bookd.
Holden Willemsen
Sion2 - 4Ajax
Long review without depression, huge. Reckon this game showed our desperate need for two wingers, and a defensive mid but like duh thats obvious. With Gloukh and Berghuis we needed our wingbacks to make runs, usually Henrique, as our rightback sits in the back 3 in possession. Pushing Gloukh into those left half spaces and making Brandt a proper 10. But Gaaei is not the defending type meaning he pushes too far leaving us with just 3 players in defense. Which is how Sion scored the 1-0. In the second half it got somewhat better as Henrique recognized when to stay back if Gaaei went too far down his own flank. Definitely got better around the 60th minute with Wijndal, Ouazane and Rosa on. Much more balanced and how we played in pre season too. Tolu was important yet again with a good header, that cross came from a good play of Wijndal and Ouazane so that immediately proved its usefulness. With Rosa you also have a much more defensive rightback who stays in the back 3. Anyway that was the tactic talk for today. Glad Don Leo scored, he probably shouldve scored more but i believe in him, he needs confidence. Tolu is incredibly important with his height and strength, no idea why Wolves were so happy to let him go, maybe they shouldve used him in his strengths instead of kicking him out after a year of them playing defensive as fuck with some of the worst football ive ever seen in the premier league??? Brandt is just brilliant, its just pure quality, you see in every pass that hes better than anyone else on our team. We struggled so much again but it just comes down to our squad not being balanced enough so we need those signings still. I do like that Michel Sanchez experiments with other wingers/wingbacks, even if it didnt work that well today. Got the win at least, no game this weekend so a week rest for the 2nd leg at home. No squadlist for this game so cant put Brandt or Tolu as man of the match but id give it to Brandt, he was incredible.
Vojvodina1 - 4Ajax
Yayyy long review time again. July 23rd is the earliest Ajax have played their first competitive game of football in a season. I dont like this timeline. We started well, loads of chances and a super early goal. Actually the earliest goal we have scored under a new manager since 1981 with Aad de Mos. But it doesn’t really matter if we create a ton of chances for 30~ minutes if we don’t finish any of them. And then conceding from one of the first chances is very typical. At least Berghuis scored a nice goal after for 1-2. Our third goal was quite lovely, really good dribble from Godts (goat) and good finish from Gloukh. Hope Gloukh gets more chances this season he deserves it. Abdalla scored a goal as well so that is really lovely, youth players doing well is always great If you told me 5 years ago that we would play in a conference league qualifier on july 23rd with Paes, Wijndal, Regeer and Berghuis then i probably wouldve ended it right then and there. Regeer just isn’t good in the role he is supposed to play, like why not put Mokio there, or even Jinairo Johnson who actually did well in pre season as a defensive mid. Sad we had no Marcos Leonardo this game but hopefully he makes minutes against Burnley on Sunday. Glad Ouazane got some minutes, such a big talent hope he is featured often this season. Godts great as ever, i would do so much for him to stay another year. Blind did well too on his old age, good to see him back, especially with Bouwman next to him it was great, hopefully he and Dies Janse stay because thats actually a decent depth for right center back. Theres a lot of potential in this squad + some new signings and i have really liked the way Míchel has made us play. Cautiously optimistic though i have been hurt too often now lmao. Man of the match is Godts, as he has been so many times last season. So incredibly dangerous every time with his dribbles, and getting his first goal contribution already.
Ajax