New Players for Ajax

[SE6Ajacied]

Don't be too hard on yourself Brian - take your boots with you and you may well get a contract/game - especially if you are a mid-fielder

lol, well I think my best position these days would be "left back (in the dressing room)". I see that the open day is on Wednesday (happy birthday to me!) so I might pop along to the training session at the Arena and see if I can sneak onto the pitch.

[bluedaddy19]

So apparently (according to De Telegraaf anyway) we're now after the captain of Uruguay and central defender of Fenerbahçe, Diego Lugano. 28 year-old, right-footed central defender. He's out of contract, so we can land him for free, but players in his position normally have a lot of options and they demand high wages.

I don't know the bloke, but it must be someone of a certain calibre, so I have a good feeling about it. Now let's wrap this up, for God's sake, cuz we really (and I mean really) need an extra central defender who can actually defend. Get on with it, Ajax.

lugano, who is EXACTLY what we need at the back, is asking about the same money that we would have paid onyewu

[bluedaddy19]

apparently bale also has an offer from an italian team, but it hasnt mentioned who yet.

roma

[Venezuelan Ajacied]

So apparently (according to De Telegraaf anyway) we're now after the captain of Uruguay and central defender of Fenerbahçe, Diego Lugano. 28 year-old, right-footed central defender. He's out of contract, so we can land him for free, but players in his position normally have a lot of options and they demand high wages.

I don't know the bloke, but it must be someone of a certain calibre, so I have a good feeling about it. Now let's wrap this up, for God's sake, cuz we really (and I mean really) need an extra central defender who can actually defend. Get on with it, Ajax.

lugano, who is EXACTLY what we need at the back, is asking about the same money that we would have paid onyewu

Christ we paid 7.5 million for a good midfielder that we really did not need...we should be able to pay the same amount for an Excellent !!! defender that we really really need. Come on Ajax, move it and get the bloke !!!!

[rjf1]

Christ we paid 7.5 million for a good midfielder that we really did not need...we should be able to pay the same amount for an Excellent !!! defender that we really really need. Come on Ajax, move it and get the bloke !!!!

Forget about it. Like someone said a few posts back -- the powers that be don't seem to realize (or care about) the problems in the make up of the team. IMO Ajax has done next to nothing to shore up the defects from last year. Barring some last minute miracle signings, this is shaping up to be yet another in a too long series of frustrating seasons.

RJF

[bluedaddy19]

Forget about it. Like someone said a few posts back -- the powers that be don't seem to realize (or care about) the problems in the make up of the team. IMO Ajax has done next to nothing to shore up the defects from last year. Barring some last minute miracle signings, this is shaping up to be yet another in a too long series of frustrating seasons.

RJF

last minute miracle??? it's not even august yet!!

[SPL]

I know where you are coming from we have lost a good defender and bought in a left back who probably is no better, well Vermaelen is at Arsenal so Atouba probably is not as good.( I have never seen him but if were as good he would not be at Ajax) Our defence last season was poor. Attack was ok but Cvitanich is always injured and we still need another central striker since KJH was sold. And is De Zeeuw a lot better than say Lindgren Gabri or Enoh.

So at this minute our squad is no better than when we finished the season and probably worse in defence. Only positive thing is that Twente have lost some good players and I cannot see them finishing ahead of us and AZ no longer have the great Van Gaal.PSV now have a decent coach and will be right up there again.

We still need another striker and a quality central defender but it is not August yet however the season is now 5 days away.

[SPL]

I see 3 of our recent targets are not coming Prediger chose Porto, Keirrison is going on loan to Benfica and finally it seems Lugano is going to Lazio. I think the only player we have made an offer for and was turned down was Elia where we offered 7m euros but he ended up going to Hamburg for 8m euros ( mind I do not think there was any way Twente were going to sell to us)

[bluedaddy19]

I know where you are coming from we have lost a good defender and bought in a left back who probably is no better, well Vermaelen is at Arsenal so Atouba probably is not as good.( I have never seen him but if were as good he would not be at Ajax) Our defence last season was poor. Attack was ok but Cvitanich is always injured and we still need another central striker since KJH was sold. And is De Zeeuw a lot better than say Lindgren Gabri or Enoh.

So at this minute our squad is no better than when we finished the season and probably worse in defence. Only positive thing is that Twente have lost some good players and I cannot see them finishing ahead of us and AZ no longer have the great Van Gaal.PSV now have a decent coach and will be right up there again.

We still need another striker and a quality central defender but it is not August yet however the season is now 5 days away.

i realize all of this but with the transfer deadline 5 weeks away, it can hardly be called "last minute"

they have definitely been trying to get very good players, which i count as far better than getting crappy ones

[aveslacker]

I know where you are coming from we have lost a good defender and bought in a left back who probably is no better, well Vermaelen is at Arsenal so Atouba probably is not as good.( I have never seen him but if were as good he would not be at Ajax) Our defence last season was poor. Attack was ok but Cvitanich is always injured and we still need another central striker since KJH was sold. And is De Zeeuw a lot better than say Lindgren Gabri or Enoh.

So at this minute our squad is no better than when we finished the season and probably worse in defence. Only positive thing is that Twente have lost some good players and I cannot see them finishing ahead of us and AZ no longer have the great Van Gaal.PSV now have a decent coach and will be right up there again.

We still need another striker and a quality central defender but it is not August yet however the season is now 5 days away.

i realize all of this but with the transfer deadline 5 weeks away, it can hardly be called "last minute"

they have definitely been trying to get very good players, which i count as far better than getting crappy ones

Problem is, we keep losing out on these players, and I think we generally will because a whole lot of players would choose playing for a decent Spanish or Italian side over playing for a topper in Holland. That's why we need to be smart about who we buy, and try to find some hidden gems. Or go with youth team players.

[rjf1]

...Barring some last minute miracle signings, this is shaping up to be yet another in a too long series of frustrating seasons.

RJF

last minute miracle??? it's not even august yet!!

Last minute before the start of the season -- which is almost upon us. Once the season starts if we start to lose ground from the get-go due to not having mended the defects of last year, we will be behind the 8 ball no matter who we sign after that -- even assuming we do sign the necessary quality players -- which, based on what has taken place so far, is a pretty optimistic assumption.

RJF

[bluedaddy19]

by the way, we have NOT yet missed out on lugano, unless you wish to believe every unsourced italian report

today's papers suddenly have lazio after rasmus bengstsson, so don't give up so easily!

[Michael_B]

And Ajax is now supposed to be interested in Boca's Juen Forlin.

[jamie]

Forlin is a 21 year old defender who has already made his debut for the national team of Argentina. If it is true then it will probably be tough getting him. I would applaud some new defenders as it was shocking to see our defense at the Ajax Tournament.

Source: http://www.webregio.nl/amsterdam/sport/ ... rlin-.aspx

[Blind3]

I just watched Juan Forlin's highlight tape. Pretty impressive at both ends .Looks a little slender given the beating a CB is likely to endure , but very athletic . Several nice headed goals in the package.

[Venezuelan Ajacied]

Forlin is a diferent kind of defender..or at least diferent from Lugano and Coates...he's kind of small and no very physical. His strong points are his speed and passing he's also a very good tackler but he can get pushed around a bit when tall and strong strikers are next to him. He's still young so maybe he can bulk up a bit, either way i think it would be a good signing, but i would cost around 5 mil....i found this if you want to take a look....http://www.elenganche.es/2009/04/jovene ... orlin.html

Stroll down to watch the video

[ZoefdeHaas]

Rumour has it that Boca may be willing to sell Forlin for a set price and Cvitanich on loan.

[SPL]

Oh good we will have no central striker. Suarez is not the same player when he has to play central strike role.

Looking at the reserves Bodul is to go on loan . Castillion does not score many goals Jongebloet did not score much when on loan at Haarlem last season so that leaves um Manucharyan !!!!!!!!!!!

[aveslacker]

Oh good we will have no central striker. Suarez is not the same player when he has to play central strike role.

Looking at the reserves Bodul is to go on loan . Castillion does not score many goals Jongebloet did not score much when on loan at Haarlem last season so that leaves um Manucharyan !!!!!!!!!!!

Manu is a winger.

I'd still do it if that were the offer. We have tons of players who can score, even if we wouldn't have a true striker. What we don't have, however, is two good central defenders.

Plus, then we can get Jozy Altidore on loan!

[SPL]

It appears from headlines today we will get another defender and striker but some headlines yesterday said we are after Royston Drenthe!!! Why???

[ZoefdeHaas]

It's very unlikely Drenthe will come.
We already have Emanuelson and Drenthe appears to be a devout Feyenoord fan (even has their tattoo I believe)

[Blind3]

Just say CENTRAL DEFENDER and CENTER FORWARD !! Ajax , please get the hint (and a clue) while you're at it.

[Philippe]

Wouldn't it be a good idea to hire that Honda guy ?

[ZoefdeHaas]

Wouldn't it be a good idea to hire that Honda guy ?

I really like the guy, but I don't know where he would fit in with Aissati and the bunch of other midfielders we have.

[afcajax73]

agreed.. for me aissati is the better player anyway