Entry of:29-08-99
Ajax this week:
Again on friday Ajax travelled to Leeuwarden to play Cambuur L. Ajax gained another 3 points by beating them 3-0. The score implies other thoughts then reality. It was a fullautomatic boring game from both teams. Ajax saved this one on routine. By individual class they were the best of the 2 teams, but as a collective it was not convincing. Dani opened the score in the 6th minute, walking through the Cambuur L defense as if it was a Swiss cheese. In the 52th minute Elzinga decided that it was present-time again and gave the ball to Laudrup who scored the 2-0 with ease. The 3-0 of sub Wamberto in the 87th minutes was nothing too spectacular either. Of course, Wouters could not be satisfied after seeing this game.Even the press used the nickname "Lucky Ajax"again, and did not think too highly of the performance. For now, it is enough though to keep in touch with the top 3. Good thing however is the UEFA-allocation of the 1st round where Ajax will meet Dukla Banksa Bystrica from Slowakia.This team was loosing Cupfinalist over there and ended 11th in competition. Even on a slobby day like friday against Cambuur that opponent should still be defeated with big numbers. Looking back, Dukla Banska in the UEFA 1st round and a 3-0 victory that kept Ajax in the top of the table is a good harvest for this weekend, but only if you dont look deeper at the game they played in Leeuwarden.
Next: After a small break of 2 weeks, friday the 10th of September the first real tough game is at hand. Feyenoord will be visiting Amsterdam. Until this weekend I had high hopes but now I cant help but being cautious. Despite the win, Ajax did not seem the close collective they need to be to defeat the guys from Rotterdam, where collectiveness is the strong side. Wouters has a lot of work to do. 2 weeks of hard work and the home-advantage should give Ajax a 60% chance to win on September 10th. I hope for an off-day for the reigning Rotterdam champion and a superb Ajax so the defeat can be humiliating,unlike the performance for the JC-Cup in August.
Note for Ajax: 7
Competition this week;
From the 2 competitors in the top 3 Feyenoord looked solid this week. Not playing the best of game they still beat Heerenveen(not the most easy opponent) without worries, 3-1. The team who is pretty consistent with the champion-team from last year, looks confident at the Ajax game in 2 weeks. PSV were lucky as can be. A very undeserved victory was their share. In the 92nd minute Bruggink scored the 2-1 in their home-match against Fortuna S. My hopes for the first defeat of PSV were justified, yet fate decided otherwise. Willem II also won this week (home 2-1 against Den Bosch)and went to 4th place cause Twente lost to FC Utrecht and surprisingly enough the top 3 are not the only clubs playing flawless. Allthough with one match less played AZ and FC Utrecht also gained all the points so far. Vitesse was victorious for the first time, 6-2 at home against MVV,which let the axe above the head of trainer Neumann fade. MVV has a very bitter start but has now gotten rid of the games against PSV,Ajax and Vitesse and can now play freely,to get the very necessary points. Roda JC beat NEC and are moving up and Heerenveen still is shaky loosing again from Feyenoord. All teams can now have a 2weeks rest.
Note for the Competition: 7
Moment of the week:
Football was boring this week, small good moments were rare. One of the players of NEC was hurt badly on that one very sensitive spot between the legs when the coach threw the ball back at him. Funny also was the referee van Hulten at Willem II-Den Bosch who took the mainrole that evening, giving an beautiful example of bad decisions. Of course the next also a moment which brought a smile on my face was the announcement of Dukla Banska as Ajax first opponent in the UEFA-cup.Walkover for sure. And what is even nicer, PSV, that terrible dreadful club, who played miserably against Chisinau were put in a poule with Bayern Munich, Valencia CF and Glasgow Rangers.This can really mean a beautiful moment for me when PSV will be humiliated with a 4th place...Hehehehe....
=Willem ter Haar=
(this week a Ajax and Bayern Munich,Valencia and Glasgow Rangers-fan)
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