Ajax-NEC
Entry of:26-03-2000
Ajax this week:
Always save the best for last. A wellknown saying and Ajax seemed to know it
as well.The game started clumsy, giving a lot of space to the NEC-attackers.
In this game where both Witschge and Arveladze came back from injuries, it
was the Nijmegen team who took the lead. In the 33rd minute Chivu slipped
away and de Gier did not hesitate to silence the stadium. Laudrup took his revenge
in the 35th minute. He came in from the right stumbled almost but still put it
behind NEC keeper Roorda. In the 39th minute NEC, who always lost in
Amsterdam in 23 games,took the lead again. O'Brien forgot to defend de Gier
and he scored 1-2. With that Ajax and his fans entered halftime and it looked
grey, very grey. After the halftime Ajax came back on the field. Machlas scored
in the 52nd minute with a header. Then Ajax started playing convincingly.
Gronkjaer also decided to score coming in from the left and cannonballing it in
the net, a beauty, in the 63rd minute.Machlas who missed so much chances
scored his second in the 65th minute; also coming in from the left he scored
even more beautiful with a stiftbal. The final score came from Knopper who
scored no.5 in the 86th minute with a roller.. Late start but good ending. The 5-2
is new to the squad and the results of the other teams will do Ajax good. Champions
League is still not impossible....
Ajax next week:Next friday Ajax goes to Kerkrade to play an awaygame against
Roda JC. Normally that would bring difficulties(remember Cup defeat in
January), but Roda JC is now on a very modest 8th place and did not win from
Cambuur this weekend. So maybe all is not lost...50%-50% chances
Note for Ajax this week: 7
Competition this week:
PSV played on friday against Willem II in an away game and the goalgetters Bruggink
and Nilis were not in shape. But Willem II also failed to show stamina. And so it ended
with a fair 0-0. PSV is in a comfortable lead but lost 2 points nevertheless. Feyenoord
lost unexpected in the cityderby against Sparta, 1-2. Sparta were lucky but Feyenoord
has been too lucky the whole season, it had to turn against them at one time....
FC Twente also looked like loosing being 0-2 behind at home against FC Utrecht in the
80th minute.But with a team mostly made of sub-players they scored 4 times in the last
12 minutes. Great motivation I have to admit and the reward is second place not shared
with Feyenoord. FC Twente now has 8 points gap with PSV. Heerenveen lost
in Arnhem against Vitesse and that took away their chance to take profit from
the mistakes from their direct opponents. Final score there was 3-1. AZ won on
fridayevening with 2-0 from den Bosch and as stated above Roda JC did not get
further than 2-2 against Cambuur L.
Note for competition this week: 8
Moment of the week:
An intensive week passed in Amsterdam. Wouters got sacked on monday and I
think that is a very good move. Wouters did not have what it takes to be a trainer.
Not that he is a bad person, but not the trainer for a club like Ajax. Westerhof,
youth trainer took over the rest of the season, cause he will go to Willem II next
season. Westerhof is an old experienced trainer who will manage to keep Ajax on the
tracks. Now the speculations have taken a start. Who will be the next trainer
for Ajax? Adriaanse, the current coach of Willem II and very familiar with the
Ajax style of play, was mentioned and other names like Johan Cruyff are less
probable. Word is that Adriaanse allready signed...If that rumour is true, we
will see soon enough cause Celtic soon will inform about Adriaanse and then he
has to make his decision...I am doubtful however if he is toptrainer that Ajax needs.
Willem ter Haar
(Watching the 5 goals in replay on his videorecorder)
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