We've used the old Players Leaving Ajax thread for a whole season (including a summer and a pre-season campaign), so it's time to continue our discussion about (possibly) departing Ajacieden to this new thread...

Interesting comments from Menno about Bechan and the other loaned out players.

It is vital that Ajax can get rid of the 9 remaining players loaned out last season as they do not want them back in the Reserves.

I am not sure what purpose Ajax get out of loaning players . This season just gone only 11 were loaned out but in 2001/02 and 2002/03 we had about 20 each season and of those the only 2 who are back here are Lobont( loaned out to Romania in 2001/2) and Obodai ( with GBA IN 2002/03 )

It seems that Ajax have now realised this as the indications are that there will be very few loans next season.

I have probably made these points before but after the 'Bosman rape' of the great side of 1995 etc it appears that Ajax gave every new signing a 5 year contract leaving the club with far too many players not up to standard.

The club have now had a complete clearout of the older reserves - Walker, Valencia, Culina, Longuet, etc and the final clearout is of these players on loan.

Ajax need to fill the Reserve team next season by giving contracts to current A1 players.( Tiberkanine signed today)

In principle loaning is a good idea to get experience for players you want in your team in the future (Van der Meyde with Twente, Ronald de Boer at the same club, Michael Reiziger with Groningen), or players you want to sell, with the loan acting as a sort of extended 'try before you buy' for loaning clubs. However, it seems that none of the eredivisie clubs have any money whatsoever. So it's going to be impossible for Ajax to sell talent like Hersi and VDG, despite the fact that they are above the average level of dutch eredivisie players (but just under that of Ajax players). So the problem is money.

Yeah. Good post by Andy.

I totally agree with SPL that we have offered contracts to too many (sometimes mediocre) players. This was a 'panic reaction' to Bosman. They have become more cautious now.

But you can't change the past, so the simple fact is that there still are too many contracters and we should make the most out of it. If no-one wants (or can afford) to buy them, loan deals are the only way to make a little bit of money. It's better than nothing, as these players would have been useless in Amsterdam.

The contracts of Boukhari, Knopper, Hersi and Bechan will expire next summer, so the reason why Ajax don't want to loan 'em out again must simply be seen as a way to put a little bit of pressure on interested clubs ( "hey, if you want this player it's time you come up with a serious offer").

The situation sucks, obviously, but it's the result of mistakes made in the past. So right now I do think it's the best thing to do, really: these players know what it's like to have a proper career, but they're now finding themselves back at De Toekomst, training with the Ajax reserves. This will force them to seriously search for a buyer with their agents. If they really can't find a buyer, I think Ajax will loan 'em out again (and allow them to walk off for free next summer). What else can they do...?

The Haagsche Courant, newspaper for greater The Hague area, reports that ADO Den Haag have contacted Ajax about Kiran Bechan. They are interested in signing the winger for two years. We're talking about an actual buy here, so this is good news. It's the last chance to receive some cash for him (contract expires in 2005).

Another one we'll have to try and get rid of somehow... The list is getting longer...

Swedish side AIK Solna officially announced today that they are no longer interested in the services of Kwame Quansah. The Ajax loanee scored three goals in 23 appearances in Sweden's Allsvenskan. After loan spells at Germinal Beerschot Antwerp and AIK Solna he will return to Amsterdam, to go back in training with Young Ajax. In Holland, meanwhile, rumour has it that newly promoted Eredivisie outfit FC Den Bosch is interested in the striker, who had one appearance as a substitute in Ajax's first team so far.

Can't write a news report right now (site is down...), but guess what? We've just sold Jelle Van Damme to Southampton! The transfer fee was not revealed, but Ajax says it's a "substantial fee". News report to appear on Ajax USA when the site is back up...

Jelle Van Damme news report is up (with many links to related stories at the bottom):

http://www.ajax-usa.com/news/2003-2...outhampton.html

Nice job by Ajax re: the Jelle van Damme transfer. I liked Jelle van Damme's height but that's where it begins and ends for me. He was never going to play when Maxwell,Grygera, Escude`, and O'Brien are all left back-capable and Escude`, Heitinga, Grygera, and even De Jong(I saw him play there at Jong Ajax) can play in the center. Take the 3 mil or so and add it to the roughly 8.4 from their CL fiasco and Ajax should be able to sign a better talent if the coach sees a need . One other option is to promote Jerold Promes or Thomas Vermaelen if the middle needs reinforcing.

According to the website of football weekly Voetbal International no less than four clubs are interested in signing Abubakari Yakubu. These four clubs are, reportedly, RBC Roosendaal, FC Groningen, NEC and Danish outfit FC Copenhagen (who...? never heard of 'em... ). NEC in particular are said to be seriously interested in the Ghanese midfielder (22), whose contract with Ajax will expire in the summer of 2006.

I don't know. I've always kind of liked Yakubu. He's a pitbull and he's been great in a few Champions League games. On the other hand: he seems to be out of favour and there is a reason for that, too. That reason is Anthony Obodai, who is a similar type of player, but simply the better footballer. Obodai's recent fine performances mean that it will be hard for Yakubu. If a buyer shows up - I say: go for it (especially if they pay good money, like Southampton for Van Damme - which was an excellent deal).

For me it's very clear. Ajax is undertaking a clean-up for next season. All players which have been already given the chance but have failed to win first team spot will be sold. The reason is to make room for new stars from our A1 team. Apparently it is a very good time for Ajax with respect to youth development.

On euro2004.com Krol said that youth development at Ajax and in Holland in general is at the time very positive. He is forecasting a very good decade for Ajax and Holland. He is right; we already have many young stars in the national team: VD Vaart, Sneijder, Heitinga, Robben and others are already on the way there: De Jong, De Ridder, Van Persie, etc... And even others will follow. Probably in WC2006 we could be in a position to field an all youth team.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by manila

Probably in WC2006 we could be in a position to field an all youth team.

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More good news: newspaper De Telegraaf reports Portugese side Maritimo Funchal has officially made a bid for Nourdin Boukhari. The first bid was deemed too low by Ajax and they rejected it, but it sounds good. So there are buyers. Which is promising. Should be possible to sell a few more former loanees this summer.

Yep, and i hope Ajax manage to get rid of van der Gun and Knopper aswell, as i see their carriers at the ArenA as finished.

Obodai is more a player slightly wider on the right of midfield, who can run at defences, whereas Yakubu is a slightly more static player, spreads passes and plays a good central holding role in midfield. I think they are actually very different players, they look different aswell (despite everyone thinking they're identical because of their colour, didn't an english commentator get into trouble by saying 'all those blacks are so confusing cause they look the same'?).