03 OCT 2021; Ajax - Utrecht; Match Day 8

[Orange14]

The beat goes on as Ajax kept another clean sheet, this time against Besiktas. Is it possible this team has only conceded twice? No, that is what the score line shows!!! Always troublesome Utrecht shows up this Sunday in the Arena. The Timber brothers will be reunited albeit on opposite sides of the ball.

[SPL]

Tagliafico for Blind and Neres for Antony and no Steks still. Always difficult against Utrecht so dont expect 5 goals from us .

The Timber brothers play against each other for the first time and some lovely articles on Showtime as they still live at home ,share a bedroom and clearly have a remarkable mother who has brought up 5 boys single handed.

[rjf1]

Hooray! Finally a game at a reasonable hour - really been missing my Ajax fix. Let's hope that with all the recent success the boys don't get complacent. Looking forward to a well played game and a good win.

[Orange14]

I know he doesn't want to come off but Tadic has been quite poor in the match so far. Pasveer saved Ajax by coming out really quick to kick the ball away. Alvarez is destroying everything Utrect tries to do in his area. Haller really should have scored. this is always going to be a close match with both teams having good defenses.

[SPL]

a hard fought 1st half we have created a few half chances although Haller's miss was the clearest chance.I cannot help thinking all the chances Haller misses my old hero Huntelaar ,in his prime,would have buried them but probably unfair as KJH was a real top finisher.

Have to admit Alvarez does a great job and has improved considerably

[Tom_]

I want to like Haller but he’s just a bit clumsy with the ball.

Gravenberch is also having a nightmare.

Still a few decent half chances, and I guess Utrecht will not be able to keep the pressure up for the whole second half.

[kezme44]

this might be one of those games

[kezme44]

daramy just need to pass that ball to danilo and it’s 1-1

[rjf1]

Ajax could take lessons from Utrecht on how to counterattack.

[SPL]

Well Utrecht are always a tough game for us and have to say they played very well and we did not deserve much.That 3 shots effort ie Haller 2 and Tadic ,all saved by the goalie,was our only real clear chance in the 2nd half.After their goal we looked out of steam a bit until the last few minutes.

Glad for a 2 week break .

[Orange14]

All credit to Utrecht and their keeper who made one of the great triple saves I have seen. They managed to keep the middle clogged up all match long and Ajax had some chances but could not score. Good finish by Warmerdam when they had a 4 on 2 break with too many Ajax players caught up field. We're heading off to a Turkish festival so player ratings will come out later today.

[SPL]

Good news Feyenoord lost to Vitesse after 15 mins of injury time.They have now dropped 6 points just like PSV but those 2 have played only 7 games each we have dropped 5 points from 8. PSV of course are still to play Sparta and win tonight they will be a point behind us.Feyenoord's game in hand is in December.

[Orange14]

Ajax had the better play on the day but one error led to a 4 on 2 break by Utrecht and a well taken goal from Warmerdam that sealed the points for the visitors. The last 12 minutes plus stoppage time following the goal saw Ajax in a bit of panic mode trying to get the tying goal but it wasn't to come. Ajax had enough good chances to score but some good goal keeping and two poor shots that should have been scores saw the home team blanked. There were some very poor performances that you can see reflected in the ratings:

Pasveer (6.5) - had almost nothing to do but he came out quickly to intercept what might have been a man in on goal
Tagliafico (5) - average and nothing more
Martinez (6.5) - looked frustrated when he had the ball with few passing options
Timber (6.5) - reunited with his twin and that was the highlight of the match for him
Mazraoui (6) - had some good interplay with the winger on his side but nothing much came of it
Alvarez (7) - probably the best player on the pitch winning every duel and passing well
Gravenberch (4.5) - exceptionally poor and a weak back pass was inexcusable, appropriately subbed off
Berghuis (5.5) - found everything in the middle clogged with Utrecht players
Tadic (5.5) - sadly he could rarely beat any defender on the day
Haller (4.5) - honestly should have scored in the first half rather than seeing the ball sail over the crossbar
Neres (5) - had a couple of good moves on offense but that was it; I think his transfer value is very low right now
Klaassen (5.5) - had a chance to score but the ball was not optimally placed for him
Antony (6) - had some good crosses and was far better than Neres
Blind (5.5) - OK in his sub roll but as with others could not impact the game
Daramy (5.5) - very lively on the left wing but couldn't get a shot off when it was needed; he really should get a start to give Tadic some rest but that won't happen
Danilo (NR) - on late in desperation time

Off for the WC qualifying break and then face Heerenveen without Antony, Alvarez, Tagliafico and Martinez who won't make it back in time for training prior to the match

[SPL]

Gravenberch was our worst player today and Haller no better.Take away Lisbon and his record is moderate,misses far too many easy chances.

NB.PSV win with goals in the last 10 mins as usual.

[Orange14]

Gravenberch was our worst player today .

I hope Raiola watched the match. No way is Gravenberch ready for a move to a top tier club. He needs at least one more year, maybe two at Ajax and then can command top money. I think he risks falling into the van de Beek trap, moving to a club he won't fit in with.

[Tom_]

Utrecht will feel they deserved a result because Ajax only got a few opportunities.

I would say the game might have been different if either of Ajax’s chances at 0-0 had gone in. Hopefully this is the lesson Ajax needs about wasting chances.

[souras84]

Neres got a 5? That's generous!!!

[Orange14]

I just watched the highlights from yesterday's match. One of the key problems regarding playing a high press is that if you don't win the ball, the other team can counter if they are alert. Timber was past the halfway line when he lost the duel and Utrecht recovered the ball and quickly headed up field. Only Mazraoui and Martinez were deep enough to defend. Mazraoui did enough in defending two men and took part of the angle away from Warmerdam when the pass came over. Pasveer was too slow in reacting to the shot which I think was savable. If Ajax are not going to use Onana, they need to give Gorter some matches. He is with Jong Oranje during the International break but I don't know if he will be favored over Scherpen as first choice keeper.

[SPL]

Reading reports of the game most seem to think Pasveer should have saved the goal ,just like Steks could have saved the Twente goal.
Maybe Onana should get picked as he would have saved that yesterday.Gorter could get games now but depends on when Steks is fit.

Our other weak place is Haller, an average striker who has scored a few straight forward goals but misses far too many. Had a great game v Lisbon but apart from that nothing special.Not sure he works that hard and seems invisible for lots of the game.

Finally Gravenberch is overrated no way is he ready for the top leagues yet.