Ajax: August 2009

Hello friends and welcome to the next installment of my Ajax story. I know I mentioned that the company I work for sponsers Ajax but there’s also a town called Ajax in Ontario just to the East of Toronto where I live. Anyway….

The first game of the new season was away to FC Groningen and after a slow start we finally took the lead through Gabri who was left unattended on the far post to hit home following a nice one-two between Atouba and want-away Emanuelson who supplied the cross. Martin Steklenberg produced some fine saves to keep the score line in our favour and some how Groningen’s left back Mike Zonneveld managed to stay on the pitch having caused injuries to both Gabri and his replacement Classon. I took them both off before things got too bad. Marko Pantelic doubled our lead late in the second half having replaced Suarez who produced another dismal performance.

Our next game was in the Amsterdam Arena against RKC and I was less than impressed with another sluggish start. However a piece of sheer brilliance by Sulejmani on the stroke of halftime lifted my spirits. Having intercepted the ball just inside our own half he went on a run taking the ball past three defenders before unleashing a powerful shot from 20 yards out to give us the lead. RKC dominated the proceedings after the interval and produced an equalizer on the hour before we took the lead once again as defender Wielaert headed in from a corner. We controlled to rest of the game to take all three points.

After the international break we travelled to Einhoven to face PSV. They looked a much stronger team than us as the game got started and even though we had the greater possession we were unable to turn this into real scoring opportunities. PSV got the only goal of the game with a spectacular 30 yard effort six minutes from the break. The second half was equally as frustrating for us and overall I was disappointed with our efforts.

  The following game was a Euro Cup Qualifier at home to Greek side PAOK. Again we dominated the match producing 23 attempts on goal but only managed to turn one of them into and actual goal scored by Aissati just before half time. Suarez missed a host of scoring opportunities and is totally off his game so I’m tempted to sell him Spurs who are the latest team to come in with an offer. PAOK never caused us any real trouble but the slender one goal lead may not be enough to see us through to the next stage.

  We stayed at home for the visit of Sparta Rotterdam and for my mind it was Suarez’s last chance to prove himself. In another lack luster first half we again squandered the chances that we created though thankfully we restricted Sparta to hardly any at all. With a good amount of the second half already over I was ready to make some major changes when Eduardo found space on the left flank and his cross found Suarez who controlled the ball with his chest and fired in on the volley for the opening goal. He stayed on the field. Daylon Classen who came on for the under performing Barazite produced a stunning run down the right flank and was tripped as he twisted and turned into the box. We were awarded a penalty that Classen coolly slotted home himself for the 2-0 victory.

  Up next was the second leg of our Euro Cup qualifier and we travelled to Greece with an tight one – nil lead. We got off to a fantastic start with Luis Suarez setting up two goals in the first twenty minutes the first one to Eduardo who I moved up into the midfield left position and the second was an east tap in for Gabri on the right flank. PAOK though replied with two goals themselves before Eduardo got his second of the game running into to box to latch on from a through ball by Lingren to make five goals before half time. The second half was less dramatic but both Suarez and fellow striker Pantelic both had to be taken off to avoid serious injury and we had to switch to a 4141 formation. The home side did manage to get the equalizer late in the game but we held on to go through to the next round.

In the group stage draw the following day we were given a tough group containing Lazio, Rosenberg and Slovan Liberec

The final game of a busy August was league match away to Heracles. Sulejmani returned to the starting line up for the injured Suarez as did skipper Demy De Zeeuw who had recovered from a minor injury. It was a darting run by Sulejmani that produced the opening goal having breezed past the Heracles defenders to pull back into the path of the oncoming De Zeeuw who neatly placed the ball in the net. Ismail Aissati added an easy tap in second goal having been left unmarked from a cross by right back Van der Weil. Our second half chances were few and far between but we were never under any great pressure from the home side and finished the month with a comfortable victory

My only signing for the month of August was Swedish left back Oscar Wendt as recommended by my scouting team.

League Table

Next month we have only two league games due to the Dutch Cup as well as a tough Euro Cup game at Rosenborg.

That’s it for now and thanks for reading.