25 SEP 2019; Ajax - Fortuna Sittard; Match Day 7

[Orange14]

Ajax host Fortuna Sittard in the match that was rescheduled because of the CL play off match. The schedule becomes very busy with three matches in seven days with a home game against Groningen on the weekend followed by a trip to Valencia in the CL. If ever there was a match warranting squad rotation, this Wednesday's game is deserving. Ziyech and Tadic could both do with the night off. van de Beek needs some playing time but maybe only a half to an hour. We'll see what ETH decides.

[souras84]

I guess we'll see Huntelaar, Donny and Promes as 3 out of 4 front line guys. Not sure if Neres will be the 4th. What about Mazraoui? Is he fit, and if yes, is it time for him to return as the RB to rest Dest?

[Amol]

I guess we'll see Huntelaar, Donny and Promes as 3 out of 4 front line guys. Not sure if Neres will be the 4th. What about Mazraoui? Is he fit, and if yes, is it time for him to return as the RB to rest Dest?

I think Nous is still hurt. Bring in Schuurs and move Veltman to replace Dest.

On a separate note, I see that Eiting is back to group training as well. I may be in a minority here, but I have big hopes for him still.

[Amol]

....and Nous is back in training. I'm guessing it's still to early for tomorrow's game, but good to have him back in the rotation.

[Amol]

Starting 11: Onana; Dest, Veltman, Blind, Tagliafico; Marin, Van de Beek, Álvarez; Neres, Tadic, Promes

[Van basten]

My first Ajax game at Arena (my first Ajax game at enywhere)

[Amol]

My first Ajax game at Arena (my first Ajax game at enywhere)

Have fun!! I need to plan another trip to Amsterdam.

[SPL]

Van basten enjoy the experience. Hope for a 5-0 tonight

[Amol]

26th minute - Donny could've surely put that in the back of the net. He didn't even stick his foot out.

[Orange14]

Despite Fortuna packing everyone in, Ajax are creating chances and should have put a couple in the back of the net. Missing Ziyech may be a factor as he can pick apart defenses better than Promes or Neres. Blind with a great save when Onana was caught way outside the box.

[Amol]

Isn't Lavazza one of our sponsors? Get the boys some coffee at half time.

Some observations
1. Donny seems to pull out of tackles and didn't even stretch his leg to put that cross from Promes away. I wonder if he's still worried about re-injuring himself
2. Not sure what Marin brings to the team
3. Dest is letting some of the hype get to him. He doesn't need a fancy move every single time
4. High crosses into the box don't work if you're not exact or if you have a height and numerical disadvantage (which we do today)

[Amol]

Missed an obvious observation that Fortuna is parking the bus and trying to hit us on the counter. Almost worked the one time when Blind had to save us.

[Van basten]

My first Ajax game at Arena (my first Ajax game at enywhere)

Have fun!! I need to plan another trip to Amsterdam.

[guote="SPL"]Van basten enjoy the experience. Hope for a 5-0 tonight[/quote]

Thanx guys, i'm really enjoying, i just want to see couple of goals from Ajax in second half :)

[Amol]

Huntelaar comes on for Alvarez. Marin and Donny now form the block in front of Veltman and Blind.

[Amol]

Play is immediately better with Donny now spraying passes from the back. I guess Martinez now does that and that is not quite Alvarez's strengths.

[Amol]

1-0!! Promes puts Tadic's lovely low cross in the back of the net.

Great ball from Donny to find Tadic on the wing to start the move.

[Orange14]

Why is the roof open? Looks like it's raining. Great goal Bry Promes

[Amol]

I've been wondering the same thing about the roof.

Another great ball from the deep from Donny to find Tadic and then a little pin-balling ends into our 2nd goal. 2-0!!

[SPL]

3-0 game over now

Gravenberch on for Donny

[Amol]

5-0!! That's the score I had requested from the Ajax twitter account this morning. Ajax delivered.

[Ayman]

Hatrick for Promes, it may be against minor oppositions. But they all count! In the next game, i would like to see the experiment of Blind Alvarez partnership at the back.

[SPL]

Once we got 2 quick goals it was game over and the predicted 5-0 came ( V basten will have enjoyed that 2nd half)

Marin got 90 mins but dont really rate him . At 3-0 I hoped Gravenberch and Schuurs would come on and they did.

Promes a fine game not just the hattrick but he was dropping back covering defence . A slow start to his Ajax career but he has now started to show his ability.

[Orange14]

Stifled in the first half by some resolute Fortuna defending the goals poured in during the second along with the rain as the Arena roof remained mysteriously open. Promes with a hat trick, Neres with a poacher's goal off of a nice assist from Huntelaar, and an own goal off of a nice looping pass into the box from Gravenberch. Onana was hardly troubled other than a bizarre venture way outside the box on a break only to see Blind get back and clear the ball (not clear to me that it was on target but even so props to Blind). Ziyech and Martinez got the evening off and Alvarez came out after a very ordinary first half. van de Beek back in the team and went 70 minutes.

Player ratings:

Onana (5) - really dumb move to come out so far and really should have been punished with a goal
Tagliafico (6.5) - bandaged up with a swim cap after first half collision with the keeper had a decent match
Blind (8) - had as fine a game as a defender can have and pure joy to watch him pass the ball
Veltman (7) - decent enough but got a way with a push on the Fortuna striker who then got a YC for 'justifiable' dissent
Dest (6.5) - good except on the two occasions he didn't recognize the overlap and was beaten
Alvarez (5.5) - disappointingly ordinary
Marin (7) - really solid match and it was his rocket shot parried by the keeper that Promes cashed in on
van de Beek (7) - a good 70 minute run out and active all over the field
Promes (7.5) - good movement in the offensive area and awareness of where the ball was going to
Tadic (7) - good interior passing but in the end he did not tie the great Cruyff's record of goals in 13 straight home matches
Neres (7) - decent enough
Huntelaar (7) - good on the ball and his headed pass for Neres to poke it in was sublime
Gravenberch (6) - gets a nice assist on the OG
Schuurs (NR) - on late for Dest and had some touches

Groningen, who lost to PSV tonight, come to the Arena on Saturday and then Ajax off to Spain to play Valencia.

[Van basten]

Once we got 2 quick goals it was game over and the predicted 5-0 came ( V basten will have enjoyed that 2nd half)

I sure did