01 AUG 2018; Sturm Graz - Ajax; CL Qualifying

[Orange14]

Having taken the Helmond Cup back to Holland, Ajax defend a 2-0 lead in the return match with Sturm Graz this week. If Ajax prevail, they move into the third qualifying round a week later with a trip to Belgium to take on Standard Liege. It's still a steep road to CL football as Ajax would have to win that tie and then a play off tie later in the month. This is all on top of the start of the Eredivisie on August 11 when Ajax host Heracles. Potentially lots of matches coming up in August!!

[SPL]

Squad of 21 going , 18 first teamers plus Kotarski,3rd goalie, Lang and Sierhuis.

V Leer is ill and Dolberg injured. Veltman ,Bande,Cerny, Sinkgraven all still out. Orejuela ,who is likely to leave and Schuurs the only 2 fit first teamers not going.

[souras84]

I am thinking about the Dolberg/Sinkgraven situation. What's going on with them? Will Sinkgraven be fit anytime soon and if yes, is he going to play as a Tagliafico backup?

[Cruijff]

I am thinking about the Dolberg/Sinkgraven situation. What's going on with them? Will Sinkgraven be fit anytime soon and if yes, is he going to play as a Tagliafico backup?

Sinkgraven seems to be useless. Even when fit he does not have what it takes two play left back in my eyes.

Dolberg now only has a light injury. But it are quite a lot of injuries in a row now already for 11 months.

[souras84]

Exactly! This time last year, we turned down a 50m euro offer form Monaco for Dolberg. Will he bounce back to that display this year? I have also lost faith in Singkraven. Let's hope he plays as a sub this year and leave at the end of it...

[Orange14]

I feel bad for Sinkgraven because of the injuries. This was another case of Ajax doing a panic buy for a player who had only really played on full season. At Ajax he has bounced around between MF, left wing in the front three, and LB. Here's an old article on his promise just when the transfer was made:

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editor ... st-step-in

[SPL]

His contract is up next summer so if he struggles with injuries again he could leave on a free,He played 25 mins for Jong on Saturday ,not sure if he went off injured but if he was to only play 25 mins or so he would have been a sub and not a starter so sounds like he is injured again.

[Cruijff]

The few games Sinkgraven played he gave away goals like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKK3JhHzskY

This was a major screw up against another Austrian opponent, Rapid Wien, that did cost us a lot that summer.

[Orange14]

We need a quick away goal to seal the deal tonight. If Ajax can go up 3-0 in the tie I think that would win it as I cannot see Sturm getting four goals.

[Amol]

Linueup for today -
Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, F. de Jong, Tagliafico, Schöne, Ziyech, Eiting, Neres, Huntelaar, Tadic

[SPL]

Just come in from a day out so hope cricfree has a stream. ,we should get through this tie

[Amol]

I don't have any way of watching. Just following updates on Twitter.

[Amol]

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL! HUNTER!!!!!

They need 4 to go through now.

[Tom_]

Like to think that will do it. If it was the Europa League from two years ago it would end 1–3

[Orange14]

Nice pass from Neres but Huntelaar had a lot to do. Brought the ball down and delivered a nice volley for the goal. I'm really impressed by the quickness of the passing in the MF. So different from past seasons with really nice handling speed. Defense has been up to the task but they can't let those long shots without challenging the player. Onana was up to the task for the save. Let's try to get 1-2 more in the 2nd half and keep the Helmond Cup for a while longer!!!

[Orange14]

Well that was certainly nice!!!

[Amol]

Wow, great outside-of-the-foot through ball from Eiting to release Neres.

2-0!!!

[Amol]

And almost let in a goal right after.

[Orange14]

Blind for Tagliafico who is on a Yellow Card

[Orange14]

perfectly weighted pass from Wöber to KJH for the finish - 0-3

[Orange14]

The lone blight on a really nice match was the own goal by Onana at the end of regular time. I have seen passing like this is a long time and it's setting the stage for what might be a very special season. Solid marks all around.

Player Ratings

Onana (6.5) - three really good saves and then the own goal on what was a tough ball from de Ligt who was under pressure
Tagliafico (6.5) - silly Yellow Card but otherwise solid
de Jong (7) - got some time in the MF down the stretch and he is so smooth on the ball
de Ligt (7) - really had not much to do at all
Mazraoui (7.5) - outstanding game, constantly going down the flank and causing problems; rocket cross that Tadic put away
Schöne (7) - decent enough as the deep lying MF
Eiting (7) - some really good ball handling today
Ziyech (6.5) - some wild shooting and disappointing passing keep him under a 7
Neres (7) - great pass to Huntelaar for the opening goal
Huntelaar (7.5) - worked hard all match but tired near the end, might have had a hat trick were it not for a good save from the keeper
Tadic (7) - this could be the player Ajax needed to complete the puzzle
Blind (7) - came in at LB and moved to the center when Wöber came in; had a good run out
van de Beek (6.5) - narrowly missed a couple of scoring chances
Wöber (6.5) - on late at LB but that pass to spring Huntelaar was a thing of beauty

On to a match up with Standard Liege and if Ajax maintain this intensity they should do alright.

[SPL]

Watched the whole game ,cricfree had a great stream. A very good performance by everyone bar Onana. If a 6 year
old in my son's school team gave a goal away like that he would get a rollicking. He just swung his leg without blocking the ball, sorry I thought it a rank poor mistake by Onana.

3 well made goals all taken very well KJH still has the touch and Tadic looks a good buy. After our 2nd Frenkie nearly gave away a goal by trying to dribble the ball away , he isn't a defender and its time he played MF,surely we dont need 2 defensive MF ,Frenkie should play in place of Schone.

So the first round is over and next up Standard Liege ,on paper we should get through. Hope we keep all our players
as we can have a good season with this group.

[Orange14]

After our 2nd Frenkie nearly gave away a goal by trying to dribble the ball away , he isn't a defender and its time he played MF,surely we dont need 2 defensive MF ,Frenkie should play in place of Schone.

With another week of training, Blind should be ready to start along side de Ligt with de Jong moving to the MF. I hope ten Hag realizes that this is the way to go.