As it Goes...

Ajax is currently third in the Eredivisie after tying VVV Venlo and then Hammering Vitesse, Ajax met Heracles on September 10 and won 3-2. Then they took on PSV and as of late FC Twente 2-2 and 1-1 respectively (photo Ajax.nl). I'll be getting back on track with more in-depth updates soon!

First Game First Win

The first full season of the Frank De Boer Era has started with a bang. Ajax picked up a nice away victory over De Graafschap. The one-time unwanted Miralem Sulejmani scored a brace in the 22nd & 62nd minutes and Derk Boerrighter & Theo Janssen also got themselves on the scoresheet in the 31st & 65th minutes respectively.

Very exciting article....

The front page of the ESPN US Soccer web page today reads, "This is Ajax Country". Huh? Read the article, its incredibly inspiring and exciting stuff.

The possible affiliation with my hometown DC United would be a dream come true. The Ajax model for development is just what this country needs to start getting kids to keep playing soccer through their teen age years when they really can start to develop. It would be tremendously beneficial for both sides, for Ajax to gain a larger following in this country would give it a leg up on all but the biggest clubs in the world. And hey, maybe people would start to recognize my Ajax jersey every once in a while! And of course, there would be this...."Its like ay-yax, not a-jax like the bathroom cleaner".

Front Office Moves

As the quiet off-season continues for Ajax, one of the more potentially eventful happenings are taking place. Five new board of directors are taking over Ajax in an attempt to once again regain their lofty place in European Football. This stems from previous conflicts within the board and Ajax's most famous Alum Johann Cruyff, on how the legendary club should be run.

From the style of play, to how to bring up young Ajax academy players to the first team, Cruyff in previous times has lost these types of battles with the previous leadership of the board. From the issues of having attacking football ally Louis Van Gaal, the coach who led Ajax to their last titles in Europe, The UEFA Cup in 1992 and the UEFA Champions League Title in 1995— forced out as technical director in favor of Then coach Ronald Koeman in 2005 as they clashed in ideas about the Ajax 'Style'. Also losing out in a similar battle with then coach and former protege Marco Van Basten over the same thing when Basten was coach in 2008. It seems like now Cruyff has gained the upper hand as Ajax's attempts to get pragmatic may have worked for the short term but hasn't gotten them very far.

"The planned AFC Ajax member council meeting took place on Monday evening (June 7, 2011) in the Amsterdam ArenA,'' read a club statement.

"During the meeting, the member council agreed with the nomination committee's proposal to place five candidates on the list for appointment for the board of AFC Ajax NV.

"The recommended candidate commissioners are Steven ten Have (probable chairman), Paul Romer, Marjan Olfers, Edgar Davids and Johan Cruyff. These last three enjoy the special trust of the AFC Ajax association.''

Edgar Davids, an integral part of that 1995 Champions League winning team also stands out here as one of the key players of the last era of Ajax's European dominance.

The accepting of the new board members by shareholders should be a formality at a general meeting in August.

New Blood

As you may have noticed, we have a new writer here at AIA, Mr. Joe Bailey. Joe has been a loyal reader pretty much since this blog was created and I am very excited to have him around to help out.

I have to share my excitement in the Janssen signing, his bulldog mentality is definitely something that Ajax has been lacking ever since Edgar Davids finished his second stint at the club. And I literally had to look away every time he took a free kick during that last match of the season.

Here a few additional photos I took during the DC United friendly. Damn it my camera sucks.