Matthijs de Ligt

[God Serena]

Err. Left winger.

I'd definitely keep Coutinho as first option left forward but also get another option.
Obviously, Dembele and Malcom for the right side and Suarez as a super-sub.

Suarez will never be a sub in any capacity here. I'm pretty sure he'll kick up a massive fuss when he loses his automatic spot in the XI and it'd take selling him to make him shut up. The guy is kind of a massive cunt, we've just been less able to see it because he's been a cunt for us.

 

[Leo_Messi]

Not looking good yet again. This time against the mighty Heracles who are up 1-0 against Ajax.

 

[mc_lovin]

Watched the last 15mins of the first half... Ajax was just shocking. Zero quality in buildup.

 

[Luftstalag14]

Maybe their games against Bayern were just a fluke?

 

[Joan]

They could be a CL team

 

[xXKonan]

Ajax, in general, has been pretty bad since the winter break.

They were much better during the first half of the season but the wheels have come off since then.

 

[Leo_Messi]

The more I watch him the more I question whether he is really the top talent when it comes to CB's out there. As stated above, Ajax have not looked themselves lately but that is no excuse for his clumsiness at times or the fact that he is simply not a fast CB. He is physically imposing, in particular considering his age, and obviously he has the leadership skills. However there is a part of me that thinks it is due to him being an early bloomer. Maybe I bought into the hype of him being an "generational" talent and Dutch media reports are not helping seeing that they are hungry for success stories given the state of Dutch football in recent years. I am going to mention my favorite Konaté again but I can't help comparing them. As I see things, Konaté is clearly the better talent and footballer. Call me insane or whatever.

 

[DonAK]

The more I watch him the more I question whether he is really the top talent when it comes to CB's out there. As stated above, Ajax have not looked themselves lately but that is no excuse for his clumsiness at times or the fact that he is simply not a fast CB. He is physically imposing, in particular considering his age, and obviously he has the leadership skills. However there is a part of me that thinks it is due to him being an early bloomer. Maybe I bought into the hype of him being an "generational" talent and Dutch media reports are not helping seeing that they are hungry for success stories given the state of Dutch football in recent years. I am going to mention my favorite Konaté again but I can't help comparing them. As I see things, Konaté is clearly the better talent and footballer. Call me insane or whatever.

The games vs. Real Madrid will be a big indicator. If he comes up the better man against Vinicius and Benzema he's the real deal.

 

[Leo_Messi]

The games vs. Real Madrid will be a big indicator. If he comes up the better man against Vinicius and Benzema he's the real deal.

Agree with this one but at the same time we can't conclude too much based on 2 CL games against a vastly superior team with all due respect fo Ajax fans on this forum. It is a team that consists of kids and a washed up Huntelaar thrown in there. It's really hard to judge players and talents from the Eredivisie. Even more so in the past few years where the league level has dropped even more post-Bosman.

Anyway as I wrote a few weeks ago, I just prefer CB's with Varane's characteristics before anything else. Meaning physically strong and quick CB's yet technically good. CB's like Konaté tick all of those boxes.

None of Umtiti nor Lenglet are what one would call quick CB's. Let alone Piqué. I believe that our next CB should have great pace ideally. MDL not having great pace is a big question mark for me when comparing him to other elite CB talents out there.

 

[EdmondDantes]

Where's the guy who said he's the best player since Messi?

 

[Magyarkhan]

I think the soap around Frenkie infected the team. They seem to lose all concentration in the dutch league. Half of the players are looking for a transfer end of the season. The only hope they may have is doing well against Madrid, i expect many youngsters are playing just to get seen on the international scene.
Buying Frenkie seems to help Madrid greatly.

 

[Joan]

Right. If it disturbs the dressing room, Ajax have noone to blame but themselves. They basically let their best players under contract talk with other clubs.

 

[DonAK]

Or they just lost form after the winter break like Dortmund. Winter breaks that long are just a waste of time.

 

[Barcaman]

Barto said he wants to secure Barca future before Messi retires. Go to work Bartman.

So kid sucked against Heracles? Noone cares. He is quality and Pique has his mind elsewhere.

 

[Newcomer]

Or they just lost form after the winter break like Dortmund. Winter breaks that long are just a waste of time.

Probably all there is in this situation.
Ajax and de Jong themselves wanted to do the transfer early to have a free mind in the decisive end of the season.
Unfortunately for them, they have almost already wasted all their chances to get a silverware.

In the end, they prove to be excellent businessmen. While they have talented players, they created an hype that made it seem that they were the second coming of Cruijff and Maldini and that not getting them would be sort of end of the game. Putting the hype aside, you can clearly see the quality but they are not (yet) worthy of their reputation and not worth the quoted prices.
PSV should take note though : they boss the league year in, year out and cant get anywhere that money.