24 NOV 2016 Ajax - Panathinaikos EL Group G Match 5

[Orange14]

The penultimate match of Group G finds Ajax atop the table by 5 points over Celta Vigo and Standard Liege. A win on Thursday over the Greek team will clinch first place in the group and a draw could also work depending on the outcome of the match between the two second place teams. Sinkgraven, Schöne and Cerny were all subbed off yesterday because of minor injuries so we will have to wait and see about their availability on Thursday.

It's Thanksgiving Day here in the US but with the early kickoff time, I should be able to watch most of the match.

[SPL]

Looks like we will rest some players . I said last night that Eiting and de Ligt will be in the U19 squad ,well Eiting is but not de Ligt. Think he will be in the first team squad.Quite right too ,he has already outgrown the Jupiler league and certainly should not be wasted playing U19 games .

Cerny ,v d Beek and Nouri will all be in the squad and like de Ligt they too have outgrown Jong Ajax.

[Orange14]

I haven's seen a team sheet for tomorrow but Ziyech, Sinkgraven and Riedewald are out because of injury (Sinkgraven is also suspended). Bazoer is left off for disciplinary reasons.

[SPL]

Bazoer ,having missed Sunday through injury ,was due to train seperately today from the squad, everyone who has had a slight injury always has to .Bazoer did not want to, refused and was suspended for this game .Bosz has said it is different to El Ghazi and Gudelj and he will be back training with the squad on Friday. Seems trivial but he wanted to break club rules and quite rightly has been disciplined.He probably would have played.

So the squad will be likely

Onana Boer

Tete,Veltman Westermann Sanchez,Viergever,Dijks, de Ligt

Klaassen,Schone,v d Beek Nouri

Traore,Dolberg Cassierra,Cerny and possibly Younes.

[Orange14]

Wow, just saw the selection! Klaassen & Sanchez are being rested. Pelle Clement and Frenkie de Jong are in the selection. Otherwise it's the same as what SPL wrote above. We could have a really good midfield tomorrow!!!

[SPL]

Thought Sanchez and Klaassen would be on the bench .

I quess apart from Dijks as LB the only certainties are Schone with v d Beek and Nouri in midfield.Think Schone will enjoy the experience working with the brilliant talent of Nouri. Tete should get a game and I guess we will see Westermann although when he played at Jong Ajax I rated de Ligt better.

[Orange14]

Viergever can play LB. I suspect that de Ligt and Westermann will start in the central defense with Viergever in reserve. Maybe Tete gets a start also with Veltman in reserve. We'll see tomorrow.

[Amol]

I'm expecting a backline of Tete-Veltman-De Ligt-Dijks.

Midfield of Van De Beek-Schone-Nouri

Frontline of Traore-Dolberg-Cerny

[SPL]

ajax showtime says expected line up as

Onana

Tete,Westermann de Ligt,Dijk

Nouri v dBeek Schone

Cerny Cassierra Younes

[Orange14]

"I think" in the cup match several weeks ago de Ligt played on the right side and Westermann on the left in the back line. No matter it will be fun to see what the line up will do today!

EDIT: If Celta and Standard draw, Ajax take the top of the table regardless of the result today.

[SPL]

line up as I quoted ie Ajax showtime got it right 4x 19 yo and a17 yo ,

[King Litti]

zzzzzzzz.

[Orange14]

Nice free kick from Schöne and it totally fooled the keeper!

[Orange14]

OK first half given that it's a bunch of kids playing against an experienced side. A little too much passing back to the keeper, reminds me of the de Boer teams that I thought we were over with. Perhaps the inexperience of the players. Nice free kick for the goal and defensively OK but could be better.

[Tom_]

Strange one. Straight down the middle and the keeper didn't even get a touch.

I have to go to work, might try to watch the second half later. We're on track for at least the required point!

[SPL]

Glorious free kick by Schone ,who is having a good game. No other chances though. Nouri is fairly quiet but de Ligt looks very good to me , hard to believe he is only 17

[Orange14]

Couldn't happen to a better player!!! Three cheers for Tete!!

[SPL]

Tete loses his position to Veltman as he cannot attack well that was a quality goal by him

[Orange14]

and another kid gets on the pitch. Clement on for Younes. One really young team.

[Orange14]

and now even younger as Frenkie de Jong is on for Schöne who gives the armband to Tete.

[SPL]

teenager no 6 now playing

[King Litti]

Wonder what is the average age right now?

[Orange14]

Wonder what is the average age right now?

Westermann is 33, Dijks 23, and everyone else is younger. Probably around 22 or 23 is the average.

[Amol]

Missing the game but average age currently is 20.8!! If you sub Westerman out, it will probably drop under 20.

[Tom_]

Yeah but that's with one 33 year old. What's the geometric mean? ;)