03 AUG 2019; Vitesse - Ajax; Match Day 1

[Orange14]

Ajax travel to Arnehm for the opening match of this season's Eredivisie competition. The team has more depth than any Ajax team in recent memory with a number of players who can slot into multiple positions. All the international players are now back in training with Neres the last to arrive earlier this week. Recent transfer Edson Alavarez is still waiting for his work permit.

Ajax need a good performance on Saturday as they travel to Greece to face PAOK in the first tie of the Champions League qualifier.

[SPL]

Out for the day on Saturday so will miss the game.

[Orange14]

Out for the day on Saturday so will miss the game.

I'll miss it in real time as well as we are travelling on a weekend holiday. I think ESPN+ carries the recording for a couple of days after the match so I hope to watch it sometime later on Saturday.

[SPL]

Will catch up with the game in 2nd half as I am out for the day.It is a tough start and I predict a draw.

Our season start is now overshadowed with Donny and Schone possibly leaving and even Neres could be off.

[Orange14]

van de Beek is starting for Ajax

[Ayman]

Vitesse 1-0 Ajax, a wicked deflection.

[Ayman]

1-1, van de Beek!

[Tom_]

Would expect Neres or Promes on soon with Tadic moving to CF, as Dolberg has barely been involved. Also not convinced about Marin yet.

[Amol]

Ball speed has increased through the half. They need to keep it tight at the back and keep playing the way they ended the half. The goals will come.

[Ayman]

Shit, Bazoer scores 2-1.. Ajax fell asleep!

[Ayman]

How did Marin miss that one???!!!

[Ayman]

Maszraoui and Promes set to come on, but not Neres?

[Ayman]

2-2 Tadic!

[Ayman]

Bazoer sent off, rightly so!

[Tom_]

Frustrating first game as usual, but I think we made enough changes to score 5 or 6.

Wonder how much use we will get out of Dolberg this season. Would rather see Tadic in the middle and Huntelaar off the bench. It’s going to be a long season though.

[Ayman]

I am not as good as Oranje14 or SPL in giving ratings/reviews. But Schuurs was impressive, Lisandro Martinez was solid but shaky in possession, he needs time, same applies to Marin. Midfield was all over the place and left the back four vulnerable. Wingbacks Nico and Veltman were decent. Some players seemed a bit rusty e.g. Tadic and Ziyech, but they will come good very soon, hopefully. The only thing Ajax have to do right now, is get rid of Dolberg, it's obviously not working out with him. Furthermore, if Donny leaves, Ajax need to act fast to replace him, whether internally or externally, there are candidates for his position e.g. Tadic, Promes Mazraoui. And back up types such as Ekkelenkamp.
We are in for a long season, and I am so disappointed not to see Schone come on for one last hurrah!

[SPL]

Got home just at the end ,a disappointing result although I did fear a draw today.We always seem to start sluggish so hope for better on Tuesday.

Equally bad as the result is to see the headline Schone is off. We could still do with him.

[boro'ajax34]

I know it's a bit early to look at the results of others, but at least Psv dropped some points as well.

[Orange14]

Another disappointing start to a season as Ajax are held at Arnehm 2-2 by a 10 man Vitesse. Ajax pressure was very good keeping Votesse contained and getting turnovers. Poor defending on both the conceded goals as Ajax dominated the match for long periods but couldn't convert some solid chances. They will need to tighten things up before traveling to Greece for the CL match Tuesday.

Player Ratings:

Onana (6) - no chance on the two goals and not much else to do
Taglifico (5.5) - don't know where he was on the first goal
Martinez (5.5)- some sloppy play at times
Schuurs (6) - decent enough
Veltman (6) - not much defending needed on his side
Blind (5.5) - good paying game but should have marked Bazoer better
Marin (5.5) - slightly above average
Van de Beek (6) - industrious but could have done better with the ball in tight
Tadic (6) - tried to push for the win but came up short
Dolberg (5) - average but his teammates didn't do much to get him the bval
Ziyech (5) - we know why no big team in Europe is asking about him
Promes (5) - offered little more than Ziyech
Mazraoui (5.5) decent on the ball
Neres (NR) - not on long enough