22 Dec 2012: Roda JC - Ajax

[Kowalczyk]

Eredivisie 2013-2014. Matchday 18.

Kick-off time at the Parkstad Limburg Stadium is 12:30 CET. Last fixture before the winter break, but it's the first game of the second half of the season (#18).

For the record: Roda are having a sh*t season thusfar. They sacked their manager, Ruud Brood, a few days ago. They will be hoping for a positive 'shock effect' against Ajax, which makes them a bit dangerous, perhaps. We should win this game, though. No excuses.

K.

[Ayman]

Im actually concerned about this fixture. After a team sacks their coach, Ive noticed they improve in the following game

[souras84]

Now it's getting even worse. We've got Nijhuis as a referee...

[Cruijff]

Ruud Brood and the Roda JC team had two fine victories (on a row) against PSV Eindhoven this season. That was in a fase that PSV didn't even play that terrible, Roda just played two very good games.

A 2-1 Eredivisie win in Kerkrade and a 1-3 KNVB Beker victory in Eindhoven. Now they sacked the manager, hoping to create a shock effect (the past years it seems like several Dutch teams try to do this in the week before they play Ajax, Twente did it with Steve McClaren too).

But... the focus in Kerkrade is not for 100% on Ajax now. Tomorrow they play an interesting KNVB Beker match at home at Vitesse Arnhem. I'm sure Roda does not want to give this away. Performing good in the cup / beker is still the shortest route for a Dutch team to turn around a bad year in the Eredivisie... to create some glory and to score a ticket for the Europa League.

[Orange14]

Now it's getting even worse. We've got Nijhuis as a referee...

I think he's much better than Pieter Vink and a bunch of others. I agree with Cruijff (just above), Roda will likely go full tilt in the cup tie whereas we have a relatively easy draw.

[souras84]

OK. They just kicked Vitesse's ass 3-1

[Cruijff]

That's good. Shock effect is over now, the next match for Roda will be a defeat.

[Blind3]

It would be great to get on top of Roda early in this match. The better to take the air out of the Roda balloon .

[SPL]

Duarte in for Andersen and Cillessen back for V d Hart

[#14]

3 points to the top of the table

[rjf1]

Heracles held Vitesse to a draw, so a win means we are tied on points for 1st place. Just bear down and don't do anything stupid and we should make it.

[aveslacker]

Heracles held Vitesse to a draw, so a win means we are tied on points for 1st place. Just bear down and don't do anything stupid and we should make it.

... and a win would mean we're in first based on goal differential. To be honest, I'm surprised Vitesse has lasted this long. I wonder if Chelsea B will start to fade now.

[Cruijff]

Sigthorsson will be the striker today...

[Kowalczyk]

Any good streams available, ladies and gentlemen?

K.

[souras84]

13h stream is making my life very hard right now

[souras84]

http://polepositionweb.org/aacd

Merry Christmas

[souras84]

2 good chances go begging. Let's hope for a goal on our next chance

[souras84]

That should be a penalty. And of course another good chance from Sigthorson

[Amol]

Down 0-1. Can't say it has been against the run of play.

[souras84]

and we are punished....

[rjf1]

Pitty pat football bites Ajax again -- will they never learn?

[souras84]

How often do we score from corners? Once a year?

[Tom_]

No need to panic guys, we're way better than Roda and we'll make enough chances in this game to win. Just have to hope we put a few away.

[souras84]

and not concede on the counter

[Orange14]

We are unfortunate in not getting on the scoreboard. Several good chances but nothing converted. The Roda goal was nice off the corner. I couldn't tell who the primary defender was that got picked off and van Rhijn didn't slide over quick enough. Blind has not impressed at full back. Cillessen did well coming out quickly to snuff out some counter opportunities. I hope our players don't suffer a case of nerves in the second half; Roda defense is quite poor and there should be some good opportunities.