23 Oct 2008: Aston Villa FC - Ajax

[Kowalczyk]

UEFA Cup group stage.

First game. Arguably the toughest of the lot!

K.

[DanK]

Yeah this will be a tough test.

I would be more than happy with a draw here.

[Kowalczyk]

I would be more than happy with a draw here.

A draw in Birmingham would be the best result of the season so far. By ten lightyears. If I look at Aston Villa's current form, and at Ajax's performances in away games so far, I would expect them to absolutely destroy us.

Having said that: that's hardly ever the reality of European football, especially in he opening game of a group phase. Clubs are cautious, they take no risks and they tend to lean back once they've taken the lead.

Therefore, I don't expect a defeat by huge figures, but I do expect it to be 'men against boys'. The difference in quality will be absolutely huge, Aston Villa will be in control from beginning to end and cruise to an easy, comfortable win (2-0 or something) over an Ajax team that tried hard, but simply couldn't crack it and never looked like they were going to score.

That's roughly what I expect.

K.

[saddlerian]

I agree with you Ko, it will be "men against boys", but if Ajax DON'T go there to play too defensive, and manage to curtail the threat from Villa's wingers...who knows! I fancy that the Villa midfield players would not like a "meeting" with Vertonghen, or a clash with Gabri......I think that there's more "grit" in the Ajax midfield, enough to unsettle Villa, but the weak link is still our defence!
I'm going to enjoy the spectacle, and I'm possibly being a little too optimistic.......but if they have the luck that they had on Saturday night...it's a game that they can sneak a postive result from! O'Neil always instills an attitude of "respect" into his players, so let's hope that the media, who've made this Ajax team unrecognisable - as "Dutch Giants" - play their part in creating a mental block in the Villa players...

Oh! What time is it? Have I just woken up?

[SPL]

A good time for KJH to do what he does best. Glad our 2 Barca boys are fit again and will play.

[Orange14]

It's interesting that this is the only club outside the US whose keepers are both American! I'm not as pessimistic as others and think that our defense is looking much better these days (though I am unconvinced about Urby as a left fullback; I would flip him and Vertonghen). I think it will be a low scoring match and that no more than two goals will be had.

[Van basten]

I'm really optimistic about this one. Simply because i don't think that they are better than us. Of course our away performances are far fom convincing this season, but i have good feeling about this one..

[aveslacker]

It's interesting that this is the only club outside the US whose keepers are both American! I'm not as pessimistic as others and think that our defense is looking much better these days (though I am unconvinced about Urby as a left fullback; I would flip him and Vertonghen). I think it will be a low scoring match and that no more than two goals will be had.

I agree with you on Urby, although I have to say that he did a pretty good job at left back against Groningen. He's better as midfielder, though.

[Kowalczyk]

The squad:

Kenneth Vermeer
Hans Vonk
Bruno Silva
Oleguer
Thomas Vermaelen
Jan Vertonghen
Rasmus Lindgren
Urby Emanuelson
Klaas Jan Huntelaar
Gregory van der Wiel
Luis Suarez
Gabri
Dario Cvitanich
Leonardo
Evander Sno
Jeffrey Sarpong
Vurnon Anita
Robbert Schilder

So, Van der Wiel and Cvitanich are fit and back in the squad, which means that Rommedahl and Siem de Jong have dropped out.

K.

[mkkid]

Ajax have confirm that i have my ticket for the game.Fancy a draw.

[Kowalczyk]

A draw would be a fantastic result, but I have to say I'm not expecting us to get anything out of this game.

Which is not a disaster.

We get the two 'easiest' opponents (we're not in the position to use that word in the first place, but still) at home -- and six points will be enough to finish third. It's all about the home games. Anything we get from the Aston Villa fixture is a bonus.

First match, the toughest of the four, so we really have nothing to lose.

K.

[Van basten]

First match, the toughest of the four, so we really have nothing to lose.

K.

I don't think that Hamburg will be easier than this one. For me, Hamburg away is the toughest game. We'll see.. Maybe both will be easy for us

[villain]

Therefore, I don't expect a defeat by huge figures, but I do expect it to be 'men against boys'. The difference in quality will be absolutely huge, Aston Villa will be in control from beginning to end and cruise to an easy, comfortable win (2-0 or something) over an Ajax team that tried hard, but simply couldn't crack it and never looked like they were going to score.

Hello, I'm a Villa fan, thought I would pop in and say hello.

I can't believe you think it is going to be so one-sided, or one-sided at all.

When we play well (Tottenham away) we can be very, very good, certainly if we can get Ashley Young into play a lot, and if Agbonlahor is on form, but when we don't perform we look very pedestrian. Over two legs against Litex Lovech in the last round, we were pretty awful at times.

Still, I am looking forward to Thursday night, it is nice to have real great clubs like Ajax back at Villa Park again, after too long.

[villain]

First match, the toughest of the four, so we really have nothing to lose.

K.

I don't think that Hamburg will be easier than this one. For me, Hamburg away is the toughest game. We'll see.. Maybe both will be easy for us

I think Hamburg have the easiest draw (they play us and you at home), and are the strongest team right now.

[Kowalczyk]

Added to the squad, just before departure to Birmingham: Toby Alderweireld, 19 year-old defender of Young Ajax.

K.

[SPL]

Good to see young Toby. He looked ok v Inter in the Amsterdam Tourny
facing Adriano and Zlatan at short notice.

[mkkid]

Do you thing we will sell out our alloaction for Hamburg.I fancy a trip to Germany!

[Kowalczyk]

Do you thing we will sell out our alloaction for Hamburg.

Yes, I think we will.

By the way, this is the expected Ajax line-up: Vermeer; Silva, Oleguer, Vermaelen, Emanuelson; Gabri, Lindgren, Vertonghen; Suárez, Huntelaar, Sarpong.

Sarpong is a midfielder, so this is effectively a 4-4-2, with KJH and Suárez upfront.

I can live with that.

K.

[Monkey Tonk]

Aston Villa? I saw them in a preseason game in the US. Was very unimpressed.

They can be beaten with good positional play, so, if this Ajax is capable of that, much will depend on the condition of the pitch. Anybody know what kind of field this is?

[Monkey Tonk]

They are excited to play Ajax. The 'European Giants'... lol

Are they intimidated by us? Or are they going to work twice as hard as Ajax, in typical English fashion? If so, is Ajax cool and classy enough to punish that?

From soccernet:

Aston Villa v Ajax Amsterdam: Preview

Updated: October 22, 2008, 12:46 PM ET
Martin O'Neill is hoping occasions such as Thursday's visit of European giants Ajax will become commonplace during the next few years at Aston Villa.

O'Neill is aware just how keen the club's supporters are for the glory nights of the past - including the 1982 European Cup triumph - to return after years of under-achievement.

Villa are only in the early stages of their first UEFA Cup campaign for seven years, which they qualified for via the Intertoto Cup.

But O'Neill wants such events to become the norm and said: "Make no mistake, this is a big occasion for us. I am hoping this is the start of some really decent European nights for the foreseeable future at Aston Villa.

"We are guaranteed four games in the competition up until Christmas and we are going to try our utmost to qualify for the next phase of the competition.

"We don't want to experience such nights just this season. It is something that we do want to bring to the club long term and we feel we are really into the UEFA Cup now with the visit of someone like Ajax.''

The spine of O'Neill's team boats plenty of European experience in the likes of John Carew, Stiliyan Petrov, Martin Laursen and Carlos Cuellar.

But he also knows European football will benefit the likes of Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young, who will hope doing well in Europe will improve their chances of breaking into the full England squad.

O'Neill said: "We want the younger players to experience these European nights but we should also not be wanting in terms of European experience.

"We have got plenty of that in the mature players like Petrov, Carew, Laursen and Cuellar but also a lot of the players have international experience they can draw upon.''

O'Neill will be looking to complete a personal hat-trick of triumphs over Ajax.

He was part of the Nottingham Forest team which defeated the Dutch giants in the semi-finals before winning the European Cup in 1980.

Then, as Celtic boss in 2001, O'Neill masterminded a 3-1 win in Amsterdam in a Champions League qualifier.

Villa skipper Laursen said: "The players have a buzz about Thursday. We are all aware that it has been too long that Aston Villa hasn't played in Europe and it is special.

"There is a special atmosphere about these games if you play Champions League, UEFA Cup or international games for your country.

"The Premier League is massive but it is still special to play in Europe because you are up against teams you are not used to playing against.

"To start our European campaign with Ajax at home is great. I was really happy to see that.

"It is great for us, great for the fans - they have wanted this for a long time. I know that from speaking with them.

"There is a long way to go before can think of winning the competition. That is a big step. The first thing we can focus on is to do well and be happy that we are here in the group stages.''

Ajax go into the game boosted by a 1-0 win over FC Groningen at the weekend but striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is anticipating a tough trip to England.

The Holland international said: "The ambience over there [England] is always great. You can't compare it with any other place.

"Aston Villa is a very good team, it won't be easy. We have to concentrate and capitalise on the chances we get.''

Huntelaar is likely to come up against Laursen on the field and added: "Playing against him is a real challenge.''

[SPL]

Hope you guys going to Birmingham tonight have a good time even though you cannot wear the jersey or shout if we score.I bet that will be impossible when KJH sticks that ball in the net!!!!

[SydAjax]

anybody else having trouble getting the Myp2p site to load?

[Amol]

anybody else having trouble getting the Myp2p site to load?

Loads up fine for me

[SydAjax]

can you post the link you are using please? thanks

[Amol]

can you post the link you are using please? thanks

Well the game doesn't start until 3:15 EST. So there are no links there right now.

But this is the page which would display the links in a few hours -

http://myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=21935&part=sports