Ajax Coaches

[Philippe]

but for me, this has been our worst season I can remember.

remember Wouters, when we were fighting to reach the UEFA cup and were ridiculous then, and Koeman's last season ?

[jamcocteau]

of course, we were lucky with the sides in our group, but it is totally untrue that Ajax play was terrible. Altough we missed many players on those accasions, we had good games against Prague, Arsenal, and Inter (home).

Philippe, going to have to disagree with you again :D surprise surprise

Prague away we had a good 45 minutes, at home we won the game against a poor side without playing anything special at all. If memeory serves me right it we never had any clear cut chances until De Jong came on.

Arsenal at home was nothing special at all, in fact pretty poor. Away from home both teams had already qualified so very difficult to judge the relevance of the game to be honest with you.

Inter at home we had 45 superb minutes in the first half, went 2 up and then allowed Inter to walk over us in the 2nd half.

To be honest with you I have far better memories of prior year CL campaigns than anything that happened in this seasons. Only the first 45 mins against Inter stand out.

[Philippe]

To be honest with you I have far better memories of prior year CL campaigns than anything that happened in this seasons.

how long ago ? :oud:


seriously, there is a huge difference between "terrible", and "nothing special" ;)

[Kowalczyk]

seriously, there is a huge difference between "terrible", and "nothing special" ;)

Yes. And this season was terrible.

This season's squad was not championship-material, but it was definitely not a squad that should lose 10 Eredivisie games (which is the same number as in the worst professional season Ajax ever had).

Ajax's play (especially in the league) has been consistently horrible throughout the season. The Wouters (99-00) and Koeman (04-05) seasons were bad, very bad in fact, but not as horrible as this one.

Even Blind himself admits that there are certain reasons to fire him. It would be totally legitimate. Van Geel has a plan: he bought Huntelaar, Stam and Perez, he's doing great work and he's building a new Ajax, in which the olf 'fifth column' has less influence. I trust him.

It's not about Danny Blind. It's about Ajax. The club is a million times more important than any individual. If Van Geel feels - based on a fair, thorough analysis - that Blind must be replaced, he has my blessing to do so.

When Koeman left, I was hoping for either Martin Jol or Henk ten Cate. Check the Ajax Talk archives. Those were the men I was hoping for. I was a bit disappointed when they pushed Danny Blind forward, but I believe that every Ajax coach deserves the benefit of the doubt - and definitely a great Ajax man like Danny Blind. In his first months (the latter months of 04-05, but also the first months of this season) I thought we were improving and I started to seriously and genuinely believe in Blind.

But I slowly changed my mind during the season - for obvious reasons (summary: NO F**KING PROGRESS). His time has come. The board of directors don't have to explain anything, after a season like this. Not even a point of discussion, if you ask me.

K.

[Philippe]

Ajax's play (especially in the league) has been consistently horrible throughout the season. The Wouters (99-00) and Koeman (04-05) seasons were bad, very bad in fact, but not as horrible as this one.
K.

I wonder how you can make such statements.

Wouters ? My advice would be for you to watch the 100' anniversary DVD again just to remind you what a terrible season is like. The F-side supporters turning their backs to the players during the games, the ridiculous defeat against Haopel Haifa on the home game, and so on.

As for Koeman, I was in the Arena for his last home game, and I can remember the supporters waving white handkerchiefs after one more very embarrassing game. I can remember the most humiliating Ajax ever had in international competitions in Munich (0-4, and in what way ...).

You want Blind to go ? Ok. But no need for such exaggerations.

[DanK]

Ajax's play (especially in the league) has been consistently horrible throughout the season. The Wouters (99-00) and Koeman (04-05) seasons were bad, very bad in fact, but not as horrible as this one.
K.

I wonder how you can make such statements.

Wouters ? My advice would be for you to watch the 100' anniversary DVD again just to remind you what a terrible season is like. The F-side supporters turning their backs to the players during the games, the ridiculous defeat against Haopel Haifa on the home game, and so on.

As for Koeman, I was in the Arena for his last home game, and I can remember the supporters waving white handkerchiefs after one more very embarrassing game. I can remember the most humiliating Ajax ever had in international competitions in Munich (0-4, and in what way ...).

You want Blind to go ? Ok. But no need for such exaggerations.

Philippe, I tend to agree with Ko on this one mate. I remember bad times during Wouters and Koeman, but I do remember a lot of good times as well. Esp the CL run we had with Koeman and could have made the semis.

I can see where you are coming from (re: wouters and koeman), but, and again this is my opinion, I do not remember a season where we have been as consistantly poor as this one. I am not only talking about the actual results but the style of the play during the season and the progression of the team.

We have had no direction this year. We have been poor. We finished 4th, played like we should have finished 8th and are lucky to be in the CL next year.

[Kowalczyk]

... and are lucky to be in the CL next year.

Which we aren't... Remember there are not two but THREE 'play-off rounds': the first two are KNVB games, the third one is called a qualifying round (UEFA games), but another hurdle lies ahead nonetheless. We had to jump three hurdles to get into the CL. We have now jumped two of them (Feyenoord and Groningen). The third might be Celtic or Anderlecht or Dinamo Kiev in August.

K.

[dws]

Danny was 'gifted' KJH to help 'save' the season. Koeman, whatever people think of him, was seriously handicapped by the late sale of Zlatan.

[Kowalczyk]

Danny was 'gifted' KJH to help 'save' the season. Koeman, whatever people think of him, was seriously handicapped by the late sale of Zlatan.

That's a very good (and absolutely fair) observation.

Besides... We're talking TEN (10!!) Eredivisie defeats here. I mean come on.

K.

[DanK]

... and are lucky to be in the CL next year.

Which we aren't... Remember there are not two but THREE 'play-off rounds': the first two are KNVB games, the third one is called a qualifying round (UEFA games), but another hurdle lies ahead nonetheless. We had to jump three hurdles to get into the CL. We have now jumped two of them (Feyenoord and Groningen). The third might be Celtic or Anderlecht or Dinamo Kiev in August.

K.

And thats an important point Ko. Thats what I was getting at in my Gron-Ajax post "...I am happy to be in the CL (well OK the CL qualifiers)..."

We can't forget we aren't actually in the CL proper. any rubbish performances like we have seen all this season and we will be UEFA Cup boys in the end anyway.

[DanK]

Danny was 'gifted' KJH to help 'save' the season. Koeman, whatever people think of him, was seriously handicapped by the late sale of Zlatan.

That's a very good (and absolutely fair) observation.

Besides... We're talking TEN (10!!) Eredivisie defeats here. I mean come on.

K.

Thats a great point DWS. When Zlatan left Ajax lost the plot. It was probably the begining of the end so to speak. We never really recovered and neither did Koeman.

Ko, your comment on 10 defeats made me go back and check over our results this year from the usa site...christ. what a shitful season:

RBC Roosendaal - Ajax 0-2
Ajax - Feyenoord 1-2
Willem II - Ajax 0-2
AZ - Ajax 4-2
Ajax - ADO Den Haag 2-2
Ajax - Roda JC 4-1
Sparta Rotterdam - Ajax 1-2
Ajax - Heracles Almelo 0-0
PSV - Ajax 1-0
Ajax - SC Heerenveen 0-0
NEC - Ajax 1-0
Ajax - FC Twente 2-0
FC Utrecht - Ajax 1-0
Ajax - RKC Waalwijk 4-1
Vitesse - Ajax 0-2
NAC Breda - Ajax 0-2
Ajax - FC Groningen 3-2
SC Heerenveen - Ajax 4-2

Ajax - NEC 1-1
FC Twente - Ajax 2-3
Ajax - FC Utrecht 1-4
Feyenoord - Ajax 3-2
Ajax - Willem II 1-0
ADO Den Haag - Ajax 1-2
Ajax - RBC Roosendaal 6-0
Heracles Almelo - Ajax 1-3
Ajax - Sparta Rotterdam 6-0
Ajax - PSV 0-0
FC Groningen - Ajax 3-2
Ajax - NAC Breda 1-1
Roda JC - Ajax 2-1
Ajax - AZ 1-0
Ajax - Vitesse 2-1
RKC Waalwijk - Ajax 2-4

So many games that we lost points against the lower ranking sides this year.

I am still hanging onto the hope of next season, with probably a new coaching staff, stam, perez, a fully fit sqaud and some fabulous football.

I cant quite remember your exact comments from a while back Ko, but it was something along the lines of that we are ajax and we are used to ups and downs. eventually it will get better etc

This was definately a down season, but come august we wipe the slate clean and we can all share the dream again :yes:

[jamcocteau]

To be honest with you I have far better memories of prior year CL campaigns than anything that happened in this seasons.

how long ago ? :oud:


seriously, there is a huge difference between "terrible", and "nothing special" ;)

Phillipe

you are so pedantic at times, it is beyond belief. You pick up on the smallest points without seeing the overall picture,

I will make myself perfectly clear now - this season was fucking shit. Comprende - no ifs or buts, it was crap. I have attended every home game this season bar one and it was awful bar about 3 games. Sorry this season is not good enough for Ajax football club as a whole. You might have low standards but please dont expect the rest of us to follow them and dont expect the board or playing side of Ajax Football club either

[bryan]

Ajax struggled to come fourth. It's not like we were pipped to fourth place, there was a huge gap between us and the top 3. We were competing with the likes of Heerenveen, Utrecht and Groningen for fourth and fifth spot. Now, no disrespect to them, but our annual turnover, financial resources, youth academy, stadium and support base says we should be doing better then them. The supporters of those teams would probably be the first to agree.

This isn't the Serie A, it's the Holland Casino Eredivisie.

[SE6Ajacied]

This isn't the Serie A, it's the Holland Casino Eredivisie.

Sorry, my turn to be pedantic now, it's actually the Amstel Eredivisie :D

[bryan]

Shit, and I had just stopped calling it the PTT Telecompetitie a few months ago and now I need to go and learn a new name again. Fuck it, I'll just call it the Eredivisie.

[SE6Ajacied]

Shit, and I had just stopped calling it the PTT Telecompetitie a few months ago and now I need to go and learn a new name again. Fuck it, I'll just call it the Eredivisie.

fortunately that's easy enough to do but try supporting a team over here....everyone knows that the First Division is now the Premier League but the Second Division changed to the First Division and is now the Championship.....all very confusing!

[ozzerdibazio]

I Dont understand, how you (Phillipe) can defend Blind, and call him a genius. Under Koeman we won the league and had an excellent run in the champions league. Ajax have been awful this year, as i and many other keep saying, the facts are there. How can you not see it?

[rahul9687]

Can anyone tell me a few websites where i can download and watch Ajax matches....cos here in India we dont get the Dutch League and hence for the last few years I have been Ajax starved

[Philippe]

I Dont understand, how you (Phillipe) can defend Blind

Or maybe one can sometimes notice that different people may have different opinions on the same situation although they share exactly the same informations ?

Or maybe because I just watch the games on teletext only ? :whistling:

I will give full support to Blind if we win the Cup.

Btw Koeman's last season was a total disaster in the Dutch league and in the CL and the UEFA cup

[Henk de Gier]

easy for you Phil, you don't have to watch those terrible matches X'C Blind needs to sod off.

[Philippe]

you know what ? I may not watch as many games as you do, because I live too far. But I pay for 2 season cards for an average of 3 games only per season at the Arena, for which I sometimes have to take Thalys in the morning with return in the evening. So when the games I come to Amsterdam for are lousy, I am not pleased at all. The same goes when I pay for pay-per-view broacasted games.
So, I may be a fan from abroad, but I have reasons for high expectations too.
However, as things may turn out if we win the cup, I think Blind should stay.

:dontgetit: ;) :yes:

[Henk de Gier]

for another season of crap football?

I don't care for the cup, I want to see good football. It's been too long gone since we saw that in the Arena.

[Philippe]

I think Ajax-feyen@dr (play-off) was not that long ago :D

[Henk de Gier]

That was a crap match, with a great result.

[Blind3]

A 10 loss season is a disaster. Fourth place and not even close to top 3 is a disaster. As much as I like Danny Blind, the club is obviously not going in the right direction. I still prefer Ron Jans, but Ten Cate would at least be a fresh start.And one who probably is well-versed in dealing with a La Liga sized egos at that.

Thank God only 2 more days left of this nightmare.