Ajax in CL?

**DmanDmythDledge** · 11/05/2006, 4:54 PM

Does anyone know why Ajax are in the Champions League next year despite finishing 4th in the league?

**Schumi** · 11/05/2006, 4:58 PM

Originally Posted by dmandmythdledge

Does anyone know why Ajax are in the Champions League next year despite finishing 4th in the league?

If you were at the UCD game on Saturday and bought STIG, you'd know!

There's a complicated play-off system for all Euro places other than the champions.

**pete** · 11/05/2006, 5:28 PM

There was a 2nd-5th place playoff. All i remember is the 2nd place team did not win it. I think 4th place & 5th place teams played in the final. If i had to put money on think Ajax may have won but not certain.

**Larry 'da' Wyse** · 11/05/2006, 7:07 PM

Originally Posted by pete

There was a 2nd-5th place playoff. All i remember is the 2nd place team did not win it. I think 4th place & 5th place teams played in the final. If i had to put money on think Ajax may have won but not certain.

The also managed to win the Cup - and promptly sack Danny Blind! a vacancy for Roddy to fill perhaps?

**londonirish17** · 12/05/2006, 6:42 AM

They finished 2nd after beating Feyenoord at home thanks to a stupid play-off system.
Blind got sacked but there haven't been any anouncements so far concerning his successor.

**gspain** · 12/05/2006, 8:07 AM

AZ met Groningen, Ajax met Feyenoord in playoff semi finals with the winners Ajax and Groningen playing off for the 2nd champions league spot. Daft system and very unfair on AZ who finished 10+ points ahead of Ajax.

**Dodge** · 12/05/2006, 8:23 AM

14 points ahead in the end.

**eirebhoy** · 12/05/2006, 8:25 AM

They have a 4 team playoff for the CL, a 4 team playoff for the UEFA cup and a 4 team playoff for the Intertoto. So while Groningen finished 5th they won't be playing in Europe next season but the team in 13th position could be.

**Donegalcelt** · 12/05/2006, 1:13 PM

It's stupid, I was talking to a couple of Dutch guys in Eindhoven, who supported Willem II and had no affiliation to either club ,and they reckon the system is to suit the "bigger team" in Ajax instead of AZ. Had Ajax came second, they think there wouldn't have been a play-off system at all. Mind you, I think the clubs knew the score from the start of the season

**drinkfeckarse** · 12/05/2006, 2:32 PM

Jesus you couldn't make that up, it sounds like something the F.A.I. would organise...

**Dodge** · 12/05/2006, 3:01 PM

Originally Posted by Donegalcelt

It's stupid, I was talking to a couple of Dutch guys in Eindhoven, who supported Willem II and had no affiliation to either club ,and they reckon the system is to suit the "bigger team" in Ajax instead of AZ. Had Ajax came second, they think there wouldn't have been a play-off system at all. Mind you, I think the clubs knew the score from the start of the season

It was definitely known at the start of the season.

**pineapple stu** · 12/05/2006, 3:24 PM

It was, yeah. They had to re-jig the whole thing because Ajax qualified for the UEFA through the Cup and then the Champions' League as well, and also because UEFA rejigged the InterToto and took away one of the league's places.