EXPECTATIONS 2ND SEASONHALF
Entry of:05-01-00
GAMES YET TO COME:(expected points)
Away: Fortuna S(3),PSV(1),Den Bosch(3),Heerenveen(0),Roda JC(1), Feyenoord(3),Vitesse(1),FC Utrecht(3) and one game to catch up against FC Twente(0)
Home:Cambuur L(3),Willem II(3),de Graafschap(3),FC Twente(1),NEC(3),Sparta(3),AZ(3),MVV(3)
This second part of the 2 extra winterstop reviews will try to figure out if Ajax can still get some of the main prices this season. The answer of course can only be guessed but that the predictions are negative can be explained. In a few days Ajax will start their trainingscamp in Tunesia. They will practice against the national team of Tunesia on January 14th. After that Anderlecht is the next sparring partner in Brussels on January 18th and the Japanese team of Urawa Red Diamonds will be the guests of Ajax in Amsterdam on January 23rd. A few keyplayers will have the chance to get back into their best form. For instance for Machlas it could work as a miracle to score a few times against the Tunesians, Belgians or Japanese. The Greek needs confidence because all his missed chances were a clear result of lack of selfconfidence. Also Arveladze, Dani, van Halst,
Tobiassen(not quite yet) are on their way back. Gronkjaer came back from injury a few games before the winterstop but never reached his topform so he will also want to come back strong in the second season half. The two keyplayers of the first seasonhalf Laudrup and Knopper only need to sustain their current form. If all goes as described above Ajax can bring a strong looking squad on the field.
And that is necessary. Because it is gonna be a tough second half of the season. For starters in the Dutch cup. On January 30st the Amstel cup match away against Roda JC waits and in the deep south of Kerkrade, it can really be spooky for Ajax. Roda JC allready beat Ajax in Amsterdam but had a few shaky games before the winterstop. Even if Ajax wins from Roda JC in the Cup, reaching the final is a total different fairytale cause all the strong teams are still in the race for the Cup.
Then there is the league. The awaymatches seem a real pain. Ajax still has to face PSV, Feyenoord, Vitesse, FC Twente, Heerenveen and Roda JC in awaymatches. Now that is the complete top of the table. The only good thing you can think of is figuring that Ajax does not need to play on the terrible grass in the Arena. Especially the games against PSV, Heerenveen and FC Twente will be extremely difficult. In Amsterdam however not a lot of strong opponent are left, the only potential pointsnatchers could be Willem II, FC Twente and AZ. The team that is a total surprise this season, RKC has allready played against Ajax twice so they will not be a problem no longer, Ajax gave them 4 points allready. The only team Ajax did not play against is FC Twente and the cancelation of the game halfway december was a blessing cause FC Twente is getting into an excellent form. The table now shows a 3rd place for Ajax. And maintaining that is a question of getting through the first few weeks. When Ajax comes to Roda JC with a moral boost from a good trainingscampaign and knocks Roda out of the Cup and plays a good 2 first games against Fortuna S and Cambuur L then Ajax will be a tough opponent for PSV in the third game after the winterstop and it would make Ajax a real contestant for the title. Doomscenario that can happen for the same is a bad preparation and a shaky game against Roda JC and a knock out of the Cup and a lot of trouble with Fortuna and Cambuur. In that state Ajax will be slaughtered by PSV and get in that emotional dip what characterised Ajax in the last few games. In this dark scenario the position of Jan Wouters will be a very short story.
Let's hope that Roda JC has an off day and that Ajax eases through in the Cup giving them that little extra motivation. If so, Ajax is still in the race to be the winner of the entire league at the end of the season. Allthough we would not be able to say that Ajax dominated the Dutch soccer we would still be able to catch a price(or 2). A perspective of Ajax not being able to reach Champions League football is also present and that would really be a sensitive blow for the Amsterdam team that is desperately in need of some big successes. Not only the players but for all the fans, who have been spoiled with so much the last few years.
AJAX-index