27 Feb 2005: Roda JC - Ajax

[Kowalczyk]

What else can one say than: 'on to the next one'...?

But first: Auxerre vs Ajax, of course.

K.

[DanK]

What else can one say than: 'on to the next one'...?
K.

Oh no...RODA-v-Ajax...always an easy game. NOT!

Maybe this will be the game that the board says "enough"?

[Kowalczyk]

I'm just reading a match report of AZ vs Roda (1-1). Turns out that this game ended in a punch-up quite a few players. 'Good old' Tim de Cler was sent off, and so were Roda players Gregor van Dijk and their striker, Cissé. I take it they will be suspended for next weekend's game.

Oh well.

K.

[Kowalczyk]

Of course: we still have the same team and almost all of the same problems. Even the 'new' coaches (Krol and Bruins Slot) were already there...

But still: it feels like a new start. I look forward to tomorrow's game more than I've done in a while. I hope the players will feel the same way. If they do, we may be in for a pleasant surprise. I am still convinced that they do know how they play football.

The past few weeks/months have not been pleasant, but this is a new beginning. Come on Ajax!

K.

[SPL]

We have to look forward now and aim for 2nd place. 3 points tomorrow will do. Overall the team lack confidence and can only do better can't they !!

[raymon]

Teams line up:

RODA JC:
Kujovic
Senden,Kah,Luijpers,Filipovic
Sérgio,Vicelich,Bödör,Colinet
Cristiano,Koné

AJAX:
Stekelenburg
Trabelsi,Heitinga,Escudé,De Jong
Sneijder,Maduro,Maxwell
Rosales,Charisteas,Boukhari

[Cedric]

Ajax is winning 2-0 : Charisteas 33' and SQD 42'. Still 30mins to play.

[Arthur]

Final score: 1-2.

Could have been 1-5 or 3-2 really. It was striking to see how Krol was constantly coaching his players and telling them what to do. It seemed to work occasionally, but still Ajax came under unnecessary pressure which could have been easily avoided by not defending so close to our own goal.

All in all a better result than I expected. Hopefully we can still become 2nd.

[Blind3]

Good to see Ajax get past this landmine of a match with three points. Given the Koeman resignation, no tears here about that one, and AZ next week, I was very nervous. Glad Charisteas stepped forward for a change.Maybe his time at Ajax can be useful after all.As for Escude`, his value just continues to go up.I just hope he will play at least 4 years at Ajax,play with one main cb partner....like Chivu and Bergdolmo, and continue to be a real force in our line-up.

[The Purple Cow]

I thought given the conditions, Ajax played quite well.

Even that big-girl's-blouse Charisteas had a decent game.

All the usual guys that play well, played well; ie Trabbers, Rosers, Boukhers, and SQD (motm, as usual). Plus Sneijder, Maduro and the aforementioned Christeas all did OK.

VdV was totally anoniem, and Heitinga still needs a brain transplant.

But worst of all was Stekkers, who remains a panic-stricken flapper - a goalkeeping basket-case. I don't know what Bogers has to do to get back in the team, but it has to happen soon.

[Kowalczyk]

But worst of all was Stekkers, who remains a panic-stricken flapper - a goalkeeping basket-case. I don't know what Bogers has to do to get back in the team, but it has to happen soon.

You are absolutely right.

Especially on high balls it was one nerve-wracking freak show. My God. It's a miracle we survived the last ten minutes, when Roda were pumping high balls into the Ajax box.

Boggy or Vonk - whatever. Just put Mistakelenburg on the stands (that's right not on the bench, but on the stands), so that he can do no damage. It's also better for himself, cos one day he'll have a heart-attack when a high cross comes his way.

K.

[Eric]

Ah, if only v.d. Sar would have had such dedicated supporters as you lot when he started out as Menzo's replacement.

[Kowalczyk]

Ah, if only v.d. Sar would have had such dedicated supporters as you lot when he started out as Menzo's replacement.

Van der Sar looked shit in his first couple of games!

Stekelenburg still looks like terrible after two seasons! This guy is not as inexperienced. He's a talented goalkeeper (and he was great at Auxerre), but when Ajax under pressure and high balls come flying in, he's just so panicky. A source of unrest. Freaks me out.

K.

[Kowalczyk]

Match report is up!

http://www.ajax-usa.com/matches/m04-05/ ... x-1-2.html

Something funny happened to the last paragraph of the text, which for some reason is in another font - and I can't change it for some reason. Jim will fix that when he gets up.

K.