Amsterdam's Class of 18/19; Aftermath

 

Two seasons ago we witnessed a rare breed of football. To describe it in one word you could say "Total", "complete" or "beauty". The boys from Amsterdam happened to the UCL and starting from the group stages they sold their ideas to the world and we happily bought it.

Most, if not all of us were left in awe as we watched them play what looked like a rebirth of Cryuff's total football (as described by the older generation).

The team captained by De ligt and coached by Erik Ten Haag were very entertaining to watch (like the WWE) and were also strong contenders for the CL trophy. Seeing off the likes of Real Madrid and Juventus both European heavyweights before falling at the feet of Lucas Moura's Tottenham.

Amongst the youth studded team were the likes of De Jong, Donny Van de beek, De ligt, Neres, Ziyech, and Tadic who all shone in the run-in.

Due to their heroics, De ligt and De jong made it into Fifpro's first XI of the year.

We could go on and on about how good that team was or how nice their goals were or the many chances they missed but then it would become a campaign analysis or another documentary.

Key departures;

As always, the UCL is a stage for top players and those of great potential to show their worth and Ajax as a team did just that. As a reward, offers started rolling in for their stand up players and at the start of the next season they had bade farewell to De Jong and De ligt, amongst others.

A year later and the likes of Ziyech and Donny joined the list.

Frenkie De Jong;

A top class midfielder, who can play across the midfield but looks best as a holding midfielder(usually in a pivot; as seen at Ajax and in the Dutch national team)

He left Ajax for Barcelona following the footsteps of Johan cruyff many years earlier and although he's (Fdj) been unable to repeat his heroics or performances at Barca he has given a good account of himself.

With new manager Koeman at Barca, former coach of the Dutch national team and indeed a fan of De Jong's art, it does look like we'll have the old Frenkie in no time.

Matthijs De ligt;

former captain of the Ajax side and one who did cause a lot of tussle in the transfer market as regards who gets his signature, finally decided that Juventus was what he would like to call home for the next couple of years. With injuries to Chiellini and Demiral, De ligt had to be rushed into the starting eleven. Although he looked rather lost at first, he grew into the game and the league and post restart he did look like the player that broke the hearts of Turin faithfuls just a year before.

 Hopefully we'll get to see more of him after his return from injury as he continues his climb to the top of his game and to the top amongst the defenders.

Hakim Ziyech;

A left-footed maestro with his signature moves curlers and dangerous crosses into the box. Ziyech, since his move to Ajax was one of the best creators in the league. A stage he shared with Dusan Tadic, after the Serbian arrived from Southampton.

Ziyech can play as a winger and also as an attacking midfielder. Although he's also had spells as a central midfielder.

He signed for Chelsea early in the year and is indeed one of the many players Chelsea fans and management are excited about.

Early runs into the box, late runs, timed runs, Ziyech does have the ability to find you; a very sound creator.

Donny Van de beek;

Another very versatile midfielder, able to play anywhere across the midfield with his best outputs coming when he plays closer to the box (attacking midfielder).

 Over the years, the 23 year-old has grown to be one of the best midfielders in the Dutch league and we'll be hoping he replicates that feat playing alongside Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba in the premier league.

 Goals, assists, pressing machine, Donny is sure to give you these as they are the strengths of his game.

It's indeed worth looking out for; for fans of the Amsterdam outfit, just how well these players fare playing far from home, amongst top players and for top teams.