Ajax still shopping around and on the move

For the first time in decades, Ajax started the new season with training yesterday without a new signing to present. The only new face was that of Martin Jol, the new Ajax coach.

“But I do hope we will change that still,” Jol said after having led his first training in front of 1000s of fans at sports complex The Future (De Toekomst).

It’s not that Ajax wasn’t active. In every line of the team, Ajax has a couple of players it likes to add to the mix, but experienced players like Boulahrouz, Braafheid, Schaars, Van der Vaart or Nicklas Bendtner are not available, or not ready yet. Jol would have loved to sign Arsenal striker Bendtner but Arsene Wenger doesn’t wat to see the Danish player leave. And FC Twente made it clear to Elia that if he leaves, he won’t go to the competition.

“Everyone knows we lost four of five specialists in the last two seasons. Players like Sneijder, Huntelaar, Stam, Davids, you name them. I won’t mention names, but we still have a list of players who can make the difference. We did score a lot last season, but every game we trailed with 0-1, we lost. So, I do hope the players Ajax signed last season will step up to the plate now. I assume that they will be settled in by now and can start to improve.”

Last week, Jol went and checked out Miralem Sulejmani during the Youth EC in Sweden. “He may have disappointed some, but he was involved in 20 goals we scored. I hope he will continue to develop, he’s one of the lads that needs to lead.”

In the queste for the first title in 5 years, Ajax will train mostly at De Toekomst. Sometimes even behind closed doors…

Every coach before Jol wanted to train at De Toekomst, but no one succeeded where Jol did. And it’s not because of the hassle Marco van Basten underwent with supporters storming the pitch. “No,”says Jol. “It’s about club culture. I analyse what we need from the football perspective. I don’t want opponents to be able to see what we’re working on. Some morning sessions will be behind closed doors. We can’t just let anyone in all the time. This is Ajax’ home. And you need to be able to close your home off for visitors, otherwise you go nuts.”

Ajax is the first club in Holland to have all elements of the club on one location, like most English clubs have. PSV does have De Herdgang, but the office personnel is located in the Philips Stadium. Ajax expects their office staff to move to De Toekomst soon.

With this moce, Ajax is back where it started, so to speak. Till 1995, Ajax always had the professionals and the youth together in De Meer. The stars will be totally accessible for the younger talents. But, there will still be a difference: the hot dog sold to the dad of the D-pupil will come from a different kitchen than the lunch for Luis Suarez or Martin Jol.

Ajax is currently preparing a new pitch for the Ajax 1 team, a field that can be closed for prying eyes of the fans, media and competition. De main gate of De Toekomst will be opened up every midday for who ever wants to come in: youth players, parents, scouts, media and fans…