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Goal.com Christmas Shopping: Who Should Ajax Buy?
Goal.com's transfer special series comes to focus on the Godenzonen...
| Bet: | Returns: | Inter £12.50 | Draw £57.50 | Novara £100.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Inter £12.90 | Draw £50.00 | Novara £110.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Inter £12.50 | Draw £55.00 | Novara £100.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Inter £12.50 | Draw £55.00 | Novara £120.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Inter £12.50 | Draw £50.00 | Novara £100.00 |
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Dec 25, 2009 9:21:19 AM
Expectations were high at Ajax going into the 2009-10 campaign after the arrival of new head coach Martin Jol, especially after the capture of Dutch international Demy de Zeeuw, who has immediately developed into a key player with a string of classy performances. Furthermore, Jeroen Verhoeven, Thimothee Atouba, and Marko Pantelic were added to the Ajax squad. Verhoeven was brought in as a back-up for shot stoppers Maarten Stekelenburg and Kenneth Vermeer and hasn’t been called upon yet. Atouba, on the other hand, got his chance at the beginning of the season and miserably failed to impress. Pantelic has had his fair share of criticism in the press, but it’s still too early to judge the Serbian.
The Godenzonen qualified for the knockout stages of the Europa League without too much trouble, but the 3-1 home loss against Anderlecht was a serious blow. The upcoming two-legged tie against Juventus will prove to be a serious test for the Amsterdam side.
Martin Jol’s men haven’t exactly been under-performing in the Eredivisie, but they have been unable to keep up with Twente and PSV. Ajax have already spilt 13 points and trail unbeaten table toppers Twente by nine points, meaning that they will face a tough task if they are to win this year’s Eredivisie.
Goalkeepers
No additions are required here as long as Maarten Stekelenburg isn’t leaving Amsterdam. Young back-up stopper Kenneth Vermeer is possibly the best reserve goalie around in the Eredivisie and the 23-year-old will be able to step in for Stekelenburg if needed without giving the Ajax fans a reason to be worried.
Defence
Ajax's backline was a problem in the past couple of seasons, but the Amsterdam side have been rather solid at the back this term. Gregory van der Wiel is without a doubt one of the best young right backs around Europe, while Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen are a compatible and strong duo at centre-back. However, despite some encouraging displays of late, there are still huge question marks at left back over versatile youngster Vurnon Anita. The 20-year-old has heart but is extremely impulsive and it shows that he’s not actually a defender. Alternative Thimothee Atouba is not up for the standard and hasn’t justified his hefty wages, while it remains to be seen whether recently-acquired Danish youngster Nicolai Boilesen is first team material just yet.
Players linked include Wolfsburg’s Martin Pekarik and Real Madrid’s Royston Drenthe, but both players seem to be unlikely transfer targets. The Amsterdam giants are more likely to make a move for Bayern Munich defender Edson Braafheid. The Dutch international snubbed Ajax for an adventure at FCB last summer, but Braafheid is struggling to get regular first team action at the Bavarian side. Bayern coach Louis van Gaal prefers Holger Badstuber in the left back position and Braafheid’s spot in Holland’s World Cup squad could be in danger if he doesn’t get more playing time. Bayern signed the former Twente star for a reported fee of €2 million last summer and a similar fee would probably be enough to lure him back to Holland.
Midfield
The midfield is a bit of a tricky area to analyse. Ajax have quite a strong midfield with class acts such as Demy de Zeeuw and Eyong Enoh in the position of holding midfielders, while Ismail Aissati is one of the most creative playmakers in the Eredivisie. Additionally, youngsters such as Mitchell Donald and Siem de Jong provide decent cover if any of the aforementioned three are unable to participate.
However, for some reason, Ajax have struggled in midfield on occasions. There’s little doubt about the class of De Zeeuw, but both Enoh and Aissati have been too inconsistent in the first half of the season. The Ajax midfield really misses a spark of creativity if Aissati doesn’t deliver and Jol recently expressed his worries about this situation.
Ajax were linked with a move for Boca Juniors starlet Nicolas Gaitan earlier this month, but I don’t really see them making a move for the Argentinian. Gaitan won’t be available on the cheap and Ajax will focus on offloading some dead wood instead of bolstering their squad unless absolutely necessary. With the young Christian Eriksen impressing in the under-18 team, Ajax are more likely to await the development of the Danish youngster.
Attack
Ajax’s frontline definitely needs some fresh blood, especially on the right wing. Dennis Rommedahl and Kennedy Bakircioglu both lack the quality to help the Godenzonen to another level and Jol has opted to use star player Luis Suarez on the right wing more than once. It’s not a big secret that the Ajax skipper prefers to act as a centre forward though, meaning that a new right winger is needed in the Amsterdam ArenA.
The Europa League hopefuls haven’t been linked with any attackers just yet, but on loan Inter youngster Marko Arnautovic could be a very useful addition to the Ajax squad. The versatile attacker appears to be surplus to requirements at Inter though and the Italian champions could be tempted to send Arnautovic to Ajax, like they did with Kerlon earlier this year. The Austrian international is owned by Twente, but the Tukkers recently stated that they are reluctant to welcome Arnautovic back to Enschede.
IN (2): Edson Braafheid (Bayern Munich), Marko Arnautovic (Inter/Twente)
OUT (7): Bruno Silva, George Ogararu, Thimothee Atouba, Rasmus Lindgren, Kennedy Bakircioglu, Dennis Rommedahl, Dario Cvitanich
Stefan Coerts, Goal.com
The Godenzonen qualified for the knockout stages of the Europa League without too much trouble, but the 3-1 home loss against Anderlecht was a serious blow. The upcoming two-legged tie against Juventus will prove to be a serious test for the Amsterdam side.
Martin Jol’s men haven’t exactly been under-performing in the Eredivisie, but they have been unable to keep up with Twente and PSV. Ajax have already spilt 13 points and trail unbeaten table toppers Twente by nine points, meaning that they will face a tough task if they are to win this year’s Eredivisie.
Goalkeepers
No additions are required here as long as Maarten Stekelenburg isn’t leaving Amsterdam. Young back-up stopper Kenneth Vermeer is possibly the best reserve goalie around in the Eredivisie and the 23-year-old will be able to step in for Stekelenburg if needed without giving the Ajax fans a reason to be worried.
Defence
Ajax's backline was a problem in the past couple of seasons, but the Amsterdam side have been rather solid at the back this term. Gregory van der Wiel is without a doubt one of the best young right backs around Europe, while Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen are a compatible and strong duo at centre-back. However, despite some encouraging displays of late, there are still huge question marks at left back over versatile youngster Vurnon Anita. The 20-year-old has heart but is extremely impulsive and it shows that he’s not actually a defender. Alternative Thimothee Atouba is not up for the standard and hasn’t justified his hefty wages, while it remains to be seen whether recently-acquired Danish youngster Nicolai Boilesen is first team material just yet.
Players linked include Wolfsburg’s Martin Pekarik and Real Madrid’s Royston Drenthe, but both players seem to be unlikely transfer targets. The Amsterdam giants are more likely to make a move for Bayern Munich defender Edson Braafheid. The Dutch international snubbed Ajax for an adventure at FCB last summer, but Braafheid is struggling to get regular first team action at the Bavarian side. Bayern coach Louis van Gaal prefers Holger Badstuber in the left back position and Braafheid’s spot in Holland’s World Cup squad could be in danger if he doesn’t get more playing time. Bayern signed the former Twente star for a reported fee of €2 million last summer and a similar fee would probably be enough to lure him back to Holland.
Midfield
The midfield is a bit of a tricky area to analyse. Ajax have quite a strong midfield with class acts such as Demy de Zeeuw and Eyong Enoh in the position of holding midfielders, while Ismail Aissati is one of the most creative playmakers in the Eredivisie. Additionally, youngsters such as Mitchell Donald and Siem de Jong provide decent cover if any of the aforementioned three are unable to participate.
However, for some reason, Ajax have struggled in midfield on occasions. There’s little doubt about the class of De Zeeuw, but both Enoh and Aissati have been too inconsistent in the first half of the season. The Ajax midfield really misses a spark of creativity if Aissati doesn’t deliver and Jol recently expressed his worries about this situation.
Ajax were linked with a move for Boca Juniors starlet Nicolas Gaitan earlier this month, but I don’t really see them making a move for the Argentinian. Gaitan won’t be available on the cheap and Ajax will focus on offloading some dead wood instead of bolstering their squad unless absolutely necessary. With the young Christian Eriksen impressing in the under-18 team, Ajax are more likely to await the development of the Danish youngster.
Attack
Ajax’s frontline definitely needs some fresh blood, especially on the right wing. Dennis Rommedahl and Kennedy Bakircioglu both lack the quality to help the Godenzonen to another level and Jol has opted to use star player Luis Suarez on the right wing more than once. It’s not a big secret that the Ajax skipper prefers to act as a centre forward though, meaning that a new right winger is needed in the Amsterdam ArenA.
The Europa League hopefuls haven’t been linked with any attackers just yet, but on loan Inter youngster Marko Arnautovic could be a very useful addition to the Ajax squad. The versatile attacker appears to be surplus to requirements at Inter though and the Italian champions could be tempted to send Arnautovic to Ajax, like they did with Kerlon earlier this year. The Austrian international is owned by Twente, but the Tukkers recently stated that they are reluctant to welcome Arnautovic back to Enschede.
IN (2): Edson Braafheid (Bayern Munich), Marko Arnautovic (Inter/Twente)
OUT (7): Bruno Silva, George Ogararu, Thimothee Atouba, Rasmus Lindgren, Kennedy Bakircioglu, Dennis Rommedahl, Dario Cvitanich
Preferred Line-Up (4-2-1-3)
Stekelenburg
Van der Wiel Alderweireld Vertonghen Braafheid
De Zeeuw Enoh
Aissati
Arnautovic Suarez Emanuelson
Stekelenburg
Van der Wiel Alderweireld Vertonghen Braafheid
De Zeeuw Enoh
Aissati
Arnautovic Suarez Emanuelson
Stefan Coerts, Goal.com
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