And So It Begins (Up until the end of the transfer window)
Board Expectations
The board simply expects that we win the Eredivisie, get to the UCL group stage and that we win the Dutch Cup. This all seems doable, although getting to the group stage of the UCL could be entirely dependant who we draw in the qualifying games. I would like to at the very minimum get to the Europa League (EL) group stage. I plan on playing developmental (read ‘weakened’) sides in the Dutch Cup against anyone from the divisions below us and hope we don’t slip up.
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Team Sheet
I am fairy happy to start with this team. I still have question marks over how good Onana actually is and what Ziyech’s best position is, but it looks pretty strong.
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Best Placed 3rd Qualifying Stage – Leg 1
PAOK 4 v 3 AFC Ajax
WE CAN NOT DEFEND!!
What a game this was – we were 3-0 inside 20 minutes! I wanted to push on and try and get another, but we completed collapsed after half time. But, looking at the positives, 3 goals away from home means that any victory at all will do at home in the next leg.
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Best Placed 3rd Qualifying Stage – Leg 2
AFC Ajax 5 – 0 PAOK
Dolberg’s On Fire!
As I had thought, PAOK couldn’t reach the same levels as they did in the last game. A hat-trick from Dolberg was enough to do it. The victory means that Ajax will be guaranteed at least EL football next season, but need to win 1 more UCL 2 legged tie to qualify for the UCL group stage.
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UCL Best Placed Play Off Draw
Ajax v As Monaco
This draw was on the face of it pretty tough, however, it could have been much wrose. I managed to avoid Manchester City, Shakhtar, AS Roma, Porto and Villareal. However, with players like Falcao, back to being half decent now he’s left England, this will be an incredibly tough task. It reinforces the importances of winning the league and not having to go through this convoluted qualifying process next season.
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Injury Update
Nemanja Gudelj went down for 6-7 weeks with a spine injury. This isn’t good as he is our creative influence in the middle of the park and will be missed. It means that either SInkgraven or Van De Beek will get more playing time over the next few weeks.
Ajax 1-0 Heracles (Fixture 1)
How to Defeat A Parked Bus
I made a couple of changes, Van De Beek in for Gudelj, Zeefuik (I still laugh everytime) in for Tete and Dijks in for Augustinsson. Heracles came to park the bus and place for the point and proved hard to break down. Unfortunately for them, Dolberg only needed one chance to stick the ball in the back of the net. A number of other coaches turned up to scout my players. Jose Mourinho (Man Utd) turned up to watch Van de Beek and Jardim of Monaco had the pleasure of watching Veltman’s Man of the Match performance.
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PEC Zwolle 2-1 Ajax (Fixture 2)
Onana What Are you doing?
This was a poor performance as I rested players. Onana did NOT have a good day in goal. Menig,, on loan to Zwolle from us, scored a late winner. Fuming.
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Ajax 3-2 Excelsior (Fixture 3)
‘Green’ Light For The New Signing
This was Green’s debut for the club and he took his opportunity by banging in a hat trick in the space of 9 minutes! Worryingly, we were 3-0 up and conceded 2 late goals, both of which were Onana’s fault.
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Best Placed Play Off – Leg 1
AFC Ajax 3-3 AS Monaco
Channelling Manuel Neuer – The ghost of Boer strikes Again!
On 49’ Onana gets himself injured! I don’t have a back up keeper on the bench, which means only one thing – Centre back Sanchez is going in goal! I chose him entirely based on the fact that he is over 6 feet tall and his knowledge of playing in defence might help in some way. He managed to only concede twice as we clung on for a 3-3 draw. Neuer would be so proud…
Norbert Alblas
Now Onana is injured, I needed a decent replacement. Rather than buy one in, I decided to give a Jong Ajax player a go. I hadn’t even bothered giving this guy a squad number last week, but now I am handing him the number 13 jersey and placing the team’s hopes of UCL qualification entirely in his hands! No pressure, but don’t mess this up.
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Best Placed Play Off – Leg 2
AS Monaco 2–1 Ajax
Bye, Bye UCL
Sadly our UCL dream died in Monaco. Van De Beek did manage to score his first goal of the season, but it wasn’t enough. Hard lines.
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ADO Den Haag 3-2 AFC Ajax (Fixture 4)
More Away Day Blues
Yet another sickening defeat away from home. I really need to think about changing tactics away from home. Ziyech missed a penalty early on which didn’t help. The players are now leaving for their hectic international schedule.
Cup Draws
Dutch Cup Round 2
Almere City v AFC Ajax
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Europa League Group Stage
AFC Ajax
APOEL Nicosia
Celta Vigo
Zorya Lugansk
Drawing my feeder club, Almere City, in the Cup shouldn’t pose too much of a problem. The EL draw is a pretty good one for us, with Celta Vigo the only team who should pose any real threat. This should allow me to blood a few youngsters before the real business starts in the knock out phase after Christmas.
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Month in Review
Overall, it has been a very disappointing start to the league season. My away form in general has not been good, and I will need to change my tactics away from home. I am still confident I can win the league. Not making the Group Stage of the UCL is not good, however, we were never going to win it this season and the EL, especially with our relatively easy group, represents an outside chance to win a European competition.
Star Performers
Kasper Dolberg (ST) – Banging in goals for fun, much more prolific than expected
Anwar El Ghazi (RW) – Loads of assist. Does the simple things well – get past the full back and cross it.
Concerning Performers
Hakim Ziyech (AML) – Has been really ineffective. I think I may not be playing him in his best position. I need to address this to get the best out of the team.
Andre Onana (GK) – Onana could have done better with a lot of the goals we have conceded so far. It looks increasingly like Krul will get a long run in the side when he is (finally) fit again.
Transfers In:
Guus Til – £1.3m – AZ Alkmaar
Til is an 18 year old attacking left winger. He won’t get any playing time with the first team this year and has been loaned out to Almere City. He has great dribbling and crossing ability and, with 20 determination, will be sure to do everything he can to reach his very high potential. One to keep an eye on.
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Coming Up In The Next Post…
The EL group stage campaign
Injury updates
Trying to fix our away form
Dutch Cup action (Almere City away)
Note:
I am open to all feedback and comments on this. Why not answer some of the following questions?
1. How can I fix my terrible away form?
2. What do you make of my signings?
3. How will I do this season?
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