❌❌❌Rebuilding AJAX❌❌❌
AJAX are looking for ways to come out of the hole they've essentially dug themselves. It seems a lifetime ago but just over two years ago in February 2022, Ajax was on the peak of its powers...
Forum Discussion
@JustinCase0110 wrote:Brexit - Akpom and Mengi leaving.
I like the attention to squad numbers. I'm a squad number nerd myself and always issue the numbers for a reason; Previously worn or other reasons.
Interesting with a new winger on the cards. Eager to see whom that might be.
@JustinCase0110 yup, my favorite segment on transfermarket website: kit number history.
@Danimal5981 wrote:
yup, my favorite segment on transfermarket website: kit number history.
Yes, I'm familiar 😉
It's almost OCD-like for me, to be honest. Numbers need to fit to the position the player is going to play. Nicklas Bendtner playing with number 3 as a striker, or Wilfried Bony with number 2. Hate that to the bone. Even when I'm out playing with my +40 football team against other OldBoys/amateur sides, I have a hard time accepting the fact that our central defender picks the number 11 shirt to play in. Come on man, you KNOW you're playing in defence!
Another thing I hate is when high numbers are used. Frank Kessie with number 79 for instance. WHY? Youth players are excusable, but when they grow to senior status, they really shouldn't still play in number 47 (Foden) or 66 (Tranmere Trent) anymore IMO. Rashford was promoted in number 39, then got number 19 and then number 10. That's the way it should be. For that I really like the Spanish system, where numbers 1 to 25 needs to be used, number 1, 13 and 25 for the three keepers.
ON topic, definitely a flying start here, a 7-0 win and a win and wins vs AZ, FC Twente and PSV. Ajax are beginning to look like a true Ajax side.
@JustinCase0110 wrote:Another thing I hate is when high numbers are used. Frank Kessie with number 79 for instance. WHY? Youth players are excusable, but when they grow to senior status, they really shouldn't still play in number 47 (Foden) or 66 (Tranmere Trent) anymore IMO. Rashford was promoted in number 39, then got number 19 and then number 10. That's the way it should be. For that I really like the Spanish system, where numbers 1 to 25 needs to be used, number 1, 13 and 25 for the three keepers.
ON topic, definitely a flying start here, a 7-0 win and a win and wins vs AZ, FC Twente and PSV. Ajax are beginning to look like a true Ajax side.
Ajax uses a hierarchical system, with the first 11 numbers belonging to a position:
1GK, 2RB, 3RCB, 4LCB, 5LB, 6RCM, 7RW, 8LCM, 9ST, 10CAM, 11LW.
Although they've started to let it go since 2023 under Sven Mislintat; a lot of traditional things were thrown overboard then...
Speaking of which, the new number 11 (the first out of the identified candidates fitting within the budget) is...
Most points for Norway (6,000), Czechia (5,500) and Greece (5,000).
Portugal (0,417), France (0,286), Belgium (0,200) have very weak starts.
MENTIONABLE TRANSFERS
- PSV sign goalie Matthey Ryan (free), winger Nikola Vlasic (Torino) and striker Mislav Cutuk (Din. Zagreb), but lose defender Boscagli (Monza) and striker Luuk de Jong (retired)
- Feyenoord makes big money by selling defenders Hancko (Atlético), Lotomba (Gent), Pedersen (Brøndby) and a last-minute sell of attacker Carranza (Parma). They get in return ex-Ajax goalie Kotarski and two unknown low-key attackers Antonio Cordero (Malaga) and Javi Castillo (free)
- AZ sees left back Wolfe depart for Estrela Amadora and get Biumla from Angers in return. They stunt by signing veteran Brazilian winger Willian (previously Chelsea, Arsenal, Fulham, Olympiacos)
- Twente have signed considerable names from Belgium Theo Leoni (Anderlecht) and striker Divok Origi (Milan)
- the newly created Sporting Limburg managed to sign Tadeo Allende from Celta Vigo as new star player.
Meanwhile after two years of considerable profit and low expenditure on transfers, this year Ajax has bought for as much as it has sold, though we have managed to save a lot on salary: A- level contracts (18k - 25k) of Akpom, Mengi and Weghorst (retired) are no more, with Beijmo, Sandler and Kaio all having B-level contracts (10k - 18k). Smit has made a literal 1-on-1 swap with Gaaei, including the length and salary in his contract.
First, an overview of the UEFA seedings (season 3)
AFC Ajax are content with the Champions League draw: we avoid playing teams from England and while we have a tough tail end to the campaign, [A] the last two games are at home and [B] due to the game's ingenious (ahum...,
sarcasm) transfer system, some teams aren't as strong as they used to be at the beginning of career mode. Still, the difference needs to be made in first five games of 2026.On the positive side, Juventus have been abysmal in my save. Ending +30 something in the Champions League. I hope the same for you, otherwise it could be a difficult ending to the League Phase with Bayern, Real Madrid and Juventus. Ouch. So there's a bit of pressure to get the most from the first five games, entering December with a points haul so big that you're not pushed to win against any of these giants.
Some smart transfer business and very Ajax-like with the deals.
The Champions League is all about playing the big clubs and giving fans a memorable night. You will get to do that for sure. Winning the first five games will be crucial.
Ajax v Bayern is a very even match in the Champions League. I remember the two draws in 2018/19 and at the time the records against each other were very similar.
@JustinCase0110 I'm kind of thinking traditionally here: double digits (or: 10 points) out of those first five games: I feel I ought to get results against AC Sparta and FC Shakhtar and the other four points from the games against Leipzig, Roma and Sevilla. That way, any point against Real, Juve or Bayern is a bonus.
@LABoog4 I don't know what to expect really. But looking at team details, I see Leipzig have a squad that includes Denzel Dumfries and Richarlison now, they could be stronger than their original team. However, I look at Juventus and I think that on a good day, I can defeat them. Like I said: it's season 3 (2026/27) and we need to start letting go how those teams are now (in 2024/25), we can no longer see these teams through a lense of what is essentially the past. I see Bayern and as long as Harry Kane doesn't get a shot at goal, I'm good. But then, there's still a transfer window in between...
Leipzig coming out of the dressing room sharper than us: that's all
Although it needs to be said that the difference between two real face strikers from licensed leagues have a disproportional large advantage over defenders. Read: in this game speed & acc are everything - good positioning or awareness of a defender do not compensate for it. It sometimes is very annoying because you cannot play against it. I'm in total control large portions of the game, but when the ball arrives at a Baumgartner, Openda or a Richarlison, it doesn't really matter: the central defenders are sluggishly helpless. Another point is the script of the game, also very difficult to go against even though you know what is going to happen at a certain phase of the game. It takes the fun away of actually playing these Champions League games.
Unlucky loss by the stats story. I agree with you on the game script, even for teams like Dortmund. They might not have the biggest names but when I play them or a Bayern, every striker they have is unstoppable.
I do think the game is more realistic when playing a league outside the main three big ones in EA terms (PL, Ligue 1, La Liga).
@LABoog4 wrote:I do think the game is more realistic when playing a league outside the main three big ones in EA terms (PL, Ligue 1, La Liga).
Defo!
It has become clear that this season the Eredivisie will be for Ajax to lose. Wins come easily for us, while others are struggling: Feyenoord was the team weakened most after the transfers, so their 18 points are actually quite a feat. PSV is starting to recover from a weak start, while Twente has to come from further down. But the gap to everybody else after only eight games is huge...
That was almost too easy: should've been six!
Just falling short against Leipzig, easy win in Prague: Next is a home game vs Roma, that'll show us where we truly stand.
Tough defeat vs Leipzig but great to bounce back with a thumping away win at Sparta.
Interesting how you mention it was almost too easy. Statswise you only have 13 shots vs 7 and 6 vs 4 on target. This does not suggest such a one-sided game, though I know that the xG paints a different picture. Brobbey continues to impress with another hattrick. Aboukhlal seems to thrive in his role. Have you found a new Tadic there?
Almere is geographically based closest to Ajax. Almere is directly to the east of Amsterdam and many of the players who couldn't cut it at Ajax, move to the nextdoor neighbour to make it into professional football. Because of the local proximity, there's extra weight to this David vs Goliath type game.
Recently, Almere have become somewhat of an Angstgegner (bogey team). In last year's successful campaign, Ajax suffered a surprise defeat against Almere. This year again, Almere managed to pull ahead of the visitors. Individual excellence of the Ajax players repaired the damage however. If anything, Almere has shown that Ajax aren't undefeatable (especially in away games) and that the league is still far from done.
At home, Ajax are more dominant than ever. The home side had no problems dealing with the 3rd ranked team in the Eredivisie: Heerenveen. Ajax were already 3-0 up by half time, by (who else than) the duo of Zakaria Aboukhlal and Brian Brobbey.
In the second half they took things easy. Julian Rijkhoff scored after an error by Andries Noppert who delivered a goal kick into the feet of the substitute striker. Ché Nunnely scored a lucky goal from a scrimmage in front of the Ajax goal after a corner, with his shot being deflected by Philippe Sandler's 'third leg'. But if that goal was in dispute whether it was Nunnely's or Sandler's, Heerenveen would return the favour scoring an own goal via Milavanovic, who like Nunnely was once a youth player of Ajax.
Nice little introduction to the Almere "rivalry" or at least the significance of that particular fixture. I had no idea about that.
Results are going as expected, which is a good sign. No signs of slowing down or dropping points to an unexpected side so far.
It is never a good situation when the manager is in the final year of his contract in my opinion. The team is just reaching the point of possibly winning in Europe. A manager distraction is the last thing needed.
However, it would be interesting if the manager left and where he would go.
