25 Jul 2006: FC Emmen - Ajax

[Kowalczyk]

Right then. The Bergkamp Testimonial will be a bit of a special friendly fixture: one half of football between the current teams, followed by one half of applauding the old-timers...

After that it's time for some games against professional opposition, starting with Dutch First Division side FC Emmen. This game will not be played at Emmen's ground, but in a little village called Nieuw Amsterdam, in the east of The Netherlands.

Ajax Talk will probably go down tomorrow and stay off air for a few days, so I'll see you on the flipside, ladies and the gentlemen. Good night.

K.

[Kowalczyk]

Match report is now up!

http://www.ajax-usa.com/matches/m06-07/ ... emmen.html

K.

[Kowalczyk]

Two strange things...

1. the left fullback position
Zdenek Grygera has said that he is very much up for this position. So far he has played as a right fullback or (most of the time) a central defender for Ajax, but he can play on the left as well - and he's ready for it. Mr Robbert Schilder, on the other hand, has told HTC that he does not feel like playing left fullback. HTC's reaction was (just like mine...): that's a very weird thing to demand for such a young bloke, as he's performed quite well as a left fullback so far, but alright: if he doesn't playing time as a left fullback... he won't get any (but will he get minutes at another position...? Something to think about, Robbert).

2. a 'Gabri type'?
HTC has said that he is considering one last purchase. He would like to add another midfielder to his squad, preferably (and I quote) a 'Gabri type'. Right. Don't we already have a 'Gabri type' (namely: Gabri) in the squad? Does this mean that HTC is worried about Gabri's injury? Is he too injury-prone (hamstrings; always persistent), like many people feared? Time will tell... Gabri didn't play against Emmen (and he wasn't on the bench either). Will we see him against Dortmund...?

(Also: Van Geel said that there is no more cash for player purchases...)

K.

[Van der Vaart]

I think HtC has promoted Vertonghen to the first squad ,for this Gabri Type .

[Kowalczyk]

I think HtC has promoted Vertonghen to the first squad ,for this Gabri Type .

Are you sure?

I know he promoted Vertonghen, but was that after he said that 'Gabri thing'? And is Vertonghen supposed to be that midfielder he's looking for?

Vertonghen did well, that's for sure. But Gabri was one of our biggest buys. A top drawer, experienced player from the Barça school. Don't think you can expect Vertonghen to be of that caliber...

K.

[Feest]

Bagri?

New nickname for Gabri 'cause of his particular (and pretty gay) bag-taste, Ko?

Edit Kowalczyk: corrected in previous post... Wiseguy... ;)

[Henk de Gier]

Edit Kowalczyk: corrected in previous post... Wiseguy... ;)

that's why you always have to quote typo's ;)

[Van der Vaart]

I think HtC has promoted Vertonghen to the first squad ,for this Gabri Type .

Are you sure?

I know he promoted Vertonghen, but was that after he said that 'Gabri thing'? And is Vertonghen supposed to be that midfielder he's looking for?

Vertonghen did well, that's for sure. But Gabri was one of our biggest buys. A top drawer, experienced player from the Barça school. Don't think you can expect Vertonghen to be of that caliber...

K.

Van Geel said we have no money .
So ,how can we buy another guy ??

But ,if ajax has some money yet ,Who can we buy ?

Barreto from NEC ,i think would be a good one

[Henk de Gier]

no, he's not good enough for Ajax, I think his reaction is too slow for the top.

Ajax will have money again when we sell Charisteas and/or Grygera.

[Van der Vaart]

no, he's not good enough for Ajax, I think his reaction is too slow for the top.

Ajax will have money again when we sell Charisteas and/or Grygera.

So ,WHO ?

MAscherano would be a good one too ,i think

[Henk de Gier]

I don't know who, I still hope that Davids decides to leave the Spurs.

[AjaxPDX]

Rumor is that Mascherano might be having talks with Man Utd. As their 173rd choice option as a Roy Keane replacement, presumably, because the other 172 players all turned them down.

I find it interesting that Grygera is still in Amsterdam and talking about position roles for the season. A month or two ago it was a 100% certainty that we all believed he was gone in the summer, yet he's still there, and it's starting to look like there's a possibility he might still be there when the season opens.

[Kowalczyk]

I find it interesting that Grygera is still in Amsterdam and talking about position roles for the season. A month or two ago it was a 100% certainty that we all believed he was gone in the summer, yet he's still there, and it's starting to look like there's a possibility he might still be there when the season opens.

Yeah. He has only one year left on his contract, so next summer he will walk out for free. I am pretty sure that Ajax would prefer to sell him now they can still get some money for him, but the interest in Grygera was mainly coming from Italy. From Milan and Juventus, to be precise. So I think the whole scandal over there f*cked things up for Grygera, who doesn't seem to be unhappy to be an Ajacied for another year, by the way.

K.

[Van der Vaart]

You were right .
HtC are intertest in Tomas Sivok ,from Sparta Praga .
He has 22 years old .
He was right with milan ,but got injuried .


that´s what says Ajax showtime