Scouting Reports
Heerenveen have a young player that is attracting interest from across the English Channel.
Before you sigh and move on just wait! Its NOT Michael Bradley! Its a young striker from Serbia named Miralem Sulemjmani. I have to give total credit to Setanta for digging this up. All the talk surrounding Heerenveen of late has been about his American teammate. It doesn’t seem to matter what club he plays for or what nationality he is. The Eredivisie seems to be a glorified shop window. Dutch clubs just are not able to compete with the allure of England or Spain. Even Germany seems able to tempt talent away. Look at Rafael van der Vaart, Nigel de Jong, Joris Mathijsen and Romeo Castelen. There is proof if I needed any. With that rant aside all it would take it for one team to hold on to their quality players and be successful in Europe to change the focus dramatically.
After all that though there is no indication as to whether the young Serb is interested in Chelsea.
The Weekend: Round 32
By: Mike |
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Here is the table as it stands on Saturday morning. One match has already been completed with NEC winning away at Roda JC 0-2. PSV and Ajax both play at lunchtime on Sunday. Each is pitted against a club watching nervously over their shoulders as the relegation situation becomes ever more critical. [...]
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Playoffs to be reviewed
By: Mike | 2 Comments
Many writers, supporters and even players cast sideways glances at the Eredivisie. Everyone is aware that the Netherlands is a wonderful factory of young talent but beyond that noone takes it seriously. In order for a player in the Eredivisie to win the European Golden Boot he would have to score 150% of [...]
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The Run In
By: Mike | 1 Comment
It’s always exciting this time of year. Depending on where you are in the world the seasons are changing and you notice new expressions on your football supporting friends. Their team’s position in the league is mirrored on their faces. Even if your team is on [...]
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Team News
Short Hop
I am going to be gone all weekend and will not return until late Sunday night. I do not even expect to see the match this weekend against FC Twente, so I expect some comments here from you in lieu of a match report. Consider it a homework assignment from a guy who just finished his spring semester.
May 08, 2008 | Read this article...
It Worked?! KJH To Stay?!
Ajax may have caught the big one! Everybody knows the real reason Marco van Basten was hired to be the next manager at Ajax. And everybody knows why he asked Dennis Bergkamp to join his staff. It's simple really: Klaas Jan Huntelaar, the second-coming of Ruud van Nistelrooy. And the gig might have worked. Speaking to Ajax Life mag, KJH said that he will certainly consider staying at Ajax to work with the two masters.
Read it here and here.
Ghosts of Ajax and Rumors
So with the news that broke yesterday that Danny Blind will be joining the staff at Ajax as technical director, this makes a rather impressive lineup for a possible legends squad should the backroom staff ever decide to play a match.
Def: Frank de Boer, Blind (Koeman may need a job, does he want in?)
Mid: Aron Winter, Gerrie Muhren (scouting), Rob Witschge (coming with MvB)
Att: Bergkamp, van Basten, John van't Schip (with MvB) sub: Adrie Koster (3 caps, how many have you won?)
Eight out of eleven, needing a true holding mid and some help on the backline. Sound familiar? Now maybe we know why...
Exit Michael Bradley, Enter Danny Blind
No, this was not a substitution made in yesterday's 3-1 trouncing of Heerenveen. I am merely referring to Bradley being sent off with two yellows in the first half(!) and Blind being hired by Ajax to replace Martin van Geel as technical director. Blind will supposedly focus on "youth, scouting, and buying and selling." More to say on that in a bit, but first the match.
By now it should be clear to all comers that Heerenveen cannot defeat Ajax. This was their fifth loss this season. Heerenveen never maanaged a lead at home or away but yet could manage a few meaningless goals late. For some reason, the second-best attacking side in the Eredivisie brings our defenders out of their comfortable homes. Chances for Heerenveen were few in Frisia and perhaps fewer in Amsterdam. Ajax did not score until a penalty at 45' by Perez, but the match was really never in doubt. But there is still good news and bad news..
Liberation Day
All across Holland today they are celebrating the end of occupation during World War II. Let's hope some of that celebration continues after today's match in the Arena. Vertonghen is back from suspension, no word on Davids' injury, Sulejmani is still hobbling around after surgery (not that I ...
May 05, 2008 | Read this article...
The Verdict on ten Cate
I just started this blog around a month ago, so I never got an out let to speak my mind about Henk ten Cate's (disastrous?) tenure as manager at Ajax. And you, my readers, never got to tell me what you thought. So, I'll go first. And I'll try to keep this civil. You do not have to.
May 03, 2008 | Read this article...
A Positive First Leg: 2-1 Win Away
So I predicted a bit of a goal-fest and was wrong, but it could have easily been one. Ajax had plenty of chances and thoroughly dominated the match. If Heitinga were an inch taller, or if he were slightly better in the air (He's all yours, Atletico!), Heerenveen would have drawn a blank. On the attacking side of the pitch, we had plenty of possesion and nice passing. I am not sure why we did not score more. Perez missed an easy chance, and KJH was limited on the day, but If Heerenveen defends like that in Amsterdam, it might get ugly.
May 02, 2008 | Read this article...
Playoff Preview
Let the silliest of seasons begin! I know the KNVB deserves all the criticism it gets for even having these end-of-year opportunities for mischief, mayhem and hijinx to corrupt the sanctity of the league table. But it also means we get to see Heitinga and Huntelaar for at least two more matches. And for that, I say bring on the playoffs one more time!
Apr 30, 2008 | Read this article...
A Stirring Farewell
Ajax may have lost the title by a nose, but John Heitinga was recently named Dutch Voetballer van het Jaar. That's a Golden Shoe for those of you scoring at home, but not of the goal-scoring variety. Runner-up was Gomes of PSV, which just goes to show you that Dutchmen do appreciate a little defending and keeping every now and then. Heitinga is leaving of course, but he was still given this stirring tribute, brought to you via youtube after the break. I am also including one of those lovely youtube highlight videos. This one has a little more pomp than most. Enjoy, because there is not much going on until Thursday.
Apr 27, 2008 | Read this article...
Feeder Clubs Revisited
I mentioned a few weeks ago that Marco van Basten had met with Arsene Wenger about the possibility of being a feeder club for Arsenal. I was pretty ambivalent about such a deal, for the benefits would not come without a cost. Now, at PSV we can see more clearly some of the cost involved of tending someone else's garden.
Apr 24, 2008 | Read this article...
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