14 JAN 2024; Go Ahead Eagles - Ajax; Match Day 17

[Orange14]

It is the New Year but I'm afraid that it is also the same old club. Ajax are on the road to take on Go Ahead Eagles, a match that "should" be winnable.

[saddlerian]

let's hope!!

[SPL]

Could have done with Twente and AZ being a draw .Win this game and we will be 5 points behind AZ and 4th place is Europa League next season .This weekend is the half way mark of fixtures and Twente have dropped only 14 points in 17. Currently 12 points ahead of us tonight I think 3rd place and CL next season is a bit of a dream.

[SPL]

Putting out the best 11 we have,Rensch and Sosa FB's but a MF of Tahirovic,Taylor and Hlynsson is very weak. F-Jim and Misehouy on the bench and these 2 are as good as any of the 3 starters. Misehouy hopefully is going to sign his extension of contract as he is clearly going to now become involved in the 1st.

Just need 3 points but I expect a 2-1 win at most.

[SPL]

Putting out the best 11 we have,Rensch and Sosa FB's but a MF of Tahirovic,Taylor and Hlynsson is very weak. F-Jim and Misehouy on the bench and these 2 are as good as any of the 3 starters. Misehouy hopefully is going to sign his extension of contract as he is clearly going to now become involved in the 1st.

Just need 3 points but I expect a 2-1 win at most.

[Orange14]

Tahirovic made up for a poor half by a nice goal at the end of the half. Ramaz is cool in goal but the possing by almost everyone is too weak with many interceptions. With this club only a four goal lead can be considered safe.

[SPL]

Another poor performance by Ajax and lucky to be ahead. Defence is just weak and Sosa cannot defend and leaves that flank unguarded. MF non existent and over run in my opinion. I was going to say Tahirovic is really poor and he scores a goal.Hope to see Fitz-Jim and Misehouy in the 2nd half.We need to do something else in MF.

[SPL]

Free kick Ajax conceed ,we are rubbish in defence

[Tom_]

Not sure how we won that. I hope the whole team are buying drinks for Ramaj right now. Another awful game and the team seems to be playing worse and worse every time I see them.

Anyway it’s three really valuable points against the sort of team we have to beat if we want to finish 4th, so I won’t complain too much.

[Tom_]

Just looked at the stats, 23 shots conceded!!!

[SPL]

Not sure how we won Ramaj MOM the others poor

[Orange14]

I think one needs to be a masochist in order to keep watching this club play. It's always a question of waiting for the other shoe to drop but at least on this Sunday that did not happen. Ajax escape further humiliation with a 2-3 win against Go Ahead Eagles . the match announcer noted that Ajax has not lost a first in the New Year match since 1999 and that record continues. Rmaj is the MOTM with his alert goal keeping as his defense consistently left huge gaps again today. Ajax also just don't seem to be alert in terms of killing off the match. There were a hadful of times when players got themselves into trouble in extra time when they should have just played keep away. there were some strange calls from van Boekel with phantom fouls though he did get all the big questionable ones correct not giving the home team a PK when there were shouts for one. Two more weak sides ahead before PSV and their unbeaten streak come to town.

Player Ratings:

Ramaj (7.5) - kept his head in the game and milked all the goal kicks for every single second without getting a YC
Rensch (6.5) - got the match winner with a nice shot and did try to press forward
Sutalo (5.5) - had a couple of good positional plays but came off at the half for some reason
Hato (6) - cal Ripken streak stays intact but his play was just above ordinary
Sosa (6) - defense was mildly above average and he did try to press down the left flank and had a couple of good crosses
Tahirovic (4.5) - got a nice goal at the end of the half but is out of position so often that it's beyond comical
Taylor (5.5) - two good shots on goal but still looks adrift
Hlynsson (5.5) - just average
Berghuis (6) - kept the ball well which about sums up his game
Brobbey (6.5) - nice goal and should have been in on goal with a good chance but was whistled for an invisible foul when he beat the defender
Bergwijn (6.5) - worked hard all game
Medic (4.5)- not an answer as he is just too slow and clumsy
Forbs (5) - brought on for speed but he just continues to make bad decisions and was poor tracking back
Akpom (5) - on for Brobbey but did little
Goojier (NR) - on late for Taylor

RKC at home next Sunday.

[SPL]

We cannot defend corners or free kicks and your ratings show the hugh problem,MF is dreadful.We badly need a quality DMF as Tahirovic is too slow and simply not good enough.Taylor not much better. 4th place is about as high as we can get this season unless Twente completely collapse.