Tom Rofekamp
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The contribution of Jordan Henderson to Ajax cannot yet appeal to Willem van Hanegem. The 79-year-old analyst thinks there is too much wrong with the Amsterdam team for one player to solve. According to him, this became clear against SC Heerenveen, where Ajax lost 3-2 on Sunday. Van Hanegem saw a potential star walking around on the Frisian side.
Henderson played his second match for Ajax on Sunday, after making his debut in the top match against PSV (1-1). The winter acquisition was applauded from many quarters after its baptism of fire,
For example, Wesley Sneijder praised his leadership role and Kenneth Perez noted the number of kilometers the Englishman had run. However, after the match in the Abe Lenstra Stadium, the flag can be put back in the cupboard, says Van Hanegem.
“It was open at Ajax in September, in November, in December and still in February,” spits The Curve in his column for it Algemeen Dagblad. “Heerenveen was able to build up like a training match before the break.”
Van Hanegem saw Henderson 'paddling a bit in between'. “Don't get me wrong, it wasn't just his fault. But in matches where Ajax wants to go far forward, the spaces become enormous, apparently also with Henderson.”
“All those people who fell over each other to shout that Jordan Henderson would solve it all, they must have been shocked,” Van Hanegem summarizes the problem succinctly. The figures support the former midfielder's statements.
With 39 goals conceded from twenty competition matches, Ajax has the fifth most passed defense in the Eredivisie. With fourteen games to go, they have already conceded one more goal than last year. Heerenveen is one of the clubs that is doing even less than the Amsterdam team. The Frisians have conceded 42 so far: only Vitesse (45), Heracles Almelo (50) and FC Volendam (52) are doing less.
Sahraoui: ready for the Dutch top?
Van Hanegem concludes his argument about Heerenveen – Ajax on a positive note. According to him, Sven van Beek and Osame Sahraoui in particular deserve compliments. “The best man on the Frisian side was Sahraoui. There were top clubs that wanted to sign a winger this winter who can easily pass a man and this boy can do that. And he is only 22 years old,” Van Hanegem tips the Dutch socialite.
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