Ajax Line-up of the Decade (2000-2009)

[Jari Litmanen]

I browsed through the pages but couldn't find a similar thread, and seeing how this decade is almost over, I think it's suitable to nonimate the lineup of this decade :) I'm sorry if the thread already exists, in which case this one may be removed.


Goalkeeper: Maarten Stekelenburg
Defenders: Hatem Trabelsi, Cristian Chivu, John Heitinga, Maxwell
Midfielders: Tomáš Galásek, Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart
Attackers: Steven Pienaar, Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Luis Suárez


This was a very tricky list to make, and you might wonder why the heck I don't have Zlatan there. Well, frankly, Huntelaar scored more goals :) other names that could really make the list aswell: van der Meyde, Vermaelen.'


Now, show me yours :)

[souras84]

Goalkeeper: Maarten Stekelenburg
Defenders: Hatem Trabelsi, Cristian Chivu, John Heitinga, Maxwell
Midfielders: Demy De Zeeuw, Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart
Attackers: Steven Pienaar, Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Luis Suárez

Subs: Zlatan, Van Der Meyde, De Jong and some more I cant recall

[Blind3]

Stekelenberg
Trabelsi -- Bergdolmo -- Chivu (Captain)--Maxwell
De Zeeuw -- Sneijder-- Van der Vaart
Pienaar -- Ibrahimovic -- Suarez

Subs
GK - Didulica
D - Grygera , O'Brien
M - Galasek , Van Halst
F - Huntelaar, Litmanen

[afcajax73]

I suppose this is going on how theyre playing now (id player they have developed into) or what they were when with us... but here goes,

Stekelenburg
Heitinga - Stam - Maxwell - Chivu
De Zeeuw - Sneijder - Van der Vaart
Pienaar - Ibrahimovic - Suarez

Gotta go for Stam really.. absolute legend.. i was tempted to stick Davids in there, but think De Zeeuw gets the nod for me, wasnt sure about Huntelaar either, ideally wanted put him instead of Pienaar, but it just wouldnt work with them three upfront! haha

[Kowalczyk]

------------------------- Timmer -------------------------

C. Kanu ----------- Kuffour -------- Verlaat ----------- Sier ----

Kennedy ----------------- Lindenbergh ------------ Soetaers ---

--- Sonck --------------- Luque ---------------Sikora ---------



K.

[Jeroen126]

---Stekelenburg---
Trabelsi---Grygera---Chivu---Maxwell
Galasek---Sneijder---Van der Vaart
Van der Meyde---Zlatan---Suarez

Subs: Lobont, Heitinga, Bergdolmo, Van Halst Litmanen, Pienaar, Huntelaar.

Interesting to see nobody's putting Stam in their line up, shows you how dissapointing the big man's short period in Amsterdam really was.

[Tom_]

Outrageous!!! Where's Atouba?

------------------------- Timmer -------------------------

C. Kanu ----------- Kuffour -------- Verlaat ----------- Sier ----

Kennedy ----------------- Lindenbergh ------------ Soetaers ---

--- Sonck --------------- Luque ---------------Sikora ---------



K.

[beelzebub]

You don't put yourself in the line-up Jari Litmanen?
Based on the impact they had in their period playing in Amsterdam (that's why I did not include Zlatan, Stam and Davids). I see that we had the best team in the period 2001-2005. :

Stekelenburg
Trabelsi - Bergdolmo - Chivu - Maxwell
Litmanen- Sneijder - Van der Vaart - Emanuelson
Pienaar - Huntelaar - Suarez

Edit: I see I cheated a little bit, what a strong team this would be.

[Kowalczyk]

Outrageous!!! Where's Atouba?

On the bench, right next to Kerlon, Ferdi Vierklau and a few others...

K.

[Jari Litmanen]

You don't put yourself in the line-up Jari Litmanen?

Hehe, I almost did. But I feel Litmanen had his prime in the 90's. And he wouldn't replace Huntelaar or Suaréz in the lineup, maaaybe Pienaar. But I'd definately put him on the substitute list though :)

[Kowalczyk]

Okay, and this time I mean it...

---------------------------- Stekelenburg ----------------------------

Trabelsi ------------- Bergdølmo -------- Chivu ------------- Maxwell ---

De Zeeuw ---------- Galásek ----------- Sneijder --------Van der Vaart -----

------------------- Zlatan ------------ Huntelaar ----------------------

On the bench:

Grim
Grygera
Escudé
Heitinga
Pienaar
Litmanen
Suárez

Some comments...

When I had to think of my goalkeeper, I was thinking "Stekelenburg... Nah, we must have had a better one." He's an okay goalkeeper, but I never totally trusted him on high balls and he's never been consistent enough to me. But no, we didn't have a better one in this past decade. But he was - all in all - the best one we had during the noughties.

I deliberately went for a 4-4-2, because I feel that we never had top drawer wingers. I know that Zlatan/KJH probably wouldn't work very well in practice, but I wanted to make a line-up of my favourite players of the decade, not a line-up that has to 'work' in practice.

K.

[Jeroen126]

Surprising to see people actually putting De Zeeuw in their line-up of the decade. I mean, the guy has been here for about four months.

Says alot about the past decade, i guess.

[beelzebub]

Ko, at least we agree about the defense.
I find Bergdolmo one of the most underestimated defenders we had the past ten years.

[Kowalczyk]

I find Bergdolmo one of the most underestimated defenders we had the past ten years.

Yes. And he knew how to convert a penalty, which is more than Huntelaar and Suárez can say.

Bergdølmo/Chivu was the best central duo we've had this decade. Flawless, those two. They were the key factor in the second half of the 2001-2002 campaign, which brought us the title. Bergdølmo/Chivu (as a duo), Mido (who scored every week) and Van Halst (who was the 'concrete between the bricks').

2002 was my favourite Ajax year this decade, even though Arsenal away and AS Roma away were in 2003.

It was quite surprising that we grabbed the 2002 championschip and the last couple of months were very exciting. I absolutely loved the cup final against Utrecht (3-2 a.e.t.). The Champions League trumphs against Lyon (2x) and AS Roma were also in 2002.

Coming to think of it, I think I would actually call the Dutch title of 2002 my Ajax highlight of the decade. I loved that one. One of the nicest titles I've witnessed as an Ajax supporter.

One of my favourite nights at the ArenA was the 'double bill' in the Amstel Cup in December 2001: Young Ajax vs FC Twente and Ajax vs RBC Roosendaal. That night was fantastic in every thinkable way. Right up there with the biggest Champions League triumphs, if you ask me.

K.

[Philippe]

Stekelenburg
Trabelsi -- Heitinga -- Chivu --Maxwell
Van der Vaart -- Sneijder-- Witschge
Pienaar -- Ibrahimovic -- Suarez

[Blind3]

Glad to read the comments about Andre Bergdolmo and Jan van Halst . Bergdolmo's Rock of Gibraltar steadiness allowed Chivu to go forward and take chances, much like Jan van Halst's grit, willingness to do all the little things, heart, and intelligence allowed others to shine. I see the same grit, guts, and heart of JvH in Demy de Zeeuw ; but with alot more talent . Which is why I chose him.

[souras84]

Van Haalst and De Zeeuw are imo better than Galasek. At least u can see their impact in the game.

[Blind3]

Speaking of favorite matches of the decade, my favorite , aside from seeing Ajax defeat NAC on my birthday 2001 (Where have you gone Daniel Cruz ?) , was 8 February 2004. Ajax v. PSV . Two clubs on 46 points at the top of the league battled hammer and tongue for 95 minutes total . Ajax started recently acquired Yannis Anastasiou , Daniel de Ridder, and Victor Sikora up front . 18 year old Ryan Babel was the sub spits. Rafael van der Vaart was just back from injury second half sub who probably should've played twenty minutes for his well being, but went over forty. Ajax overcame Roelof Luinge and a 0:1 ht deficit to win 2:1 on a twenty - two yard belter of a goal from Wesley Sneijder and a first to pounce goal from whippet quick Nicolae Mitea. Sneijder scored on 51' and Mitea scored on 57' . Then it was Katie bar the door perils of Pauline stuff for 36 minutes as PSV threw everything at Ajax. Sitting with my Ajax-USA mates behind the Ajax net in the second half was damn near terrifying. I still have visions of Zdenek Grygera, barely back from injury, throwing his body at a half dozen shots and passes . In the end, Ajax survived, went top of the table, and never looked back on the run to the title.

[SPL]

Following Ko's crap 11 I feel like nominating the current lot

Verhoeven

Silva, Oleguer Wielaert Atouba

Kennedy Lindgren, Gabri

Rommendahl Cvitanich Sulejmani.

Sub Ogararu.

I know Gabri was ok in his first season but he has been injured for the best part of 2009 .Sulejmani I am probably being a bit harsh but I do not rate him.

All these players are not good enough for Ajax and I would be happy to see them all go.


My main team

Stekelenburg

Trabelsi Heitinga Chivu, Maxwell

Galasek V d Vaart Sneijder

Suarez Zlatan Babel.

The forward line is hard leaving out KJH and Babel is still a striker who is being forced to play on the left
wing.

[Over Pasanens Head]

I really cannot understand why my old mate Victor Sikora hasn't made the main list

As to the whole 11, I must say I agree with Ko (especially over the defence) - we must have watched too much football from the same spot over the years.

[aveslacker]

Outrageous!!! Where's Atouba?

------------------------- Timmer -------------------------

C. Kanu ----------- Kuffour -------- Verlaat ----------- Sier ----

Kennedy ----------------- Lindenbergh ------------ Soetaers ---

--- Sonck --------------- Luque ---------------Sikora ---------



K.

Atouba? Where's Colin?

[Kowalczyk]

Atouba? Where's Colin?

Yeah, we had many superstars over the years...

K.

[Monkey Tonk]

Missing in action. The famous youth system.

Ironic that Cruyff wanted to change it a couple of years ago, but that van Basten thought Cruyff's changes would be too drastic. Too drastic?! For what? The only thing that jumps out is that a once steady flow of talented new players has slowed down to less than a trickle.

How did they manage to kill something that's always been the lifeblood of the club?

[bryan]

Blame Playstation...

Lobont

Trabelsi - Escude - Stam - Chivu

Pienaar - Galasek - Van der Vaart - Maxwell

Ibrahimovic - Huntelaar

Bench: Stekelenburg, Grygera, Bergdolmo, Sneijder, Emanuelson, Suarez, Arveladze.

Good enough to be in the team but were injured: O'Brien, Litmanen.

[bryan]

Van Haalst and De Zeeuw are imo better than Galasek. At least u can see their impact in the game.

Galasek is the kind of player who you don't notice, because he is always doing the simple stuff well. You never see him make a big sliding tackle, or last minute desperate interception. You know why? Because he doesn't need to. His brain was so far ahead of everybody else that he was always in the right place to intercept the ball before anybody else on the other team even realised it. People don't remember it as amazing, but watch him 90 minutes long at the stadium. Senna for Spain is a similar player. And Paul Lambert for Dortmund in 1997. Many people don't realise what Galasek does, but when he doesn't play things just don't go well. My type of player.

Van Halst is the opposite type of player. He puts in fierce tackles and runs around with blood all over his head, but only because he makes his life difficult by not being in the right place.

There was one player in the last 20 years who had both the qualities of a Van Halst and a Galasek rolled into one. The never say die attitude of Van Halst... combined with the ability to read and see the game like Galasek had... and also the self belief of a Cannavaro for good measure. Roy Keane is the name. A freak of a player.