Nick Viergever has grown into his role at centre-back with each passing game and has started to show the confidence and poise that made Peter Bosz pick him above Jairo Riedewald in the first place. Viergever’s game is still marred by mistakes as one can only wonder if a Davinson Sanchez and Riedewald pairing would be more effective. At 27-years-old, Viergever got regular game time during 2016 and with his performances gradually improving should he continue to get regular game time with Ajax battling in the Eredivisie and Europa League?<\/p>\n
Viergever came through the talent factory that is Sparta Rotterdam before a four-year spell at AZ Alkmaar where he reached two Europa League Quarter-finals in three years and won a KNVB Bekker. He has assumed a position as an elder statesman of this Ajax squad as he has risen from third or fourth choice centre-back last season to being in Peter Bosz’ regular back four. He can be a liability as he lost his marker in the UEFA Champions League Qualifier Second-Leg against Rostov for the second goal while for the first, he was gesticulating for an offside instead of closing down his man. Against Celta Vigo, Veltman and him lost their man to give Roncaglia a free header while his blunder against FC Twente cost Ajax a twenty game winning streak.<\/p>\n
Viergever’s perfectly timed last man challenges against PEC Zwolle and Utrecht proved that he has been working on that aspect of his game during the winter break. His sloppy pass for Nicolai Brock-Madsen’s consolation goal proves that there are still errors in his game. However, his confidence in driving the ball out of the back and his twists and turns to beat pressure have become so integral to unlocking deep-lying defenses. He may not have Riedewald’s passing range but he is still an accomplished ball-player at the back. In a defense where the oldest player apart from him is Joel Veltman who just turned 25 this month, Bosz obviously feels that Viergever’s experience is imperative to the structure of the team.<\/p>\n
https:\/\/twitter.com\/ajaxdailydotcom\/status\/823147110640062464<\/p>\n
Riedewald has been willing to fight for his place this season and Bosz has made it clear to him that he is not a left-back and with the development of Donny Van De Beek and Matthijs De Ligt, it seems that he has fallen down the pecking order in defensive midfield and centre-back. It was irksome that Bosz chose Nemanja Gudelj above Riedewald at defensive midfield in the away match against Celta Vigo in the Europa League group phase but it proved that the former Vitesse manager began to see him as a centre-back. His incredible long pass for Kasper Dolberg’s goal against Roda JC at the beginning of this season was just proof of his immense ability.<\/p>\n
He had an opportunity to prove himself in the home match against Celta Vigo as a solid performance was ruined by a weak header out of the back which Iago Aspas capitalized on to score.De Ligt and him were calm and composed against Standard Liege in the final game of the Europa League group stage but were unlucky to concede a goal and draw the game 1-1. PSV faced Ajax before the winter break and Riedewald started the game because Viergever was suspended as moments before Siem De Jong’s equalizer, Riedewald kept the former Ajax captain onside for a chance on goal but made a brilliant recovering challenge.<\/p>\n
However, for the equalizing goal, Riedewald treks so far out of position to close down Gaston Pereiro, who chips in behind for De Jong to get past Klaassen and score. Riedewald’s decision to push forward and chase the ball destroys any semblance of order that the defense has and Klaassen is forced to play an unfamiliar role as a defender in a crucial situation. Viergever would have held his position and let Klaassen or Sanchez close down the ball while he would wait for any loose balls into his zone. That could be the reason that Riedewald doesn’t fit into the structure of Bosz’ current defense as playing with Sanchez and playing with Veltman are two different roles.<\/p>\n
One has to ponder where Riedewald fits in at Bosz’ Ajax as Van De Beek is Schone’s backup and De Ligt is the third choice defender. He has played the early stages of his Dutch National Team career at left back but with Mitchell Dijks staying to backup Daley Sinkgraven as a natural left back, he also wouldn’t fit in there in theory. At 20-years-old, it would be incredibly naive to say he should be guaranteed a first team spot but a player with his technique, speed of thought, versatility and potential should at least be granted a higher spot on the fringes as an able 12th man.<\/p>\n
\nRiedewald made two mistakes tonight but 2 chances created, 1 assist, 90% pass completion and 7 interceptions. Can grow with Sanchez. #ajacel<\/a><\/p>\n
— Chaka Simbeye (@chaka_simbeye) November 3, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n