22 DEC 2024; Sparta - Ajax; Match Day 17

[Orange14]

Ajax close out the year and the first half of the league competition with a trip to Rotterdam to take on Sparta. The winter break cannot come soon enough for this tired club. Fortunately, the beginning of the 2025 schedule looks soft with matches against RKC Waalwijk, Heeenveen, Rigas (Europa League) and Go Ahead Eagles just prior to the visit of Galatasary to the Arena in the final Europa League group tie.

[SPL]

You have listed the January games so AZ in cup and Galatasary at home the only 2 real tough games.

This is game 30 since July and the winter break is badly needed.Berghuis has Achilles problems and thus injured again .We have to let him go next summer.

We must put our strongest team out for Sunday and hope that Henderson ,after 90 mins last night can start.

[Orange14]

With the crazy amount of games and a new manager, it's surprising that Ajax could end up in 2nd place going into the winter break. Best result for Ajax would be draws in the PSV-Feyenoord and AZ-Twente matches along with a win against Sparta.

[SPL]

Agree 2 draws in the other games and we win . We would be 2nd just 4 points off PSV having played 2 good games ie PSV and Feyenoord and 14 so far moderate to poor games in the league.

Sutalo is fit to play.Berghuis will not be missed.

[SPL]

AZ win and now 4 points behind us in 5th .Had it been a draw Twente would be 4 points adrift.

We just need to win tomorrow and stay 2nd

[Tom_]

I have zero complaints about the results so far, with this squad I think we’ve done very well.

[SPL]

Klaassen Weghorst start and Gaaei and Akpom wingers ,sheer poverty. Putting out a strongest attack against Telstar was more important.Sorry this is a joke.

[saddlerian]

Wow!!! Looks good when PaddyPower play the whole of the 1st half highlights ..in 9 seconds!!!
It must liven up...going to sleep here in Russia!!!

[SPL]

Dreadful 45 mins, no wingers and no creativity. Thank goodness I watched our U21 v Spurs the other night playing proper Ajax footy.

[Tom_]

Fitting end to another half a season of miserable football. But it’s an away win so I’ll take it.

[SPL]

Well we got 3 points and are 2nd at the winter break.Penalty was a relief and a well made goal at the end by Traore. Ajax playing so may poor games but lie 2nd but football is poor to watch .

Need to get 2 or 3 creative attacking players in January. Thats it for 3 weeks.

[Orange14]

A swirling wind and some woeful play from Ajax made the game today not worth watching for the first 65 minutes. It was only with the introduction of Brobbey, Godts and Traore that the team decided to wake up and play some football. Taylor, one of the bright spots on the day, calmly slotted home a penalty for the match winner and Traore with a wonderful curling shot clinched the 0-2 win and keep Ajax in second place. It looked like Farioli changed formation going for a 3-5-2 with Hato and Gaaei as wing backs with Weghorst and Akpom up front. It did not work as the passing was poor and neither Akpom or Weghorst posed any serious threats on goal. The defense dealt successfully with all the Sp;arta attacks and Pasveer made all the necessary saves though none were difficult balls.

Player Ratings:

Pasveer (6.5) - did not have any difficulty in goal and his ball handling was more than decent
Rensch (6.5) - OK defending as part of a back three in the first half
Rugani (6.5) - decent enough though he's really not the type of good ball handler Ajax want in the back line
Baas (6.5) - OK match with no major passing errors that have plagued him in recent matches
Gaaei (5) - contributed little as a wingback and came off at the half
Hato (7) - solid match and did go forward well with his charge into the box drawing a deserved penalty call
Henderson (6.5) - decent match though he was laboring at times as he cannot deal with a congested fixture that Ajax have had to deal with
Taylor (7.5) - MOTM with his good offensive performance, unlucky to slip in the box when it looked like he would be facing the keeper with a good shooting opportunity
Davy One Goal (5.5) - very labored play and came off for Fitz-Jim just before the hour mark
Akpom (5) - only average
Weghorst (5) - same as Akpm
Godts (6) - added a spark on the left side as Ajax went back to a 4-3-3 in the second half
Traore (7) - much better play on the day with a wonderful strike to sew up the points
Brobbey (6.5) - held the ball up much better than Weghorst and got the assist on the Traore goal
Fitz-Jim (6.5) - coming in for the slow Klaassen really helped the MF unlock playing space
Berghuis (NR) - on late

Ajax are in a much better place than last season and given all the turmoil we supporters have to be pleased. It's still not the type of free-flowing Ajax football that we are accustomed to but Farioli has conviction about his tactics and rotation policy. With some deserved rest for the holiday break, let's hope our club comes back reenergized for the second half of the season!!

Hoppy Holidays to all!!!!!!!

[Tom_]

Yes, a break for the players and I’m also happy to take a break from watching them. Hope you all have a good holiday season too.

[saddlerian]

Yes, a useful 3 points... WHO predicted this league position at the start of September?

Lovely to see, when Brobbey came on, that the old "side to side" and "here, you do something" attitude changed because you CAN play through the middle as long as you have a good old centre forward who can hold the ball up!!

Many EPL teams, (English (run by foreign players) Premier League, NOT the Ethiopian Premier League) , are searching for this type of player everywhere!!

Well done Ajax.... So far, so good

[SPL]

PSV 2-0 up so we should be 4 points clear of Feyenoord but Utrecht 1-0 up will be level if they win.

[souras84]

Very bad and boring game from us today. Lucky to get the win. If it weren't for the penalty, God know if we would be able to score! Anyway, our position is strong, but our luck might run out. We need speed and a bit of creativity. The current players can't help us with this, so it's up to the management to make the proper transfers...

[SPL]

Of the 11 who finished today if you swap Rugani and Berghuis for Sutalo and Taylor thats our best 11. Rugani, who has played little, Weghorst ,Klaassen are ok subs. Gaaei, Akpom and Berghuis all worthless so are the other squad players. No wonder he has to rotate.

Of the 11 best starters 5 are 22 and under from our youth plus Godts. Yes Brobbey is struggling but still adds more than Weghorst who is just a good sub.

So to finish 2nd at the winter break ,even though the football is poor is indeed a great achievement by Farioli

[Orange14]

Fortuna Sittard erupt for 5 goals in the 2nd half to easly down Utrecht in a surprise. PSV appear to have little trouble with Feyenoord. Ajax are still 6 points behind PSV, three ahead of Utrecht and four ahead of Feyenoord. It's going to be an interesting 2nd half of the season.

[SPL]

Great result by Fortuna.

Ps my post above should say of the 11 best starters 6 are 22 and under from our youth plus Godts.
Some fans say Farioli does not give our youth a chance but 7 out of 11 is indeed great .Shows Ajax should concentrate on its youth plus quality signings.