super storm

Chapter 1381 He reminds me of Yaya Toure!

Where is Ajax's dilemma?
This is a question with a definite answer.

There is only one reason for the team's long-term lack of competition, and that is that the skills are not as good as others.

The reason for the lack of strength lies in the players.

The club's financial resources are insufficient, the influence of the Eredivisie League is declining, and Ajax lacks sufficient attractiveness. All of these have caused Ajax to be competitive in the European arena, but they also perform poorly in the Netherlands. This requires reflection.

The reason why Ajax was able to sweep Europa that year, Ibrahimovic, van der Vaart, Sneijder, De Jong, Trabelsi and Maxwell and other world-class stars, can be said to have contributed.

Later, Ajax once reached the semi-finals, and also had Yang Yang, Yaya Toure and other leading stars, and their performance was also good.

Later, Suarez appeared, as well as players such as Eriksson and Vertonghen who are currently playing for Tottenham.

But look at Ajax today, how many other players can compare with the above-mentioned players?

From the overall point of view, after Yang Yang left the team, Ajax began to enter a period of turmoil. Van Basten failed to gamble, and the club’s finances were in crisis. Afterwards, Martin Jol’s coaching did not improve. Therefore, the Ajax traditionalists headed by Cruyff launched a velvet revolution and seized the power of the management.

Over the years, under De Boer's coaching, Ajax's domestic performance has improved for a while, but the overall performance is still sluggish, especially in the past two years, with Eriksson and other players leaving the team, Ajax has quickly fallen into a quagmire.

……

"I agree with Pete's analysis just now, and I also think that Ajax's problems lie in the midfield and frontcourt."

Van Gaal was the last to express his opinion, and everyone paid special attention to his thoughts.

"I have watched many Ajax games, and recently I have been studying and analyzing Ajax's games last season. I think this team has two serious problems. One is the lack of advancement and speed in the frontcourt. The other is the disorganization of the midfield, the lack of ability to pass the ball forward, and the lack of pressure on the opponent."

"This has caused the team to make too many crosses and back passes in many games, instead of attacking quickly and creating threats when the opponent's foothold is not stable. This is very fatal."

Yang Yang nodded again and again. Guardiola's Barcelona collapsed because of this.

Too many crosses and back passes will seriously delay the fighter and make the team miss the best counterattack opportunity.

But according to Van Gaal, Ajax's problem is different from Barcelona's problem of ensuring possession. Ajax's lack of frontcourt advancement, running and speed.

To put it simply, the midfielder can't pass the ball, and the frontcourt can't run out of position.

"Last season we played two Champions League games against Vienna, Austria. The opponent's strength was not strong, but it exposed our problems. Klaassen is the team's best passer after Eriksson, but in fact, it is difficult for him to pass the ball under the tight marking of the opponent."

"Bazzol is currently the hottest young player in our team, but in fact, I think his basic skills of passing and receiving the ball are not stable. Many times when the ball reaches his position, it cannot be connected smoothly."

"In addition, the defense of the midfield is also a big problem. In the qualifying match against Vienna, Basil and Sinkherafen conceded a goal due to an unfavorable clearance. These two young players are the best among the club's young players, but they are still not reassuring."

When Van Gaal said this, he looked at the expressions of Van der Sar and others seriously, and his eyes finally fell on Pete Boss, "I agree with Pete's opinion. Our biggest problem now is to increase more dominance in the midfield, especially in terms of ball delivery, defense and pressing. On this basis, we need to add more forward attempts in offense."

"For example, we need players with the ability to carry the ball forward personally, and players who can pass the ball forward quickly. These are what our team currently lacks."

Whether it is Van Gaal or Peter Boss, it is obvious that Ajax needs to innovate in technical and tactical play.

For example, Peter Boss mentioned a concept just now. He said that when Guardiola was coaching Barcelona, ​​he proposed a three-second rule, which means that after the team loses the ball, they should try to get the ball back within three seconds.

The so-called Guardiola's law is to quickly complete the offensive and defensive transition within three seconds. This has also become the mainstream trend in European football in the past few years. All teams, including Real Madrid, are pursuing fast offensive and defensive transitions.

Peter Boss believes that the overall quality and personal ability of Ajax players cannot be compared with the top European teams, so he proposed the five-second law, that is, after Ajax loses the ball, they must strive to get the ball back within five seconds.

To do this, Ajax will need to organize their tactics and build their team around it.

Ajax's traditional style is very similar to Barcelona's. They both tend to press high and press, which can easily leave gaps in the backcourt.

…………

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The new technical director and new head coach have brought a new tactical style and concept.

Ajax will undoubtedly start again in the new season, and no one knows where it will go in the future.

But a looming problem is that Ajax is being poached from the outside world.

The team's biggest favorite is undoubtedly the teenager Bazzol.

This 19-year-old Dutch player is currently the hottest rookie in the Netherlands. He debuted in Eindhoven's youth training. He jumped to the Eindhoven 16-year-old youth team when he was just 19 years old. After his contract expired in [-], he transferred to Ajax for free. He entered the first team in [-] and the Dutch national team in [-].

In the just-concluded season, although Bazzor made mistakes in the Champions League, his overall performance was exceptional. He scored five goals and five assists in 29 league rounds.

Because of this, Bazzor has become the object of competition among the major European teams. As early as the winter break, Naples in Serie A invited Bazzor, and Chelsea also made an offer to Ajax.

In this summer's transfer market, Bazzol is also a sweet potato. Chelsea, Barcelona, ​​Arsenal, Juventus, AC Milan, Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich and other teams all covet him.

"I'm pretty sure that Bazzol's agent and brother, who is also his brother, have had contact with teams like Chelsea and Manchester City. Among them, Manchester City is most interested in Baazol because Guardiola is eager to strengthen the team's midfield. He thinks that Bazzol will be as good as Busquets, whom he promoted when he coached Barcelona. Begiristain has clearly expressed his interest."

Van Gaal was quite helpless about Bazzor's possible departure, because if he really wanted to leave, Ajax would not be able to keep anyone.

In fact, as early as the winter break, Bazzor almost left.

More importantly, the price of this young player will not be too high.

Although the Italian media revealed that Naples had offered a high price of 2000 million euros for Bazzor, in fact, Ajax knew that this was basically impossible, and the real transaction price was around 1000 million euros.

For these giant teams, Bazzol is like a lottery ticket. They would rather buy it back and try their luck than let him stay in Ajax.

"Manchester City is very eager to get Bazzol. Guardiola needs a midfield passer, but obviously, Manchester City does not have such a player, so they need a lot of money to sign up. They want to get Real Madrid's James Rodriguez and De Bruyne, but also want to poach Barcelona's Iniesta and Juventus' Pogba."

"According to the evaluation of the technical team, I'm afraid Bazzor won't be able to keep him. I'm thinking, exchange Bazzor with Manchester City."

"Who?" Yang Yang asked Van Gaal curiously.

"Jadon Sancho."

"It's him!" Yang Yang vaguely remembered him. This player was transferred from Watford to Manchester City, which seemed to be in [-].

"Believe me, he is a very, very good talent, I am familiar with him, and he is very fast, very much in line with the requirements of our current frontcourt players, with Bazzor for Sancho, maybe we can get a transfer income."

"Is he willing to come to the Eredivisie?" Yang Yang asked with concern, he believed in Van Gaal's vision, and when Van Gaal was in charge of Manchester United, it is said that Manchester United scouts also inspected Sancho, so it is not surprising that Van Gaal said he was familiar with him.

"He won't get any opportunities in Manchester City, and it is impossible for Manchester City to let him go to other Premier League teams. He is only 16 years old. If he comes to Ajax, he may be the next you." Van Gaal pointed to Yang Yang and smiled.

Everyone immediately laughed too.

Yang Yang was also 16 years old when he joined Ajax. Many young players also use Yang Yang as a role model.

"In addition, I have read the profiles of players recommended by scouts and agents recently. Some of them are very good. Among them is a player who is currently playing for a French third-tier league team. I think we should introduce them as soon as possible."

"Is there anything special?" Van der Sar asked with concern.

Van Gaal smiled faintly, "He reminds me of Yaya Toure!"

Yaya Toure, currently the star of Manchester City, has a very bad relationship with Guardiola. It is said that he will leave the team this summer, and the Ivorian midfielder is also from Ajax.

What's interesting is that when Van Gaal left Ajax to coach Alkmaar, he snatched away Ajax's most admired Dutch midfielder De Zeuu, so Ajax had to choose plan B and introduced Yaya Toure.

Unexpectedly, Yaya Toure shined in Ajax.

Now Van Gaal said that Yang Yang is also very interested in seeing a player who reminds him of Yaya Toure.

Who is it?

(End of this chapter)