2 OCT 2016 Ajax - Utrecht Match Day 8

[Orange14]

Hanging on by their fingernails, Ajax prevailed against Utrecht by playing maybe five minutes of what could be called average football. The remainder was a pale imitation of the game and maybe it was another example of the Thursday Night Hangover (of which we are likely to see much more off this season as EL football continues). An own goal, a PK from a hand ball in the box, and a scuffed shot by the most talented Ajax player amounted to the scoring. The defense was spotty at times but generally OK with both goals coming off of major mistakes. Fortunately, we Ajax supporters will have to wait two weeks before enduring such agony again as Euro WC qualfying occupies the next 10 or so days.

As is their strategy when playing teams with two strikers, Ajax went to a 3-4-3 with Sinkgraven pushing up on offense every time. Unfortunately, it looked like he saw this as an opportunity to not play any defense at all.

Player Ratings:

Onana (6) - not at fault on either goal and really didn't have much to do at all in the game
Sinkgraven (3.5) - nominally a wingback in the 3-4-3 he never dropped back quickly enough and left Viergever exposed a number of times in the first half; mercifully subbed off in the 2nd half
Viergever (6.5) - good match on defense covering acres of space and really advanced forward when there was space
Sanchez (6) - great saving tackle against Zivcovic but too many errors otherwise
Veltman (6.5) - decent enough
Schöne (6.5) - cool taking the PK but the rest of his game was just ordinary
el Capitan No Touch (4) - would have been lower except for his clearance and block in added time; two good passes amidst over a dozen poor ones; really should have finished off the nice lay off that Dolberg presented to him
Ziyech (6) - very poor in the first half but a well timed run on the third goal which turned out to be the winner
Younes (7) - really nice match, never forcing an attack when he had options to pass and his assist on the OG was delightful
Dolberg (5.5) - mixed bag with some really wonderful touches and some really awful ones; lay off to Klaassen was great
Traore (7) - all over the field and other than Ziyech has the best vision of all the Ajax players BUT when you have an open goal the ball has to go in rather than skying way over
Bazoer (5.5) - really too bad he suffered a thigh injury coming on for Sinkgraven
Cassiera (5.5) - late sub for Dolberg
Riedewald (NR) - on for an injured Bazoer

Next up an away match with ADO den Haag

[rjf1]

Waiting for Oranges rating who was our MOM . Traore worked hard shame he missed the sitter ,Sanchez very good in defence and dear old Schone had a decent game

My choice on offense would be Younes -- great runs down the wing ending in meaningful crosses or else pulling up and making good passes into the middle -- completely ran the show on the left side. For defence it's Sanchez without question.

[Orange14]

Waiting for Oranges rating who was our MOM . Traore worked hard shame he missed the sitter ,Sanchez very good in defence and dear old Schone had a decent game

Don't really have a MOM as there was nobody who played a game that wasn't flawed in some way. I guess if Traore had hit that goal in the late stages that would have qualified. He continues to impress working hard all over the field.

I forgot to add that both Dolberg and Veltman were at fault on the first goal (each was a step too far away from the Utrecht player; maybe zonal marking??) and Klaassen on the second one as he let his marker run right past him and get goal side.

[King Litti]

Don't really have a MOM as there was nobody who played a game that wasn't flawed in some way. I guess if Traore had hit that goal in the late stages that would have qualified.

Really sad he didn't get that as an award for a good game. Worrying is that I had sort of a deja-vu feeling after that. Don't think that was the first time he botched a chance like that. It was a lovely set up by Ziech by the way who really did improve in the second. He didn't have too much space or time, but he didn't hesitate and kept his head up to spot the wide open Traore.

[SPL]

Ziyech will come good and make a big difference as the season goes on and Traore works very hard but we still need a deadly finisher. Cassierra and Dolberg are still for the future.

Biggest worry we have played mainly the poorer bottom sides and are struggling ,other than v Zwolle. At this stage given the opposition we should have max points,dropping 5 points at home to poor sides shows how ordinary we are.

[rjf1]

My problem with Traore is that it's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with him. Moments of really good play juxtaposed with moments of piss poor play. His poor play involves making poor passes -- often directly to the opposition, and losing the ball too easily when pressured. Their first goal came directly as a result of him losing control of the ball to Utrecht and two passes later it was in our net.

[Tom_]

I thought they scored from a corner and a free kick? Maybe the giveaway led to the first corner...?

[rjf1]

Yes - you are right -- the giveaway happened right before that.