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Ajax lazy, easy and spending big…

February 10th, 2008 | By: Jan | 22 Comments »

Peter Wekking’s column in VI:

Mid december Ajax presented their cooperation plans with the Chinese football federation. It moved me to tears. “Ajax wants to share their know-how with the Chinese top clubs,” sounded the quotes among the clattering of champaign glasses.

The whole Chinese nation sighed in relief. At last, the football Gods from Amsterdam came to the football desert of China. Hundreds of millions of people are lining up to receive the evangelism from Mokum. Amen!

But, the Chinese are smart. One day, they will ask: how do we develop a right back? The Amsterdam gurus will look at each other and mumbled: eh…we can’t remember… See, these days, we at Ajax buy right backs… Some 13 years ago, Ajax was the best. Also in youth development. Turning caterpillars into butterflies. Even the simple position of right back: every now and then a tackle, every now and then a pass to midfield, a bit of running forward…for these type of players Ajax depends on the rest of the world.

In 2006 Ajax paid 3 mio euros for George Ogararu. One year later, Jurgen Colin was signed. Six months later, Ajax paid almost 4 mio euros for another jack-in-the-box, Bruno Silva. Almost 8 mio euros for three right backs in two years. Some people are committed for life for less… It puts the scouting and the signing policies of “they who once were the best” in a sour perspective… Ajax was the club who got Markus Rosenberg from Malmo FF and didn’t see Alfonso Alves. Ajax was the club who thought the financial demands of Landzaat were too spicy, but benchwarmer Albert Luque is making millions a year without playing.

Ajax recognized the skills of Huntelaar and Suarez when they were already valued at respectively 9 and 7 million euros. Ajax let Rasmus Lindgren leave to Groningen for free and signed him back last week for 2,5 million euros. And maybe we shouldn’t even mention Kenneth Perez here…

Ajax has placed the scouting in the hands of provincial clubs in the North and the East. Whenever the players are fully developed there, Ajax is prepared to grab the wallet. Huntelaar and Heerenveen, Suarez and Groningen, Kennedy and Engelaar from Twente, Suarez, Silva and Lindgren from Groningen… In a while, Ajax will get the Martini tower from Groningen to replace the Wester-tower as well.

And now, Ajax installed a committee to assess what went wrong with the club. The conclusion is easy. Ajax is lazy, easy and likes to spend big. The club doesn’t develop, doesn’t scout, the club just follows the provincials. Or, Ajax is looking for a farmer. And China has 400 millions of those, so that cooperation thing will be very helpful…

Tags: Ajax, Group C, Huntelaar, Kenneth Perez, Oranje, The Netherlands

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Comments

By Moni | February 10th, 2008 at 6:47 am

Is it true that there is a posibble transfer from tunisia Chermiti to Ajax ?
ore the chikhaoui rumours ?

Posted from Netherlands

By dirk v.d berg | February 10th, 2008 at 9:04 am

Another loss for Ajax, just when they had a chance to close the gap between them and Eindhoven.

Posted from Canada

By Jan | February 10th, 2008 at 3:29 pm

Ajax played a bad game. Saw it live on Setanta Sports. Perez and Kennedy were hopeless, the midfield was passed over and Ajax was lured into the same kick and rush game as Roda plays. Incredible…

There was a highpoint though… 18 year old Siem de Jong in midfield. He played like Pirlo at AC Milan (Marco, it seems we found our Pirlo for the future!). Smart, great passing, gutsy, assist on Huntelaar… A guy to watch!

Posted from Australia

By Jan | February 10th, 2008 at 3:42 pm

Hoi Jan,
I can’t believe Ajax lost to Roda. Did you watch the highlights? Was it a deserved loss.
I’m an Ajax fan but I can’t stand our supermarket attitude, we keep young players to sell them?
When will we lift a Champions’ League Cup again?

I hope the glory days aren’t behind, honestly…!

Posted from Italy

By dirk v.d berg | February 10th, 2008 at 5:56 pm

Robben and Drenthe both scored for Real Madrid today, 7-0 over Real Valladoid, without van Nistelrooij or Sneijder.

Posted from Canada

By Miguel Rosado | February 10th, 2008 at 7:06 pm

Robben and Drenthe played very well today scoring and assisting as well both of them.

By Mario Rosado (Dutch admirer) | February 10th, 2008 at 7:23 pm

Robben!!!I am happy for him, hopefully he stays fit for a long time now.

By Bruce | February 10th, 2008 at 9:01 pm

Jan. Congratulations on 1000 posts! Let me say I look forward to reading this blog every day, and you have done a great job running it! Well done!

Posted from Republic Of Korea

By Ramy | February 10th, 2008 at 10:05 pm

way to go robben and drenthe.. our offensive creative players are gonna be one hell of an asset for Italy and France to deal with

Posted from Canada

By Jan | February 11th, 2008 at 1:33 am

Thanks Bruce… I thought we hit the 1000 mark already, but still…

Posted from Australia

By Bruce | February 11th, 2008 at 3:24 am

On the main page, it now says 1000 posts, so that’s what I went by… Maybe it’s more, I dunno. Nevertheless, keep em coming!

Posted from Republic Of Korea

By Jan | February 11th, 2008 at 4:17 am

I watched the whole match. It was deserved in a sense that Roda dominated the playing style and lured Ajax in their gameplay. Instead of playing their position play, Ajax was tempted to run and canter with Roda. The difference was the fighting spirit and the effectiveness of the strikers. Perez and Kennedy at Ajax’ side were hopeless. Huntelaar played a great game actually, and so did Siem de Jong, as I said. But Ajax’ midfield couldn’t make a fist and Roda’s strikers were a contstant threat. In all honesty, Ajax was denied a penalty (hands in box) and Ajax also scored a beautiful second goal, which was canceled for off side (rightfully so). It could have gone both ways and Ajax had the better opportunities in the first half, but they were sloppy and a bit too opportunistic.

Posted from Australia

By goose | February 11th, 2008 at 1:13 pm

Siem deJong is the one great thing Ajax has brought dutch football this year … it has to be said; Cruijff has been warning about this for years… it all went wrong for them since Morton Olson and it never got better since…whats with the youth-academy?? why all the oppertunistic buyings?? this repport will help nothing and nobody

Hope Robben likes to sit cause thats the only thing hes gonna do at the EC! Things are already too late for Drenthe…

btw Jan; did you know my team DenHaag is almost bankrupt?!! great change that this will be our last season!

Posted from Netherlands

By goose | February 11th, 2008 at 1:26 pm

btw; heres a good tube on our win in Split…sorry for the Balkan commentators

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4I5UeXkjuQ

still think its very importent at we know at least know that its not only potential but thAT we actually still can play

Posted from Netherlands

By dirk v.d berg | February 11th, 2008 at 3:22 pm

Gregory van der Wiel, I belive his name is, has looked pretty good in the games he’s played. He plays as defensive midfielder for Ajax, I saw him play in the JohanCruyff-Schaal, and I thought he’s a pretty promising player.

Posted from Canada

By Jan | February 11th, 2008 at 8:38 pm

Goose, I read about Den Haag… That is horrible. The number 3 city in Holland! Even Eindhoven is smaller I s’pose. And Rob Jansen was involved, wasn’t he… I can’t believe this. Where is Martin Jol? Where are the people with vision and money…

Or, is ADO Den Haag doomed…?

Goose?

Posted from Australia

By Miguel Rosado | February 11th, 2008 at 11:58 pm

@goose: do you really think it’s too late for Drenthe and that Robben will be on the bench the whole EC if he is fit?. I think that if Robben is match fit he will play as a starter and I also think it’s kind of late for Drenthe but you never know he might be a surprise call.
Babel and Drenthe played the U-21 EC together and Drenthe was the best of the team.

By Jan | February 12th, 2008 at 12:26 am

Marco has three players for the left back position: Emanuelson, Bouma and De Cler. He has Robben, Vaart and Emanuelson for the left midfielder’s position… No, that will rule Drenthe out, unless Drenthe plays a stunning second season-half in Madrid.

Robben will be part of the group, but I can’t see him replace Vaart, when the latter is fit. Robben has always been a good sub, so I think he will be the go-to-man if the team is stuck…

Posted from Australia

By goose | February 12th, 2008 at 12:20 pm

@MR; yes, i think Drenthe will play the Olympics with Foppes team…Robben will not start (unless vPersie gets injured), think the starting line-up in the Croatia game will be the starting point, change Huntelaar for vNistelrooij and vPersie for Babel… so also no place for Seedorf!!

just read that the medical staff at Real think that Robben is injured so much cause he doesnt walk right!! haha ., always tought Robben walked like an invalid girl..haha

@Jan; well were saved for the moment, some extra hypotheek and were saved for the rest of the season, but it doenst look good on the long run…only a couple of 1000 fans at a home game, no big sponsors and then it becomes a circel you cant escape…
Rob Jansen is on our board of directeurs, Jol is after money and isnt gonna waist his good name on DenHaag…its all very sad!! only city counsil can save our ass…or does anyone on this forum have Abramovitsch phone number??

snif-snif

Posted from Netherlands

By Caleb | February 13th, 2008 at 8:08 am

Goose - I believe Abramovich’s number is 1-800-$$$-$$$$. (the $ key is a special button for rich people’s phones). Bad luck for Herenveen.

I just watched the Real Madrid game. Robben played excellent, back to his old level when he was first playing at Chelsea. Drenthe played very well too. About the EU, I see Robben as a super-sub most likely, and Drenthe should go to the Olympics - he’s one for the future, no space for him now.

Posted from Japan

By Thomas | February 27th, 2008 at 7:19 am

I’d like to invite the lot of you to come and have a look at our brandnew Ajax-discussion forum. Out English zone hasn’t really come off the ground yet, so that’s why we’re inviting everyone, English or Dutch speaking, to come and have a look. We’re also looking for a moderator for our English zone in case things really come off the ground, so let us know if you’re interested. http://www.ajaxfans.net/ajaxforum/index.php

Forza Ajax!

Posted from Netherlands

By Jan | February 27th, 2008 at 6:31 pm

Interesting Thomas. thanks for the comment! We’ll check it out.

Posted from Australia

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