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“Great, another Feyenoord-Ajax in De Kuip!”

September 20th, 2008 | By: Jan | 16 Comments »

The Ajax players had this trivia game at the Belgrade airport, after their UEFA cup win. Of the last 13 “classics” in Rotterdam (competition, national cup and play-offs), how many did Ajax not lose?

Huntelaar knew the right answer: “Ten matches, we didn’t lose out of the 13. Pretty good eh?”

Although we hardly see a lot of goals in the recent versions of this epic match, a Feyenoord-Ajax is always special. And the pressure is on Feyenoord, as Gertjan Verbeek knows.

Klaas Jan Huntelaar: “I wouldn’t be happy if I had to go to De Kuip without official goals in my new Ajax jersey. Those two against Borac take the pressure off me.” Coach Marco van Basten also feels his team can prepare in harmony for the classic game. His new star Sulejmani seemed a bit shaken and stirred after the verocious attacks on his ankles in the midweek UEFA match, but he seems fine for Sunday. “I asked for a replacement just to be sure. We won the UEFA cup match and I wanted to stay fit for Feyenoord. My first classic and I can’t wait to play it.”

Huntelaar is happy with the former Heerenveen winger in the team. “He is great to play with. He is quick, has a great through pass and he combines easily. Also, he reads the game well. He instinctively know when to take the ball out of a situation or when to go for the one-on-one. We seem to be on the same page.”

While Ajax could celebrate a bit on the way back to Holland, Feyenoord had to swallow a defeat. The three mannequins in the Maasbuilding next to the Kuip were proof. The three mannequins are equipped with the new Feyenoord kit, but some cynical fan pulled their shorts down, leaving the mannequins with their shorts on their ankles. How symbolical can it get?

Verbeek: “A mental blow? Well, that’s bit too strong. It was a disappointment, yes. We played well over 90 minutes, but it’s little moments that make you lose a game like this. We discussed it at length, because I do feel there is a lot to learn from it. Sounds like a cliche, but it’s true.”

The big question for the Feyenoord fans is, what can Verbeek salvage? The team is still not ready. Players are injured and Feyenoord seems to limp from big game to big game.

Kevin Hofland is another question mark for the game, as is Gio van Bronckhorst.

Verbeek: “If Kevin can’t play it’s quite a blow. Vlaar is out and Hofland is that rare breed of players that actively coaches and leads. He is capable of playing his own game and coach others to make them fuction better.”

A positive point is Roy Makaay’s return. He played 20 minutes against Kalmar and might start against Ajax. Verbeek: “Yeah, I can start Roy. It was too early against Kalmar but that went well. He’s had four more training sessions under his belt now.”

Spanish midfielder Gabri won’t be able to play for Ajax. The Classic is one game too early for him.

Feyenoord will have to try to balance the score between the rivals. Of the 52 competition games in De Kuip, Ajax won 18 games. Feyenoord won one less.

Tags: Ajax, Feyenoord, Gabri, Gio, Group C, Huntelaar, Makaay, Van Basten, Verbeek

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Comments

By Jan | September 20th, 2008 at 11:11 pm

AZ Alkmaar beat PSV Eindhoven 1-0 after having lost the first two competition matches. Van Gaal was euphoric: “They were chasing us constantly, we were on top of them all the time.”

Huub Stevens wasn’t happy. First the buttslapping of Atletico and now this.

FC Groningen are the new leaders in the Dutch competition, but Ajax and Feyenoord both play today (the classic!!).

By goose | September 21st, 2008 at 3:47 am

@Jan; guess wich team is the only team without any points lost?? hehe .. this afternoon we play De Graafschap away if we win……

Az played well, im happy for vGaal

Posted from Netherlands

By Jason | September 21st, 2008 at 6:23 am

Timmer should have saved the shot from Sarpong. In fairness to De Cler he should have had a foul called.

Posted from Canada

By goose | September 21st, 2008 at 6:24 am

anyone here has a feed for the Feyenoord – Ajax game????

Posted from Netherlands

By Jan | September 21st, 2008 at 6:28 am

Well, I’m watching it on Setanta .

Feyenoord started well, working hard but the possession wasn’t turned into opportunities. Ajax had two good shots saved by Timmer. ajax is more lethal.

I like De Cler, Sno and Wijnaldum. The latter a lot. He is only 19 years old by plays smart. Bruins is a disappointment, but so are Makaay and Tomasson. All in all, it’s a different level than Arsenal, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Or should I say Werder Bremen ?

By goose | September 21st, 2008 at 6:34 am

Ajax are 1-0 up, Sapong 37 min.

Posted from Netherlands

By Jan | September 21st, 2008 at 7:38 am

2-2 is the end score. Tomasson scored the equalizer after horrible defending by Ajax. A high ball, the goalie doesn’t do anything and three defenders (!) allow Jon Dahl to head the ball. Unbelievable. Huntelaar scored the 2-1 in the second half, with a late penalty equalizer by Tomasson. Hunter’s goal came after a huge mistake by Hofland and Feyenoord got a soft penalty for a foul on Mols.

On average: mediocre quality of football. Justified draw. Hunter quickly needs to move to England or Spain!

Biseswar played good, but sometimes too cocky. Bruins disappoints with his talent. New South African at Ajax looks like Makelele. Good little player!

By Jason | September 21st, 2008 at 7:43 am

The first goal from Jan Dahl was really shocking. The Ajax defence were asleep for that one.

Posted from Canada

By ghost of steve finnan | September 21st, 2008 at 7:50 am

I thought the level of play was ragged but both teams do have some quality, maybe it being such a classic makes the play a bit more uneven. The penalty call at the end was so weak. And why is Leonardo getting so much run for Ajax? I thought Cvinatich would be the first attacking option after suarez, kjh, and sulejamni.

@Goose, was this game shown on tv in the netherlands?

Posted from United States

By goose | September 21st, 2008 at 2:22 pm

@ghost; well; it was shown live on pay-tv .. the highlights are on national tv (Studio Sport)
looked like the quality was pretty poor but it was a nice and hard fought game

here are all the results;

Fc Utrecht – Willem II ; 1-0

Vitesse – Sparta ; 1-1

Heracles – Groningen ; 1-1

AZ – PSV ; 1-0

Feyenoord – Ajax ; 2-2

De Graafschap – Den Haag ; 2-0 (^%&^%&^$!!!)

Heerenveen – NEC ; 2-1

Roda JC – NAC ; 0-3

Volendam – Fc Twente ; 1-2

1. Fc Groningen
2. Heerenveen
3. Den Haag
4. PSV
5. NAC
6. Willem II

10. Feyenoord
12. Ajax
13. AZ
18. Volendam

Posted from Netherlands

By Jason | September 21st, 2008 at 3:31 pm

Just finished watching ManU vs Chelsea and compared with the Ajax vs Feyenoord rivalry we saw today, I can say that Ajax vs Feyenoord was a much better game to watch. The quality of play was pretty comparable (except for the defending by Ajax); however, the Feyenoord v Ajax game had a lot more fighting and strong challenges which will always make the game more choppy. I also think the stewards at De Kuip are less strict so the atmosphere was more hostile than Stamford Bridge.

We don’t get Eredivisie coverage here in Canada but thanks to this blog I managed to stay awake up until 3:30am to watch the classic and AZ beat PSV via the internet. So thanks Jan

Posted from Canada

By Felipe dos Santos Souza | September 21st, 2008 at 4:17 pm

Not that bad game… I liked the spirit from both teams. And the atmosphere from De Kuip is a show on her own.

Best players: Biseswar, Timmer – always there when Feyenoord needed him -, Sarpong and Huntelaar.

Worst: Hofland and Makaay.

In the end, I agree with Jan: the draw was fair. But it was probably better for Ajax than for Feyenoord. I can not imagine what a tragedy would be a 1-2 defeat, at home, to the main archrival, letting the goal from Hunter when your side was better on pitch. Tomasson saved the day – the Danish is proving he’s not the “ex-player working” I thought he was when in Milan or VfB Stuttgart or even in Villarreal -, but the team didn’t look like a winner side. It can be bad for the 2nd leg against Kalmar, as well as for Eredivisie’s following matches.

@Goose: too bad! But FC Groningen and SC Heerenveen thank De Superboeren…

By Miguel Rosado | September 21st, 2008 at 6:11 pm

It looks like Biseswar and Sarpong are the next 2 players for the future. I remember watching them in an U-17 WK in Peru and they showed they were the best in that Dutch team, it looks like they are finally making their way into top football.

By Michel-Olivier | September 21st, 2008 at 6:18 pm

@ Jan
wijnaldum is 17 years old.

@ anyone
wijnaldum surname is boateng or is it wijnaldum? is he dutch or ghanaian or both?

Posted from United States

By Carlos | September 21st, 2008 at 8:22 pm

Some games I wached over the weekend.
Bayern v Werder – Amazing fast technical football, I wonder why the German national team does not play like the club teams, fast furious running and super control on the ball. Everything clicked for Bremen – Nothing for BM.
Schalke Frankfurt – Boring !!! Schalke after being 1-0 up were content to just pass the ball without shooting at goal. In fact the commentator got so frustrated that he yelled out “Shoot Man !!!!, Oh no not another pass!”
Engelaar mainly “walked” around the middle, never saw him running into space, just stayed in the middle, sometimes got the ball and then (with due credit) did pass the ball to an attacker to split open the defence a few times.
I missed the classic altho it was shown “live”
Liverpool played their usual mystifying and directionless game. (sometimes too mcuh possession doesn’t suit them) ManU v Chelsea, Sar got injured, but correct result although Rooney could have sealed it late but he did a “Drenthe” with the goal wide open. Zuiverloon played ok fro WBA, commentator noted that “typicaly Dutch, he is comfortable on the ball”
When is our next International ?

Posted from Singapore

By Caleb | September 22nd, 2008 at 10:44 am

@Carlos – I noticed the same thing about the Zuiverloon, the commentator also said that he’s comfortable getting up and supporting the attack like a typical Dutch player. I guess he doesn’t know any of our current defenders…

I also watched the Man U vs. Chelsea game and was happy about the result – a draw is the closest thing to both teams losing, haha! Also saw Rooney miss that shot, showing his true over-rated nature.

Arsenal played very well again, although unfortunately Van Persie was rested after playing midweek – I think Wenger is playing it safe, not letting him play too many games in a row, because he can’t afford to have him injured again.

Liverpool was absolutely horrible. They just have absolutely no creativity, no way to break through a team that defends with 11 men. They really need a creative midfielder that can spread passes around and crack open defenses – Gerrard and Alonso are so predictable with long balls every time they get the ball.

Madrid played alright, nothing really special. Ruud looked his usual dangerous self though, scoring an excellent goal. Guti also injured himself and Van der Vaart replaced him, playing well. Not sure if it’s a long term injury for Guti.

Biggest surprise of the weekend was Man City demolishing Portsmouth 6-0! No Dutch players there though…

Posted from Canada

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