Netherlands Eredivisie

Scouting Reports

Mike — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 16:36:47 +0000

Heerenveen have a young player that is attracting interest from across the English Channel.

Before you sigh and move on just wait! Its NOT Michael Bradley! Its a young striker from Serbia named Miralem Sulemjmani. I have to give total credit to Setanta for digging this up. All the talk surrounding Heerenveen of late has been about his American teammate. It doesn’t seem to matter what club he plays for or what nationality he is. The Eredivisie seems to be a glorified shop window. Dutch clubs just are not able to compete with the allure of England or Spain. Even Germany seems able to tempt talent away. Look at Rafael van der Vaart, Nigel de Jong, Joris Mathijsen and Romeo Castelen. There is proof if I needed any. With that rant aside all it would take it for one team to hold on to their quality players and be successful in Europe to change the focus dramatically.

After all that though there is no indication as to whether the young Serb is interested in Chelsea.

The Weekend: Round 32

Mike — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 13:58:32 +0000

Here is the table as it stands on Saturday morning. One match has already been completed with NEC winning away at Roda JC 0-2.

PSV and Ajax both play at lunchtime on Sunday. Each is pitted against a club watching nervously over their shoulders as the relegation situation becomes ever more critical. SC Heracles and De Graafschap are looking for points. From their point of view the opponent is secondary. The goal is to stay float nevermind trying to go anywhere by swimming.

Throw all of that in a bowl, add some desparation and hunger for that Silver Plate, cook for 90 minutes and you have an interesting Sunday of Eredivisie football.

Spare a thought for NAC Breda though, only three points behind Ajax its not mathematically impossible for Breda to capture a slice of the glory on offer this season. A goal difference of +8 betrays their lofty position (compared to +41 for Ajax) but football is a results business and in the end it doesn’t matter how but if.

It should be a good weekend!!

Club               GP   Pts
PSV Eindhoven	    31	65  v. SC Heracles Almelo
Ajax Amsterdam	    31	60  v. De Graafschap
NAC Breda	    31	57  @ FC Groningen
Twente Enschede	    31	55  v. Excelsior
Heerenveen	    31	54  @ Willem II Tilburg
Feyenoord 	    31	54  v. FC Utrecht
Rotterdam
FC Groningen	    31	51  v. NAC Breda
Roda JC Kerkrade    32  44   0-2 NEC Nijmegen FT
NEC Nijmegen	    32	43   2-0 @ Roda JC Kerkrade FT
FC Utrecht	    31	42  @ Feyenoord Rotterdam
Vitesse Arnhem	    31	40  v. Sparta Rotterdam
AZ Alkmaar	    31	36  @ VVV Venlo
SC Heracles Almelo  31  32  @ PSV Eindhoven
Sparta Rotterdam    31  31  @ Vitesse Arnhem
De Graafschap	    31	29  @ Ajax Amsterdamn
Willem II Tilburg   31  28  v. Heerenveen
VVV Venlo	    31	26  v. AZ Alkmaar
Excelsior           31   26  @ Twente Enschede

Playoffs to be reviewed

Mike — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:59:19 +0000

Many writers, supporters and even players cast sideways glances at the Eredivisie. Everyone is aware that the Netherlands is a wonderful factory of young talent but beyond that noone takes it seriously. In order for a player in the Eredivisie to win the European Golden Boot he would have to score 150% of the goals a competitor from Spain, Italy, Germany or England would need. Thats because of the coefficient used to “equalise” goals scored in competitions across Europe. But that’s a whole other post.

Another reason for smirks and eye-rolling is the Dutch system of play offs. While the bottom team is automatically relegated the next two bottom clubs enter into a play off with teams being promoted and they fight it out. Another play off is held for the second Champions League spot. The champion is automatically in but the next FOUR teams all have a chance. Good news though, the system is being reviewed!

There could be a hint of an inferiority complex but surely those leagues who dominate Europe would have the best systems wouldn’t they? All the hype around England having 4 teams in the Champions League quarter finals would have been snuffed out had Tottenham and Everton obtained one off results against Liverpool and Arsenal in a similar system last year and been granted access to the Europe’s premier competition. Surely a team’s form over the full course of a season should be merit enough to gain entry to Europe. The Eredivisie cheapens itself by allowing a season’s worth of results to be swept aside by another club’s spirited display over two legs.

The Run In

Mike — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:31:24 +0000

It’s always exciting this time of year. Depending on where you are in the world the seasons are changing and you notice new expressions on your football supporting friends. Their team’s position in the league is mirrored on their faces. Even if your team is on the wrong end of table hope springs eternal. Grimaces could turn to grins for Excelsior supporters. Three points would lift them out of the automatic relegation spot. That’s dependant on other results going their way but the possibility remains.

Excelsior’s situation is exactly what this time of year is about. A famous Scot once christened it “Squeaky bum time” and it is exactly that. Keeping it tight at the back knowing how to take your chances when they come your way separate those who could have done and those to did.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. I hope your strapped in.