Ajax - team of home grown players!

[craigsmith1995]

Frank De Boer calls time on a successful era as Ajax manager as he looks to progress his management career elsewhere. Young Scottish manager Craig Smith takes charge and has an interesting project where he will look to get Ajax back to European success with a team made up of only Dutch players!

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Firstly it was the none Dutch players at the club to be sold on and that was to account for a very decent amount of money brought in for new Dutch players. Only three players were brought in all of which playing in the top divisions around Europe. Not as much money was spent as which was brought in but more Dutch signings will be brought in, in the future.

No strikers brought in and selling the biggest striker was fearful but club captain Siem De Jong will lead the line and some youngsters from the youth team will be given chances. With so many players sold and nowhere near as many brought in, youth players would have to be promoted in order to have a big enough squad which also meant there would be plenty chances for the young players to develop.

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Here is the team the new manager will work with for the season which is all ready ahead of the Dutch Super Cup final, the squad is made up of only Dutch players.

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First game of the season was a cup final so a tough start and I was fearful with so many youngsters in my team but after a mistake early on we ended up getting the win in the end rather comfortably with debut goals for Urby Emmanuelson and Alexander Buttner, the captain also scored in an all round good win.

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First league match and first home match so important to start with a win and we did very comfortably as new signing Ron Vlaar scores his first for the club!

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Third match and we met AZ for the second time already! A phenomenal first half saw us strolling to victory at half time. We weren't as good second half as AZ were the better team but we get the three points after 90 minutes to continue a great start.

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We weren't great first half but a second half double from summer signing Buttner saw us get another win and march on.

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We dominated this one to begin with and really should have cruised to another successive win but unfortunately we didn't take chances and eventually fell out of the game and allowed Groningen an easy win.

A very good start as we sit top of the table, Champions League campaign starts next month as we hope to progress to the knockout stages being the main aim. We have been drawn in a group with Real Madrid, Marseille and Steaua. A group which is possible to get through. More updates to follow.

 

[craigsmith1995]

September Results

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First derby match went a treat, we never really started first half but came in level then went on to thrash them second half, great result.

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We weren't at our greatest here but drawing 1-1 with 25 minutes to go changes were needed and after being on for 5 minutes emmanuelson put us ahead before van den hoorn scored his first for the club to seal the win.

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Couldn't of wished for a better first European match as we hammered Steaua and get off to a great start, away from home aswell to make it even sweeter.

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Disappointing draw in a game we should be winning, never really got going.

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Rested some of the more regular players for this one and played a few youngsters and players who haven't played as regular so a 2-0 win does nicely and we're into round 3 in a competition we're aiming to win.

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The league table as it stands so far but we do have a game in hand which would send us top if we win it.

That's the end of September's results, some good performances and a fantastic European win on what is a taster of what's to come in the future for the club. More updates to follow.

 

[craigsmith1995]

October Results

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First home European match didn't go to plan, was a match we had the ability to win but unfortunately a poor first half let us down and defeat in this one means it's going to be tough to get to the knockout stages.

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One of the big teams in the league and to win away is very important especially without conceding two goals going in, in quick succession guided us to victory.

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Really should have been a straight forward win so to lose here is heartbreaking very poor result.

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A much better performance in this one than we gave against Marseille, heartbreaking to lose a last minute goal and to lose. Defeat here means it's going to be extremely tough to now get to the next stage of the competition, didn't deserve to lose.

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Through to the fourth round after a convincing 3-0 win, Shaquill Sno coming of the bench to make his debut and scoring! Not a bad debut for a centre back.

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The Champions League group half way through, with Real Madrid away next it looks like it's going to be too tough to get to the knockout stages, still a chance we can do it though.

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The table sees us sit 6th but with a couple games in hand which if we won we'd go top.

Some great results in the month of October but a couple of disappointing ones, looking for a good run to see us climb the table but overall not in a bad position as yet. More updates to follow.

 

[craigsmith1995]

November Results

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First game of the month was away to PSV which is a tough one, was a game we really should have won but we had two men sent off, gave away a needless penalty and then lost a late equaliser, so a pretty gutting game.

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Away to Real Madrid, a very big match as defeat meant we were out of the Champions League unfortunately we were poor first half but as a better second half saw us claw a goal back, we also had one disallowed.

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A poor run beginning to come together as we make it 3 games without a win here in a game we should be winning.

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A thumping win at home in the league to end a poor run with a hattrick for Siem De Jong who was unplayable.

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We hammered Steaua again, this time at home which shows we aren't far away. This win guaranteed us a spot in the Europa League knockout stages, this time Urby Emmanuelson running the show.

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An important win away to Vitesse who were above us in the league before kick off, a good start followed a bit of a poor stage before we went on to comeback and score a late winner.

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The group after 5 games, only Marseille to play away where we hope we can end the groupstages with a win.

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The league table shows us in 3rd and with games in hand against the two team above us we're in a good position, if not for a couple of poor results we could be top with games in hand but we're still in a good position. Home to heerenveen in the first game of next month will be a big match at the top.

Another good month for us as we get a great European result and win an important game at the top of the league. Hopefully at the end of next month we'll be top of the league and have a good Europa league draw! More updates to follow.

 

[craigsmith1995]

December Results

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Tough start to the month against heerenveen but a big win for us, the game never really got going then all of a sudden 4 goals in 8 minutes arrived.

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Last group game ended in a defeat, we weren't that bad but never really looked like scoring which was disappointing, but we're in the Europa League so will focus on that. Will bring in 3 or 4 big players in the summer to strengthen for a better Champions League campaign next season.

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A nice win for us, only downfall was the missed penalty by Emmanuelson having already scored one in the game.

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Lost a late goal to take us into extra time but managed to get through the tie in extra time and book a place in the quarter final.

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Best league win of the season as we hammer Utrecht! what a performance.

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A nice victory to keep us marching on and which was a 6th successive league win, superb.

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The league table at the end of the month showing us at the top for a nice change, 3 points clear with a game in hand makes for nice reading. We were just unplayable this month in the league winning every game.

Most of the season I have played young teenager Queensy Menig out wide but gave him a crack upfront for the last few games of the month and he's been finding the goals well so looking forward to keeping him up there and dropping De Jong into behind the striker in a more creative role. A superb month for us.

Europa League 1st Knockout Round - Ajax vs Lyon
Europa League 2nd Knockout Round - AC Milan/Swansea vs Ajax/Lyon

Tough draw for us in Europe but looking forward to the challenge! January next month and if the right player becomes available we could buy him with 20m to spend! More updates to follow.

 

[Logorex]

While I don't exactly approve of selling Viktor Fischer and Boilesen, (I have an Ajax career and it would take a lot to let go of those two), but I do understand what you're trying to bring back to Ajax.
I'll be following this story. Good luck! c:

 

[craigsmith1995]

While I don't exactly approve of selling Viktor Fischer and Boilesen, (I have an Ajax career and it would take a lot to let go of those two), but I do understand what you're trying to bring back to Ajax.
I'll be following this story. Good luck! c:

Cheers mate, I admire the two myself but wanted a team made up of only dutch players and wanted to bring the young dutch talent through. Got a decent amount of money to reinvest in dutch players though.

 

[Dean Wilkes]

Good start to the season mate, surprised you only got that much for Fischer as turned into a machine on mine and commanded MASSIVE transfer fees....good read though and looking forward to the next update

 

[craigsmith1995]

Good start to the season mate, surprised you only got that much for Fischer as turned into a machine on mine and commanded MASSIVE transfer fees....good read though and looking forward to the next update

Cheers mate, I was disappointed to sell him so cheap offered him out for more but no one wanted to bid more than that for him and in the end I just had to accept it.

 

[craigsmith1995]

January Results

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The new month was to start with a massively disappointing draw away to a team we should be beating, we seem to struggle against weaker opposition as it seems we're taking it too light and this may be because of all the youth in the squad.

Double Capture!
Quincy Promes and Leandro Bacuna seal moves to Ajax! Promes brought in from FC Twente in a record breaking fee of 18 million pounds. Leandro Bacuna also brought in from Aston Villa for 4 millions pounds joining former team mate at Villa Ron Vlaar who moved in the summer.


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The disappointing start to the month continued when we lost this one at home, we dominated and really should have won comfortably.

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Important we ended a woeful run here with an important win and it was a bit of a struggle at times but back to winning ways was important.

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Quarter final of the Dutch Cup and we wanted into the semi's! We got there in the end but needed to go through extra time once again! will do nicely though.

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The league table at the end of January shows we're still hanging on up there after only getting 4 points from 9 points in the league in January.

A poor month all round but still top of the league and progression to the semi final of the Ducth Cup made it bearable. We also made two signings, Bacuna has looked good so far but Quincy Promes has been disappointing having cost so much money and there is definitely a worry there that we've over paid and he won't be good enough. More busy month next month with European ties and big league games so looking forward to it. More updates to follow.

 

[craigsmith1995]

February Result
February is a big month with the knockout stages in Europe beginning, hopefully we can do well.

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First game in February is the same outcome as the first in January a poor goalless draw! We dominated possession but chances for both sides were very much equal, a poor result for us.
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Hugely disappointing to lose this one as we have another bad start to a month! We took the lead but Feyenoord were the better team second half and deserved their two late goals with a wonder free kick winning the match to knock us off top spot.

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Back to winning ways and our first win of the month will hopefully send us on our way.

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One of the best defensive displays from the team as Twente didn't even get a shot on target! We weren't great going forward but get the win and that is enough. A first goal for Promes coming against his old team.

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First European Knockout match and we get a vital win, the last minute winner from our right back makes it even more special, vital goal!

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A third successive 1-0 win see's us win again, not ideal but another important win.

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Was always going to be a tough one and was made even tougher when Promes was sent off early on, but a great defensive display again see's us grab another clean sheet in a good run, we had the better of possession and Lyon were terrible infront of goal and we go through despite having only one shot which wasn't even on target.

Swansea in Round 2
We have drawn Swansea City in the next round who knocked out Milan in the previous round. Tough one but one I am very excited to come up against them.

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Disappointing league table at the end of February as we're three points behind our rivals, a good run of results towards the end of the month.

Disappointing to no longer be top but the aim for next month will be to be back at the top! Next month will be a big month for us with another big European clash as Swansea surprising put out Milan in the last round so we will face them and have to take them very seriously. More updates to follow.

 

[craigsmith1995]

March Results
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Van Rhijn was our hero again with a late goal, our run of clean sheets continues with an important win! how important will that goal be at the end of the season!

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Our run of clean sheets ended at home here but another win see's us march on.

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We weren't great here but a late penalty gets us an away goal and a real confidence we can get through this tie at home.

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A defeat that left us stunned, we were dreadful and this game was up there with one of the worst performances of the season if not the worst. Luckily though Feyenoord lost aswell so they didn't gain more points on us.

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poor defeat we were the better team and really should have won but we lacked a finisher.

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A semi final and we were desperate to book a place in our first final and we did it! The young teenager with a double to round off what's been an impressive debut season for him, would expect clubs to be interested in this young man in the summer.

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We're beginning to get our early season form back at exactly the right time, a great win over one of the better teams in the league.

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Just two points off top spot with a game in hand against the team at the bottom puts us in a great place, that game in hand comes days into next month. We're now in a position where if we win our remaining games we win the league!

A great month for us and a poor one for Feyenoord as they slip up numerous times to allow us to almost go back top. Very confident we'll win our game in hand. Also delighted to get to our first cup final where we will play FC Emmen from the league below, big couple months coming for us. More updates to follow.

 

[craigsmith1995]

April Results
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We win our game in hand and got a point clear of Feyenoord, delighted!

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Feyenoord play a day before us and draw at a vital time in the season they miss their chance to go back top.

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A good away win moves us 3 points clear at the top, a huge step closer to the league title!

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We play a day before Feyenoord this time and we see a poor draw, we lead at half time but lost 2 second half goals to go behind before then scoring a late equaliser. We can afford one slip up in the title race just need to make sure there isn't another in our last 2 league games.

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Feyenoord win 3-0 a day later and come within a point of us.

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We brush Vitesse a side on our way to trying to win the title.

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Away to PSV was never going to be easy and Feyenoord lose a late goal and suffer defeat meaning that Ajax are champions!

Ajax win Dutch League and complete double!
View attachment 371416Dutch Cup is won as we hammer FC Emmen and there's even a couple goals for our young teenage star Menig and he finishes top goal scorer in the competition.

Treble Completed!

May Results
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Our last league game ends with a straight forward win and a wonder goal from Buttner!

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The final league table shows us top having won the league by 4 points.

A brilliant first season see's us win the treble but we will aim for a better run in Europe next year with some new Dutch Signings! Next season looks promising as record signing Quincy Promes had a great run towards the end of the season, Siem De Jong was our top scorer with an impressive 27 goals in 51 games. We'll look for a new striker in the summer though so De Jong can play a deeper role. Queensy Menig was our best young player of the season he looks very promising for the future having netted 11 goals in his debut season! A few other youngsters made their debuts this season and will hopefully kick on next year.

Our Summer Transfer Targets
Ricky Van Wolfswinkel - Norwich City
Georginio Wijnaldum - PSV
Luciano Narsingh - PSV
Luuk De Jong - Frankfurt
Virgil Van Dijk - Celtic
Bas Dost - Wolfsburg
Leroy Fer - Norwich City

We're not expecting to sign all of these players but would like to atleast sign a couple, most likely one of the strikers. Looking forward to next season now. More updates to follow.

 

[craigsmith1995]

Bas Dost completes Ajax move

First new signing for Ajax in manager Craig Smith's second season in charge is Wolfsburg's striker Bas Dost! The transfer cost Ajax just ?2.3 million pounds and everyone involved at Ajax can be very excited to see their new forward in action!

Kenneth Vermeer sold to Spezia

Vermeer's time at Ajax comes to an end as he leaves for Spezia in a ?3 million pounds move.

Daley Blind to Liverpool?

Daley Blind comes close to a move to Liverpool after a ?21.5 million pounds deal was accepted but personal terms couldn't be met due to length of contract.

 

[craigsmith1995]

Barcelona chase Cillessen

Barcelona are interested in Ajax goal keeper Jasper Cillessen, but when they made an enquiry Ajax said they wanted ?30 million pounds, therefore Barcelona have decided not to make a follow up offer. Jasper Cillessen is reportedly unhappy about the break down in talks between the clubs over a potential move to Barcelona.

 

[craigsmith1995]

Denswill exit!

Stefano Denswill leaves Ajax in a ?5 million pounds move to Gladbach in Germany. Stefano Denswill is very young and has alot of potential, despite having some great games for Ajax last season he never quite featured as much as he would of wanted to due to the performances of Mike Van Der Voorn, therefore Denswill has left the club.

Quasim Bouy sings for Ajax!

Quasim Bouy has joined Ajax in a ?3.2 million pounds move from Juventus. The 21 year old is the second summer signing for Ajax and has already expressed his desire to play at his very best.

 

[S23YME]

Good read so far I always sign Buttner aswell he's a good left sided player


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[craigsmith1995]

Good read so far I always sign Buttner aswell he's a good left sided player


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Quite enjoyed using him early on in the season but second half of the season he started to fall away a bit and his performances weren't as impressive. Still a bargain buy though for how cheap we got him

 

[craigsmith1995]

New Record for Ajax!
A second successive Dutch Super Cup title leads to Ajax breaking a record for most Super Cup titles won. Ajax have now won more Dutch Super Cup titles then any other Dutch team as they clinched their 9th title with a win over Feyenoord.

Feyenoord 0 - 1 Ajax
Ricardo Van Rhijn goal is enough to seal 9th Dutch Super Cup title.

Alexander Buttner Sold!

Alexander Buttner signs for Wolfsburg for £7.75 million pounds. Buttner signed for the Dutch champions last summer and after one season with the club he moves on to Wolfsburg. Buttner had began to find it a struggle to get into the Ajax first team towards the end of last season, and hasn't managed to appear in any of the opening four games of the new season. Having been brought to Ajax for £3.4 million pounds, Ajax decided to accept an offer from Wolfsburg of which was more than double what Ajax paid for him last summer.

Markus Bay to Monaco!

At just 17 years of age, Markus Bay, has completed a dream move to Monaco. A move which cost only £3.2 million pounds, Markus Bay, looks set to have a great career ahead of him. As he is Danish, manager, Craig Smith, saw no future for him at Ajax so decided to let him go, a sell on percentage fee was also included in the deal aswell so Ajax can gather some extra cash from the youngster if he ever moves on.

Champions League group stage has been drawn with Ajax as a second seed. The draw this year is a lot more favourable in Ajax's favour having been drawn alongside Villarreal, Manchester United and Hoffenheim. Ajax fans can be very excited for what they hope will be an exciting European campaign.

More updates to follow.

 

[TractorBoy7]

Quasim Bouy turns into a beast! I bought him on my Heerenveen save, manned the centre of my midfield for 6 odd years!

Good read so far, keep it up