14 JAN 2025; AZ - Ajax; Beker Round of 16

[Orange14]

Clearly a bad draw in the Dutch Cup as Ajax have to travel to Alkmaar for a mid-week match. This will be a very tough game to get a result in. One thing in Ajax's favor is that AZ has to play PSV on the weekend.

[Ayman]

I am actually ok with this, but Ajax need to sign a play maker, why arent they going for Pablo Rosario, wasn't he supposedly a target for Farioli?

[Tom_]

Fairly sure we will not get past AZ. They beat us easily earlier in the season and they had the better of the game against PSV last weekend. But you never know.

I will have to watch the replay on Thursday so I’ll try to avoid seeing the result before then.

[SPL]

A strong lineup,Traore and F- Jim for Berghuis and Klaassen with Sutalo sub.

[Orange14]

Ajax were decent in the first half but Pasveer really screwed up on the AZ goal. He came across way to far and flapped at the ball not getting much on it. Goes had an open goal to head it into. There were some nice passing combinations by Ajax but all the shots were blocked and the AZ keeper did not have much work to do. I'm not optimistic about this one.

[SPL]

Another poor performance and defeat.We need to concentrate on the league and if players need to be rested then EL as we are not going to win that.

[Orange14]

Another loss in Alkmaar to an AZ team that were very well organized on defense. Ajax came close midway in the second half with a Traore shot that clanged off the upright but that was pretty much it. Almost all the other shots were blocked and the AZ keeper did not have to make a hard save at all. Pasveer with a mistake on the first goal and sloppy play conceded another goal in the 89th minute when a lazy pass upfield by the AZ keeper was not dealt with at all and a pass to the striker and in on goal leaving Pasveer helpless. On the bright side, there will be no more midweek Beker matches for Ajax but the team seems to lack any offensive cohesion. there was one spell where I thought I was back in 2019 with about six quick passes and interchanges but the ball ends up going back to the defensive half. Farioli put his best 11 out on the pitch and let them all play for 65 minutes. Not sure there was anything more that he could do. Other than the two goals, Ajax was defensively decent.

Player Ratings:

Pasveer (4.5) - some poor kicks and poor play on the first goal; I know Farioli has faith in him but I would change keepers on Sunday
Rensch (6) - if this was his last match in an Ajax shirt it was an OK one, he had one shot on goal but it went wide and defensively decent
Rugani (6) - not sure he could have done much on the 2nd goal but he was the closest player
Baas (6)- thought he played a decent game
Hato (6)- other than one horrible loss of the ball that led to a breakaway, he was decent
Henderson (6)- helped organize the defense but please let someone else take free kicks, none of his were any good
Taylor (6)- I will need to see the replay but I think he was at fault on the 2nd goal by not making a play on the ball
Fitz-Jim (6) - worked hard but there was really nobody open to pass to
Traore (6.5) - probably the best player for Ajax on the night, came close to scoring and made the defenders aware of him
Brobbey (6) - pushed and shove all match long and just can't get in an open position to shoot
Godts (5.5)- game deteriorated as the match went on, needs to watch tapes of David Neres to avoid double teams which he constantly dribbled into
Weghorst (5) - on for Brobbey with no effect
Hlynsson (5.5) - had a nice cutback pass to Traore on the one good shot Ajax had
Akpom (NR) - on late for Traore and had maybe a single touch
Berghuis (NR) - on late with no great effect
Rasmussen (NR) - I guess Godts was too tired to play the final four minutes or so

Away to Heerenveen Sunday which could be trickey.