on the part of Ajax. Couldn't say it any better than that. Silly challenges with deserved Yellow cards which the club didn't need. Not sure that Veltman deserved the sending off as it looked like he got the ball well before the player came in. Very little of the high pressure that Bosz said would be integral to the game. The conceded goal was cheap and Ajax need to do much better in terms of defensive focus.

Player ratings:

Cillessen (5.5) - did a lot of kicking and IMO could have done better on the goal despite the deflection; maybe he slipped
Dijks (4.5) - aimless play and very poor crosses
Riedewald (6) - a shade better than average
Veltman (5) - several reckless challenges and his positioning was less than optimal
Tete (6) - decent enough; didn't have to do much defending and spent more time in the offensive half today than all of last year under FdB; needs to speed up decision making and he will be wonderful RB
Gudelj (4) - other than the nice pass on the second goal he was pretty bad
el Capitan (5) - well taken header but his first touch was so bad that I cringed each time a ball came his way
Bazoer (6) - showed improvement over the end of last season; much quicker passing which is a good thing
Sinkgraven (6.5) - so bad in the first half that I suspected he would be subbed off; made me look foolish by putting the second goal away without hesitation and sent a nice through pass to Cassiera for #3
Cassiera (7) - very good all around play, held the ball up, passed the ball nicely and showed what he can do when he as the ball in deep; he is the #9 for the season
el Ghazi (6.5) - nice game as he realized that he didn't always have to beat two men to make a difference
van de Beek (5.5) - OK coming on for Bazoer
Dolberg (5) - nothing more than average
Westermann (5) - a Yellow card and not much more

Home to Roda next weekend before the first CL tie with Rostov in mid-week.

[rjf1]

...Down side Veltman with 2 rash yellows,Klaassen and Westermann both yellowed at the end as our discipline went.

Klaassen's was deliberate payback to El Assouzi for all the fouling he did that the ref let him get away with -- gave him the hip and put him hard on his back. I gave a little cheer when I saw it.

[Ayman]

So far all the three goals Ajax conceded were due to clangers, I hope this doesn't become a trend

[souras84]

Just read that Bosz said he thinks Cassiera is not a real number 9. I dunno, but I haven't seen a goal like his, with a true through ball, in a while.