Ajax stronger under the bar than PSV? ESPN analyst is surprised | 'Not better than Kovar'
1 min readA long international break interrupts the Eredivisie, in which PSV is top of the league for a moment. That’s something to get used to.
But no man overboard because Peter Bosz's team may, after the international break, once again show that it is indeed and still the best team in the country. The defeat against FC Twente nevertheless hit hard, in particular because of the way it happened. After all, Bosz's team was still leading 1-2 in the 79th minute at the Grolsch Veste.
The tide turned soon after because the Tukkers won 3-2 after defending moderately well. For once, Kovar didn’t blunder for a change, but that’s about all that can be said, because his coming out at the equalizer and the 3-2 once again showed that the first goalkeeper is an even weaker keeper than Walter Benitez.
PSV is experiencing and will also experience this season that the competition has not been standing still. In particular in Amsterdam, a lot has been brought in. Also under the bar Ajax has a very decent goalkeeper. Still...? Or is that really the case in practice? Ter Stegen has actually shown very little in his time with Ajax. The German has even been weak, so whether the Amsterdammers have an added value under the bar remains to be seen.
Against PSV, Ter Stegen didn’t perform particularly well either, and against Heerenveen and Excelsior it was all nothing to write home about what the German showed. In fact, Ter Stegen is currently not doing any better than Kovar.
That opinion was also attributed to Hans Kraay junior because the ESPN analyst reacted after the end of Netherlands - Germany, completely dumbfounded by Ter Stegen's performance. Kraay understood nothing about Van Dijk's disallowed goal and thought Ter Stegen's intervention was weak. The analyst said on ESPN Vandaag that the German came out "like an old wife" and compared his action to "Aunt Truus who jumps into the pool".
In Rotterdam, it also appears that no hero has been standing under the bar yet. We can now safely conclude that the title rivals Ajax have made no real progress under the bar at all. And Kovar? How long may the friendly Czech continue to make blunders before Peter Bosz does something about it at last? Switch goalkeepers... because the second goalkeeper on duty at PSV, after all, is in no way to be called a lesser goalkeeper,
Comments11
"PSV Inside" mentioning the next tactical tweak sounds promising, but i hope it means more defensive cover, not just swapping roles. Otherwise we will keep scoring but also keep leaking chances. 👀
🔥 The quote "we need more control" is facts. But control has to be proactive, not just slowing down and inviting pressure.
"Inside" feels spot-on when it breaks down the spacing. The most interesting part is how PSV create overloads in the half-space, but they have to convert that into clear-cut chances, not just territory.
Kinda worried about the defensive transition though. One quick turn and suddenly theres acres to run into behind the fullback. Sort that and the rest becomes a lot easier.
That line about "taking the game to them early" is exactly what i want to see. If we start with intensity and win the second ball, the front three can actually run behind. Let's be brave, not timid.
ngl PSV looked dangerous in the PSV Inside bits, but i still think the build-up needs more calm from midfield. When the press traps the ball, we panic and give it away too fast. #improved but not there yet.
Idk about that tactical tweak. If they keep switching to the wide channels but no one arrives in the box, it turns into a lot of crosses and not enough chances. Need more bodies around the second post.
Watching PSV build from the back, the key is still the same: the first pass has to be clean. When the centerback holds it too long, the whole shape becomes panic.
🔥🔥 Let's go. If that midfield keeps the tempo up, we will run teams into the ground.
"Inside" content or not, im still not convinced the right wing is solved. Last game we looked better when the fullback overlapped instead of only cutting inside.
If PSV really go all-in with the high press, i hope they are ready for the counters. Ziyech-type runners would have a field day if the midfield gets caught stepping up.