20 APR 2019; Groningen-Ajax; Match Day 31

[Orange14]

Let us not forget that there is yet another crucial Eredivisie match coming up this Saturday. Ajax travel to Groningen. I assume Mazraoui is out for this match but everyone else should be healthy.

[Amol]

Please play Huntelaar/Dolberg and maybe let Frenkie sit this one out.

[souras84]

What's the status on Mazraoui? Is it serious?

[Amol]

What's the status on Mazraoui? Is it serious?

Apparently able to walk today. Was on crutches yesterday. I think Veltman is doing a sufficiently great job so that we don't need to rush Nous back. Can't believe I just said that.

Next CL game is on 4/30 - so we need to rest & recoup during the last 4 Eredivisie games. The main positive is that our next opponent is from the EPL, so those folks are probably running ragged as well this late in the season.

[souras84]

I think Veltman is doing a sufficiently great job so that we don't need to rush Nous back. Can't believe I just said that.

[Amol]

Don't know where to post this, but the KNVB has found a solution to the log jam of Eredivisie, KNVB Cup and CL games which Ajax had.

They have now decided to push round 33 games (De Graafschaap - Ajax) for all teams to after round 34. Here is the new schedule of games -
Saturday April 20 at 6.30 pm: FC Groningen - Ajax
Tuesday April 23 at 8.45 pm: Ajax - Vitesse
Tuesday April 30 at 9 pm: Tottenham Hotspur - Ajax

Sunday 5 May at 6 pm: Willem II - Ajax (KNVB cup final)
Wednesday 8 May at 9 pm: Ajax - Tottenham Hotspur
Sunday 12 May at 2.30 pm: Ajax - FC Utrecht
Wednesday 15 May at 7.30 pm: De Graafschap - Ajax

I think this is a good solution and good to see the KNVB has been open to re-organizing the schedule for us this year. I guess no one, during last summer (including all of us) had expected Ajax to be in the CL semis in April and May.

[kezme44]

i hate to be finishing the season with an away game. and to de graafshap no less. still have nightmares. but i guess this is best they can do

[Orange14]

Don't know where to post this, but the KNVB has found a solution to the log jam of Eredivisie, KNVB Cup and CL games which Ajax had.

They have now decided to push round 33 games (De Graafschaap - Ajax) for all teams to after round 34. Here is the new schedule of games -
Saturday April 20 at 6.30 pm: FC Groningen - Ajax
Tuesday April 23 at 8.45 pm: Ajax - Vitesse
Tuesday April 30 at 9 pm: Tottenham Hotspur - Ajax

Sunday 5 May at 6 pm: Willem II - Ajax (KNVB cup final)
Wednesday 8 May at 9 pm: Ajax - Tottenham Hotspur
Sunday 12 May at 2.30 pm: Ajax - FC Utrecht
Wednesday 15 May at 7.30 pm: De Graafschap - Ajax

I think this is a good solution and good to see the KNVB has been open to re-organizing the schedule for us this year. I guess no one, during last summer (including all of us) had expected Ajax to be in the CL semis in April and May.

It's going to happen again next season!!!! KNVB need to factor a long Ajax run in the CL

[Amol]

Ten Haag confirmed that Nous is out for Groningen and Vitesse.

[Cruijff]

Ten Haag confirmed that Nous is out for Groningen and Vitesse.

Hmm. Hope if he can not get the last 15 minutes against Vitesse they can give him some minutes in Jong Ajax or in a friendly game Ten Hag will for sure schedule in the 7 days between 23 April Ajax-Vitesse and 30 April Spurs-Ajax.

Oh and sorry by the way to keep you disturbing with Juve-Ajax reactions but this video is sooooo great

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KXHfvg8bZQ

[kezme44]

i expect this to be a tricky game tomorrow. groningen have a pretty good defense by eredivisie standards, so i don't think this will be a blowout. maybe the trickiest game of the remaining 4.

[rjf1]

The boys have to forget all about the excitement of winning the Juve game and take this one super seriously. They have to approach it with the same resolve as if they were playing vs PSV for the title on the last day of the season. Anything less could lead to an unpleasant surprising result.

[Tom_]

Groningen are set up quite defensively. I don’t think we’ve had a chance from open play yet.

[Orange14]

Lackluster first half from Ajax. Let's hope they wake up in time for the second.

[rjf1]

Halftime and I'm getting more pessimistic by the minute -- hard to see where a goal is going to come from. Neres is pretty sub par and the rest are barely holding their own -- the only one having a decent game so far is Blind. Hope Ten Hag has a plan B for the second half.

[SPL]

Missed the 1st half ,been out enjoying the sunshine. Not enjoying the 2nd half so far

[SPL]

All these young kids and my hero is a 35 year old and still knows how to score.KJH you are still magic in my eyes

[rjf1]

Huntelaar comes through with a fantastic goal turning his man and volleying home. Serves the team of foulers and time wasters right, even though we have done little in this game.

[Orange14]

What was Huntelaar thinking??????

[SPL]

Now my hero is an idiot yellow for taking shirt off stupid,no complaints about that 2nd

[rjf1]

That was totally stupid -- all we had to do was hold on til the end of the game.

[Tom_]

Phew. That was a real grind. One chance the whole match and Huntelaar put it away.

[rjf1]

I hope PSV was watching and cursing at the way Ajax pulled out the game near the very end. Turnabout, and all that.

[SPL]

Got out of jail today ,only saw the 2nd half but only 1 chance and KJH scored.A really stupid elbow by him but we hung on. Utter relief but all our last 3 games will be tough but this one was vital.

156 goals this season a club record.

[Orange14]

The celebratory taking the shirt off by Huntelaar after his match winner almost was the undoing of the team. I could not fathom why he threw an elbow at the Groningen defender only minutes later for a well deserved second Yellow Card and sending his team to 10 men. A great save by Onana and stellar defending from Blind and de Ligt kept Groningen off the scoreboard and putting pressure right back on PSV. This was always going to be a difficult match as Groningen have been playing well and Ajax were coming off the high of beating Juventus in Turin.

Player Ratings:

Onana (7) - had remarkably little to do until the stoppage time save
Tagliafico (6.5) - was not the creative force he has been and was chopped at quite a bit by Groningen players
Blind (7.5) - solid defensively all match
de Ligt (8) - certainly looked like he won every single ball in the air
Veltman (7) - didn't have much defending to do and was quite effective going forward
de Jong (6.5) - better in the second half after an almost disastrous turnover early in the game
Schöne (6) - just above average and not much more
van de Beek (6) - worked hard but didn't create much
Neres (5.5) - not effective at all
Tadic (7) - tried to make the final pass but wasn't able to connect
Ziyech (6.5) - good pressure from him but lackluster offense
Huntelaar (4.5) - two stupid yellow cards marred his match
Dolberg (NR) - had one good possession in his brief appearance
Kristensen (NR) - on very late

Vitesse at home mid-week. Let's hope for a more inspirational match