09 MAR 2025; PEC Zwolle - Ajax; Match Day 25

[Orange14]

After the disappointment against Eintracht, Ajax head back to the Eredivisie with a road trip to PEC.

[SPL]

F-Jim and Berghuis start and Henderson and Traore subs . Klaassen is absent about to become a father. Matheus in goal will be ok provided he does not start taking the ball out the area, last week nearly cost us a goal but the crossbar saved us.

Mokio and F-Jim in MF are a bit lightweight but should mean the ball getting moved around quicker. Klaassen would have started but Henderson likely to come after Ht,he has not played much recently due to injury and had a full 90 mins Thursday hence he is not starting

Any sort of win will do although hope the game is better than last week.

[Tom_]

Oof, this has got that “where will a goal come from?” feeling to it. They have generally found a way to win this season but they might need a penalty or something today.

[SPL]

Brobbey getting injured was bad and from then onwards we were dreadful.MF doesnt exist.Henderson for Mokio, Berghuis back to MF,Traore,has he touched the ball,to the wing and let Konadu come on.

[SPL]

1-0 Taylor a pen.Luck going our way!

[Tom_]

Ha, they did it again. Any away win is a great result!

I reckon we need at least a win against AZ or a draw against PSV (both would be even better of course). We want to be four or more points ahead after those two games.

[SPL]

What a struggle just like last week.Not relaxing watching Ajax like this but luck on our side and we just keep getting those wins 10 in a row and 2 goals let in.

Did wonder why Mokio stayed on thought he was poor but we must hope Brobbey is fit ,Traore was non existent as a striker and I do wonder why Konadu did not get 10 mins.

So I am exhausted watching that so will go and cycle up to my local village in the South Downs( range of hills along the South coast)

[Orange14]

Another ugly win and a draw was always a possibility but PEC had poor shots on very real chances to even things up. Ajax stay eight points on top of PSV. Sutalo was MOTM for me with just great defending. Hato also had a good match defending on the left side. The VAR call was spot on, the arm was extended and will always lead to a PK. Taylor was cool with the goal score from the spot. Ajax were terribly sluggish in the first half maybe because of Thursday night football. Passes were not crisp on what looked to be a pristine playing surface. In the end a win is a win.

Player Ratings:

Mattaeus (6.5) - didn't get caught in no man's land which is a plus
Gaaei (5.5) - not a bad game except for some very dismal crosses
Sutalo (7.5) - another clinic on how to play central defense
Baas (5.5) - some very poor passing in the first half
Hato (7) - good match over all and good on the ball
Mokio (4) - remember, you are only 17 years old; go to sleep tonight and forget about this game
Taylor (7) - was maybe the only one who created any scoring opportunities
Fitz-Jim (6) - above average but more was expected since he had rest on Thursday
Berghuis (6.5) - active with the ball but did not create much
Brobbey (NR) - not sure what the extent of the knock on the knee was and hope it is not serious
Godts (5) - seems to be in a funk right now and better solve this puzzle if he hopes to continue as the first choice wing on the left
Traore (6) - not the hold up player and Ajax need to change the style of play if he is at 9
Henderson (6) - came on for Fitz-Jim to add to the defense
Edvardsen (6) - should get the start against Eintracht on Thursday
van den Boomen (NR) - on late

Ajax have to make up the one goal deficit on Thursday night to continue in Europe. It's going to be very difficult as they don't have the kind of attack that can reverse this the way the 2019 team did. If Brobbey is missing the job will be nigh to impossible. Home match with AZ next Sunday and at least both teams have football this Thursday.

[Amol]

Somehow squeezed out another win. On to the next one.