❌❌❌Rebuilding AJAX❌❌❌

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@LABoog4 wrote:

On a personal note, I was sad to see Bergwijn leave. I thought he was a good player but making a move for the money made sense and is pretty common now.

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It's not so much that Stevie wanted to leave, it's that Ajax really needed the money: Ajax are so far deep in financial trouble that for every transfer only ca. 1/4 can be reinvested, not just transfer fees but most of all salaries. So, the €21,000,000,- transfer of Bergwijn frees up a bit over five million free to spend; roughly put, it creates the possibility to spend ca. € 4,000,000 on a player whom you then can offer ca. 20k p/week salary.

To put that in contrast: when buying Bergwijn (in 2022, €31m), Bassey (in 2022, €23m), Haller (in 2021, €22,5m), Sutalo (in 2023, €20,5m), or Neres (in 2017, €17,5m) and offer them salaries between 40k and 80k, while now having max. four million free on a player and being forced to downsize your salary structure to an average of 20k per player, then you understand what situation Ajax are currently in.

Of course, playing Champions League would make a huge difference in terms of budget, but therein lies the problem. If you don't qualify for Champions League once or twice, suddenly you're in a downward spiral.

It's actually a pretty tough draw, as I see it. Three of the last four are against teams that are currently better than Ajax. So you need to make the most of the first four games. If you fail to win these, or at least the majority of them, I predict things to be very difficult in the final four.

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@JustinCase0110 wrote:

It's actually a pretty tough draw, as I see it. Three of the last four are against teams that are currently better than Ajax. So you need to make the most of the first four games. If you fail to win these, or at least the majority of them, I predict things to be very difficult in the final four.

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Indeed, I'm hoping for good points on the board out of the first four games and later a result in Ireland. Fortunately for Ajax, we play Besiktas, Lazio and Spurs at home, so if we win one, or draw two of those, I'd see that as a class performance.

Good to get a late signing in. Looking at the squad we still a least have a good young selection of players which can help going forward and possibly financially if they prove their worth in sells. Hopefully Europa sorted before come up against Tottenham. Don't wanna be needing something from that game. whilst the first half of ties overall is easier best not get complacent either.

Matches 2.3.4 and 7 look like must wins. Like mentioned already, the back half will be difficult so hopefully you start strong. 

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@Danimal5981 wrote:

we play Besiktas, Lazio and Spurs at home, so if we win one, or draw two of those, I'd see that as a class performance.

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Indeed. Just saw that Lazio and Spurs are the bookmakers' top two favourites for the competition IRL. Unlucky to play them both, I suppose.

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@LABoog4 wrote:
We shouldn’t talk about Spurs playing Ajax in Europe here. This is a safe space, no need to bring up bad memories…

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Indeed, that 2019 game still hurts - even more, now that they've finally cancelled the away goal rule. If only it was applicable back then, already....

2 wins from 2 and phenomenal result against GA Eagles. Will surely fill with confidence with upcoming hand against The Turkish side.

You have to love when a change in formation suddenly produces instant results. Especially, when you change the attack and then score 6 goals in a match. Hopefully the momentum goes into Thursday, a win will be huge for Europe.

It's typical, I always fiddle around with tactics in the beginning to see what works best and even though I want it to be a form of 4-3-3, in practice the tactics with an uneven number of defenders at the back (three or five) and a triangle up front (two strikers backed by a number 10) work best for me: so, in this system Henderson sinks in between the central defenders while the wing backs push up (which makes Gaaei more useful than Rensch). Up front, it's suddenly a luxury problem having three capable strikers and essentially five players who can play behind the strikers.

However, not playing 4-3-3 at Ajax is like putting pineapple on pizza for Italians <figure of speech>

Pineapple on pizza?! No need for foul language, my friend 😄 Surely you don't need to be Italian to recognize what an abomination that is.

However, you're right about a 4-3-1-2 formation being a strange look for an Ajax side. It's funny, cause it's pretty similar to what I've done myself in my last two games. First it was a half time switch to a 4-1-3-2, and after that a full 90 with a 4-1-2-1-2 narrow.

Whilst a formation with a front two may not reflect the typical Ajax formation, I suppose a 6-0 win in the Eredivisie does reflect a typical peak Ajax result.

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@JustinCase0110 wrote:

Whilst a formation with a front two may not reflect the typical Ajax formation, I suppose a 6-0 win in the Eredivisie does reflect a typical peak Ajax result.

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it would, if peak Ajax indeed would still be typical... Lately, things having been swinging at all. 

IRL Farioli has brought stability, just by sticking to a clear vision: that has stabilized our defence somewhat, but overall Ajax are still playing quite weak. And it reflects in the game too; I think against the more modest team I'll get my results but I still haven't played AZ and NEC - that would be a real indicator where we stand in the Eredivisie.

In Europe however, not a good start...

What would the fans do IRL if Ajax brought in a manager who was defensive and played 5-3-2 or something similar? Would it be an instant rejection or wait to see what results happen? 

For the career, bad start to Europe. A better side and it looked like a tight game but came up short. 

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@LABoog4 wrote:

What would the fans do IRL if Ajax brought in a manager who was defensive and played 5-3-2 or something similar? Would it be an instant rejection or wait to see what results happen? 

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Demand a new manager..., instantly.

• Last season, John van 't Schip became crisis-manager. Ajax until then scored 8 points from 9 games. Under Van 't Schip in 4-3-3 suddenly they achieved 27 points out of 11 games. But a cup humiliation (knocked out by amateur side), struggles in European football and a single defeat in February 2024, meant that Van 't Schip changed to a 5-4-1 and that was it..., people were soon done with him: only 21 points from the last 13 games.
• Martin Jol (2009-2010) changed to a 4-4-2 to fit in Luis Suarez with Mounir El Hamdaoui up front.Within a matter of games, he was out.
• Ronald Koeman (2001-2005) is the only one who briefly played 4-4-2 and achieved succes with a double in 2002: he paired Zlatan with Nikos Machlas and he became coach because before him, Co Adriaanse came up with the weirdest tactics: then 3-5-2, then 4-2-4, then 4-3-3 and the next week again something completely different.

So, that's why you see so many managers with Ajax-DNA: Rinus Michels, Johan Cruijff, Louis van Gaal, Ronald Koeman, Danny Blind, Marco van Basten, Frank de Boer, Hedwiges Maduro, John van 't Schip - all ex-players of the club and later managers. They know the club inside out and they know fans don't tolerate anything different than 4-3-3 for long; not even a Champions League win would change their minds.

As I mentioned previously, it would be important for Ajax to get a good start to Europe, getting the most out of the first four games. Having lost the first one to Besiktas, arguably the toughest of the four, you pretty much need to win the next three. Looking better and better in the Eredivisie though.

Not an idea result against Besiktas worst possible start for Europe, but at least the league form has continued picking up another win on the road 

@JustinCase0110 @thurlow885 the tricky thing is, in the old 4 teams in a group you could calculate how much points you'd need to advance. In this 36 league format, I could not imagine what would be enough to make at least the cut at 24th or better. If I defeat Qarabag, Lugano and Shamrock, it gives me 9 points: is that enough? Will I need a result against Slavia, Lazio, Sociedad, Tottenham? I honestly have no clue.

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@Danimal5981 wrote:

@JustinCase0110 @thurlow885 the tricky thing is, in the old 4 teams in a group you could calculate how much points you'd need to advance. In this 36 league format, I could not imagine what would be enough to make at least the cut at 24th or better. If I defeat Qarabag, Lugano and Shamrock, it gives me 9 points: is that enough? Will I need a result against Slavia, Lazio, Sociedad, Tottenham? I honestly have no clue.

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I believe when the draws were made the projection was 9 points, but I feel it's very unpredictable especially with so many sides involved. I think it's gonna take a few seasons to really predict across the 3 comps to see the averages. I'd like to think beating those 3 clubs would be enough or 3 wins in general. I wouldn't like to predict projection for Top 8

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@Danimal5981 wrote:

the tricky thing is, in the old 4 teams in a group you could calculate how much points you'd need to advance. In this 36 league format, I could not imagine what would be enough to make at least the cut at 24th or better. If I defeat Qarabag, Lugano and Shamrock, it gives me 9 points: is that enough? Will I need a result against Slavia, Lazio, Sociedad, Tottenham? I honestly have no clue.

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Same here mate. Sir Alex used to say you needed to win the home games and not lose the away games. But playing opponents just once, you can't really use that guideline anymore, can you? I mean, playing one of the absolute favourites at home, then playing a European debutant away, surely the latter would be the one where you'd expect to win the points. Bottomline, this certainly will take some time to get used to. Also counting the coefficient points, which you and I have a habit of doing. I need to learn how to do this with the new format.

@JustinCase0110

@Danimal5981 

Surely, you just set out to win every game...?
🙂