28 NOV 2021; Sparta - Ajax; Match Day 14

[Orange14]

Sorry for not posting the game day thread so late!! I thought I did already. Sparta are packing things in just as some of the other teams have.

[Orange14]

Haller and Antony are not in the match day team. Danilo starts at striker.

[Orange14]

Ajax finally break the 5-4-1 defense down. Danilo with a quick snap shot that is deflected in by Tadic. Sparta had one decent chance when Gravenberch ran into trouble deep in the Ajax half but otherwise has done little.

[SPL]

Until the goal I was thinking this could be another 0-0 as we did not look like breaking down their defence.Far too much short passes backwards and sideways without real meaning. Need to get a 2nd as we dont want a repeat of Twente.

[Tom_]

I somehow stayed awake through that, but only just.

[SPL]

Thankfully we scored a goal and won the game ,a dreadful 90 mins of football and Ajax dont know how to break down these teams that stick 10 behind the goal.Need to get some creativity in MF .
Willem this week will play the same system!

[SPL]

Think we all need a strong cup of coffee to keep us awake. Orange especially as it must still be very early in Bethesda

[Orange14]

Ajax scratched out a 0-1 win away to Sparta on a very cold and damp artificial pitch. Tadic got the match winner off a snap shot/pass from Danilo for the only goal of the match. Some very fine defending by Alvarez in the MF kept things under control and Sparta only had one shot on goal courtesy of a Gravenberch error. Ajax had better luck against a 5-4-1 defense today and did have some decent attempts on goal that were all saved. Another compressed schedule awaits in December with league matches, the final CL group game against Sporting and the first Beker match of the season against lowly Barendrecht. Willem II at home next Thursday.

Player Ratings:

Pasveer (6) - had hardly anything to do but did distribute the ball well
Blind (5.5) - poor passing on the day but had little defending to do
Martinez (6.5) - solid in the back
Timber (6.5) - solid game and did move forward on occasion with Alvarez dropping into coverage
Mazraoui (6) - better than average on the day
Alavarez (7) - solid defensively with some very good interventions to disrupt play
Gravenberch (6) - had a bad error in the first half but played much better in the second
Berghuis (6) - had a good shot on target late in the match
Tadic (6.5) - got the match winner
Danilo (6.5) - had several shots on goal subbing for an ill Haller
Neres (6) - in for Antony and was above average
Klaassen (NR) - in for Danilo
Tagliafico (NR) - in late for Blind and had a very good try on goal

[SPL]

Thought Daramy and Taylor could have come on for the last 10 mins or so . Taylor needs to go on loan for the 2nd half of the season to gain playing time at this level.

Talk of Brobbey coming back on loan in the New Year with Haller off to African Nations but Danilo should get some more chances in December with 6 games to play.If he is not going to get many chances why did we not sell him back in the summer when he still had a year contract left!!

[SPL]

A good day we ground out a win and both PSV and Feyenoord drew.

[Tom_]

Think we all need a strong cup of coffee to keep us awake. Orange especially as it must still be very early in Bethesda

Kickoff was 10:15 p.m. for me. Actually one of the more convenient times for me to watch live, shame it was such a dreadful match.