29 SEP 2016 Ajax-Standard Liege EL Group B Match 2

[Orange14]

Another European adventure this Thursday evening when Ajax host Standard Liege. The club will be without star MF Hakim Ziyech who was foolishly sent off a fortnight ago in Greece. Where will the innovation come from? Will Bosz pair up Gudelj and Klaassen as the two advanced MFs thus guaranteeing all life will be sucked out of the MF? Will he be gutsy enough to select Nouri for his first senior team start?

[Cruijff]

Don't know if Nouri will be selected, 99% sure he is in the line-up of the Jupiler League game this evening.

A win would be great. Last season we started with two draws in Europa League before then in Istanbul Joël Veltman losing 'an air fight' in the 90th minute allowing Fenerbahce beating us 1-0 with a corner kick.

So last season we only had 2 points after 3 Europa League matches, now starting with 6 points after two games would be great.

[Ayman]

This game is likely to end in a 1-1 draw.

[Dubbel]

This game is likely to end in a 1-1 draw.

Dunno Ayman... Ajax at home are usually a force to be reckoned with in Europe and we've progressed a lot since playing Paok and those Russians. Having said that we have a young squad and an unexperienced coach and ups and downs are to be expected. Still I would be disappointed with anything less than a victory. Let tomorrow be an 'up'. 2-1 is what I'd put my money on.

[King Litti]

We've been in good form lately. As soon as Bosz realized he has to play Ziyech in midfiled, we have looked better. Too bad he is out. Yes, I too would love to see Nouri filling that position. If not, I would like to see the old wise man Schöne in midfield. Klaassen, Gudelj, Bazoer trio doesn't have the vision needed, we have seen that so many times. With our good form, don't see why we couldn't beat a team from Belgium. Their league isn't exactly among the toughest in Europe (Though neither is ours).

[Cruijff]

This game is likely to end in a 1-1 draw.

Dunno Ayman... Ajax at home are usually a force to be reckoned with in Europe and we've progressed a lot since playing Paok and those Russians.

The Bookmakers rate us as the big favourite for this one. Anyone going for a bet?

[souras84]

I am not very optimistic about tomorrow. Any thoughts? What about the lineup? I hope we change Veltman with Tete, cause Liege sure plays a lot from the wings and is quite fast. And the big question, will we see the midfield duo back? Gudelj and Klaassen

[SPL]

I will miss tonights game as I am going to my cricket club quiz. Hope for any sort of win but we will miss Ziyech as he has started to make a difference and creating chances.

[Orange14]

For those in the USA, ESPN3 lists the game as a webcast. Hope this is so as their video quality is very good. Good luck to SPL with the Cricket quiz!!! I remember back in 1981 when we were spending our holiday in the west of England and there was a Cricket test match on the television. It only took me about 15 minutes to figure out how the game is scored and played. I still prefer football (soccer).

[SPL]

Its actually a general knowledge quiz and we have a curry meal before hand.I meet up with mates so sadly no Ajax tonight.Still I did watch that fantastic Jong game on Monday.

[King Litti]

Got the starting 11 players from the Ajax app.

I suppose the formation will be this:

Onana

Veltman Sanchez Viergever Sinkgraven

Klaassen Schöne Gudelj

Traore Dolberg Younes


Was hoping for Nouri to fill in for Ziyech, but at least there is Schöne in our midfield. So, at least one midfielder knows how to pass the ball forward.

[souras84]

You got it 100% right!!! But Schone as a number 6 type, is not defensive at all. Watching the game with Zwolle, he was always walking close to the opponents, not putting his foot to intercept the ball... Let's hope we dominate today

[SPL]

Nouri and de Jong for Schone and Gudelj would have improved our midfield and offer more.

[King Litti]

Maybe Schöne will be more of a number 10 tonight. Playing behind Dolberg.

[Orange14]

I hope Tete finds a club in January that values him. This Ajax club clearly does not!

[Orange14]

Looks like a lot of empty seats tonight.

[Orange14]

It took about 15 minutes for the smoke from the flares to clear so that I could see the midfield. Why don't they kick out the supporters who light flares inside the Arena? It's certainly not safe. Nice goal by Dolberg off the pass from Traore. Ajax should have had another one as they created some good chances. Onana hasn't had much to do. Sinkgraven looks like he's wandering all over the pitch when he should stay home on the left side.

[King Litti]

6 points from two games. Wow, are we going to see Ajax in Europe after X-mas?

[Orange14]

It took a very good save from Onana in added time to preserve a 1-0 win. Ajax had the better of play all game long and should have had an extra goal or two that would have saved me from biting my nails. Bosz was hamstrung by the suspension of Ziyech and stared a MF who is not good enough to play for Jong Ajax. this coupled with is MF partner El Capitan No Touch neutered the midfield as usual. It will be interesting to see the passing map for this game. Traore was outstanding, great on the ball and tracking back to defend every time. He's my MOTM.

Player Ratings:

Onana (7.5) - a couple of outstanding saves and helped out by the post to keep a clean sheet
Sinkgraven (6.5) - still a work in progress but really needs to stay home when it looks like the ball is going to turnover as he was caught way out of position a couple of times
Viergever (7) - quietly solid
Sanchez (7) - outstanding game until he forgot to defend right at the 90th minute
Veltman (7) - helped out by Traore all match long and really didn't have to do much defending
Schöne (6.5) - decent match but he can only play 60 minutes as the controlling MF
Gudelj (3.5) - time to drop back to Jong Ajax and take some lessons in how to play MF from some kids who know how to get the job done
El Capitan No Touch (5.5) - charitable rating because of a couple of good defensive plays, why is he so bad passing the ball?
Younes (6.5) - much better game today as he finally learned to pass the ball
Dolberg (7) - nicely taken goal but some poor touches costs a higher rating
Traore (8) - the only thing he didn't do was score
Riedewald (6.5) - put in a good shift coming in for Schöne but I think it's 50/50 about who should start
AeG7 (5.5) - a couple of touches coming on late for Younes

Ajax stand top of the group as Celta Vigo defeated Panithenaikos in the other match. Much better start than last EL campaign.

[King Litti]

Gudelj starts and meanwhile the Jong kids are absolutely destroying their opponents. Ok, it's not the E.L orthe Eredivisie, but then again it's only one league down. With how big of a margin do they need to win to get Bosz to notice? If they continue like this, it will be increasingly difficult for Bosz to justify not playing Nouri etc. I'm sure the jong guys are just dying to make their debut and I believe that passion would translate on to the field. Well it's going to happen sooner or later and anyways the future seems quite bright right now. I hope we have long contracts with these jong guys.

[Cruijff]

It took about 15 minutes for the smoke from the flares to clear so that I could see the midfield. Why don't they kick out the supporters who light flares inside the Arena? It's certainly not safe.

It's not so easy to remove the fans from the away section.

Looks like a lot of empty seats tonight.

Yes, there was a strict safety policy for the ticket sale at this Holland vs Belgian clash, at the other Europa League home game this will be better.

[souras84]

The Schone "Number 6" experiment must end. He didn't stop the ball more than 30% of the balls coming his way, exposing us to dangerous situations. If Bosz needs him, he should field him with Ziyech and Riedewald. Anyway, too much wasted chances and if Standard were better up front we might not be able to win the game... From what I've seen in the Panathinaikos - Celta game, the Spaniards were very lucky and had a bit of refereing help

[Dubbel]

Lucky surely. Late goals; one off side and the next of a deflection.
http://aliez.me/video/42204/otpy024f/

[SPL]

Good to see we won and Dolberg scores again. Not surprised the midfield was poor.Ziyech Bazoer and Riedewald would be better but v d Beek, deJong and Nouri are the future

[Orange14]

Lucky surely. Late goals; one off side and the next of a deflection.
http://aliez.me/video/42204/otpy024f/

I totally forgot that former Feynoord loan striker Giudetti was with Celta Vigo. He's a real a**hole! I looked at the clip several times and to me it looked like he was just onsides (but it was real close) as the Pathenaikos right side defender dropped back a step too far. I hope we beat Celta just because Giudetti plays for them.