Entry of:28-11-99
Ajax this week:
On this sunday Ajax could first follow the match in Rotterdam and then play its own game in Alkmaar against AZ.And AZ is a squad that can surprize any topclub. But after hearing the loss of PSV in Rotterdam from Feyenoord, Ajax had the chance to increase the gap. With still a big injurylist, the game was approached with counterfootball, a strange held-back system which diminishes the respect that Ajax used to have in the nineties. Still it seemed to pay off in the 16th minute when Knopper scored again after 4 games of no goals for him. He was replaced later on after being injured at his anckle. The party did not last for long, cause good old Johnny Bosman of AZ scored the 1-1 in the 31st minute. In this game,where Ikedia also debuted, that score seemed the lock on the game, and especially since Hose also got inside the lines and screwed up a chance for open goal, about 30 centimeters from the line. It is almost if he knew that he was gonna be the target after the game if it stayed a draw, and that made him try even harder and that paid of in the 83rd minute with a header. Ajax carried out duties solidly for the remaining 7 minutes and took the 3 points back to Amsterdam. The gap is now established, whether it was deserved or not, and now Ajax has a week time to close the lines and form a collective, cause the way it played today is no guarantee for winning in the coming weeks.
Ajax next week:For the second time this season Ajax meets RKC, this time at home.And I personally think that the suprise that cost Ajax the first points in this season, the draw in Waalwijk, won't be repeated. A 70% chance of win, keeping in mind that this season the little clubs are looking stronger than they did in the last few seasons.
Note for Ajax: 6
Rest of the competition:
Topmatch of the week was Feyenoord-PSV. And allthough Feyenoord is harmless and it was good that PSV lost, still the win of Feyenoord put a dirty taste in the mouth. The whole game was dirty and it was lead by Luinge so of course v.Gastel and Konterman got away with yellow where they deserved the red card. The outrage on PSV-side was understandable and the only goal of the match, the penalty of van Gastel, was made after a situation that was definitally offside. Heerenveen stepped up a little more on friday with a win over Cambuur L, 4-1 and they are now in 3rd place.FC Twente looked very powerful as they defeated Willem II in Twente saturday, their 10th non-losing game in a row. Willem II looked out of shape and lost with 4-0 in Enschede.
Furthermore there was a nice derby in the east between Graafschap and Vitesse which ended in 2-2 but was a amusing match. RKC won from Sparta and now is in 6th place. Roda JC does not play until thuesday and can get in 3rd place then. A new phenomenon, commercial tv and pathetic citycouncil worries have now resulted in a kick-off time of 13:00 on sunday. Now what the hell is it coming to? Is it really true that a major or a director of pay-per-view can ruin the sport with their unlogical demands? Shame on both of them!Time for actions!
Note for the competition: 8
Moment of the week:
This weeks moment is definitally against Luinge. Who am I?Nobody important enough to kick Luinge off the fields, but Jeeez I would love to do that! How many weeks in a row can a referee blunder before the Footballassociation takes charges. Today again, putting Luinge in charge of such a topgame. You allready know way ahead that the shit is gonna hit the fan and so it did. Amazement must have been the general feeling when watching the game. So behind my keyboard I kneel down and pray that this clown will leave the Dutch soccerscene. Also the first signs of a club in despair, Feyenoord, were amusing to see. Beenhakker could almost not overcome a conflict with Feyenoords keyplayers van Gastel,van Wonderen and Konterman. This time the storm blew over, but next time?????
Willem ter Haar
(Ajaxfan for life)
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