Have we become a fable, lost in time?
Ernst Bouwes has launched a scintillating attack on the Ajax system, labelling it as the graveyard for strikers. Excessive pressure on the striker, even within a club, coupled with an emphasis on sticking to position, has plotted the downfall of many an international striker.
"The Ajax number nine has to finish a cross at the near post. And be the one to deliver the ball to the winger from a central position outside the box. Or make a combination with a midfielder. And don't forget to waltz through a defence occasionally. "
I have always thought that Ibrahimovic did the above, with an overdose of style too. Although Bouwes quoted Ibrahimovic's revelations that he faced much more pressure at Ajax than at Juventus, it must be noted that perhaps, contrary to what Bouwes would have us believe, we let him go not because we thought he was not good enough, but because he had problems with Rafael van der Vaart which threatened the unity of the team.
As of the inability of Machlas, Sonck, McCarthy and Charisteas to reproduce their form for Ajax, I would attribute it to their lack of ability. You don't see McCarthy doing particularly well now in Portugal, do you? Charisteas is never quite a proven scorer, even at Werder Bremen. He is Greek, for God's sake! You know Greece can't attack, so what are you exactly expecting from a Greek striker? Sonck had the most promise, but i felt that he faded out more because he was being played as a right winger, rather than a centre forward during his stint. They were not quite good enough, to be honest. Certainly not in Bergkamp and van Basten's league.
So, is the Ajax system obsolete now that there is no one talented enough to play in that fabled system?
'We all know that this is not realistic, except for the homegrown players and technical staff. They are convinced that they are up to it, although the world has changed around them since the early seventies'-Wesley Sonck
4-3-3, wingers to pull wide, centre forward to remain as a pivot, the rest, free to play. that is the basic principle of Ajax's play, immortalised forever by that 1970s team led by Cryuff, emulated by van Basten's team in 1980s and once again emulated by that Golden Generation of the 1990s.
I don't believe that it is impossible to play such a system even in this era. Not when you have watched Ajax play before. You don't need particularly talented players, though i always believe that the young Ajax players are very talented. Once again, i will refer to that team of 2002/2003 which captured the imagination of the world during that magical season. They never quite went all the way, but they fell because of inexperience, not due to the flaws of the system.
It's true that we don't have the player for it now. Ibrahimovic was the man for Ajax. His departure was regretted by many in the stands. He was after all "the Golden One". So what if there is a dearth now? I have the faith that others in the team will make up for the struggling strikers. Ryan Babel might even be the solution. Who knows, a few years down the road, the next van Basten may appear. Treat it as an extended injury crisis. Arsenal plays its own system even without Henry. It is the philosophy, just as it is here at Ajax. You have to believe in your system to play it.
And the system is still relevant. Holland uses it too, to devastating effect. Even Chelsea employs a boring version of it, playing more often with a 4-5-1, but the concept is quite the same, just that they don't do it with the style Ajax always tries to. Style, something Sonck claims is an overrated ideal that is no longer practical. What the hell is Ronaldinho doing then?
"The Ajax number nine has to finish a cross at the near post. And be the one to deliver the ball to the winger from a central position outside the box. Or make a combination with a midfielder. And don't forget to waltz through a defence occasionally. "
I have always thought that Ibrahimovic did the above, with an overdose of style too. Although Bouwes quoted Ibrahimovic's revelations that he faced much more pressure at Ajax than at Juventus, it must be noted that perhaps, contrary to what Bouwes would have us believe, we let him go not because we thought he was not good enough, but because he had problems with Rafael van der Vaart which threatened the unity of the team.
As of the inability of Machlas, Sonck, McCarthy and Charisteas to reproduce their form for Ajax, I would attribute it to their lack of ability. You don't see McCarthy doing particularly well now in Portugal, do you? Charisteas is never quite a proven scorer, even at Werder Bremen. He is Greek, for God's sake! You know Greece can't attack, so what are you exactly expecting from a Greek striker? Sonck had the most promise, but i felt that he faded out more because he was being played as a right winger, rather than a centre forward during his stint. They were not quite good enough, to be honest. Certainly not in Bergkamp and van Basten's league.
So, is the Ajax system obsolete now that there is no one talented enough to play in that fabled system?
'We all know that this is not realistic, except for the homegrown players and technical staff. They are convinced that they are up to it, although the world has changed around them since the early seventies'-Wesley Sonck
4-3-3, wingers to pull wide, centre forward to remain as a pivot, the rest, free to play. that is the basic principle of Ajax's play, immortalised forever by that 1970s team led by Cryuff, emulated by van Basten's team in 1980s and once again emulated by that Golden Generation of the 1990s.
I don't believe that it is impossible to play such a system even in this era. Not when you have watched Ajax play before. You don't need particularly talented players, though i always believe that the young Ajax players are very talented. Once again, i will refer to that team of 2002/2003 which captured the imagination of the world during that magical season. They never quite went all the way, but they fell because of inexperience, not due to the flaws of the system.
It's true that we don't have the player for it now. Ibrahimovic was the man for Ajax. His departure was regretted by many in the stands. He was after all "the Golden One". So what if there is a dearth now? I have the faith that others in the team will make up for the struggling strikers. Ryan Babel might even be the solution. Who knows, a few years down the road, the next van Basten may appear. Treat it as an extended injury crisis. Arsenal plays its own system even without Henry. It is the philosophy, just as it is here at Ajax. You have to believe in your system to play it.
And the system is still relevant. Holland uses it too, to devastating effect. Even Chelsea employs a boring version of it, playing more often with a 4-5-1, but the concept is quite the same, just that they don't do it with the style Ajax always tries to. Style, something Sonck claims is an overrated ideal that is no longer practical. What the hell is Ronaldinho doing then?
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