03 APR 2019; FC Emmen - Ajax; Match Day 28

[Orange14]

Ajax have two road matches this week before entertaining Juventus next week in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. This Wednesday they journey to play Emmen and will be without suspended right back Mazraoui who has a two match ban because of the Nigel de Jong karate kick yesterday. He also misses the Juventus match because of Yellow Card accumulation. On Saturday they are in Tilburg to play Willem II who have won their past three matches. PSV play PEC Zwolle at home on Thursday and are away to Vitesse on Sunday.

[SPL]

Kristensen at RB and Ziyech rested so Tadic on wing and KJH back. Thought Veltman would play but maybe not playing him as its artificial grass plus play him Saturday v Willem ready for Juve.Cannot really play against Ronaldo with a poor defender like Kristensen.

Hope to get a decent stream tonight.

[kezme44]

early april and we can still win 3 titles. when was the last time we could say that? if we win tonight, we'll go top for the first time in a long time. espn+ showing the game again. i must say, i love paying $5 a month for their stream.

[Amol]

2-0!! Blind!

[kezme44]

2-0 at HT. nicely taken goal by blind. must be careful in 2nd half as emmen came back against psv when they trailed two goals behind at HT

[Tom_]

Two nice goals, and not much else to report.

[Orange14]

Decent enough. Probably no player ratings tonight as Mrs O-14 and I are headed off to the ballet right after the match!!!

[Amol]

There seem to be issues with one of the light towers.

[SPL]

2 well taken goals and we are comfortably in charge

[kezme44]

3-0. and by the looks of the banner in the ajax section, our fans don't like the emmen goalie, former fworder

[Amol]

3-0! Lets start getting some subs on in the next 5-10 minutes.

[Amol]

4-0!! Subs. Now. Please.

[Amol]

5-0!! Scherpen isn't looking as special as I thought he would be. However his defense is totally letting him down.

[Amol]

Nico spots Onana not covering the goal and scores!

[kezme44]

i'm happy if we just kick the ball around for the next 20 minutes

[kezme44]

loving the outdoor patio furniture that emmen has provided as additional seating for the ajax coaching staff

[SPL]

A very comfortable win although after 5-0 at 60 mins we went to sleep and gave them 2 goals when we should have got 7 or 8. At least some fringe players got time today .

[SPL]

2 stats. Huntelaar's 100th league goal for us and he still has a few more in him.

We are top for the first time in 1060 days.Last day at the top May 2016 played relegated de Graafschap and threw away the title.

Still think we will finish 2nd ,we have far too many games in April and we use far too few players ie only 13 have started 10 or more games.Hope to be proved wrong though!

[Orange14]

Last night's performance by the New York City Ballet was just as wonderful as the Ajax victory over Emmen. It was apparent that once Ajax moved out to a 5-0 lead they would take their foot off the gas which was understandable given the big win over PSV last weekend. We have seen this happen before and some of it is a result of tired players given the long run in the Champions League and Beker competition this season. The unlikely triple is still in sight and as odds defying as that might seem we only need go back a couple of years to when Leicester City won the EPL!!!

Player Ratings:

Onana (6) - he had too little to do and his toughest chance came on the wonderful Tagliafico goal when he just couldn't make the save
Tagliafico (6) - great to see him get on the scoresheet even if it was an almost empty net goal
Blind (6.5) - usual sound game on defense and got some needed rest when Veltman came in; his goal off the free kick was wonderful
de Ligt (6.5) - split his time between the right and left in the center of the defense; we need to cherish every one of his performances as he won't be here next season
Kristensen (6.5) - we know he can't defend but he didn't need to; but he's decent enough going forward
Schöne (6) - steady as she sails game
de Jong (7) - passing and ball handling were immaculate
van de Beek (7) - industrious as ever
Tadic (6.5) - will he ever get a day off?
Huntelaar (6.5) - still can play the game
Neres (7.5) - has finally broken out of his scoring funk with two more goals
Veltman (6.5) - everyone thought he would start but I guess the artificial surface said no; came on as a central defender and was just fine
Dolberg (5) - on for Tadic and didn't do much
Lang (6) - he's been more impressive that I expected has good moves and lots of speed

Away to Willem II for the first of two matches against them with the Beker final coming up. This could be a banana peel match as Willem II have won their last four matches. PSV are home to PEC Zwolle tonight and travel to Vitesse on Sunday. Things are getting interesting in the Eredivisie; it's time for someone other than Ajax to slip up.
Schöne