15 SEP 2018; Ajax - Groningen; Match Day 5

[Orange14]

Ajax are home this weekend to Groningen who are off to a disappointing start. Most of the club had the week off other than those on international duty. Fortunately it looks like nobody was hurt playing for their national teams. The match fixtures come fast and furious in the next few weeks. Champions League group play begins next week with Ajax home to AEK Athens and then the first big test of the league away to PSV. Then comes a Beker match with HVV Te Wergve (amateur side I believe) followed by Fortuna Sittard away and then...........a trip to Munich to take on Bayern!!

[Cruijff]

Yes just a very short recovery between Ajax - FC Groningen (8.45 PM, Dutch time) and the home match against AEK Athens played on a ridiculous start time of 6.55 PM.

But due to the international break some players had a long rest, Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong showed a high level.

[Cruijff]

It's quite over here!

About time that after the international games Ajax plays a match again places a good series of matches in a row again!

[Tom_]

Huh? Strange call by VAR, he wasn’t offside

[raymon]

He was offside. Very slightly but nevertheless.

Then again it wasn’t a penalty either so I guess overall it was the right decision.

[Orange14]

He was offside. Very slightly but nevertheless.

Then again it wasn’t a penalty either so I guess overall it was the right decision.

quite right

[Tom_]

Agreed. Don’t get the point of it TBH. Just slows down the game.

[SPL]

Been watching and had a good stream but following my cricket team live on sky ,we lost.
Enjoyed my old hero KJH especially that 2nd ,still got it at 35.We played good quick moving but we still need to get 5 against this sort of opposition.

I had planned to be in Amsterdam for this game but all hotel prices for this weekend were double normal and in fact
double any other weekend either side.Not sure when I am coming, too late to get a ticket for AZ.

[Orange14]

Fairly boring match as Groningen were dropping everyone behind the ball and letting Ajax control the ball in their half. 72% possession for Ajax who came out in a 4-4-2 with Neres playing just behind Hunelaar in the middle and Tadic and Ziyech out on the wings with freedom to roam about.

Player Ratings:

Onana (6) - only had one shot to save and it was right at him
Tagliafico (6) - active in the first half and a non factor in the second
Blind (6.5) - had one mis-kick in a decent performance
de Ligt (7) - handled every single ball in his area
Mazraoui (6) - didn't have to defend much and was more involved in the offense in the second half
Schöne (6) - no complaints about his play
de Jong (7) - really nice controlling the MF
Tadic (7) - well played match
Ziyech (6) - fluffed on a ball he should have buried and got into trouble when dribbling too much
Neres (6) - had some good runs off the ball and lost his balance on one time when he could have scored
Huntelaar (7) - he is a better #9 than any one on the National Team right now
Eiting (5) - maybe had a touch or two
van de Beek (NR) - don't think he touched the ball
Labyad (NR) - on late for Ziyech

Unbeaten in all competitions, holder of the Helmond Cup for another match, and.............................................................................CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOOTBALL............AEK Athens on Wednesday

[SPL]

Agree your comment about KJH I would not swap him for any other Dutch striker at present.Dolberg playing for Jong on Monday but KJH has carried us through all 11 games so far.