‘Fine, despite juggling with the grab bag’

Exactly halfway through the season, the Premier League has entered the winter break. The players and coaches of the Premier League clubs are enjoying Christmas dinners with their families and some well-deserved rest these days before the football season resumes in early January. A good moment to take stock.

With a Studio Voetbal panel consisting of Rafael van der Vaart, Pierre van Hooijdonk and Theo Janssen, we look back on the first half of the season for the clubs from the traditional top three. They answer four questions about the past months and the coming months. Today in part 2: Ajax.

Van der Vaart: “If you see where Ajax comes from, I think it’s in good shape. I’m not really into that many changes – and the last phase was less so – but in general it was fine. I see that the players go through fire for Francesco Farioli and that they are on the field with a smile. That is the biggest gain.”

Van Hooijdonk: “Numerically it was very good. In terms of football and magic, it is always a surprise what we are presented with. Apart from the matches against PSV and Feyenoord, it was mediocre. Farioli is ‘overperforming’ with Ajax. That is good for Ajax and the trainer, but what you see is not heart-warming.”

Janssen: “I would attach a grade to it: a 6.5. Numerically it was OK. But in terms of football, Ajax stands for courage, daring, beautiful, recognizable football. You don’t see that at all now. It is based on coincidence. That is very noticeable. The grab bag is used. Before the match we grab 11 players and we make a formation from that. Now we have five men at the back stands for, there is nothing left of it at the moment.”

Van der Vaart: “I think Kenneth Taylor plays very well. He is everywhere and gives the gas the entire match. His goal at Feyenoord was typical in that respect.”

Van Hooijdonk: “Youri Baas is the first one that comes to mind. Mika Godts, perhaps, has been away for a while, but he is one who makes you sit on the edge of your seat, especially when the rest of you are like this. little happens.”

Janssen: “Kian Fitz-Jim is doing quite well. Only if you are a reasonable player at Excelsior, not even the player and you are just as important at Ajax, that also says something about the level of Ajax’s selection at this moment.”

Together with data agency Opta, we selected three striking facts about Ajax’s first half of the season:

Van der Vaart: “I rate Brobbey very highly, but he will also expect more from the last few months. It is a bit restless in the finishing and at Ajax you actually have to finish as a striker. The ketchup bottle theory has come to fruition after that goal. It hasn’t really worked yet against Maccabi Tel Aviv. It is also annoying for a striker if you are substituted so often.”

Van Hooijdonk: “Josip Sutalo. Wasn’t good last year. My choice has to do with his status as a Croatian international. Otherwise I chose Brobbey.”

Janssen: “How many names do you want? Branco van den Boomen. He is a player who has done well in France. We actually already knew that his speed and pace were not optimal and we are confirmed in this. I had hoped for more from him. .”

Van der Vaart: “I think Ajax will finish third. When Farioli came everyone was sceptical, but so far I am reasonably to very satisfied with him. I also did not think that Ajax would immediately become champion again. Feyenoord and PSV are ultimately just a little further.”

Van Hooijdonk: “Every week with the best eleven and Ajax is a serious candidate for second place. If Farioli continues to use the grab bag, things could go wrong and Ajax could lose four times in a row. That is close.”

Janssen: “Farioli wants to keep everyone involved. I’m afraid that if he continues to do this, he will not keep the players involved, but will lose players. Ultimately, as a footballer you want to play football every week. After the winter break, he really needs to go to a consistency, a steady eleven. If he doesn’t do that, he will lose the team.”