PSV-Ajax, a top match… But, who will score?

By: Jan | November 16th, 2008

Whatever their positions in the table or apart from the old rivalry between the two clubs, Ajax-PSV will always be an intriguing match. And the question that comes to mind is, who the hell will score a goal this match?

Both teams have their worries. Ajax is one of the most prolific clubs this season, but their lead striker Huntelaar is absent, leaving a huge gap. And, Ajax is fighting against a bizarre statistic: they hardly ever win against PSV at home! Ajax only won once in the Arena, in 2004. PSV won nine games in Amsterdam since 1996.

In Eindhoven, they have their own issues. They have trouble finding the net. They scored 17 goals in ten games and 5 of those in one game, against Utrecht. So, 12 goals in nine games. Not too good for a champ.

Captain Timmy Simons: “We need to focus on creating and scoring goals. We can dominate the game, control the game, but we need to finish!”

Phillip Cocu is pushed to the fore in Eindhoven and yesterday he spent a lot of time working on finishing off crosses. After the training, he spent a lot of time talking to Danny Koevermans, the man who will need to lead PSV in opening their bank account.

Koevermans: “I find myself isolated upfront. I’m not a striker who creates stuff by myself. It’s cool that someone like Cocu supports me in that.”

The pressure is on. Van Basten: “I do think PSV will be in trouble if they lose here. But I don’t want to talk about PSV. I have my own worries…”

The big riddle in Amsterdam is, who does Van Basten play? After the deception against Volendam, he said: “I don’t think we’d ever score a goal here, no matter how much extra time we would have gotten…” It seems the Ajax coach will bench Sno and use Suarez as deepest striker. “Suarez didn’t listen to his team mates. Lindgren and Gabri constantly yelled at him to come a line back, but he kept playing next to Sno. That didn’t work.”

Sulejmani could be the trump card. He just returned from injury and is keen to make his mark, but Van Basten is very careful of throwing him before the lions.

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