22 OCT 2022; RKC Waalwijk - Ajax; Match Day 11

[Orange14]

Ajax are almost a third of the way through the Eredivisie season and have a narrow lead over the pursuing clubs. RKC are in the upper half of the table and Ajax need to build on last week's performance against Excelsior. This is the first of six matches before the corrupt World Cup break (which I won't watch) and two of the matches are CL games that will determine Ajax's future in Europe next year. The league season has been front loaded with week teams though a showdown with PSV is set for November 6.

[SPL]

Hope for a good win tonight . Having a good football day today , Ajax U18 just drew 1-1 v Feyenoord ,watched it on youtube . Soon off to watch Worthing ,National League South is Level 6 in England results on BBC so Worthing in the limelight.Then home for RKC.

[SPL]

Hope this is not a bad sign but watched U18 draw 1-1 and just been to see Worthing drew 1-1(they are actually in level 6 with EPL being level 1). RKC are having a decent season and we must win . Same side Brobbey striker which is good to see

[Orange14]

Why does Blind even play?

[GangstaRiB]

They are playing arrogant. They are better than RKC (of course) but if you play like this, RKC will punish and they just did.

Ajax should be 3-0 up, but its 1-1 due to sloppy defending.

[kezme44]

yup blind got beaten again in that duel when rkc scored. defense is a complete disaster apart from sanchez. bassey gets caught upfield all the time, terrible crossing as well. tadic a nonentity. lucky now that rkc haven’t scored more.

[Jinne]

Sanchez is the worst at the back.

[Orange14]

I feel sorry for Timber, he is the only one who has any clue about how to play on the back line. I really wish we would have kept Schuurs to partner him.

[SPL]

Having a bad time getting a stream watched to about 30mins but nothing working from them!!

[GangstaRiB]

Great goal by Berghuis. 2-1 up. Now let’s score a few more and don’t concede.

[kezme44]

schreuder thanking berghuis for keeping his job

[GangstaRiB]

Brobbeast with the 3-1. Typical. Just outmuscles his opponent.

[Orange14]

My despair at the end of the first half turned to elation during the second as the real Ajax showed up and scored three nice goals as they made it look easy. Brobbey played a very good game as did Steven Berghuis, both with a brace. Blind was subbed off with Bassey moving into the center and Grillitsch came on for Alvarez. Things looked so much more organized though Pasveer still had to be alert enough to make a great save to keep the score at 3-1. Wijndal was industrious ar LB and Berwijn moved over to his favored LW position. I hope this is the lineup against Liverpool.

Player Ratings:

Pasveer (7.5) - had some first class saves in the first half to keep Ajax level and added another in the 2nd half though he was relieved to have a better defense in front of him after the half
Sanchez (6.5) - had a couple of dicey moments on defense in the first half but overall was more than decent
Timber (7) - maintained his cool in the first half when things were disintegrating around him and had a couple of very good runs into the box with wicked cross that ended up with a well saved shot
Blind (4) - mediocre again and got a YC for dissent; don't know if he was subbed off because of injury at the half but Ajax were much better without him
Bassey (6.5) - he is still not a smooth player but his recovery speed helps make up for errors and his 2nd half play at CB was good
Alvarez (4.5) - all over the place in the first half and rightfully subbed off
Berghuis (8) - two great goals and wonderful passing along with defending pretty well; MOTM for me
Klaassen (7) - by far the best game of the year from him and he was really unlikely not to have scored on any one of his three chances; worked hard on defense all game
Bergwijn (6.5) - tracked back well and was good on the ball
Brobbey (7.5) - always looked dangerous with the ball at his feet and his two goals were classic striker goals
Tadic (7) - decent enough
Grillitsh (6.5) - solid half coming on for Alvarez
Wijndal (6.5) - had a good half at LB with pacy runs
Lucca (NR)
Kudus (NR)
Concecao (NR)

Big match coming up on Wednesday with a mediocre Liverpool team coming to Amsterdam I watched them lose of Nottingham Forrest this morning and they look out of sorts. Ajax still have an opportunity to advance out of the group to the knock out round but require a two goal win which might be stretch for the club particularly as they still are defensively fragile.

[SPL]

A good win sadly only watched to 30 mins,just could not get a stream in the 2nd half,very frustrating.

[Tom_]

RKC actually looked like the better team in the first half.

I’d prefer Kudus to play at #8. No idea what to do about LB and RB because none of Blind, Sanchez or Wijndal can defend.