03 May 2017 Ajax - Lyon EL Semifinals

[Tom_]

What a match! Can't wait for the return...

@orange FYI the commentator compared Ziyech to Theo Janssen after the 4th goal (as a compliment). Just thought you'd want to know.

[Ayman]

On Twitter Chelsea fans are begging Conte to play Traore next season. Clearly they haven't been following Ajax throughout the whole season

[ajaxusa]

What a great game, and so much fun to watch on the real TV, with my son! Yay... yes, Ajax failed to convert several solid-gold chances. Could have been 8-1. But it also could have been 4-4. Onana was THE difference, along with Traore, who was incredible in this game.

[Ayman]

What a great game, and so much fun to watch on the real TV, with my son! Yay... yes, Ajax failed to convert several solid-gold chances. Could have been 8-1. But it also could have been 4-4. Onana was THE difference, along with Traore, who was incredible in this game.

WoW! A big welcome back ajaxusa! Good times ahead!

[Orange14]

@orange FYI the commentator compared Ziyech to Theo Janssen after the 4th goal (as a compliment). Just thought you'd want to know.

I had the two English broadcasters who probably never heard of Theo Janssen!! They thought Ziyech had a great game.

[Tom_]

I did too actually. I'm not his greatest fan in general but he took fewer ridiculous shots today which made him more effective, I thought. Still a couple of lazy turnovers but there was quite a bit of sloppy possession from both sides.

[souras84]

We won!!! And by playing beautifully!!! Very happy about that!!! It was a very enjoyable game for the spectators. Haven't heard our fans so alive in ages! Now, let's keep our heads down and finish the job in France



I guess Overmars or anyone responsible for the contracts, should really do everything in hand to keep Tete and Riedewald... It's a pity if they just walk away

[saddlerian]

All I'm going to say is....TERRIFIC

[SPL]

Was a wonderful night meant to add what a first game in the new Johan Cruijff Arena.Football by us befitting his name.

Still cannot understand how Veltman plays in place of Tete.Tete is far better as a right back as he showed last night. Still dont believe de Ligt is 17 ,the kid still makes the odd mistake but is mature way beyond his years.

[King Litti]

Wow, what a game. Great result, performance and entertainment value.

So glad Cruijffs dream didn't come through and Traore scored from his fist chance. We didn't have much chances before that, so the fact that we got on the board first was so important. In games like this you really need to capitalize on your chances and that's what we did in the first half (ok, younes could have made it 3/3 from his break away).

Still dont believe de Ligt is 17 ,the kid still makes the odd mistake but is mature way beyond his years.

He really was a dynamo. You can see he has great ability and he is so hungry to play and succeed. A future superstar. What a combo he will make with Sanchez. Hope they are able to play together for us for years and develop to something like Toby-Jan or better yet Chiellini-Bonucci.

Thumps up for Riedewald. Not an easy situation to come suddenly to the starting 11 in a big game. He really came through for us.

Ziyech was great. Too bad he didn't get a goal in the end. He would have deserved it and 5-1 could have totally broken Lyons dream of a come back. Ziyech wasn't only good on the ball, I thought he was also better defensively than usual. A lot of hustle, fighting for loose balls and winning duels. We need that Ziyech in France.

[saddlerian]

quote="SPL"]Still dont believe de Ligt is 17 ,the kid still makes the odd mistake but is mature way beyond his years.[/quote]

Ajax will have to get him "contracted" up....with a rather large sell on clause...but then again, being so young, he could be the "Messi" of Ajax, someone to create a team around, another era!!!

[saddlerian]

Wow, what a game. Great result, performance and entertainment value. So glad Cruijffs dream didn't come through and Traore scored from his fist chance....
He really was a dynamo. You can see he has great ability and he is so hungry to play and succeed. A future superstar.

Maybe, but why "start" to produce this late in the season....and, HE STILL ONLY USES HIS RIGHT FOOT TO STAND ON!!!

Sorry, but I've seen more talented players than Traore...he won't get a look in at Chelsea...and after a year at Ajax, still being one footed, he'll be somewhere in the French league!!

[SPL]

Agree with Ian about Traore.He had a great game last night but that was about the first time he really did play well.He has been a big disappointment.

I try and contain myself with de Ligt .I really do think he will be a world great .We cannot put him on a full contract until August when he is 18. We are so lucky that his advisor and mentor is Barry Hulshoff and on a contract extension he recently said his Dad and Barry will sort it out .Seems a true Ajax kid like Donny v d Beek and Davy Klaassen. I dont see him leaving for a few years yet. Would be great if he stayed until he was 24 or 25.

[King Litti]

SaddlerIan, You quoted me wrong. That superstar praise was for De Ligt, not Traore.

[saddlerian]

SaddlerIan, You quoted me wrong. That superstar praise was for De Ligt, not Traore.

Apology...read your post incorrectly

[King Litti]

No worries, just wanted to sort that out.

[saddlerian]

Just glad you, like me, think so highly of De Ligt.

Hope that the "tainted" Russian or "oily" Middle Eastern money doesn't try to purchase him as a bench warmer!!!

[Orange14]

We had two English announcers (Ian Joy was one, I forget the other) on the US feed yesterday. They were going on and on about all the young players, especially de Ligt whom they could not believe was still 17 years old. This was a solid win and it's just so strange to see the team playing much better in Euro competition than in the league. Perhaps Bosz has finally figured some things out but if Tete doesn't start this weekend at LB, I will still question his sanity. Bosz was critical of Tete's offensive work, but in the games he has played he shows much more awareness than Veltman plus he is able to recover on defense much better. The way he made the saving intervention after he lost his man midway through the second half was just first rate.

One area the club failed in last evening was covering the Lyon RB who was marauding down the sideline all night long until he came off with about 20 minutes to play. The times Lyon threatened was when they overloaded that side. Younes did a very poor job of checking him.

Club has a relatively easy match this Sunday and it will be interesting to see if there is some squad rotation, though given what Bosz has done to date I doubt this will happen. Nonetheless, Ajax are in a good position for the return tie.

[Amol]

I hope for De Ligt and for Ajax, that he stays with us at least for the next 5-6 years.

Is it just me or is this team reminding you of the 1992 to 1996 years? We have a great group playing in the first team right now, but the ones waiting in the wings are even better - De Ligt, Nouri, Van De Beek, Eiting, De Jong, Kluivert, Neres. I'm not putting Tete and Riedewald in that group since I believe they should already be playing regularly.

[Orange14]

@Amol - I agree with you 100%. It's a shame that money is driving so much these days. The only way for clubs like Ajax to become competitive in Europe is for the key players to stay around for at least five years. In this way they can get to know each other's playing style better and the anticipation of making things happen increases dramatically. Of course I'm pessimistic that this will happen. Look how low the Italian league has fallen. Other than Juve, the teams are pretty much in the same predicament as top Dutch teams.

The Financial Fairplay Rule has turned out to be a joke.

[Ayman]

I hope for De Ligt and for Ajax, that he stays with us at least for the next 5-6 years.

Is it just me or is this team reminding you of the 1992 to 1996 years? We have a great group playing in the first team right now, but the ones waiting in the wings are even better - De Ligt, Nouri, Van De Beek, Eiting, De Jong, Kluivert, Neres. I'm not putting Tete and Riedewald in that group since I believe they should already be playing regularly.

I Shared your enthusiasm until I saw the Monaco vs Juventus game. I think this season's adventure in Europe is a one off, back in the early 90s, big leagues could only play up to 3 foreign players, thats why Ajax had the luxury of keeping key players till they were mid/late 20s, with few exceptions. By the teams from big leagues and every other league in Europe could field EU players, but up to 3 non EU players, then it was abolished, then came the Bosman ruling, and the rest is history. On top of that, the board of directors treat Ajax like a corporation, i.e. a feeding club, coupled with Marc Overmars not offering good contacts to key players e.g. Onana. I think this summer transfer is going to hit us with a sledge hammer, all big teams have to do is offer ridiculous amount of money and players would leave in a heart beat. That said, if Ajax win the Europa league (Still not a done deal), that would provide an incentive, as Ajax would then not only qualify for the champions league, but become second seeded, meaning they would stand a good chance of qualifying from the group stages. We will see

[Tom_]

Anyone watch the first leg of the other semi? Celta de Vigo 0–1 Man U. Only goal came from a free kick that looked pretty tame, but the keeper went the wrong way.

Man U unbeaten in 9 EL matches so it's hard to see Celta going through... but neither team looking great and it was a poor match.

[Ayman]

Anyone watch the first leg of the other semi? Celta de Vigo 0–1 Man U. Only goal came from a free kick that looked pretty tame, but the keeper went the wrong way.

Man U unbeaten in 9 EL matches so it's hard to see Celta going through... but neither team looking great and it was a poor match.

Losing to Man Utd in the final would be a nightmare scenario. Anyone but Utd

[Amol]

Anyone watch the first leg of the other semi? Celta de Vigo 0–1 Man U. Only goal came from a free kick that looked pretty tame, but the keeper went the wrong way.

Man U unbeaten in 9 EL matches so it's hard to see Celta going through... but neither team looking great and it was a poor match.

Losing to Man Utd in the final would be a nightmare scenario. Anyone but Utd

I want us to play against United and stuff them 4-0. Would love to see Mourinho's face after that.

[Amol]

Anyone watch the first leg of the other semi? Celta de Vigo 0–1 Man U. Only goal came from a free kick that looked pretty tame, but the keeper went the wrong way.

Man U unbeaten in 9 EL matches so it's hard to see Celta going through... but neither team looking great and it was a poor match.

I saw the whole game and wasn't impressed with either team. Man Utd players are tall and strong - so we have to watch out for set pieces. But beyond that, they don't really scare me right now.