Search: 'Ajax'

What are the expectations for the team?
Very low, ever since the draw was made and they got the hardest opponents in the other three pots. Nobody really expects them to get past the first round, although the media are trying to big-up their chances. A recent 3-0 friendly win over Russia has fed this nascent “we could do it” hype.

Are there any players who have appeared in TV commercials or other advertising?
Adi Mutu has become so ubiquitously Beckhamesque that it is more which products can hitch themselves to the Mutu brand rather than the other way around. After his coke bust (when, ironically, he was the Romanian face of Pepsi) he vanished temporarily, but his subsequent rehabilitation at Fiorentina has seen him return to seemingly all billboards and TV screens. The rest of the squad appear, en masse, in a beer commercial and that’s about their lot.

Is the coach popular?
Yes, with reservations. Having got them to the finals, Victor Piturca’s position is fairly strong, but there are doubters who question the style of play. Three crushing defeats could see him gone.  

Which players are good interviewees and who are the worst?
Cosmin Contra is pretty good. Mutu and Cristian Chivu are well practised in the modern footballing art of being bland yet doing so in a seemingly friendly way. The players who have never played outside Romania are the ones who could go either way – the amusing emotional outburst or the nonsensical ramble.

Will there be any rehearsed goal celebrations?
I think most people would be elated if the team just managed to score a goal.  The team included. I expect a joyful bundle by the corner flag rather than anything more choreographed. Unless it’s Mutu, who doesn’t really seem to get on with the rest of the team and looks down on them somewhat (in which case there will be a joyful bundle of all the other players while Adi runs around seeking out the cameras).

Are there any players involved in politics?
Not as yet, but many old pros and various members of the higher echelons of Romanian football are mostly, it seems, on the far right. So the longer this bunch stay out the better.

What will be the media coverage be like?
Gheorghe Hagi will be interviewed at every opportunity, but he hasn’t yet been snapped up by any one TV station. Horia Ivanovici, presenter of the popular Fanatik show, was recently taken to court by Piturca for demanding large sums of money to go easy on him on his popular TV show. Piturca was backed up by various others including Chivu, who said that ever since refusing to pay off Ivanovici while still at Ajax, he’s consistently been slammed on the show.  

Will there be many fans travelling to the tournament?
Romania’s current economic boom, its accession to the EU (meaning easier travel) and the fact that this tournament is relatively close means that there will be a fair few travelling fans, probably more than there ever have been following Romania at a major tournament before. The chants are Mooooooooo-Toooooooo.

Andy Hockley

What are the expectations for the team?
After being drawn in a group containing both 2006 World Cup finalists, the expectations are not high, especially after some shaky qualifying performances, such as a single-goal victory over Luxembourg and a collapse against Belarus in Minsk at the end of 2007. However, the national team have survived the first round of every European Championship since Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Co won the title in 1988 so there is always the possibility of another penalty shootout defeat in the quarter- or semifinals.

Have any players appeared in commercials or any other adverts?
Edwin van der Sar features in a commercial for healthy mints, in which he stops penalties taken by Bad Breath, Tooth Slice and Coffee Stain. The revenues may go to a good cause.

Is the coach popular?
Not really. Van Basten’s preference for Ajax reserves is suspect, while the way he stubbornly clung on to the two-winger system when there wasn’t a recognised one in the squad was a bit strange – but players have recently talked him out of that. However, every Dutch national coach suffers from the nation’s expectation of being entertained. Winning is not good enough, we want “dream football”, too.

Are there any players with unusual hobbies or business interests?
Clarence Seedorf is the owner of a 125cc Moto GP team. He has also founded the Clarence Seedorf Stadium in Paramaribo and aims to lead Surinam to the World Cup. The Netherlands Antilles also hope to dip into the talent pool of black players in the Eredivisie, which may affect the Dutch national team in the future.

What will the media coverage be like?
There is a tendency to use coaches as pundits. “This would never happen against any team of mine” is always a subtext of their comments. Louis van Gaal quit during the qualifying tournament, saying he had pointed out the same mistakes in the team tactics over and over again and felt he was repeating himself. However, it is very difficult for Van Gaal to keep his opinions to himself, so when asked, he will surely turn up somewhere on the telly. As will Johan Cruyff who was simultaneously a TV pundit and an advisor to Van Basten during the 2006 World Cup. After the bad-tempered loss to Portugal in the last 16, Cruyff defended Van Basten in his newspaper column the next day and blamed the defeat on government minister Rita Verdonk, who had refused to give Salomon Kalou a Dutch passport.

Will there be many fans travelling to the tournament?
Most Dutch tickets are taken by sponsors, the biggest one an insurance company, who use them to reward their agents and employees. It is a new form of hooliganism. At the 2006 World Cup there were frightening stories of unsuspecting foreign fans isolated in pub corners by men dressed in orange who bombarded them with stories about life insurance, investment plans and favourable loan rates.

Ernst Bouwes

Here are some football-related (and other) websites we like, and also links to some of our advertisers. If you would like your site to be listed here, or you have a site you would like to recommend to us, please drop us a line and we’ll have a look at it.

General football sites
A Football Report Colourful insight on the game
A2Z Soccer Irish soccer news and fixtures
Better Football Coaching blog with technique, tactics, drills and games for grassroots coaches
Better Soccer Coaching Free soccer coaching tips and advice newsletter
Danger Here Humorous Irish football site
Early Bath Football soaps for fans of almost every team
Elcentrocampista A fresh perspective on the game in Spain
Elephants Online All the news and info on Ivory Coast
European Football Statistics Figures (including attendances) from across the continent
Flashscore Live scores and results from 500 leagues
Football books News and reviews
Football Crests Their history and meaning
Football Fans.eu Logging and sharing your match and stadium visits
Football Filter Only the best football sources
Football Management Commentary on the management of clubs by Dr John Beech
Footballness Trivia quizes every week
Football Pakistan Coverage and development of the game in Pakistan
Football Perspectives Analyses of issues surrounding the game on and off the pitch
Football Portugal Daily-updated review of the Portugese football scene
Football Programmes Lots of stuff for collectors
Football Squads Statsfeast for squad news junkies
Football Target News on all the big leagues
Goalkeepers are Different Interesting custodian-based fact site
Golazo Argentino Concentrating on Argentinian football
Groundtastic Everything you could possibly wish to know about football grounds
Hasta El Gol Siempre All about the game in Argentina
In Bed With Maradona The Home Of World Football
Inside Left Scottish football, not just the Old Firm
Junk Archive Liberate your loft and leave a legacy
La Celeste Blog The only English-speaking blog for the Uruguay national team
Les Rosbifs English players abroad, at every level
Must Read Soccer The day’s best soccer writing
Nigel’s Webspace Galleries of English Football Cards 1965/66 – 1979/80
90:00 Soccer Magazine The first magazine of its kind in the US 
Nordic Football News The game in northern Europe
Old Football Games Almost 200 nostalgic football games
Peter Upton’s Subbuteo Tribute Website Nostalgia, news and comment
Pitch Invasion Football culture around the world
Played in Britain Retrospectives of Charles Buchan’s Football Monthly and more
Roy of the Rovers Roy, Blackie, Tubbie, the other bloke – all your faves are here
Political Economy of Football Insights into matters of business
Soccerbase Comprehensive facts, figure, data and information about football
Soccerphile.com News and opinions
Sporting Life UK football news, betting info and live match updates
Sportingly better Predictions and fantasy football tips
Sports Books Direct Online sports book shop
Sports Pubs Useful little site with reviews of TV sports pubs in the London area
Statto.com A major internet resource for the football statistician and betting enthusiast
Subbuteo World The online home of table football
Terrace Bint Attempting to address some of the issues of girls and women who go to football
Twohundredpercent Daily insight, particulatly strong on the lower leagues
The Soccer Observer American soccer leagues and the US national teams
The Swiss Ramble Detailed breakdowns of football and finance
The Two Unfortunates The non-partisan blog for everything to do with the English second tier
Voetbalblog Dutch and international football news site 
Welsh Football The independent voice of Welsh soccer

Clubs
AFC Bournemouth Court Offside
AFC Wimbledon WISA, SW19’s army
Aberdeen Aberdeen Mad
Accrington Stanley Vital Stanley, Stanley Mad
Airdrie Utd The Stomp
Ajax Ajax Showtime
Albion Rovers AlbionRovers.com
Aldershot Town Shotsweb
Alloa Athletic The Duffle
Annan Athletic Official Website
Arbroath Official Website
Argentinos Juniors The Hand Of Dan
Arsenal The Gooner
Aston Villa Heroes & Villains, VillaTalk
Ayr Utd The Honest Men Trust
Barnet Barnet Mad, BFCSA  
Barnsley Barnsleyfc.org.uk
Berwick Rangers Berwick Rangers Supporters Trust
Birmingham City Small Heath Alliance, Keep Right On  
Bishop Auckland Bishop AFC
Blackburn Rovers BRFCS
Blackburn Utd Blackburn United FC
Blackpool AVFTT
Bolton Wanderers The Wanderer
Borussia Dortmund BVB09
Bournemouth Court Offside
Bradford City City Gent
Brechin City Official Website
Brentford Griffin Park Grapevine
Brighton & Hove Albion North Stand Chat, The Plight of the Seagull
Bristol City BCST
Bristol Rovers BRSC
Burnley Clarets Mad
Bury The Shakers
Cardiff City Bob Bank Hero
Carlisle Utd CUFC Online
Celtic TalkCeltic.net
Charlton Athletic Addicks Championship Diary, Charlton Life, Addickted
Chelsea CFCnet, Chelsea 2D
Cheltenham Town Cheltenhamshire
Chester City Deva Chat, Chester City
Chesterfield Official Forum, Chesterfield
Clyde Official Website
Colchester Utd The U’sual
Coventry City Gary Mabbutt’s Knee
Cowdenbeath Cowdenbeath.net
Crewe Alexandra Crewe Mad
Crystal Palace The Holmesdale Online, The BBS
Dagenham & Redbridge D&R Forum
Darlington Quakers Mad
Derby County The Rams
Djurgårdens Djurgårdens
Doncaster Rovers Viva Rovers, Unofficial Website
Dumbarton On The Rocks
Dundee The Dees
Dundee Utd TheArabian.co.uk
Dunfermline Athletic Pars Fans
East Fife Away From The Numbers
East Stirlingshire Shire Shout
Elgin City Elgin City Mad
Exeter City Exeweb
Falkirk Falkirk Mad
Forfar Athletic Forfar Athletic Mad
Fulham Fulham Web
Gillingham Brian Moore’s Head
Greenock Morton Greenock Morton Supporters’ Trust
Grimsby Town GTST, Cod Almighty
Halesowen Town Bright Golden Haze
Hamilton Academical Hoops Apocalypse, Accies Mad
Hartlepool Utd The Poolie Bunker
Heart of Midlothian Jambos Kickback
Hereford Utd Bulls News, Bulls Banter
Heriot-Watt University FC HWUFC
Hibernian Easter Road
Huddersfield Town This Is The Barmy Army, Terrier Bytes
Hull City Amber Nectar
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Caley Thistle Online
Ipswich Town TWTD, Pride of Anglia
Kilmarnock Killie FC
Leeds Utd Marching On Together, LUFC talk
Leicester City Foxes Talk, Talking Balls
Leyton Orient Official Forum  
Lincoln City The Forgotten Imp
Liverpool Well Red Magazine, Red and White Kop, This Is Anfield
Livingston Livi Lions
Luton Town Luton Outlaws
Macclesfield Town Maccfans
Manchester City Blue Moon
Manchester Utd IMUSA, Red News, Red Cafe
Mansfield Town StagsNet
Merthyr Tydfil Martyrs To The Cause
Middlesbrough ComeOnBoro, Miniboro
Millwall House of Fun, MISA
Montrose Montrose Mad
Morecambe Morecambe Supporters’ Club
Motherwell Steelmen Online
Newcastle Utd Talk of the Tyne
Northampton Town Cobblers Mad
Norwich City CarrowRoad.net
Nottingham Forest Forest Forum
Notts County Up the Maggies, Notts County Mad
Oldham Athletic Latics Mad
Oxford Utd Rage Online, Minchery Farm Web
Partick Thistle One Team in Glasgow
Peterhead Peterhead Mad
Peterborough Utd London Road
Plymouth Argyle PASOTI, Greens On Screen
Port Vale One Vale Fan
Portsmouth Pompey Fans
Prescot Cables The Sons of Slacky Brow
Preston North End Lilywhite Magic
Queen of the South The Only Team in the Bible
Queen’s Park Queen’s Park Spiders
Queens Park Rangers Independent R’s, QPRNet
Raith Rovers Raith Rovers Mad
Rangers Follow Follow
Reading Hob Nob Anyone?
Rochdale RochdaleAFC.com, May Contain Football
Ross County The Jailender
Rotherham Utd RUST
Scunthorpe Utd Irn-Bru.net
Sheffield Utd The Crossed Blades
Sheffield Wednesday Owlstalk
Shrewsbury Town Amber and Blue
Southampton Saints Web
Southend Utd ShrimperZone
Spartans spartansfc.com
St Johnstone St Johnstone Mad
St Mirren Black & White Army
Stenhousemuir Stenhousemuir Mad
Stirling Albion stirlingalbion.com
Stockport County Yellow Board
Stoke City The Oatcake , Stoke City Blog
Stranraer Stair Park Online
Sunderland Salut! Sunderland, Ready To Go, A Love Supreme
Swansea City SCFC.co.uk
Swindon Town The Washbag, Swindon Town Forum
Tottenham Hotspur Come On You Spurs, TheSpursWeb
Tranmere Rovers White Review
Tring Athletic TAFC
Walsall Up The Saddlers
Watford BHaPPY, Glory Horns
West Bromwich Albion Boing Boing Baggies
West Ham Utd Knees Up Mother Brown
Wigan Athletic Wiganer
Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolves Blog, Wolves Web Fan Club
Wrexham ONTTSS
Wycombe Wanderers Chairboys
Yeovil Town Ciderspace, The Green Room  

Other stuff we like
Al Jazeera 24 hour news coverage from around the world
The Avengers Everything there is to know about the one of the best British TV series
Book Scans US pulp paperback covers of the 1950s and 60s
Classic Cafes A celebration of London’s vintage formica cafes
Framley Examiner The UK’s top local newspaper since 1978
Garageband Stick your song up and let the world review it
I Like Part of the industry of human happiness
Internet Movie Database Find that Anna Karina filmography
J-List All manner of products to be bought from Japan
Kennedy Assassination Home Page Lone nut or conspiracy?
London Review of Books The UK’s leading literary magazine
The Mausoleum Club Forums packed with information and opinion on classic TV
Naomi Klein Anti-capitalist books and articles
Nice Cup of Tea And A Sit Down Essential biscuit reviews
The Onion America’s finest news source
OTA Berlin Berlin blog and serviced apartments
Popbitch Who did what to whom
PopCult Mag Taking emphemera seriously
Red Meat Surreal cartoons drawn by monkeys
Republic The campaign for an elected head of state
Sexy Execs Meet the silver-foxes and their lovely lady friends who rule our corporate world
Smoke A small, peculiar, magazine about London life
The Straight Dope Essential information
Things Magazine An online journal about objects and meanings
Trash Fiction Reviews of paperbacks covering horror, sex, music, film and TV tie-ins, Sherlock Holmes pastiches and lots more
Trash Palace Your one-stop shop for genre films from around the world
TV Cream Resurrecting long-dead British TV classics 

 
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Where did it all go wrong this time? Harry Pearson assesses the tenure of the man under the brolly and Ashley Shaw looks at why the England team fail to unite the support of the country's biggest clubs

It was hard to look at him as he wagged his left arm in some forlorn attempt to get his players to deliver a decent cross and not think of Stevie Smith: “I was too far out all my life/and not waving but drowning.” Though sadly for the poet, she was not about to pocket £2.5 million on her way to a fortnight’s holiday in the Caribbean.

Read more…

Johan Cruyff’s title-winning final season, putting one over Ajax. By Ernst Bouwes

The long-term significance
This was Johan Cruyff’s final season as a player. Ajax, whom he rejoined in 1981 after eight years in Spain and the United States, declined to extend his contract for another year because they doubted his crowd-pulling abilities at the age of 36. So, out of spite, Cruyff went to bitterest rivals Feyenoord. Incredibly he was to take them to their only title between 1974 and 1993, but their fans never really knew what to make of the move – Cruyff grabbed all the headlines and it seemed more his title than Feyenoord’s. Most of their away games were sold out, but home attendances went up by only a couple of thousand per match.

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