30 Mar 2014: Ajax - FC Twente

[Kowalczyk]

Eredivisie 2013-2014. Matchday 29.

Kick-off time at the Amsterdam ArenA is 14:30 CET.

The Big One. This one's SO important... We're six points clear of PSV and six of Twente, which is pretty comfortable, but we've been playing like shit in recent weeks. It really is time now to start finish the job. If we fail to win this one - and PSV close in, we're almost within firing range. Don't let it happen, Ajax. Win this game.

K.

[King Litti]

Moisander out of this one. Bad news as he has been one of the most solid performers this year. I guess It's going to be Denswil partnering with Veltman? Hope the young duo can handle the pressure.

[Orange14]

No excuses any more, just win baby. The championship is ours for the taking tomorrow. PSV lost to Groningen 2-3 and Vitesse drew with Heerenveen 2-2. Let's put this one to bed.

[Tom_]

Travelling today so will miss this which means we'll probably perform well and get a nice win. Three points or even a draw basically gets us over the line with the PSV result!!!

[SPL]

Don't know about the rest of you but I am feeling very nervous about today.

Cillessen, V Rhijn,Veltman,Denswil,Boilesen, Serero,Blind,Klaassen,Schone, Bojan,Kishna.

[rjf1]

Groningen gave us a nice gift, and Vitesse could only draw. The title is ours for the taking now, but will be able to take it? Considering that we haven't scored a goal from open play for 3 games (well, 2 and 4/5ths or so), and given the level of play exhibited during that time, you have to be worried about where the goals are going to come from. Just hope we don't blow it now that we are in the home stretch with the finish line in sight.

[rjf1]

Typical -- have to step away from the game for a couple of minutes and miss the goal. Still, what a relief that we got it!

[Orange14]

We are quite lucky not to have conceded 2-3 goals. Too many sloppy passes and weak defending. The free kick from Schöne was really beautiful. Serero is having a fine match (thought I would never be saying that!). Boilesen shows all the signs of not having played in a long time and Blind's passing needs to improve in the second half. Looks like this will be yet another grind it out match as we really show no signs of opening up and scoring a couple of quick goals.

[SPL]

A good headed goal by Stefan. Bojan and Kishna do look lively and I really see one of them scoring . Being positive. We are missing Moisander's experience and I would imagine at some stage Poulsen will come on and Blind will go to LB.

[rjf1]

In spite of the fact that he scored the goal (from a set piece -- still nothing from open play), Denswil has been a real liability on defense. If it were up to me, I would replace him sooner rather than later.

[ajaxcolombia]

Ajax are allowing too much pressure. Poulsen should come on.

[SPL]

magic goal surely thats it

[ajaxcolombia]

Schone officially player of the year?

[ajaxcolombia]

So it becomes an easy open match for us? Ajax is full of surprises. Klassen getting the assist I think it's good for his confidence but serero actually has been the best of the midfielders.

[Tom_]

Schone officially player of the year?

Definitely.

I only caught the last 30 mins on a bad flash stream so I can't comment on the game... but we're 8 points clear now and even if we lose 6–0 to Vitesse no one's gonna catch us! Crap season, but we're champions again

[SPL]

2 lovely goals in the 2nd and we played like champs then.

[Orange14]

A closer match than the final score suggests as it was only in the last 15 minutes that the possession game kicked in and the team was able to shut down Twente. Nice clean sheet though there were some dicey moments and Twente should have at least scored one off of the wicked crosses that zoomed across the goal mouth. The league title now looks comfortably in reach with only an away match to Vitesse the only tough fixture left. I'm surprised Cillessen's leg didn't fall off with all the kicking he had to do today.

Player Ratings:

Cillessen (7) - a couple of good saves, one really bad give away that deserved to be punished but overall decent
Boilesen (5) - showed the signs of a long time off; defended quite poorly but 'if' he stays healthy he is the left back
Denswil (7) - solid match and didn't try to get too cute with the ball
Veltman (7) - another good match and made some nice plays inside the box
van Rhijn (7) - very good offensively and had a couple of nice defensive plays as most of the Twente attack came from the other flank
Blind (6) - not as good today with some poor passes that were easily interceptd
Serero (7.5) - absolutely first rate today, looked to go forward rather than passing back and used his quickness well
Klaassen (7) - did a lot of defensive duty today and was quite good at disrupting the Twente midfield
Kishna (5.5) - really silent and needs to learn he cannot beat two defenders
Bojan (7.5) - best match in an Ajax shirt this season; rocket shot that found the back of the net was excellent
Schöne (7.5) - looking more and more like the player of the year for Ajax
Sigthorsson (6) - didn't have much of an opportunity in the offensive end but was good on the ball
Paulsen (6.5) - very good coming on late for defensive purposes
Duarte (6) - decent enough in the short time he was on the field

Well done Ajax!!!

[Orange14]

In spite of the fact that he scored the goal (from a set piece -- still nothing from open play), Denswil has been a real liability on defense. If it were up to me, I would replace him sooner rather than later.

He had to cover up for both Boilesen and Blind who were terrible at fullback today; they were constantly getting beaten

[SPL]

I was on a real high once that 2nd went in. I did say either Kishna or Bojan would score. Serero played very well and looked as good as I have ever seen him.

As Fword can still get a max 69 we actually need 7 points but a win v RKC and it will be over. FWord still need to go to PSV in a couple of weeks so we could be champs before Easter.

[rjf1]

In spite of the fact that he scored the goal (from a set piece -- still nothing from open play), Denswil has been a real liability on defense. If it were up to me, I would replace him sooner rather than later.

He had to cover up for both Boilesen and Blind who were terrible at fullback today; they were constantly getting beaten

Well, I must admit he had a much better second half -- made a number of key plays -- which made amends for the poor first half.

One problem, though, was on at least two occasions he didn't close down the man he was supposed to be covering -- he kind of stood around like he didn't know what to do -- allowing him the time and space to put in those goal mouth passes which weren't far from being converted.

[SPL]

I was on a real high once that 2nd went in. I did say either Kishna or Bojan would score. Serero played very well and looked as good as I have ever seen him.

As Fword can still get a max 69 we actually need 7 points but a win v RKC and it will be over. FWord still need to go to PSV in a couple of weeks so we could be champs before Easter.

[SPL]

To be fair to Denswil he has played at Jong level since Christmas plus 2 cup games .He is still learning.

[SPL]

To be fair to Denswil he has played at Jong level since Christmas plus 2 cup games .He is still learning.

[ajaxcolombia]

A veltman denswil backline is super strong technically but for the future it might be worrying that it lacks in height, which is scary against stall strikers like pelle and matavz.

[Orange14]

A veltman denswil backline is super strong technically but for the future it might be worrying that it lacks in height, which is scary against stall strikers like pelle and matavz.

Moisander - 1.82M; Veltman - 1.84M; Denswil - 1.86M so the two young players are both taller than Moisander. In addition one of the greatest defenders of the last 15 years, Fabio Cannavaro was only 1.72M tall but made up for it with strength and absolutely first rate positioning. Height is a good attribute but not the only thing in terms of being able to defend.