18 Mar 2009: Ajax - Olympique Marseille

[Kowalczyk]

Return leg!

K.

[Kowalczyk]

With a little bit of luck Lindgren and Enoh will be fit and ready for Wednesday. That would make for a midfield with some grit.

The defense will be a major problem, though. Oh dear.

In spite of it all I think we can do this...

K.

[Orange14]

Given the lack of defensive depth I'm saying additional prayers for a 1=0 win. I certainly don't want to see this end up at 2-1 after full time and go to extra time and possibly penalties.

[Philippe]

Marseille beat PSG yesterday, in a rough and not very skilled game. Zenden was their most dangerous player.

If Vermeer is in a good day, it should be all right.

[gordonvandekamp]

I just hope the team that beat Fiorentina shows up and not the one that played at Den Haag. We should move on if that's the case.

[Kowalczyk]

Match will be played in a full house. Nice one.

K.

[The Purple Cow]

"Zenden was their most dangerous player."

If true, this game should be a piece of piss for Ajax.

Is Hatem Ben Arfa still out, does anybody know? Let's hope so.

[Kowalczyk]

Expected line-up, according to Het Parool: Ajax: Vermeer; Silva, Oleguer, Alderweireld en Schilder; Enoh, Anita en Aissati; Suarez, Sulejmani, Emanuelson.

So, does that mean Cvitanich is injured again...? I hope he's available, if only as a sub.

That defense line... Oh dear, oh dear...

I'd say: let's not start to offensively. We don't have to score that goal in the first half. Let's start with caution, so that our shaky defense can 'test the waters' and find their rhythm. If we survive the first half hour, we can take it from there. But if we storm forward too early we'll walk into the knife. We won't score thee or even two goals, it's probably gonna be just one, so we can let one in.

It's either 1-0 or elimination, is my feeling.

K.

[orange goblin]

These are the 18 men called for l'OM:

Maarten Stekelenburg
Bruno Silva
Oleguer
Urby Emanuelson
Miralem Sulejmani
Ismaïl Aissati
Kenneth Vermeer
Luis Suarez
Dario Cvitanich
Eyong Enoh
Siem de Jong
Leonardo
Jeffrey Sarpong
Vurnon Anita
Robbert Schilder
Toby Alderweireld
Daley Blind
Darko Bodul

we miss 4 defenders: Wielaert (inelegible for Uefa Cup), van der Wiel, Vermaelen (both suspended), Vertonghen, plus midfielders Gabri, Lindgren, Bakircioglu (all injured). Of course not called: Gentenaar, Sno, Martina, Donald, van der Heijden.

I would like a line up like this:

Vermeer

Silva-Alderweireld-Oleguer-Emanuelson

Anita-Enoh

Aissati

Suarez-Cvitanich-Sulejmani

but I am pretty sure that as left back we'll see schilder and urby moved in another position.
Go guys this one is not impossibile!

[Kowalczyk]

These are the 18 men called for l'OM:

Maarten Stekelenburg
Bruno Silva
Oleguer
Urby Emanuelson
Miralem Sulejmani
Ismaïl Aissati
Kenneth Vermeer
Luis Suarez
Dario Cvitanich
Eyong Enoh
Siem de Jong
Leonardo
Jeffrey Sarpong
Vurnon Anita
Robbert Schilder
Toby Alderweireld
Daley Blind
Darko Bodul

Very pleased to see that Cvitanich and Bodul are in the squad. I saw Bodul in action yesterday evening and I think he's a really good striker. A typical Ajax #9, who can hold up the ball and do something intelligent with it, 'Pettersson style'. He can also score a goal.

I would actually start with a real striker at #9 (one of the two), rather than play Sulejmani there. Suárez and Sulejmani are very fickle and lose the ball very often, which puts pressure on the rest of the team. We could use someone who can hold up the ball.

Personally, I would not find it ridiculous to start with Bodul (and bring Cvitanich on for the last half hour or so).

K.

[Orange14]

These are the 18 men called for l'OM:

Maarten Stekelenburg
Bruno Silva
Oleguer
Urby Emanuelson
Miralem Sulejmani
Ismaïl Aissati
Kenneth Vermeer
Luis Suarez
Dario Cvitanich
Eyong Enoh
Siem de Jong
Leonardo
Jeffrey Sarpong
Vurnon Anita
Robbert Schilder
Toby Alderweireld
Daley Blind
Darko Bodul

Very pleased to see that Cvitanich and Bodul are in the squad. I saw Bodul in action yesterday evening and I think he's a really good striker. A typical Ajax #9, who can hold up the ball and do something intelligent with it, 'Pettersson style'. He can also score a goal.

I would actually start with a real striker at #9 (one of the two), rather than play Sulejmani there. Suárez and Sulejmani are very fickle and lose the ball very often, which puts pressure on the rest of the team. We could use someone who can hold up the ball.

Personally, I would not find it ridiculous to start with Bodul (and bring Cvitanich on for the last half hour or so).

K.

This is also one very YOUNG team!!! If I'm not mistaken, Oleguer is the oldest on the squad. Many are younger than 23 years of age.

[Philippe]

Brandao and Wiltord can not play the UEFA games, and Kone is unsure, so Ben Arfa and Niang should be in the starting line-up.

My prediction : 3-1 (1-0, 2-0, 2-1, and then 3-1).

[saddlerian]

Personally, I would not find it ridiculous to start with Bodul (and bring Cvitanich on for the last half hour or so).[/b]

Hold on Ko...does this mean that somebody actually agrees with me....I've been saying for some time that Bodul should be in the STARTING eleven.. he CAN do the job....but will MVB have enough faith to play him....I think not! Maybe he sees something that was there fifteen years or so ago...and a little green mist is appearing!
Let's hope that he gets a game!!!

[SPL]

Would agree with Bodul getting some playing time. Thought he should
have come on v De Graafschap.

Orange 14 points out a young squad. We have only 5 who are 26 and over and Steks and Kennedy are not being picked so Oleguer Wielaert and Gabri are the only old ones left. It does appear to me that Marco is rebuilding based on youth.

[Van basten]

In my eyes, the main problem will be our left back. If Ben Arfa will play, he can destroy Shilder.

[Orange14]

In my eyes, the main problem will be our left back. If Ben Arfa will play, he can destroy Shilder.

Which is why it is far better to slot Urby into the left midfield so he can track back and help out Schilder. I would agree with Ian and Ko and start Bodul up front flanked by Sulejmani and Suarez, sit Anita and have Urby, Enoh and Aisatti in the middle. Hold them tight for the first 30 minutes and then slowly start an attack.

[Jinne]

In my eyes, the main problem will be our left back. If Ben Arfa will play, he can destroy Shilder.

He can yeah, which is not such an achievement with Schilder. Still, I don't think Ben Arfa has produced the goods yet he was destined to do. Otherwise Lyon wouldn't have sold him to Marseille in the first place. Despite the fact that they offered big bucks.

[ZoefdeHaas]

Our 11 should be:

Vermeer

Oleguer Toby A.

Castillon Aissati Kennedy Cvitanitch Bodul Suarez Sulejmani Leonardo


ALL ATTACK!!!!!!!

[Philippe]

Leonardo should remain a de luxe sub. Most of the time, like last Sunday against De Graafschap, he tries to prove too much and does not get anywhere. but he speed can make a difference at the end of the game.

Acording to VI : Vermeer; Silva, Oleguer, Alderweireld, Schilder; Enoh, Aissati, Anita; Suárez, Sulejmani, Emanuelson

What about Cvitanich ?

[Venezuelan Ajacied]

I think we can do it !!!! in the same vein as teh Fiorentina match Las Vegas seems to think the same way...we are the favorites tonight

[Van basten]

Damn me, i just now noticed, that we're playing today, not tomorow! C'mon boys!!!

[Van basten]

BTW it's our birthday today!!! 109 years..

[Philippe]

You say it's your birthday
It's my birthday too--yeah
They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you.

Yes we're going to a party party
Yes we're going to a party party
Yes we're going to a party party.

I would like you to dance--Birthday
Take a cha-cha-cha-chance-Birthday
I would like you to dance--Birthday
Dance

You say it's your birthday
Well it's my birthday too--yeah
You say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you.

The Beatles

[Kowalczyk]

The Helmond Cup is at stake!

Let's f**king do it!

K.

[Philippe]

Apparently some mother fuckers made the trip with wrong ideas : lots of weapons were seized by Dutch police inside a coach of OM supporters.

Whatever.

It's our birthday. We'll go through.