11 MAR 2022; Cambuur - Ajax; Match Day 26

[Orange14]

On the road against mid-table Cambuur on Friday. It's the first Friday match in a long while as Ajax get an extra day to rest up for the return tie against Benfica. I have not seen any injury news about Mazraoui or Timber.

[SPL]

This could be another difficult game as we dont seem to be able to just beat little sides at present.ETH poor rotation cost us v GAE but with Martinez out Blind will be CD and Nico LB.

Antony is only a yellow away from a ban so we should not play him to make sure he plays Feyenoord. Berghuis right wing Kudus,Klaassen and Gravenberch in MF .Alvarez's extra defending is not needed in games like this and he is limited as a footballer. Given Klaassen is also a limited footballer I would love to see Unuvar or Fitz-Jim get playing time in games like tonight.

[Orange14]

Brian Brobbey is fit and will be in the match day selection.

[Ayman]

Antony, Alvarez and Gravenberch are 1 yellow card away from suspension.
Martinez suspended, and Ten Hag has played Schuurs as an LCB I expect him to start. Question is, are Timber and Mazraoui fit to start? Brobbey fit only for the bench?

[Orange14]

According to Ajax Showtime this is the starting lineup: Onana; Mazraoui, Schuurs, Blind, Tagliafico; Klaassen, Berghuis, Gravenberch; Antony, Haller, Tadic.

Timber is on the bench and I hope that this is just a precaution given the Benfica match coming up. Alvarez is not in the squad presumably because of the YC problem.

[SPL]

Antony and Gravenberch ,just a yellow from missing Feyenoord.We could cope without Alvarez and Gravenberch v Feyenoord but Antony would be a hugh miss.

[kezme44]

already up 1-0. nice pass by gravenberch

[SPL]

2-0 and in control just like v RKC! get a quick 3rd and it should be ok

[kezme44]

shambles again. 2-2. did we even have a chance in the 2nd half?!

[kezme44]

fuck me gravenberch

[kezme44]

a terrible second half again and again we win in extra time. tagliafico had a game go forget and looks like blind might be starting against benfica. most of the players were invisible in the second half. I have my doubts about tuesday night

[SPL]

A lucky win again dreadful performance but great goal by Gravenberch

[GangstaRiB]

Another narrow escape. We can’t keep going on like this!

[Orange14]

This team is schizoid!!! I really cannot understand why they zone out in games that they should be winning by 3-4 goals. After a first half that was decent they decide to come out and figure that the game will be handed to them. Mistakes galore and all of the sudden it is even at 2-2 and I'm thinking Ajax will be lucky to get even a point out of the match. Out of no where coves a wonder strike by Gravenberch for the game winner. The only other shot like that which I can remember is Thomas Hitzelsperger who had a similar shot from distance for Aston Villa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTGCQtLQOsA Gravenberch is MOTM without a doubt with two excellent assists and some general good play. Unfortunately, his team mates were seldom much above average. I thought it weird that in the first half ETH had Blind out at LB on offense but dropping into the middle on defense. Tagliafico had a horror show of a match in his first start in some time. Lots of glowing statistics yet again but Cambuur had three shots on goal, two of which went in the third almost did

Player Ratings:

Onana (6) - came up with one big save and had no chance at the two goals, his kicking was horrible
Tagliafico (3) - that back pass on the Cambuur 2nd goal should go into the video vault on not how to pass the ball back
Blind (5) - ordinary all game long
Schuurs (4.5) - I'm finally convinced that he does not have what it takes to play for Ajax
Mazraoui (5) - just nothing clicking today between him and Antony
Gravenberch (8) - really should be a little lower but that shot is worth two points in a rating system and with the two assists which were not easy, he had a great game
Klaassen (4.5) - mediocre and did not defend well at all on the first goal
Berghuis (5.5) - was all over the field but what did he do that was positive?
Tadic (6) - scored a nice goal to put Ajax up (should have been the match winner) and tried to keep things together in the 2nd half; he did not succeed
Haller (6) - above average but not by much other than the nice goal in the first half
Antony (5.5) - without good fullback play from Mazraoui and then Rensch, he was easily contained
Rensch (5) - a promising player is not looking as promising these days
Kudus (5) - he keeps on getting put into pressure situations and doesn't do much
Timber (5.5) - defense seemed to settle down when he came on
Brobbey (NR) - on late but almost got the match winner

I'm not optimistic that this team can beat Benfica.

[Tom_]

It looks like Ajax will be shopping for a new starting LB and RB for next season. Assuming Tagliafico and Mazraoui go that leaves Blind (too slow now) and Rensch (horrible all season). No thanks.

[SPL]

Agree with Tom above,about needing new fullbacks. We will need to buy cover for Martinez and Timber as Schuurs is not looking good enough.

If we keep playing poorly like these last 4 league games we will finish 2nd and CL qualifiers will start in mid July.We wont have a proper squad together by then especially if Haller and Antony go.

[Orange14]

Agree with Tom above,about needing new fullbacks. We will need to buy cover for Martinez and Timber as Schuurs is not looking good enough.

If we keep playing poorly like these last 4 league games we will finish 2nd and CL qualifiers will start in mid July.We wont have a proper squad together by then especially if Haller and Antony go.

PSV defense was horrible on Thursday in the UEFA Conference League match. We really need for them to drop points tomorrow to take some of the pressure off. they have another Thursday game coming up this week.

[kezme44]

unfortunately half the Utrecht team has Covid but yes, the psv defense was terrible Thursday night. they almost lost in the last minute of the game actually

[Orange14]

unfortunately half the Utrecht team has Covid but yes, the psv defense was terrible Thursday night. they almost lost in the last minute of the game actually

Didn't they vax all the players?? Alvarez missed the match yesterday because of illness but it was not mentioned whether it was Covid or not. ETH hopes he will be back for Benfica.