26 NOV 2017; Ajax - Roda; Match Day Match Day 13

[Orange14]

In the early match on Sunday (US starting time is 6:30!), Ajax host bottom of the table Roda. Ajax are currently 3rd behind AZ who easily handled FC Twente in the Friday match. Table leaders, PSV, take on Excelsior.

[Orange14]

A fair number of players out with injuries for tomorrow: Younes, Sinkgraven, Huntelaar, and Orejuela. Coming into the team sheet are: Cassiera, Eiting, Dankerlui, and Bergsma.

[Cruijff]

In the early match on Sunday (US starting time is 6:30!), Ajax host bottom of the table Roda.

Ah yeahhh that's early enough, now you can do yoga before and after the game!

[rjf1]

Finally a time that is reasonable for me to watch in my time zone -- 19:30 -- -- the last bunch of them before this happened in my middle of the night -- looked at the score the first thing on waking up, but had to read the Match Day comments to get a feel for what went on.

[Ayman]

Zeefuik to start! Veltman partnering de Ligt at centre back, Woeber at left back, VdB-Schone-Ziyech in midfield, Dolberg up front flanked by Neres on the left and Kluivert on the right.

[Orange14]

Yes, back four is interesting with Sinkgraven out and Viergever carrying a slight injury.

[Ayman]

0-1 Roda JC that was too easy and Schone committed an unnecessary foul to begin with

[rjf1]

Not the first time this season that we got punished for an unnecessary foul. Anyway, the way Ajax has been playing, you just got the feeling that something like this would happen.

[King Litti]

Veltman is maybe a bit too slow for a full back and a bit too short for a central defender. Ok, a kind of hars, but he did lose that aerial duel 100% (though he had to back down and was maybe a bit off balance).

[rjf1]

Really nice give and go and run and finish by Kluivert makes it 1-1.

[Orange14]

the nice 1-2 by Kluivert and Ziyech and a clinical finish by Justin was the only thing that redeemed this mediocre half of football. Ajax again concede a cheap goal as de Ligt doesn't clear the ball out of the box on the free kick and then Veltman is too weak on his man and it was an easy header into the Ajax net. I think Kluivert's shot was the only one on frame in the whole first half and he had another good chance on a break but was foiled by a really nice intervention by the Roda defender before he could get the shot off.

van de Beek has hardly seen the ball and Schöne looks very slow today. I would really like to see Frenkie de Jong get the whole 2nd half as the controlling MF. Other than the nice pass to Kluivert, Ziyech has also been poor and such performances always make me want to have #34 in the lineup at times like this.

Let's hope that they wake up for the 2nd half!!

[Orange14]

Veltman is maybe a bit too slow for a full back and a bit too short for a central defender. Ok, a kind of hars, but he did lose that aerial duel 100% (though he had to back down and was maybe a bit off balance).

Veltman doesn't use his body the same way that Cannavaro did and the Italian defender was several cm shorter. He was always able to push the man off balance without ever getting called on it.

[rjf1]

Another really nice play with Neres making a run to the endline and passing back to the middle for a super finish by Dolberg. And Kluivert gets his second to make it 3-1 as I type.

[Amol]

Overslept and just started watching at the 60th minute.

[Amol]

4-1!

[Amol]

I thought this would be a perfect time to bring on Eiting and Johnsen a look in at 4-1. But Keizer brings on Siem De Jong.

[King Litti]

Happy for Justin. Great hat trick. You could just see how hungry he was to get that third. Great finish and he took the pass down so beatifuly.

[rjf1]

85th minute and young Kluivert gets his hat trick -- taking down a long crossfield pass in stride; cutting toward the middle at the top of the box and making a cool finish into the bottom right corner.

[rjf1]

91st minute and Onana makes his first save of the second half -- and -- I think -- the 2nd save of the game overall.

[rjf1]

The move to bring on Frenkie for Zeefuik and going to three at the back and having an extra midfielder to start the 2nd half really got the attack going -- total domination in the 2nd half.

[Orange14]

The kids led by a Kluivert hat trick pulled Ajax out of the first half funk and it ended with a comfortable 5-1. If the club can only find a way to come out at the beginning of matches we might all breathe a little easier. the lone Roda goal came on a free kick which traditionally seems to always be an adventure for the Ajax defense. Silly foul, followed by a weak clearance and finally a defender beaten in the air. There was some sloppy passing and some give aways but Roda were never likely to threaten from open play. Onana was ready to snuff out any shots on goal. Keizer's decision to take off Zeefuik and move to a 3-4-2 with Frenkie de Jong coming on at the half was the correct one.

Player Ratings:

Onana (7) - sharp on all the shots headed his way
Wöber (7) - solid game at LB
de Ligt (7.5) - weak header on the set piece and a missed finish on a nice cross late in the match were the only things to complain about
Veltman (7) - yes, he was weak on the Roda goal but pretty decent otherwise
Zeefuik (6.5) - OK in his first team debut before coming off at the half
Schöne (6.5) - did not put much of an imprint on this match
Ziyech (6.5) - some really good passing and some really awful passing; is he really interested in playing for Ajax?
van de Beek (6.5) - silent and without a touch for long stretches but a wonderful goal on the cut back pass
Kluivert (9) - would have been higher but for a couple of wild shots on goal
Dolberg (7.5) - got the match winner and forced a couple of good saves from the Roda keeper
Neres (7.5) - has the best field awareness of anyone in an Ajax kit these days
F. de Jong (7) - should be starting every match
S. de Jong (5.5) - late sub for Schöne
Johnsen (NR) - on for Kluivert late

Off to Enschede to take on FC Twente next week and then the big match with PSV

[Orange14]

Happy for Justin. Great hat trick. You could just see how hungry he was to get that third. Great finish and he took the pass down so beatifuly.

Going back to some of his play last year, I don't think I've seen a winger bring down long passes as well as Kluivert does.

[SPL]

Hi ,I did watch the game ok but have had no phone line for over a week and Internet went down Friday morning.I only have a pay as you go mobile so have had no internet contact since Friday morning. I am using the internet in my library at the moment to catch up with the weekend Ajax news.

At least Sky provided me a working tv so I watched all the game ok,but missed all your comments. 1st half was dreadful until Justin's superb one two with Ziyech for a lovely goal.

3-4-3 in the 2nd half with the quality passing of Frenkie changed everything and it was a joy to watch.Justin outstanding and Younes is not going to get his place back quickly.Frenkie should start every game .If Keizer doesn't want him he is mad and there are many sides in England already watching him.

When Frenkie put a lovely pass to Donny for him to score I looked at the 2 of them and just thought the 3rd one is missing ie Appie.

Hope to get connected again this week and hopefully by next Saturday.

[Orange14]

Hope to get connected again this week and hopefully by next Saturday.

I was beginning to get worried when I didn't see any posts from you!! Glad to hear that it's just something fixable.

[SPL]

Thanks Orange for the above comment ,internet back working again.Main thing my sky Tv worked on Sunday so I enjoyed the game ,well from 45th minute.