21 FEB 2016 Ajax - Excelsior Match Day 24

[Orange14]

Ajax are home to relegation threatened Excelsior next Sunday while top of table PSV entertain surprising Heracles who move up to third because of the Feyenoord meltdown. van der Hoorn is suspended for the match and Veltman will likely move back into the middle. Who starts at RB, van Rhijn or one of the youth players? Will PSV be thinking ahead to their CL match against Athletico??

[Ayman]

Easy game I expect Excelsior to finish bottom or second from bottom depending on Cambuur.

[rjf1]

It's the "easy" games you have to be careful of. Thinking all you have to do is walk out onto the pitch and the game is over is a recipe for disaster. Let's not take anything for granted.

[Orange14]

There are no easy games for this team. With a dysfunctional midfield they have great difficulties as every team adopts a defensive strategy.

[Ayman]

At home to Excelsior? You would bet your mortgage on an Ajax win!

[SPL]

Just before Christmas our last game was home to de Graafschap ,we struggled with a 2-1 win when we hoped for 5-1.

[Orange14]

FdB said that Murcic will be in the squad for the Sunday match because of good performance for Jong Ajax. Sinkgraven hurt his foot and may miss the match and of course van der Hoorn is suspended.

[SPL]

Well Owusu wont be on the bench with v d Hoorn out as he has just been sent off for Jong

[Dave the mac]

Would be nice to see Muric get some playing time. I read recently that he's unhappy not even getting on the bench, and it's about time. de Boer usually sticks with the same line-ups, even when it's working that well. Perhaps Milik too should get back in the line-up.
Will also probably see Van Rhijn back at RB with Veltman moving back to his usual spot in the center. I hate this but not very many options.

[SPL]

Muric for injured Sinkgraven and Damian van Bruggen for v d Hoorn.He is the regular Cd for Jong Ajax,20 next month.

Given he was taken off last night before Owusu was sent off suggests he was going to be in the squad and not Owusu ,who is a RB.

[Orange14]

Squad list has been posted. Robert Murcic and Damian van Bruggen are named for first time. Otherwise it's the same team as last week. As I noted yesterday, Sinkgraven suffered a slight foot injury in practice this week and is not available.

EDIT: SPL beat me to the punch!!!!!

[SPL]

A bit early yet as we have a 14.30 CET ko but looks like we may line up with 3-4-3.Schone in midfield, ElGhazi right wing, Milik back at central striker. No v Rhijn which will be no bad thing.

[SPL]

3-4 -3 with only the 3 defenders,no V Rhijn.Schone in midfielder. Milik back in the centre

[King Litti]

Interesting to see this formation. Will it brings more creativity to midfield and more chances or just make us even more vulnerable to counter attacks.

[SPL]

Just moaning that Bazoer should have scored then Milik came up with a superb goal. Great goal.

[Tom_]

Just about to start whining about Milik... That is literally the only useful thing he did except for the pass to Bazoer 10 seconds earlier though.

[SPL]

WE have dominated play and seen a suberb goal. May well have got a 2nd but their goalie made a couple of good saves

[Orange14]

Superb individual effort by Milik for the goal and finally some pressure on the Excelsior goal in the last five minutes. Younes shot was a screamer that brought a great save by the keeper. We still are passing the ball too slowly to create much in terms of openings as Excelsior are packing everyone behind the ball.

[rjf1]

Surprise, surprise -- instead of doing the typical Ajax move of passing backward when you get the ball with your back to goal, Milik turned around his defender and headed for goal -- with his just reward for the effort.

[Amol]

One player moving up to midfield has completely changed our dynamic. Some observations because of the change:
- Wingers aren't getting easily double teamed anymore as the wide midfielders have been moving up to provide support.
- We are not losing the midfield
- Game is being played in the opponent's half
- We are trying to play more balls through the middle since more players are in the middle

[Tom_]

Yeah I prefer 4 in midfield too. Hard to judge today because Excelsior are pretty bad! Still a lot of standing around though...

[SPL]

well I was going to say after that first he will score 3. Apart from the goals he has done nothing but he is a striker and 2 bits of class and he has done his job superbly.

[SPL]

another fine goal by birthday boy Klaassen with lovely work from Muric and Milik

[rjf1]

What a nice combination -- Muric - Milik - Muric - Klaasen -- goal!

[SPL]

A very comfortable win and we should have scored 5 or 6 but 2 wonderful goals by Milik and a fine team goal by Klaassen were enough.