Ajax Breaking Away from Traditions?
When it comes to developing their own players, few teams can compete with Ajax Amsterdam. The Ajax youth academy is traditionally seen as one of the finest breeding ponds for young talents in Europe, if not the entire world.
The entire youth setup seems to bask in a mythic aura of producing world class youngsters. Just consider this list of players who came up through the Ajax ranks: Johan Cruijff, Johan Neeskens, Ruud Krol, Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard, Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, Patrick Kluivert, Ryan Babel, Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart, and Dennis Bergkamp.
Just forget the Manchester United youth team that scouted the likes of David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, the Neville brothers, and Paul Scholes and never mind the Liverpool set-up that unearthed players of the calibre of Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard, and Jamie Carragher.
When you're talking about a production line of real world class talent, it's all about Ajax's world-famous De Toekomst (which translates as 'the future') academy.
Ajax have a solid reason to pay so much attention to their fabulous academy, as the team is partly dependant on players from its own youth academy. The youth teams are trained in exactly the same way as the first team and these boys are therefore already accustomed to Ajax’s style of play.
Central within the club is the style of play (4-3-3), training, behaviour and house rules. Ajax strives to keep the way of playing football recognisable; attractive, offensive-minded, creative, fast, fair and preferably far away from their own goal in the opponents’ half.
It is an especially good thing at Ajax, where the same philosophy has held sway since the mid-1960’s. In formation terms, that translates into the attacking 4-3-3 system they evolved into the “total football” Ajax became renowned for.
The Ajax approach is much broader than just that though. It is an ideology that can be summed up in four letters: T.I.P.S., an acronym for Technique, Insight, Personality and Speed, which serves as the guiding principle for the academy's recruitment process.
This grand institute has produced many world class players over the years, players who have gone on to play for some of Europe’s finest club-sides. Even the drop-outs or players who aren’t quite world class have generally all had decent careers in professional football. A pedigree from the Ajax youth academy is generally a good way to start of a professional career.
In the wake of the Bosman ruling however, Ajax's academy has lost its role as the foremost provider of first-team players. The last ten years have also seen other Dutch clubs begin to catch up, but the capital outfit's methods remain unique and are still highly sought-after.
The wind of change is blowing however, as I’ve noticed a growing emphasis towards signing players and less towards recruiting and training players.
The most recent example has been the signing of Rob Wielaert. I’m not a big fan of signing Wielaert, as he lacks the ability and experience to play at the level Ajax is striving for and he probably lacks the potential to play at that level as well.
To be fair, even if he is not the type of defender Ajax really needs, they can put him to good use. He is not good enough for the level Ajax is striving for, but he is good enough for the level they are currently active at.
Still, it’s a waste of money considering the presence of another player for the exact same role. Last summer, Ajax signed Oleguer Presas Renom (or just Oleguer) for a hefty three million euros from Barcelona. At the time, that looked like a proper judgement call. A Spanish defender with loads of first team experience at the highest level in Spain and internationally.
Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond me, Oleguer has failed to impress this season. Perhaps he needs some time to re-adjust to a new climate and culture, I don’t know and quite frankly I don’t care.
Oleguer’s failure to impress so far would have been the ideal moment to give some of the youngsters from the famous academy a crack at first team football. An academy that has produced so many talents in the past will most likely still be able to turn out talents today.
The academy has produced decent enough defenders over the past years, such as Thomas Vermaelen and John Heitinga (currently active in Spain). I’m sure current players such as Gregory van der Wiel, Toby Alderweireld, Donovan Slijngard, and Daley Blind will prove capable of holding their own in defence as well.
Unfortunately, youngsters are not known for their consistency. A top side like Ajax needs a player it can rely on, someone who consistently performs at the same high level. Younger players are by nature more likely to have fluctuating form. A nine rating this week, a four rating next week.
As I said before in other articles, confidence can make or break a young talent. Young players should be given a fair chance for five or six matches at least. Young players should be protected from the sometimes scolding words of the media by their managers, in order to keep their confidence intact.
Doing all these things requires patience though and all your efforts may not be rewarded instantly. So instead of giving a youngster from their own, renowned academy, someone who knows the tactics and style of the team, someone who speaks the tongue of the nation, instead of giving someone like that a chance, it’s much easier to just sign a new and more experienced player who can be relied upon to perform on a more consistent level.
In doing just that, Ajax are breaking with their own tradition. Ajax used to be famous for having young players from its own academies break into first team and reach stardom.
A player wasn’t immediately dropped when he makes a mistake or plays badly. He is given a chance to redeem himself and play a series of matches in which he prove his worth.
Currently, many of the first team players are still home-grown players. I hope it stays that way. I hope that the club doesn't resort to signing the Wielaert's of this world to plug the gaps, but instead lives up to its tradition by giving promising youngsters a chance in the first team. In the end, it has always paid off.
Judging by the signing of for example Rob Wielaert, Kennedy Bakircioglu, Dennis Rommedahl and others, Ajax is apparently breaking with this old and honoured tradition by signing expensive and experienced newcomers to plug the gaps.
I know, it's just a few players and every club needs experience too, but these players are most likely going to block and hinder the progress of current youngsters and I fear that these players are the first of many more to follow. It’s a shame to see such an illustrious club breaking away from it’s roots and I hope this doesn't happen.