SirBalon 69 858 Posted May 10, 2017 I Hope Ajax can hold on and make the final, it would be great for them and also good for Dutch football who have taken a big of a battering due to the poor performances from the National team. Quote Ajax's hopes of long-term financial stability rest on the Dutch club keeping together a talented young squad, according to CEO Edwin van der Sar. Despite having an average age of just 22, Ajax's current crop of players has this season rekindled memories of the club's past glories, taking them to a first European final in more than two decades. They face Olympique Lyonnais in the second-leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday, holding a 4-1 advantage from the first match in Amsterdam. European champions four times, Ajax have recently gained a reputation for being a feeder club, selling on top talent to richer rivals in England, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Van der Sar says they should avoid the short-term temptation of cashing in on the latest generation and look to build a business that can compete again with the continent's elite. 'We want to make Ajax more financially more stable and are looking to close the gap on the European front,' the former Manchester United goalkeeper said. 'We are not reaching the €600million-€700m (£500m-£588m) budget that the top clubs in Europe are making mainly through sponsoring, TV revenue in their country and revenues from the Champions League. 'We want to do it differently, by focusing on quality and maintaining the best players.' Ajax have an enviable reputation for developing talented young players, but the current team is arguably the most exciting since the club reached the Champions League quarter-finals in 2003. With a core of young Dutch players strengthened by shrewd signings such as Cameroon Under-20 goalkeeper Andre Onana from Barcelona and winger Amin Younes from Borussia Monchengladbach, questions linger over whether Ajax will be able to keep their squad together next season. 'The Dutch league is not one of the strongest five leagues in the world or even Europe and that's why it is difficult to maintain,' Van der Sar added. 'But at the moment we are in now, reaching a semi and hopefully a final, we have to take it on to next year.' The current generation at Ajax includes Justin Kluivert, whose father Patrick scored the only goal when they beat AC Milan to win the Champions League final in 1995. Other young prospects to shine at Ajax are attacking midfielder Donny van de Beek, 20, and teenage centre back Matthijs de Ligt, who in March became the youngest player to be capped by the Netherlands since 1931. 'Ajax has always been about homegrown players developed in a small country,' said Van der Sar, who was also part of that 1995 team with Kluivert senior. 'The importance of having youth players combined with one or two buys is what has made our tremendous current season.' A long overdue shot at European glory is the reward that awaits Ajax for the thrilling football produced under coach Peter Bosz, who took over at the start of the season. 'It has been 25 years this week since we played Torino in the final of the UEFA Cup and won the tournament,' Van der Sar added. 'Here at Ajax it has been too quiet for the last 20 years.' Ajax look likely to miss out on the Eredivisie title this season, trailing Feyenoord by a point with only one match to play. 'We have done OK in the Champions League over the last few years but have not reached the knockout stages, and that will be our new objective for next season, along with the domestic title,' he concluded. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Panflute 405 Posted May 11, 2017 Really hard to call. Ajax already proved to be inconsistent in the second leg against Schalke. I expect Lyon to be better prepared than in their first game, but honestly I don't see their defence improving to the point of adecuacy. If Ajax plays attacking football like in the first game instead of trying to cling to the 0, they'll surely score enough goals to crush Lyon's dreams. My gratuitous prediction: 3-2 for Lyon, but I hope I'm wrong and Ajax crush them a second time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SirBalon 69 858 Posted May 11, 2017 Worried for this one, Lyon get an early goal Ajax might sink Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SirBalon 69 858 Posted May 11, 2017 Ajax take the lead, Dolberg. 1-5 now on agg Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stan 9,342 Posted May 11, 2017 fucking love Dolberg. crucial goal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SirBalon 69 858 Posted May 11, 2017 Ajax in control, what a team at this level Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SirBalon 69 858 Posted May 11, 2017 Very bizzare Lyon look like they have given up, strange no one tracking back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stan 9,342 Posted May 11, 2017 interesting call there. penalty given but I thought De Ligt got a touch on the ball first. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Machado 1,216 Posted May 11, 2017 9 minutes ago, VanPanna said: Very bizzare Lyon look like they have given up, strange no one tracking back. It's rigged Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mel81x 1,961 Posted May 11, 2017 What a game this is turning out to be. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stan 9,342 Posted May 11, 2017 wooooow 2-1 Lyon! 2 goals just before HT! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SirBalon 69 858 Posted May 11, 2017 (edited) 2-1 Lyon now. Set up 2nd half. Ajax should of killed this game early had chances. I think Ajax will score again as the game is soo open. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stan 9,342 Posted May 11, 2017 3-1 Lyon! Gonna be a nervy 10 minutes for Ajax now... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stan 9,342 Posted May 11, 2017 Ajax down to 10 now! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SirBalon 69 858 Posted May 11, 2017 Wow almost had a heart attack! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asura 306 Posted May 11, 2017 What a match that was, nervy moments at the end for Ajax after that red card. Lyon would be kicking themselves for not finishing any of those chances they had after the red card. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mel81x 1,961 Posted May 11, 2017 At the end of the first half I was thinking this is getting interesting and I am glad Ajax went through in the end. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SirBalon 69 858 Posted May 11, 2017 3 minutes ago, Asura said: What a match that was, nervy moments at the end for Ajax after that red card. Lyon would be kicking themselves for not finishing any of those chances they had after the red card. Ajax should of finished the game in the first half, but they wont care now as they made the final. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asura 306 Posted May 11, 2017 7 minutes ago, VanPanna said: Ajax should of finished the game in the first half, but they wont care now as they made the final. Ajax vs Man Utd is going to be good, I totally expect Mourinho to get all defensive against this good football playing Ajax Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SirBalon 69 858 Posted May 11, 2017 (edited) 3 minutes ago, Asura said: Ajax vs Man Utd is going to be good, I totally expect Mourinho to get all defensive against this good football playing Ajax Yea Mourinho will kill this game which could of be great. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asura 306 Posted May 11, 2017 1 minute ago, VanPanna said: Yea Mourinho will kill this game which could of be great. imagine the wankfest he will have for himself if man utd wins the final Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SirBalon 69 858 Posted May 11, 2017 1 minute ago, Asura said: imagine the wankfest he will have for himself if man utd wins the final They have been embarassing, struggled at home agaisnt teams they should be putting away. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SirBalon 69 858 Posted May 13, 2017 Matthijs De Ligt after the game, controlling the chants of the fans and he is only 17! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asura 306 Posted May 13, 2017 5 hours ago, VanPanna said: Matthijs De Ligt after the game, controlling the chants of the fans and he is only 17! Can you translate the chant? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SirBalon 69 858 Posted May 13, 2017 (edited) 13 minutes ago, Asura said: Can you translate the chant? Where do Jews come from? Israel far from here! Do you live there too?Yes, there live super jews! Do Jews find football nice? If they watch Ajax! Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Amsterdam Something like that Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asura 306 Posted May 13, 2017 8 minutes ago, VanPanna said: Where do Jews come from? Israel far from here! Do you live there too?Yes, there live super jews! Do Jews find football nice? If they watch Ajax! Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Amsterdam Something like that Why Jews? Are they related to the club anyways? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SirBalon 69 858 Posted May 13, 2017 1 minute ago, Asura said: Why Jews? Are they related to the club anyways? Amsterdam was a huge jewish area before the 2nd world war. Ajax just represent the jews of Amsterdam, their nickname is sons of god. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SirBalon 2,607 Posted May 13, 2017 (edited) 6 minutes ago, VanPanna said: Amsterdam was a huge jewish area before the 2nd world war. Ajax just represent the jews of Amsterdam, their nickname is sons of god. Even though "Ajax" is a pagan god! Yep, I knew this and Barça goes along the same path which is something many people don't know about the city and the reality of the founding of the club. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SirBalon 69 858 Posted May 13, 2017 6 minutes ago, SirBalon said: Even though "Ajax" is a pagan god! Yep, I knew this and Barça goes along the same path which is something many people don't know about the city and the reality of the founding of the club. Well yea Ajax isnt a jewish club or have Jewish roots. It was just that Amsterdam used to take jews in from all over the place, even the ones forced out of Spain and Portugal. Amsterdam is a Mokum, a safe haven for Jews as well as a few other Dutch places. So alot of the orginal fans were jews. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SirBalon 69 858 Posted May 13, 2017 13 minutes ago, SirBalon said: Even though "Ajax" is a pagan god! Yep, I knew this and Barça goes along the same path which is something many people don't know about the city and the reality of the founding of the club. There is a great film a jewish girl made about Ajax and Jews. 23 minutes ago, Asura said: Why Jews? Are they related to the club anyways? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
