Entry of:30-09-99
EUROREVIEW
DUKLA BANSKA BYSTRICA(SLW) - AJAX
On 30 september Ajax was playing Dukla in Slowakia. With the 6-1 the approach could be called relaxed, still the evening was not as nice as the 3-1 score shows.The goals were not bad, Arveladze
(46th minute),Bobson(64th minute) and Laudrup(90th minute) scored without putting too much flair into it, after Malatinsky opened the score for Dukla in the 45th minute. But Arveladze replaced Machlas who showed real bad play, and must really feel some uncomfortable feelings about his role right now. Also Verlaat was injured unnecessarily. On the other hand Ajax is through to the second round UEFA cup which also must have been the thought of the numberous fans sitting to watch the sober game in the poor stadium in Slowakia. Also Ajax showed two new
faces on the field, Romanian defender Chivu and Kanu, the younger brother of Nwankwo Kanu, an ex-player of Ajax. Both played well and Bobson did not play bad either, so the youth showed their good side. With a 9-2 aggregate score this will go in to Europe to be shown to other teams and the score ain't too bad, though the second game was not all that flashy. Last but not least,
I express my doubts about goalie Grim who again was not a top-keeper like Ajax needs, looking very insecure.
Note for Ajax this week: 7
Other Dutch clubs in Europe:
Last week and this week meant the end of Dutch clubs in the Champions League, PSV had a draw at home against Valencia(1-1) and also a home-defeat against Glasgow Rangers(0-1) and are last in their group. And not undeserved PSV showed some very poor play, very weak and PSV does not belong in the Champions League.Same goes for Feyenoord who played a poor match in Rosenborg
(1-1) and an even poorer match in Porto against Boavista and must hope for much luck coming their way in the rest of the Champions League, they dont deserve it though.Willem II finally lost also 2 times, but they are excused cause they are debuting in the highest European competition, last week lost in Bordeaux(3-2)but showed good resistance and lost 4-0 in Prague against Sparta Prague. But on the other hand all clubs playing UEFA cup eased through. Ajax of course against Dukla Banska. Vitesse had a very weak game in Arnhem against lowclass Beira Mar,0-0 but they won in Portugal and go to the second round. So does Roda JC who, after winning at home with 2-0 from Shaktor Donetsk, also won in the Ukraine with 3-1. They look confident, so friday October 1st, 3 Dutch clubs are still represented in the 2nd round. PSV and Feyenoord should really start wondering what is wrong with their approach cause like this they are the laughing stock of Europe, but I dont mind, for me it is highly amusing.
Moment of the week:
Of course whenever Feyenoord plays disappointing it is a moment of the week for me. Also yesterday. Bosvelt scored and then they turned into cowards, gutless cowards, no topclub approach and that shows the real Feyenoord to all of Europe. The sad faces after the superb strike by Mario Santos in the 85th minute which brought Boavista to a draw, made me laugh loudly. Finally luck runs out and that goes for PSV as well.
Other moment is seeing the poor grassfield that Dukla calls a stadium.But the youth of Ajax did play well just did not score enough to be the real mental winners. Nevertheless, Ajax has not disappointed and are ready for the next opponent to defeat....
==Willem ter Haar==
(Boavista and Glasgow Rangers-fan for sure this week)
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