26 Feb 2012: Excelsior - Ajax

[Kowalczyk]

Eredivisie 2011-2012, matchday 23. Kick-off time in Rotterdam is 12:30 CET.

It's a very good thing that we play Excelsior after the Manchester trip. We mustn't grumble. Amazingly and bizarrely enough, we're still very much in the race for the title - and next matchday 23 should be another great one for Ajax.

Here's the top of the table after 22 games:

1. PSV: 22-45 (57-26)
2. AZ: 22-45 (45-21)
3. SC Heerenveen: 22-43 (49-31)
4. FC Twente: 21-42 (58-23)
5. Feyenoord: 22-41 (45-28)
6. Ajax: 22-40 (55-31)

Fixtures for this weekend:
PSV vs Feyenoord
AZ vs Heerenveen
Twente vs Utrecht

Which means that at least two of the teams that are ahead of us will drop points, no matter what. If we beat Excelsior (which we should) we're seriously back in business next Sunday.

K.

[Orange14]

Let's play the games one at a time. A clean sheet and five goals would be great!

[souras84]

let's just win for starters

[Philippe]

Which means that at least two of the teams that are ahead of us will drop points, no matter what. If we beat Excelsior (which we should) we're seriously back in business next Sunday.
K.

Yes. And it means that our fate will pretty much depend on two games : Philips home, and Twente away.

[aveslacker]

I still can't believe that we're actually still in the hunt.

[souras84]

The only question is... for how long??

[Kowalczyk]

Yes. And it means that our fate will pretty much depend on two games : Philips home, and Twente away.

Yes. As a matter of fact, it's that particular detail that makes me a little bit pessimistic about the whole thing.

K.

[Orange14]

Yes. And it means that our fate will pretty much depend on two games : Philips home, and Twente away.

Yes. As a matter of fact, it's that particular detail that makes me a little bit pessimistic about the whole thing.

K.

Realistically we need to win out the remainder of the way.

[SPL]

Take it one game at a time and just win this . Play a few subs at Manchester and save players like Eriksen , Alderweireld and Vertoghen for this game . The Man U game is a lost cause
but this game is important . Given that we have so many injuries it is a good thing we have no more midweek games after this week ie just 1 game a week now until the end of the season .( Twente and PSV will likely still be playing more Europa games and thus still playing 2 games a week )

[Orange14]

PSV and AZ also have cup matches to contend with as well.

[acab]

i'm sure will be first or, at least second in the end of the season. If you look it more closely, the situation now is actualy better than the one last year by the same time. So cheer up!

[aveslacker]

i'm sure will be first or, at least second in the end of the season. If you look it more closely, the situation now is actualy better than the one last year by the same time. So cheer up!

I like your optimism.

[saddlerian]

The tremendous result at Old Trafford has kick started our season....a win today puts SO much pressure on the others....and two of them, at least, have got to lose!!! This is where the positive points tally starts!!

Full strength team....goals on the scoreboard before even thinking of resting players.....

TODAY'S THE DAY!!!

[rjf1]

It's like deja vu all over again. Another year, another down to the wire winning possibility. Let's just not take this team too lightly and blow it - just bear down from the beginning and win.

[Tom_]

We could really use a striker out there. I guess Bulykin will come on in the second half if we haven't scored?

[Tom_]

I totally did that on purpose

[Orange14]

that was really a nice set of passes and Ozbiliz takes the chance well. 1-0

[rjf1]

After all that ho-hum finally a beautifully worked goal!

[Van basten]

A crapy 20 min from Ajax and a goal from nowhere, but hey, i'm not complaining

[Van basten]

Van Rhijn is terrible so far.

[rjf1]

Very interesting referee. Lets the other guys play by rugby rules and calls fouls on Ajax for breathing on the other guy.

[Tom_]

Van Rhijn is terrible so far.

He's having a nightmare, with a yellow already I wonder if he'll get replaced at half time?

[rjf1]

What a relief to get that second one before half time.

[Orange14]

A somewhat unconvincing 2-0 lead at the half. Nice corner from Eriksen who is have a rather mediocre game in general and de Jong puts it away. Good move by Koppers just before the corner to cut inside and get the ball in a very dangerous situation. van Rhijn made two really bad mistakes on defense and one led to the penalty that Vermeer saved. As long as the Ajax keep some pressure on this match should be in hand (but you can never tell with this team).

[rjf1]

It was inexperience by van Rhijn on the penalty -- the guy suckered him by cutting across him and holding up short. But let us not forget that it was his perfect cross to Ozbiliz that made the first goal.