[708] Of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

Ajax’s (tag) first league game for 2006 is currently on. It’s Ajax versus NEC and it should be an easy fight unless something bad happens. Despite facing a weak opponent, this game is important because this is Klaas-Jan Huntelaar’s first game for Ajax. Huntelaar is currently the Eredivisie’s top scoer. This game will see how Huntelaar fit in Ajax’s system.

Ajax, despite its ability to play beautiful game, severely lack fire power. Many strikers have come and gone but most of them fail to fit into Ajax’s system. The last reliable striker Ajax had was Ibrahimovic, now at Juventus. In fact, Ibrahimovic says Juventus may be bigger than Ajax, but the pressure on a striker is much heavier in Amsterdam.

There’s high hope that Huntelaar won’t disappoint as how Sonck was and how Charisteas, the Greek hero during Euro 2004 is. This is especially so when Steven Pienaar, Hatem Trabelsi and Nigel de Jong are leaving Ajax at the end of the season. Apart from that, this season has somewhat been a borderline disaster for Ajax. Currently sixth and a game in hand, if Huntelaar performs and Ajax ride on its recovery momentum, things might brighten a bit.

With a little bit of lucky, Ajax might even claw back into the top three. And since Huntelaar is eligible for Ajax’s Champions League campaign, if he is as good as a lot of Ajacied are hoping he is, a semifinal for Ajax might not be too much to ask.

p/s – well, something bad is happening. Score ties at one all, 20 minutes into the second half and Huntelaar has yet to shine.

pp/s – What. The. F-… (via)