Ajax Youth & Amateurs

[Orange14]

Just watched the first match of the Future Cup and Ajax U-17 defeated Man City 3-1. the game was closer than the score line indicates as Man City went up early with a goal off a cross that could not be cleared. Ajax finally equalized with a header by Bouwman off a GK deflection that came right to him after a corner kick. Unuvar scored in the 2nd half and set up the third goal late in the game. Not sure what kind of striker he will be, probably more like Huntelaar than Brobbey. He is scoring a bunch of goals for the youth team and I think he is only 16. Both Ajax CBs were good. Man City players were all big and reasonably quick and could push Ajax players off the ball. However, given Man City can buy whatever they need, it's unlikely that any of them will ever make the first team. Ajax play again later today against FC Partizan and then wrap up pool play tomorrow against CF Pachuca.

All games are 40 minutes with free substitution during the run of play. No throw ins, players get a free kick on the sideline and can pass to themselves. All matches are on the Ajax YouTube channel. Well worth watching the players of the future.

[Tom_]

I watched it too, seeing the ball move through the midfield is a nice antidote to watching Ajax 1 this season.

PSG look a cut above the other teams I’ve seen so far.

[Orange14]

2nd match against FC Partizan ends up 1-1. Ajax were so much better than Partizan but just could not convert. there was some great play by the Partizan GK to keep a couple of Unuvar shots out. Ajax conceded a cheap goal early on when they turned the ball over at MF but still had players back. However, both FBs were positionally awfull letting their wingers get ahead of them. The CBs had to shift over to the right to try to cover and a nice pass was easily slotted in. Ajax had more trouble at the beginning of the 2nd half when an early YC sent the Ajax player to the penalty box (in this competition a YC is a 4 minute penalty). Down a man, Amour launched a reckless challenge for another YC that VAR rightfully signalled might be a RC. To me it was easily a straight RC. Even down two men for another three minutes, Ajax was still pressing and getting turnovers. Partizan was totally unable to take advantage. Messori scored a nice goal off a back heel pass from Steur who is a very talented MF.

Ajax play Pachuca tomorrow and a win puts them top of the table.

[SPL]

Followed the Man City game on Showtime until Ht when someone posted it was on youtube outside Holland so watched the 2nd half but did not watch Partizan as I went out on a rare sunny day .

Unuvar and Steur are the 2 best rated U17 players and they are a year younger than the rest of the squad . Still some talent from those aged 17, most of the defenders plus the 2 goalies are Dutch u17 Ints.

Dreadful result from our U18's who lost 3-2 in the cup semi to Volendam u18 who are 2 divisions below Ajax U18

[Orange14]

Only caught the 2nd half, but Ajax scored three to beat Pachuca and win the group. They will play PSG tomorrow in the semi-final. Partizan finished 2nd in the group.

[SPL]

Only caught the last 10 mins ,Kovacs a big strong striker and mainly plays as a sub because Unuvar is first choice .

[Orange14]

Only caught the last 10 mins ,Kovacs a big strong striker and mainly plays as a sub because Unuvar is first choice .

HIs volley off the cross was worthy of any outstanding senior player.

[SPL]

Beat PSG in the semi, 0-0 but we won on penalties. Yes an Ajax team won penalties. Final at 16.00 CET .v Partizan again.

[Orange14]

2nd half goals from Johnson and Steur give Ajax a well deserved win in the Futures Cup. The U-17s were dominant in the match but things got dicey at the end when the Partizan CB hit a Ronald Koeman rocket that found the back of the net from beyond the box. Ajax held on for the final three minutes to win it. There are some very good players at this level and I look forward to seeing them progress through the system. As Cruyff noted some years ago, Ajax needs to rely on it's youth system above all!!!

[SPL]

Watched until 33 min but Granddaughter arrived so missed the last 2 goals but watched the last minute to make sure we won .
I was going to miss the game and watch local team Worthing but when my son said they could come football takes 2nd place.

Johnson and Steur ,the goalscorers, both quality and with V D Lans our 3 best players but so many look promising and it be good to see who breaks through.

We do need to put the best of this team on contract.The only 3 who are a year younger are Unuvar ,already contracted,Steur ,being offered one plus Achempong who had not yet played for U17 this season but turned down Genk in January and looks a good prospect.

More enjoyable that watching our 1st team . Nice to see Hato and Bergwijn standing amongst the fans.

[SPL]

Our U18 beat Feyenoord U18 3-1 today in Rotterdam and are now almost certain Spring champs. We are 6 points clear of them with 1 to play .They have 2 left but our GD is plus 15 . We then have to play AZ ,autumn champs for the overall champs and a place in the U19 CL next season.

[SPL]

As Feyenoord U18 lost today Ajax are Spring champs and play a 1 off game away v AZ the autumn champs with the winners in the CL U 19 next season.

[SPL]

Ajax U18 beat Utrecht 3-0 today and they finished with a point more than AZ did as Autumn champs.As a result the play off final for overall champs and a place in the CL U19 next season will be next Saturday in De Toekomst .Game should be on youtube .AZ have dropped points in the final few games so Ajax are at home and the form team.

[SPL]

16 year old Belgium goalie Martin Henrion joins form Standard Liege and is contracted to June 2027. Clearly any foreign youth will get a contract but the club still needs to contract our own 16 and 17 year olds.

Another signing today is Hato's brother from Sparta Rotterdam but he will be for the U14's next season.

[SPL]

Someone on Showtime says young U17 MF Sean Steur is not signing a contract. He along with Unuvar were the 2 lads aged 15 in the U17 this season and indeed they are the 2 best players in the U17 .Unuvar got a contract at 15 but Steur did not get offered or just said no. He looks the best MF prospect at U17 and U18 level .

Achempong in the U16 has been in the interest of a Belgium club and he is now 16 and the best in U16 but no contract news.

Ajax have ignored youth contracts since October when Huntelaar went sick. Ajax sign moderate MF like v d Boomen Tahirovic and Maansverk but Misehouy walks out for nothing and now maybe the best MF in the youth walks out .

And we still sign foreign kids on 3 year deals at 16 when most never make it past the youth level.

[Orange14]

Someone on Showtime says young U17 MF Sean Steur is not signing a contract. He along with Unuvar were the 2 lads aged 15 in the U17 this season and indeed they are the 2 best players in the U17 .Unuvar got a contract at 15 but Steur did not get offered or just said no. He looks the best MF prospect at U17 and U18 level .

I watched most of the Futures Cup games and Steur reminds me a lot of Dani De Wit. I'm not sure he has the quickness to play at the highest level but I might be wrong.

[Orange14]

U-18 championship is going on right now. Ajax-Az on the Ajax YouTube channel. 0--0 at the half that was delayed by the Ajax Ultras setting off flares in the stands. AZ had the best chance to score when Alders turned over the ball just above the box and a quick shot clanged off the upright. Other than that, Ajax defended well but could not create much danger.

[Orange14]

It ended up 0-2. AZ got their first goal on a defensive failure following a missed shot where Bouwman who came on for an injured Jetten was out of position and the AZ player had a clear shot on goal. The second goal was on a two man breakaway after Ajax had a shot blocked in the box. Quite frankly neither team impressed, and layers were slowly walking to every corner kick and throw in. I checked the temperature and it was not a very hot day. I wonder if both teams were playing for penalties; it was that boring of a game. Janse the LCB was the best Ajax player and will likely start for Jong Ajax next season. I thought all the MFs for Ajax quite poor. Faberski, the highly rated right wing, lofted aimless crosses mostly caught by the keeper. Skye Vink was weak and Konadu was subbed off in the 2nd half.

Ajax do not get UEFA youth football again next season but they did not deserve it.

[SPL]

I too watched the game and agree almost word for word with Orange. A boring poor game of football and neither team impressed . Only player who looks the part and is ready for Jong is Janse.Jetten a lot of hype but not sure he will end up a LB . MF just weak,Alders worked hard but the other 2 invisible.Up front Faberski I thought poor ,Konadu was used as wide player but is really a striker.Cannot remember one clear cut chance we created and we cannot complain about losing.

No idea where 8 extra minutes in the 1st half and 12 in the 2nd came from. Nothing to do with the 1st half delay but 20 mins was a joke.

We could have used overage players Verschuren ,Gorter and Speksnijder as they have played this season but clearly we chose not to .AZ used all their overaged players.Our best MF is Verkuijl a DM but he is injured.

Next season we are back to U19 which will be much better for players development. We see 17 and 18 year old kids in Jong who are not ready .A few of this seasons U18 can stay with U19 next season.

PS earlier U17 lost 7-2 to Feyenoord