Entry of:20-08-99
Ajax this week:
On a rainy friday Ajax played in Maastricht against MVV.Like I thought last week it was a one long butchersession in which Ajax showed class. Knopper, who proves to be very consistent got 2 goals out of this match, 2 times shot that were changed from direction. That makes Knopper look really good for a permanent place in the basic 11. Verlaat and Witschge got their goals from a distance, looking very good with their shots. And the goals-show was not finished yet, Laudrup and Dani scored with nonchalant rollers past keeper Spillman, who definetally must have played better matches than this. MVV scored 2 times against Ajax and the second one of Perez was unstoppable for Grim. The team looked a lot more solid than last week, probably because it had nothing to be nervous about. MVV took the role of underdog a little too serious and they will certainly be second division next year if they continue to play like this. The coach of MVV allready looked real stressed.With Feyenoord being only 2 matches away, this Ajax as it played tonight can beat any team in Holland. Machlas was invisible and so was Arveladze, they will get their goals another time. Even Grim took a role for himself, looking more solid than in any of the previous games in this (pre)season. After slightly negative press last week(allthough they played well) this can't go unnoticed by the newspapers. For this weeks performance Ajax deserves much respect. And the Danish superdudes, Tobiassen and Gronkjaer are even not in the team yet, so there is sunshine in the fans hearts. Bravo!
Next: Away to Cambuur L, I think that will be slightly harder for Ajax but no problem whatsoever, if MVV was 2-6, Cambuur must be something like 2-4. Let's hope Machlas gets a few goals and the rest of the squad plays the same as this week. For the rest you can consider Cambuur L as a perfect sparringpartner. 90% chances of win
Note for Ajax: 9
Competition this week;
The competition this week immediately separated the traditional top3(Ajax,PSV and Feyenoord) from the rest.Admirable was the tremendous victory of PSV in the away-match against Vitesse,
1-6! And imagining that Vitesse used to be unbeatable in their own stadium. Vitesse is looking very weak,and they must be relieved that next week there is a less strong opponent. It is to be seen if their trainer Neumann will survive this week.Feyenoord played solid, but MVV was not the opponent to expect difficulties.FC Twente enjoyed 3 goals from Vennegoor and together with Cruz(Feyenoord) and Bombarda(Willem II) he prooves to be going for the topscorertitle. But all of them have to beat the allready 5 times scoring van Nistelrooy(PSV)Also Roda JC was sur-prisingly defeated by RKC,and RKC is now in a (for RKC)unfamiliar part of the table. Subtopclub Willem II had luck with a draw against Fortuna S and other subtopper Heerenveen won against a very weak Sparta. Big looser this week therefore is Vitesse and the traditional top 3 allready created a gap. But the 3 are so close and played so consistent that it is a thrill to look forward to the weeks to come.
Note for the Competition: 8
Moment of the week:
Most definitally the moment of the week is the grumpy face of Karel Aalbers, chairman of Vitesse, who thinks he is the godfather of Dutch soccer. He proclaims all the time with most arrogance that Vitesse is allready at the top in Holland. Even without knowing anything about Vitesse you start hating it when you see this chairman. I laugh in your face, Aalbers!!!
Also worth viewing were the hattrick of Vennegoor(especially the last goal).Funny was the fact that after pathetic riots about the playing of Nelisse(Cambuur L) against Feyenoord because of some forbidden agreement, Cambuur L played so bad that Nelisse did not make the least of difference to the bitter defeat of Cambuur.
=Willem ter Haar=
(this week a Ajax and Knopper-fan)
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