23 APR 2023: PSV - Ajax; Match Day 30

[Orange14]

The match for 2nd place is this Sunday. Ajax really need a victory. For the first time in a long while I'm pessimistic about this one, particularly with Alvarez missing because of suspension. Ajax have not finished below 2nd place in over a decade but that's a distinct possibility this year.

[Cruijff]

Long, long time ago that Ajax did lose both league games against PSV in one season...

[Tom_]

A draw *might* be enough. Ajax would have to beat AZ in that case.

[SPL]

Bassey to replace Alvarez so why did he not get 20 mins last Sunday!!

[Tom_]

I’ve seen a few articles about Alvarez’s heading being a big loss. Maybe… but I can’t see how Ajax gets the ball up the pitch against a press with Bassey playing. I think turnovers and counter attacks are going to be more of a problem than crosses to Luuk de Jong.

Not expecting this to go well, but hopefully I’m wrong.

[SPL]

Will be delighted with a draw but a MF of Klaassen Taylor Grillitsch and Bassey for Alvarez I am not confident.Hato plays.

[Tom_]

It’s fairly even. PSV aren’t anything special but this Ajax midfield isn’t good enough to break through their defense. I suppose they could bring on Brobbey since they’re playing a lot of long balls and Tadic can’t hold Ramalho off.

[Orange14]

No way does Timber play CB in any league above the Ereivisie. Contrast between him and Martinez is night and day. Martinez would have used his body to keep de Jong away. Ajax are too slow with the ball as Bassey and Klaassen just are not good. I hope we can snatch a draw out of this but it will be tough. At least they played better in the second part of the half.

[SPL]

Timber again concedes a goal ,agree he is not good enough as a Cd above Eredivise level.No way would he last in the EPL.MF is nothing and we should bring on Brobbey and Conceicao.

Brobbey is coming on by the looks of it.

[Tom_]

Analysts on espn reckon that Bergwijn should’ve been tighter on Bakayoko so Hato could have stopped the cross.

[SPL]

No hope for Rulli with the penalty. Would imgine thats it for the day.The rest of the game needs to be played midweek with no crowd.

Only way to stop this would be for Ajax to be awarded 3 points.

[Orange14]

No hope for Rulli with the penalty. Would imgine thats it for the day.The rest of the game needs to be played midweek with no crowd.

Only way to stop this would be for Ajax to be awarded 3 points.

I agree, they need to adopt a no tolerance approach to this!! Match at Groningen was abandoned yesterday because of this. Mid week would be a good approach.

[Tom_]

I don’t think we can really complain. In a season where we haven’t beaten Feyenoord, PSV or AZ (yet) it would be weird to finish second. Unfortunately 4th place is now a real worry and we have to hope we can beat AZ in a couple of weeks.

[Orange14]

I can't remember a season where Ajax conceded so many break aways.

[Tom_]

Yeah. Or a season where they have been so poor with the ball at their feet.

[Orange14]

I don’t think we can really complain. In a season where we haven’t beaten Feyenoord, PSV or AZ (yet) it would be weird to finish second. Unfortunately 4th place is now a real worry and we have to hope we can beat AZ in a couple of weeks.

Best hope now is to win the Cup next week and qualify directly for the Europa League. However, the Dutch league is always strange down the stretch so anything is possible for this Ajax team even possibly finishing 5th.

[SPL]

Think they will restart.

[SPL]

I am not sure I recognised that shower on the field as Ajax. Utterly poor and even 3rd place is in doubt. Subs use poor and Heitinga must not be coach . Bassey is poor but Timber gave away the 1st goal. Grillitsch, who did nothing as DM is not a defender. Only defender who I rated was Hato , just 17. MF do we have one!! Upfront the 3 starters were poor , Lucca touched the ball twice but Brobbey for all his limitations did put himself around.

So Rulli, Hato and Brobbey ok the rest not worthy of wearing our shirt . Once it was 3-0 and game over why did Conceicao and Godts not come on and also let Vos play 15 mins. Heits go back to the Jong , V D Sar please resign you are responsible for Schreuder and 8 woeful signings in the summer. Kaplin not played yet and Conceicao has potential but the remaining 7 can go join Ocampos and leave.(Brobbey ok I may keep as back up when we get a proper decent striker)

Back to finding a stream next week for the Cup and I may not bother. Finishing 2nd was really important but now we must try and finish 3rd so we dont end up in the conference league.

[Tom_]

Best hope now is to win the Cup next week and qualify directly for the Europa League. However, the Dutch league is always strange down the stretch so anything is possible for this Ajax team even possibly finishing 5th.

I’m not sure but I think third would get the direct EL place. PSV will qualify for the CL by finishing 2nd, so the ticket from the Beker goes to the third-placed eredivisie team if PSV win the Beker too.

[Orange14]

That should do it for the second place possibility. Ajax were very poor on the day with just no passing speed and conceding too many break away chances for the opposition. An early YC taken by Sanchez meant that he could not try to intervene when Simons beat him on the play that led to the PK as Rulli desperately tried to get to the ball first, a play he had to make. With Twente and Sparta drawing today, it would take a monumental collapse by Ajax to drop them down to fifth but of course that can't be ruled out as the team is just in tatters.

Player Ratings:

Rulli (6) - not bad on the day and no complaints about conceding the penalty to Simons
Sanchez (4) - early YC took away all of his aggressiveness and he made several mistakes with the ball
Timber (5) - don't even think about playing CB in any league above the Eredvisie, really poor on the first goal but did have one good offensive run
Bassey (4) - he has no future at Ajax
Hato (5) - looked uncomfortable all match but unless your name is de Ligt, a 17 year old should not be playing in this type of game
Grillitsch (5) had one good cross field pass but was just average dropping to the back line when Bassey was taken off
Taylor (6) - unlucky not to have scored and at least looked to move the ball forward
Klaassen (4) - lack of ball handling was cruelly exposed and he just is not good enough for a team that already has MF issues
Berguis (5) - another very average player
Tadic (5) - really can't play in the middle against this team and was not much better on the wing
Bergwijn (5.5) - had a couple of attempts on goal but that was it
Brobbey (6) - worked very hard and did get free inside the box
Lucca (NR) - time to pack your bags and go home to Italy


Alvarez returns for the Cup match next week and likely will partner Timber. Unfortunately, Taylor is suspended so we can expect Klaassen to stay in the MF. Don't know if Kudus & Rensch will be healthy. Brobbey needs to start ALL the remaining games to see if he has what it takes.

[SPL]

Ok Taylor did try going forward. I am not saying we should have a 17 year old at LB and he had a really quick winger against him but Bassey ,Grillitsch and Sanchez cannot defend and all need to be sold.Still think the kid was better than that trio.

[Orange14]

I am not saying we should have a 17 year old at LB and he had a really quick winger against him but Bassey ,Grillitsch and Sanchez cannot defend and all need to be sold.Still think the kid was better than that trio.

For sure Hato is a great talent and he will be a starter at either LB or CB in the future, he was just tentative today and that's understandable.

[Tom_]

I think Grillitsch is ok. He’s good on the ball at least. Clutching at straws obviously because no one was close to good today.

VI are panning Bergwijn but I don’t see how he was worse than any other attacker.

[Orange14]

VI are panning Bergwijn but I don’t see how he was worse than any other attacker.

I think it's just because Ajax spent a lot of money on him.

[kezme44]

what a sad affair, terrible all over the place. bergwijn had two good opportunities to pass to a free man and in both instances he decided to take a shot himself. looks
completely disinterested on the field and it’s showing in his game. we’ll be lucky to finish in the top 4