"Swansea's always been my dream club": The Dutch Eredivisie 2011/2012

Let's do this. Eredivisie starts this weekend. I'll try and give irregular updates about Europe's most prolific Micky Mouse competition, the UK Premier Leaugue's prime discount outlet store with some surprisingly good bargains every now and again.

The three title contenders: Ajax, PSV and FC Twente. And their best players, are they ready? Let watch and find out!

http://www.ajax.nl/upload_mm/1/a/d/178870_Eriksen_600x338.jpg
Christian Eriksen, Ajax: "Man City can get ta fuck, I'm the number one wunderkind of Europe, I'm ready for Ajax."

http://www.igol.pl/images/articles/ola_toivonen.png
Ola Toivonen, PSV: "As new captain I promise to keep my elbows in and not step on other people's toes, so I'm ready!"

http://blog.sportbet.com/sb/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/bryan-ruiz.jpg
Bryan Ruiz, FC Twente: "If I don't get my dream transfer to Spurs, I'm quite sure I'll be ready."

Ajax is the favorite for the title, having won it last year and up to now no extreme losses in players sold. They also bought last season's revelation, Icelandic striker Kholbein Sightorsson, from AZ (who turned down Arsenal when he was nine years old). Biggest obstacle of them winning the league? It might be Cruijff who joined the board of Ajax and creates a massive stir.
Twente seem as stable as ever, and probably got the best - without a doubt the most entertaining, unique - coach in, Co Adriaanse. If Ruiz stays there's no reason why they can't win it.
PSV - having dominated the 00's with six out ten league wins - have not been champion for three years and are dying for a title. Went on a shopping spree buying some of the biggest talents from last season, number 10 and great talent Georginio Wijnaldum (from Feyenoord), and in a package deal costing 12 million, Belgian winger Dries Mertens and playmaker and new international Kevin Strootman from Utrecht. PSV still lacking a striker and central defender though, definitely not done shopping.

For 4th, 5th, 6th place: AZ, Groningen, Heerenveen, Roda JC. If a miracle happens, also Feyenoord with new coach Ronald Koeman.

Last season's most lol-worthy incident was Luis Suarez biting PSV's Otman Bakkal, good for a 7 match ban:

http://www.gifsoup.com/webroot/animatedgifs2/1390403_o.gif

I for one would be highly disappointed if this doesn't get topped this season.

(title refers to Utrecht keeper Michel Vorm who today agreed terms with Swansea)

tho i don't watch it, i'll be watching this thread, keep up the good work

thanks!

have PSV held onto there v tidy indeed left winger, think his name started with a K?

yes, thx for doing this le bateau. thread bookmarked!

Oh and thanks for this btw LBI!

I think You mean Balázs Dzsudzsák? Unfortunately (I'm a PSV fan) no, he was sold for 14 million to FC Anzhi Makhachkala, the Russian club that also bought Roberto Carlos, Chelsea's Yuri Zhirkov, Mbark Boussoufa etc.

His sale made it possible for PSV to go on a much needed shopping spree though. Suarez and Dzsudzsák were last year's best players, shame we saw them go but that's how it works.

xxp

Merci bien, guys!

Really really excited to read this thread, keep us posted!

xp yes that's the fella! Sorry you've lost him:(

Thanks Gravel! :)

@Pandemic, yeah I know, though with players of this caliber you know they will move on. It's part of the Dutch league. It's just a shame he went to Russia, which is such an invisible part of footballing Europe. He could've easily played for, say, l'OM, Sevilla or Arsenal. And then we could still see him play.

I meant Lyon, not l'OM (although they'd probably be happy with him too). He always particularly struck me a a Lyon player for some reason.

Rutten out.

(Altidore scored his first AZ goal in his first official match, not bad, against PSV no less, 3-1 end result) PSV seem to have forgotten to buy a defense, with all their money spending.

my team (NAC Breda) are in deep financial shit, so.. the season is hardly worth starting. ;) (opening at home against Twente this afternoon, might be the only chance for a surprise, that early in the season)

Alex Schalk is the new promising NAC star, for those keeping track Celtic wanted to buy the guy (who's like 19) 1 or 2 years ago. (and they were right, they are calling him Der Bomber already)

Ha Ludo! Feel free to chip on this thread some more :)

Bad start from PSV. Clearly missing a striker, there's like four #10's all running around not knowing who to deliver the ball to in the end. Defense wasn't even that bad today tbh, although clearly they need another central defender. But all props to AZ who are again playing very fresh, attacking fluidly.

ah my ramble was purely score board journalism as Co would say. ;)

i like how Dutch tv text has dropped Scottish football (..) in favor of the Russian league. Makes you realize the err limits of tv text. (which still miles better than teh interwebz of course) ;)

Yeah quite surprising, that.

I take it Spurs have been watching him again tonight. If so, they saw this beauty from Bryan Ruiz:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2mza_ABtnw

Twente beat AZ with 2-0, and with Adriaanse as coach they are top flight again, as expected. A well oiled machine. Curious to see how they will do against Benfica this week for a place in the CL. AZ may have lost but are really growing too. They are well on the way of surprising everyone and breaking into the top 3.

That will probably mean PSV will be 4th. They massively struggled to beat newcomer RKC 1-0 tonight. They were even stalling the play at the end, playing at home... :-/ This will not be PSV's season. Not with Rutten as manager. Cringe-worthy, awful awful football. Damnit.

Ajax last week won 4-1 from De Graafschap without playing really well. Tomorrow is a bigger test for them when they meet SC Heerenveen.

I find it nice to see Feyenoord doing well, at least for the first two matches this year. After years of misery they top the table now. Ronald Koeman's influence and style is already slowly showing in their play.

Rutten out.

the guy's been in charge for what, 2-3 seasons? wasn't he assistant manager before that for a long spell, how come they're still not playing nice attractive combinations, patterns, patterns.

i felt the squad wants Rutten out too. playing like: please RKC, EQUALIZE

I expect a comfy win for Ajax today, they will probably start struggling mid-season though.

Twente could be a disaster without Ruiz, on the other end, Co's magic might still work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNbr9nA7J90&hd=1

lbi, ludo etc -- how do you rate the current generation of dutch u-21 etc players like wijnaldum, luuk de jong etc

On the whole I'd say the younger generation is quite promising and has potential. Obviously they are not at top level yet, but there is a new Dutch generation behind the Dutch 11 we all know that is on the move. It certainly is very different from when Holland under 21 won the European Championship 3 or 4 years ago. Those players, Drenthe, Rigters, Owusu-Abeyi, Aissati etc. all moved to bigger clubs, mostly abroad, and failed completely. The "new" way for Dutch youngsters seems to be carefully planning their career. And the Dutch manager seems to reward them for this, he stimulates staying in Holland a bit longer before going to a big club.

Georginio Wijnaldum could have gone to many clubs abroad, earning more etc. but decided to stay in Holland and move to PSV. He's a brilliant rough diamond, very level-headed. Same goes for Luuk de Jong from Twente, who sneakily got better than his brother at Ajax. The real discovery is Kevin Strootman though. Played at Sparta in the Dutch Championship a year ago, moved to Utrecht, got selected for Holland, moved again to PSV and plays for Holland as if he's done so for years. I'm calling it: he'll keep Nigel de Jong out of the squad at Euro 2012.

Defense still the big Dutch problem though. No big talents on the way there I believe.

that's quite a call....i hope elia or somebody deposes kuyt from the starting xi by then, and hopefully strootman and someone else replace the horrible van bommel/de jong centre midfield too

OTM. Kuyt was dreadful last Tuesday, I didn't understand him at all. Not for the first time I got the idea he couldn't hack the pace at which the Dutch squad wants to play right now. It's like he doesn't understand the playing philosophy, which has been slowly built up to hyper-attack. He constantly sent the ball back, at times he stood right-back instead of winger.

Strootman/Van Bommel as midfield seems to work nicely though, much more play and insight than with De Jong. But then I've never been a fan of Nigel. Would be really glad if Strootman could keep this up. Van Marwijk has played with Van Bommel/Van der Vaart as well btw. I think VdV isn't in good shape lately but it still beats having Nigel there tbh.

how about that luc castaignos, he the real deal?

vurnon anita & wout brama are excellent names

charlton vicento!

how about that luc castaignos, he the real deal?

― r|t|c, Thursday, 8 September 2011 16:09 (12 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

vurnon anita & wout brama are excellent names

― r|t|c, Thursday, 8 September 2011 16:13 (7 minutes ago) Bookmark

Better names than players tbh. Nah, Castaignos, I have no idea tbh. Has left Feyenoord for Inter now, he's only 19, not eligible for the CL etc. I fear he'll go down the same path as Arnoutovic who left Twente for Inter some years ago, and was benched the whole season and left for Werder.
I mean, Castaignos is 19. He's only played one full season in Holland. He's talented, no doubt, but I think he left way too early. Same as Macea Rigters, who's no playing ball in the second division here.

Vurnon Anita wont make it big. Brama is useful as back-up, but no more than that.

MaceO Rigters, even

Settling down with PSV/Ajax this morning. I like Erikkson(sp?) who plays for Ajax I think, but in honour of LBI I will be supporting PSV today.

1-0 after 2 mins! Arsenal-esque defending from Ajax. Nice finish from the #9 Matavz

Aw Pandemic, thanks :-)

Matavz's first goal after a nicely one-touch flowing attack.

PSV are looking ok, Ajax still searching, but PSV are leaning back a bit too much for my liking at the moment, letting Ajax back in the game.

Big congrats to Ludo for NAC's first win this weekend btw :)

No problem with liking Eriksen though, he's a class player and has been great this season. It's nice to see the playmakers duel in this match, Strootman (new Dutch international) and Eriksen. Both haven't been decisive so far.

PSV look good when Toivenen is on the ball
Ooff yr goalie just got a wicked one on the head there. He won't continue I don't think. Roma's keeper got a similar one yday.

Roma goalie Dutch as well I iirc

Oh man, that's a nasty clash ;_;

Yeah, Stekelenburg was unconscious yesterday after a similar clash.

Khalid Sinouh his replacement, hehe. Isakson is injured, we only bought Sinouh as third keeper and controversial twitter guy..

Not looking good for Tyton... :-/

Ajax doctor lend his support just now. Not looking good at all, his neck/head needs to be stabilized.

yeah this looks worse than being 'just' knocked out.:(

The Ajax fans still seem to be having a good time :-(

I'm actually quite shocked by this. No idea how this will end. The PSV-players have grim expressions though

yeah it looks horrible. Worried for his general health and well being not just his football health as it were.

Indeed.

Fifteen minutes of injury time

Fuck!

Bad defending but probably a push as well

Ugh... This could end in tears. Organisation in the defense is gone. Also, Marcelo, please git ta fuck

Tyton's been unconscious for a while, they stabilized his neck, no more news now.

deffo pen

get in!
been better this half

oh marcelo
ajax right back horrendous

Missed the pen because of a work-call, d'oh!

You are right, Marcelopaws is dire, but Ajax rightback Van der Wiel too.

Heard on the radio PSV is piling on the pressure the last 10mins?

Christ that should've been the one, Matavz

yeah straight after the pen PSV had 3 or 4 chances in a 5 min spell. Eriksen just had one saved at the other end though. Another goal looks likely, not sure which net though.

FFUUUUUU

One point isn't enough really, we're already three behind.

blimey, that overhead!

Yeah that was classy, good save too.

I feel we should've finished this off earlier though :-/

what happened to the keeper?

right after the psv 2nd goal marcelo scooped over from 3 yards after a free kick came back off the goalie. That was the key miss I think. Or the striker not converting that low cross from the right on the counter at 2-1

collision on a low cross cozen. 15 mins of treatment, unconscious, neck brace, stretcher, ambulance. Horrible.

ESPN just lost pictures. Is it over yet? 2-2??

Yeah it's over, 2-2. Should've won this really, PSV were better in the second half.

I hope Tyton will be ok though, looked really bad.

First news from hospital is nothing broken, but a severe concussion. Could be worse.

yeah. couple of weeks out though. Will Sinouh be the new 2nd goal keeper or is this Isaksson guy still around? ;)

Big congrats to Ludo for NAC's first win this weekend btw :)

yay! der Breda Bomber scored again. also Excelsior solidly on the relegation spot, NAC might finish 14th after all, or something :)

kinda bummed about PSV, even though the team is definetely 'shaping up' or whatever the expression is.

I hope Sinouh stays 2nd keeper, he did well and he's the best next cult-figure after Addo :)

I think NAC did really well to come back after what, a goal in the first 5 minutes? Der Bomber, now there's a real cult hero!

PSV is indeed shaping up, but they have been doing that for a while now tbh, bummed they didn't win today.

PSV butchered Roda tonight, winning 7-1. Four goals by wonderboy Mertens, who's got 10 goals in the first 7 games. PSV should've won 14-1 at least though. Funfair football.

We mentioned him here before, but Roda do really miss Pa Modouh Kah in their defense. Atrocious playing team.

Excited for this weekend's classic which is about to start, Ajax vs Twente.

That's 11 goals for Mertens now btw.

Half-time at Twente-PSV now, 1-1, and it's by far the best game in the league I've seen this season. Passion, great play, loads of chances and super high speed. No telling how this one will end.

Lol I have no idea how he can be of any value to us, but he's been training with PSV since September so what the hell, right? It's official:

JAN VENNEGOOR OF HESSELINK SIGNS FOR PSV

http://www.psv.nl/upload/c9483520-1112-470f-86f2-2484de274a5f_Contractondertekening_Vennegoor4683.jpg

http://www.psv.nl/upload/b77b4a36-b146-4b42-8b47-7221a73fd027_Contractondertekening_Vennegoor4682.jpg

btw, next transfer window we DEFO need a thread to post pictures of players signing for clubs, preferably pictures from the official club websites. Why because they are intersting

Ajax played really quite well tonight, I begrudgingly have to say (j/k). Second place is up for grabs now. One can only hope after this one decent game they slip into their laconic arrogant schtick again and screw up in the league.

― Y Kant Lou Reed (Le Bateau Ivre), Thursday, November 3, 2011 12:15 AM (3 days ago) Bookmark

Rofl, myself OTM: Utrecht 6-4 Ajax.

haha. btw LBI how do you rate Maza? Mixture of excellent and appalling when I've seen him for Stuttgart this season. Ex PSV I think.

Maza Rodriguez, yes he came from PSV. Was surprised Stuttgart bought him, and glad too, because like you said, he mixes excellence with ridiculous foolery. Very strong header and the ability to storm forwards, but tbh he was a liability in the defense. Always tense moments when it came down to him. Not that we got better defenders in his place, but I wasn't sad to see him go. I do hope he'll do alright though, because he always seemed a very nice and friendly person.

ROTTERDAM, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Belgian teenager Andreas Hoelgebaum Pereira will sign a three-and-a-half-year deal with Manchester United on Jan. 1 when he turns 16, he said in an interview with the Dutch daily De Telegraaf on Monday.
The 15-year-old playmaker is at PSV Eindhoven, where he has been part of the youth academy since he was nine.

Yep, it's sad but it's happening every year to at least a dozen of teenagers here being lured into the evil PL, the best competition in the world.

Good lord... I'm listening to the radio to the live report of the re-match of Dutch Cup game Ajax-AZ, it nearly unlistenable because of the 25,000 kids screaming and telling.

screaming and Yelling

Ha yeah, I'm watching now while having lunch - it's got the ambiance of a swimming pool, with the vuvuzela thing of never modulating in pitch or volume. AZ just equalised, but you'd only know if you could see it.

It's quite funny that there's an ostensibly serious game going on in between the kids' game show cutaways.

Where are you watching Ismael? I cannae seem to find a stream.

A swimming pool! That's indeed what it sounds like! They're saying the playing pace is quite high, I wonder if the insane cheering of the kids has something to do with that.

Yeah it's quite good actually. There are four Arabic streams on firstrow.tv

2-1 and route 1 from AZ

2-2 now, cracking game!

Well that was fun. Not sure I could justify stretching lunch enough to take in the second half though :(

Hmm, unless you work in primary education or are a sociologist you probably can't :(

An hour's worth of screaming seems to have tired the kids, they aren't nearly as noisy as in the first half!

2-3 for AZ, unfairly given penalty scored by Elm

That's the final score as well. First time ever AZ wins in Amsterdam. Looking forward to Sunday even more now, when both will play each other again in Alkmaar, for the league.

On a huge banner in the FC Twentey stadium tonight:
"Welcome back Sir Steve. Bring us back the passion to kill the beast"

Uhm, waht? I have no idea what that evens means. But yes, Schteve is back, so Twente is Twenty again. His side is playing RKC tonight. McLaren isn't coming back to a made bed though, AZ and PSV have been the best teams of the first season half by far.

Simon Kuper and David Winner in a paper today compared McLaren to Zelig, from Woody Allen's movie: A chameleon who has no influence on the play, on winning or losing whatsoever, but is a figure others love to project their hopes and fears and loathing onto. That seems about right. He's an empty shell, a vessel. Anyway.

Tomorrow's AZ-Ajax promises fireworks, too. As Utrecht-PSV might too (although I hope not for it would mean bad news for PSV). All the pundits tip PSV as league winners now, as they simply have the most quality and the best play and players. Which is true, but I can't rule out AZ, Twente or even Ajax.

Anyway, Eredivisie is back baby. Now let's see if I can bring up this table without screwing up the code:

Dutch Eredivisie : Table
Friday, 20 January 2012 20:57 UK
  	  	  	| Home 	  	  	  	| Away 	  	  	  	  	 
  	Team 	P 	W 	D 	L 	F 	A 	W 	D 	L 	F 	A 	GD 	PTS
1 	AZ Alkmaar 	17 	8 	0 	0 	23 	2 	4 	2 	3 	13 	13 	21 	38
2 	PSV Eindhoven 	17 	7 	1 	0 	28 	6 	4 	3 	2 	20 	13 	29 	37
3 	FC Twente 	17 	5 	3 	0 	21 	7 	4 	3 	2 	22 	11 	25 	33
4 	Ajax 	17 	4 	4 	0 	23 	9 	5 	2 	2 	23 	14 	23 	33
5 	Feyenoord 	17 	5 	1 	2 	18 	8 	4 	3 	2 	16 	14 	12 	31
6 	Vitesse 	17 	4 	3 	1 	17 	7 	4 	2 	3 	6 	9 	7 	29
7 	Heerenveen 	17 	3 	4 	2 	19 	16 	4 	3 	1 	20 	12 	11 	28
8 	FC Groningen 	17 	6 	2 	1 	20 	10 	1 	3 	4 	9 	18 	1 	26
9 	Roda JC 	18 	6 	0 	3 	23 	15 	2 	1 	6 	9 	26 	-9 	25
10 	ADO Den Haag 	18 	4 	3 	2 	13 	9 	2 	1 	6 	12 	25 	-9 	22
11 	NAC 	17 	5 	2 	2 	14 	10 	1 	1 	6 	10 	18 	-4 	21
12 	Heracles 	17 	4 	2 	3 	17 	9 	1 	3 	4 	10 	16 	2 	20
13 	RKC Waalwijk 	17 	2 	2 	4 	9 	13 	3 	1 	5 	8 	15 	-11 	18
14 	FC Utrecht 	17 	3 	3 	2 	21 	21 	1 	2 	6 	7 	14 	-7 	17
15 	NEC 	17 	4 	0 	5 	11 	12 	1 	2 	5 	6 	15 	-10 	17
16 	De Graafschap 	17 	2 	0 	7 	10 	20 	1 	3 	4 	6 	19 	-23 	12
17 	VVV Venlo 	17 	2 	4 	3 	13 	14 	0 	0 	8 	3 	28 	-26 	10
18 	SC Excelsior Rotterdam 	17 	1 	3 	5 	5 	16 	0 	2 	6 	4 	25 	-32 	8

ffs

SC Excelsior!

Haha, I thought you lot would never find that out :-) (also because they never play in Europe tbh) I think ILX should have another fundraiser to sponsor these guys. They are destined to relegate again.

(we have loads of clubs and bands and fanfares called Excelsior in this country btw)

Oh, aaannnnndddddd: Excelsior got their 2nd win of the season moving from last place tonight!

Schteve's Twenty cruised to a 5-0 victory tonight against RKC. Which says nothing about a "Schteve effect" tbh, RKC are just weak.

I knew who they were! If only because better-than-Pique regen and new Arsenal captain Robert Zwikker was bought for 8m from Excelsior aged 16.

Haha, 8m is more than their actual budget!

Saw a thrilling AZ-Ajax which ended 1-1, which was a point more than Ajax deserved really, AZ should have won it 4-1 or 5-1 they had that many chances.

PSV could've taken the top spot if they'd win from Utrecht, but PSV played 1-1 as well, bloody nora. Same old same old, no killing striker and playing way too slow.

It's far from over but it's typical PSV, not delivering when they can take the lead in the league.

AZ continues to impress though, it will be very difficult for any club to beat them. They are so unbelievably fit, which is one of the trademarks of all clubs Verbeek manages. Fittest squad in the league by far, which gives them the ability to switch to fighting if it doesn't work out by just playing football.

Next week another cracking game: Feyenoord-Ajax!

Happy times. PSV are top of the league for the first time this season. They won 3-1 from Vitesse yesterday (where Van Aanholt, former PSV and on loan from Chelsea played really good). AZ just lost 2-0 against giant killers Roda JC trololo, so PSV are at the top spot two points loose.

Tomorrow is what it's all about in terms of excitement: Feyenoord-Ajax!

Feyenoord - Ajax 4-2!

Well, the only real Dutch 'clasico' certainly didn't disappoint! Fantastic stuff. Ajax were better the first 20 minutes and Eriksen made the 0-1. Then a disputable penalty was given to Feyenoord, Guidetti scored, and after that it became a passionate battle. And when it comes to battling, Feyenoord is always way better.

Man of the match: John Guidetti, who scored a hattrick. On loan from Man City, I mentioned him here before, but what a guy. Not just his scoring ability, but he's a real passionate character. We can seduce 50,000 people.

It is a terrible shame that Feyenoord probably can't keep Guidetti on board. I hope Man City won't squander him, he's ripe for a European top club.

WHe can seduce..

sounds great. wanted to watch but was overruled in favour of tennis.
will try to find the highlights and check this Guidetti character, Man City can through him and Silva into the Carroll/Tevez swap deal ho ho

through=throw

Haha yeah, well I'd rather have Guidetti than Carroll, I can tell you that.

guidetti's at 14 in 13 now, quite something. still hard to imagine him getting to play for city anytime soon though.

Yeah, that's what's sad about City. He wouldn't get any play time there. Another year on loan would be a blessing for Feyenoord, but I can't see it happening. He can play for bigger clubs after this season. For his sake I hope he can arrange another loan or to be sold.

quite a name he has too: John Alberto Fernando Andres Luigi Olof Guidetti

I'll take a what inv

there a different thread for that tbh

only have one, jibe was first, sorry.

really? awesome, thx a bunch, can't wait for it ^^

Sent you a webmail

To put this thread back on track:

This weekend was all about the demise and complete disintegration of Ajax. They lost, at home, with 0-2 from Utrecht, a club that is sixteenth in the league and hadn't won a single match since October when they beat Ajax 6-4.

Ajax had 60% possession but did not create a single chance. Not one. Pundits claim it was Ajax' worst match in ten years, and I tend to agree. It was appalling. Now there are six first team players injured, but that doesn't take anything away from the fact that this Ajax is completely clueless, does not have one player to lead the battle. Apathetic football, a stadium so quiet you could hear a pin drop, because of disbelief. The audience couldn't be angry anymore, they felt sorry for their club. Which is the lowest you can sink. Ajax scraped together 1 point in three games after the winter break and are 6th in the league now. Heerenveen and Feyenoord (on form) passed them by.

Now, in other highly annoying news: PSV - still at the top of the league but with Twente and AZ having a game in hand - played a great match against Heracles. Should have lead by 0-3 at break time, but didn't finish their 0-1 lead and Heracles equalized ffs.

Still really exciting season though as there's 5 clubs that theoretically can win the title: PSV, Twente, AZ, Feyenoord and Heerenveen (the latter two are 5 points behind PSV).
If I had to bet right now I think it will be Twente, who under McLaren are suddenly playing great football again. I don't know how he does it.

People in Amsterdam are reeling with fear about the upcoming confrontation with ManU for the EL btw. Sir Alex can send his third tier on the pitch and still ease past them I think.

A week late I caught the highlights from last weekends matches. Mertens(sp?) goal for PSV was class.

It was. Shame it didn't get us a win.

Lol at Ajax btw. Van Gaal causes ructions before he even returns!

Hoeness - Van Gaal is a very great coach but a disaster in terms of human relationships.

Well, to clue you in: this week's court ruling means Van Gaal isn't going to return! And he had nothing to do with it, either. His bad human relation skills weren't in swing here. He was as quiet as a mouse watching this whole Shakespearean spectacle unfold. Cruijff achieved what I never thought was possible. He single-handedly (well, with the backing of Dennis Bergkamp, Wim Jonk and most of Ajax' youth trainers) got rid of the board of directors, the general director and technical director.

A massive achievement, regardless of the fact that I believe the Cruijff route won't be the solution. Ajax will always have internal struggles; it's what makes it Ajax. But this is a huge feat.

I won't rule out Van Gaal now will claim millions from Ajax, because the board of directors appointed him but that whole deal is off now.

There's no stopping this guy: John Guidetti just bagged his third hattrick of the season for Feyenoord against Vitesse this time. Heerenveen keeps winning as well. It's not since Dirk Kuyt in 04/05 that a player in the league bags three hattricks in a season.

Twente lost for the first time under McLaren, at home no less in the derbty against arch-enemies Heracles lol. AZ returned to form, Ajax had a simple unimpressive win and the same goes for PSV.

Wait, Guidetti actually made his third hattrick at home in a row.

In the category 'Whoa, did not see that one coming': Marco van Basten will be Heerenveen's next manager, starting after this season.

But he's always being linked with Chelsea and the likes - guess he just gave up hope that avb might be fired

I suppose so. Also, he'd drown at Chelsea tbh.

Heerenveen being my local club, I'm not too happy with this decision.

Why starting after this season? Manager retiring?

No, Ron Jans' contract expires then and it isn't renewed. But lol ever since this was decided in November, H'veen won 12 of 13 matches and are now third in the league.

This just happened 15 minutes ago: John Guidetti, Feyenoord's topscorer, scores a penalty in a very difficult match against RKC, making it 1-0. But he takes his shit off after scoring to get his second yellow card! He gets sent off, which means no Guidetti against PSV next week! And also RKC scored the equaliser 3 mins before time against 10 men.

Watch this video, and watch Ronald Koeman's priceless reaction, first jubilant, then realising he's taking his effing shirt off:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VteM4o5pDQE

loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool

takes his shirt off, not shit

Oof, game just ended, his teammates are fucking pissed hehe

John Guidetti's reaction afterwards. I can't help but feel for the guy. The video is in English btw:

http://nos.nl/l/tcm:5-1192829/

http://i.imgur.com/K2Pvf.gif

Ok, I get it, party of one here. Still enjoyed all the excitement!

I've been in Ireland all day, just catching up - I'm enjoying it, LBI. Poor Guidetti though, I've never seen a footy interview like it.

Yeah, quite an amazing interview. I have really grown to love this guy. Th penalty was his 18th goal of the season. He's killing it, every game there's loads of scouts in the stadium. He's made such a stupid mistake, but to see how remorseful he is kind of makes it ok. I mean the guy 19 years old, Feyenoord fans have tattoed his name onto their bodies. Insanity.

Love how the reporter pats him on the back repeatedly at the end of the interview

nah lbi, you're not alone, i enjoy reading what you write about the eredivisie. that gif is fun btw. i really don't understand how players still take off their shirts when they score. i mean i get that you're excited but this is an instant yellow (and really, the easiest to avoid). anyone know why removing your shirt is an instant yellow? and when it became yellow card worthy? i seem to remember players doing it all the time in the 90s without getting carded, but i might be remembering wrong.

There doesn't seem to be an obvious reason. Taking your shirt off and throwing it into the crowd, like Forlan occasionally used to do, is time wasting but you can get a yellow for pulling it over your head, which isn't. Officially, i think, it's regarded as provocative and unsporting behaviour and comes under a rule about 'excessive celebrations' but that would presumably also apply to any number of other things that aren't punished.

Perhaps the shirt sponsors leant on FIFA.

for some reason every incident in Dutch football brings me back to the same old thought on how Dutch clubs used to enter the CL with expectations of reaching the last 16/8, while nowadays...

(in this case the thought process went like this: Guidetti is a victim of his own imagination, he thinks he loves the club, gets all worked up and emotional about it, even though Feyenoord is a club like any other. Then I thought well maybe they have more fanatical supporters, than say, PSV, and then I thought when did PSV supporters ever get fanatical? When the results in CL were considered poor! (Storming the field vs hmm Kaiserslautern, something like that) But nowadays finishing third in a CL group would be considered OK/not bad. :)

Thx for posting that video LBI. Poor guy looks crushed. Having said that if I were the manager of a team I would fine players 2 weeks wages for yellow cards received for taking their shirts off.

I found this, from 2003: Fifa to ban removal of shirts

Football is televised worldwide and Muslim countries find it offensive to see bare chests.

The rule will also please sponsors who have been unhappy that their names are not always visible as the cameras follow a jersey-less goalscorer.

In any case, it's a rule he surely knows about but in his joy forgot about it. I'm with Pandemic, I'd fine him two weeks of wages too. He cost Feyenoord dearly last night (2 points) and likely again against PSV next week when he's not there.

PSV are figthing against themselves at the moment btw, 1-0 behind against Groningen, lakclustre performance -_-

man those are terrible reasons to change the rule to a yellow card offense. especially the part about sponsors, i mean wtf, we spend entire matches just staring at your brand, a couple of seconds without isn't going to make you lose millions (yeah yeah highlights mean that's not always true, but still, what a shitty decision).

PSV were terrible today, they lost 3-0 to Groningen ffs. Lacklustre, a sending off after a defender got his second yellow for a dive. Horrible. Fortunately AZ lost 3-0 against Utrecht too. Twente won 4-1 against Vitesse, Ajax won 4-1 against NEC.

But, it's a great top 6 we have now, anything is possible. Next weekend it's PSV-FEYE and AZ-Heerenveen.

Standings:

Pos 	Team 	P 	GD 	Pts
1 PSV Eindh. 	22 	31 	45
2 AZ Alkmaar 	22 	24 	45
3 Heerenveen 	22 	18 	43
4 FC Twente 	21 	35 	42
5 Feyenoord 	22 	17 	41
6 Ajax   	22 	24 	40
7 Vitesse 	22 	0 	32
8 FC Groningen 	22 	-3 	32

Whoa! Exciting!

Yeah it is! Objectively speaking it's the most amusing season of the last six or seven years I think. Heerenveen really is the dark horse because they are in the best form of all the top six.

PSV play Feyenoord next week, Twente the week after and Ajax the week after that I believe, with a cup semi final against Heerenveen in between. Tough streak. I'll be missing the first two because of holiday abroad.

Where are you going? You might be lucky and get a country which is mad about the Dutch league.

Yorkshire ;)

You'll be fine then, they don't have footy of their own anymore.

I don't know, I believe Todmorden Borough FC have been killing it in division 2 of the West Lancashire League iirc

;)

West-Yorkshire is mostly ManU territory isn't it? :(

it's all whippet-racing & cricket aiui

Been there many times before (gf lives there) but never really noticed a footy atmosphere, true.

Was at Leeds Bradford airport when PSV got a right drubbing against Twente today, PSV lost at home with historic figures: 2-6. So so glad I wasn't able to see it tbh. Dire.

Rutten OUT, Villas Boas IN

Watched that this morning LBI. Was wincing in sympathy throughout. Awful.

I've not had the stomach to watch it yet. Vexing deja-vu feeling though; PSV threw away the title in the last two years by disintegrating in the final third of the league. This is year is different in that the squad has susbtantially more quality players than last year, which makes it all the more frustrating.

PSV meanwhile are in a bind. Rutten is leaving the club at the end of the season. He failed to win a single prize in three years. The good games have been the best games in five years, but this also goes for the bad games who are the worst in five years. Higher highs and lower lows, the latter being unacceptable.
But I don't at all believe in sacking Rutten now (though most fans and pundits are shouting off with his head) will sort any "shock-effect". It would be opportunist and irrational, but that's how football works iirc

AZ have played well all season, Twente are picking things up McLaren style (defensive, counter attack, not attractive but deadly effective), hell even Ajax are fully into it again. I can see either of them or PSV winning the league though, despite pundits shouting PSV are done for. The top six is still within 6 points of eachother:

Team P W D L F A W D L F A GD PTS
1 AZ Alkmaar 24 10 2 0 32 7 5 2 5 19 18 26 49
2 FC Twente 23 8 3 1 33 11 6 3 2 32 14 40 48
3 PSV Eindhoven 24 10 1 1 40 16 4 5 3 22 18 28 48
4 Ajax 24 6 4 1 31 13 7 3 3 32 20 30 46
5 Heerenveen 24 6 4 2 26 19 6 5 1 26 15 18 45
6 Feyenoord 24 8 2 2 27 12 5 3 4 21 19 17 44

Basically all of the top six will still face two or more top six clubs. But the Dutch league usually isn't won by winning against the big clubs, it's all about not losing to the small ones.

ffs

          	Team 	P 	W 	D 	L 	F 	A 	W 	D 	L 	F 	A 	GD 	PTS
1 	AZ Alkmaar 	24 	10 	2 	0 	32 	7 	5 	2 	5 	19 	18 	26 	49
2 	FC Twente 	23 	8 	3 	1 	33 	11 	6 	3 	2 	32 	14 	40 	48
3 	PSV Eindhoven 	24 	10 	1 	1 	40 	16 	4 	5 	3 	22 	18 	28 	48
4 	Ajax    	24 	6 	4 	1 	31 	13 	7 	3 	3 	32 	20 	30 	46
5 	Heerenveen 	24 	6 	4 	2 	26 	19 	6 	5 	1 	26 	15 	18 	45
6 	Feyenoord 	24 	8 	2 	2 	27 	12 	5 	3 	4 	21 	19 	17 	44

oooh i def need to pay more attention the next two months.

i dreaded this bump. was even trying to think of a joke for LBI (i guess 'Rutten out' wouldn't have done it)

Villa-Boas in would be marvellous though, he might be too young for a true top team with stars, so a league like Portugal (or the Netherlands) would suit him a lot better + PSV does (or used to have) Brazilian/Latin-American 'connections'.

Poor Ludo, never dread a bump of this thread! Or did you expect me to be grumpy and annoying? :-)

VB in would indeed be marvellous. Shame it's never going to happen, but I think he could mold a nice team out of these players. I'm one of the very last apologizers of Rutten (have a soft spot for him) but if he got three years, VB should get double to prove himself in Eindhoven.

Oh shit I just realised that Rutten's head could roll next weekend when we are playing.... NAC Breda! :-)

Now there's a bump you should dread Ludo ;)

heheh. well i was grumpy myself, so...

after Verbeeks zillionth outburst I was thinking maybe that's the only thing to like about Rutten, he's quite the gentleman with referees. (iirc)

Verbeek on the other hand has got to be the biggest joke in that respect. Stuff like that makes me grumpy as well, the modern football trainer seems to think refereeing is a democracy. :)

In the battle of LBI vs Ludo NAC just nabbed a v well worked third goal against PSV. They lead 3-1 with 35 mins to go.

Playing with a proper circa 1970 black and white paneled football as well.

Ooh NAC down to 10 men, can LBI's boys stage a comeback?

Ah looks like PSV themselves were down to 10 men at the end of the first half (i've only been watching the 2nd) Wondered why they hadn't been dominating since the NAC red card.

NAC get a much needed victory in their relegation battle. As for PSV......

I turned on specifically for the ball, good to see it back with us. Also good to see LBI getting his comeuppance obviously.

Lol IK :)

Props to Ludo and his NAC men to push Rutten over the edge. As much as I love the guy, there's no basis any more for him to stay. There's a press-conference in half an hour where they'll announce his sacking. Seems like Cocu will take over if I have to believe some 'insiders'.

Yesterday's match was just a culmination of everything that has gone wrong for some time now. PSV were clueless and had the shakes, were way too nervous to ever be able to win that match. That's why we need a new manager now, not because Rutten is so bad, but if he stays they'll play with this sword of Damocles hanging over their heads.

It's still entirely possible to end second and get that CL ticket. I'll refrain from saying they can also still become champions.

From flop to top! Shock effect sets PSV's eyes on the prize again! Cocubulous! :-)

PSV, in their first league game under new manager Cocu, resurrect with a pristine 5-1 win over Heerenveen today. Ajax cruise past rivals ADO Den Haag, while Twente suffer their third defeat in 7 days (not that McLaren had anything else to say than all his usual commonplaces) against Feyenoord. Leader's AZ lose two points drawing against Ludo's mighty NAC, who - in honesty - deserved to win it too.

Dis fucking league is hilarious this season. Still six clubs within 6 points at the top. Next week: Ajax-PSV!

Table:

  	  	  	| Home 	  	  	  	        | Away 	  	  	  	  	 
  	Team 	        P 	W 	D 	L 	F 	A 	W 	D 	L 	F 	A 	GD 	PTS
1 	AZ Alkmaar 	26 	10 	3 	0 	32 	7 	6 	2 	5 	21 	18 	28 	53
2 	Ajax 	        26 	7 	4 	1 	34 	13 	8 	3 	3 	34 	20 	35 	52
3 	PSV Eindhoven 	26 	11 	1 	1 	45 	17 	4 	5 	4 	23 	21 	30 	51
4 	FC Twente 	25 	8 	3 	2 	33 	13 	6 	3 	3 	33 	17 	36 	48
5 	Feyenoord 	26 	8 	3 	2 	28 	13 	6 	3 	4 	23 	19 	19 	48
6 	Heerenveen 	26 	7 	4 	2 	30 	21 	6 	5 	2 	27 	20 	16 	48

Odd fact: Heerenveen have lost only 4 games this season, all with 5-1.

yeah and a away AND home loss to PSV right? PSV would love to play Heerenveen all season long.

it's getting bizarre how Ajax manage to get in a crisis in the first half of the season, then make an amazing comeback. This has happened for like 5 seasons in a row. Irritating to say the least.

AZ will be punished for advancing in the EL. that's kinda sad, but will probably turn out to be true. Especially if they manage a decent home result against Valencia, and then go down fighting in the 2nd leg.

NAC pretty safe now, I feel, VVV were on a winning streak, but that's all over now, and NAC squad does have some potential and experience to finish like... 14th or something.

OTM Ludo, Ajax are creeping up the table so sneakily it's scary. Will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow, Ajax-PSV. PSV have more quality players but I'm not sure if two wins against Heerenveen already strengthened them enough to win in the Arena.

NAC are safe, no doubt. It's weird to see players like Lurling and Boukhari still playing pretty well. Somehow it feels like they have been professionals for 30 years now, as if they've been around forever. Boukhari was a good deal for you lot I think though, he's playing better than I expected. Is there any money in Breda to buy some players this summer?

Negligent to the point of criminal defending from a short corner results in a cross which drifts into the top corner of the PSV net. Ajax 1-0. 30 mins to go. Oh dear LBI.

Peno to Ajax.

They score. De Jong. 2-0 and they've been all over PSV this half tbf.

Finished 2-0 to Ajax, and that makes it sound closer than it actually was (at least in the 2nd half)

Commiserations to LBI.

Is there any money in Breda to buy some players this summer?

nope. none at all. some kind of real eastate guy has just gone bankrupt, he was a major sponsor, so that's even léss money.

Lurling is a fine player, kind of irritating in a Von Boml way, but that's a good thing to have in your team. Boukhari should have stayed with NAC throughout his career, that's exactly his kind of club level.

PSV were shitty today, Ajax are pretty much unbeatable at home, even in bad seasons, and I give them an 85% chance to win the title after today. Crisis schmisis, only Cruyff thinks their youth system sucks, and we might begin to suspect that Frank de Boer is actually a fine manager. (Which is hard to believe, considering how the guy errrr errrr speaks.)

only Cruyff thinks their youth system sucks

loool this fucking guy. didn't they spank barca's yt in the kiddie cl?

This was a lifeless, soulless, passionless performance if I ever saw one. Dire and mind-numbing. First half both teams were quite bad, but the second half PSV seemed like they were on codeine. There was no incentive to win it, no drive. It would have been a shock if we've not seen this one time too many this season.

The odd thing is that from a defensive point of view this was one of the better games of the season. The midfield collapsed under the tiniest amount of pressure.

Ajax were not good, but ok in the second half. I think De Boer indeed is doing quite alright, considering the amount of injured players he has to deal with.

For PSV it's the fourth lost season, I think AZ or Ajax will win the league.

seeing a bit of talk that newcastle are signing douglas from twente this summer. another great bit of toon business?

this thread went dead silent after Ajax marched to their title, and not only PSV but áll the other point started dropping points like. i dunno.

anyway, Douglas has been faulty this season, maybe he's getting bored of Twente, i can see he needs a move and a club like Newcastle seems to be his level. but who knows, he could end up like Ronnie Stam (also from Twente, and from my hometown).

worst thing about Douglas is that our Brazil boy got a Dutch passport. He can have it, but international teams playing with Brazilians. yaaaaanw. It's so.. Belgian. (A running gag between me myself and I is reading Belgian tv text. Whenever there is an interesting foreign player in their league - without caps - within weeks some guy starts suggesting he needs a Belgian passport and the player declares himself 'honored' and 'willing to consider'. (And in the case of African players, ends up getting the passport)

*teams*

checking my stats it seems Stam is actually pláying for Wigan. I thought he was on the bench.

In my defence Ludo, the thread didn't get silent because of Ajax walking it (although that would've been as good a reason as any), but mostly since I've not been on ilx for a long time :-)

So yeah, Ajax walking this. With 11 wins in a row you can't say they don't deserve it, although I still think they are playing intense mediocre football. But fair dues to Frank de Boer especially, he managed to come from 13 points behind AZ to 6 in front. No small feat, especially given all the injuries he had to work around.

Still five teams in competition for 2nd place (Champions League). Ofcourse I hope it will be PSV, if only for the money, but to be honest the way they are playing now they will absolutely bottle it and finish fourth, in whatever group they would end up. Since I'm in such a mild mood, I think AZ should get 2nd place. They played the best football for most of the season, I'd love to see Verbeek and his team give it a go in the CL. Would also not mind if Feyenoord had a go. I can only sincerely hope that it won't be Twente. Their play has been nothing short of appalling since McLaren came back.

Oh, and Ludo otm about Douglas I think, he needs a new challenge. As long as he keeps his temper under control, I think Newcastle would be the best move for him.

Welcome back!

So I guess Ajax have pretty much wrapped this up.
LBI - Any thoughts on Advocaat's return to PSV?
Also is Luuk de Jong any good?

        
Colin Kâzım, Kâzım or Kâzım Kâzım
                              Apps	Goals
Feyenoord (loan) 	2014–15 	13 	7

Season statistics[edit]
Top scorers[edit]
Rank Player Club Goals

4 Dušan Tadić Twente 16
5 Michael Higdon NEC 14

http://www.wsc.co.uk/forum-index/27-football/951210-eredivisie-2014-2015?limit=20&start=120#991758

There looks like a fissure being opened up between the KNVB and Ajax over Jaap Stam. Stam, who don't forget is a high profile attendee at next week's congress has dropped out of the KNVB's elite coaching qualification citing "classroom anxiety". This was confirmed by Co Adriaanse, one of the course leaders in Zeist.

The significance of this is that you cannot coach at the highest level in the Netherlands without this qualification. The arguments are already raging online. Some (including De Telegraaf) argue that an exception should be made for someone of Stam's standing within the game. Stam has already proven himself to be an excellent coach as Art Langeler's assistant at PEC Zwolle as they led PEC to promotion and then consolidated the Blauwvinger's Eredivisie status. He's also made excellent progress as Ajax youth coach.

In addition (and this makes thing 4.2 million times more complicated) apparently Cruijff sees Stam as a successor to de Boer, once Frank leaves. A refusal by the KNVB to make an exception for Stam would be a victory for bureaucracy, the bean counters and the stuffed blazers who have never played the game in their lives.

On the other hand....should an exception be made for Stam, the Ajax haters ie the rest of the country combined, would see this as the usual "one rule for Ajax, another for the rest of the country" KNVB climbdown. It would not be accepted.

Don't be surprised if Stam doesn't turn up next Monday. This one is going to rumble on.....

can our dutch lads shed some light on whats happened since, i can't find anything about this

dunno if LBI is still around or if anyone else has opinions, but Michael de Leeuw seems to be coming to Chicago from Groningen, I'm wondering if he's worth being at all excited about

http://www.fcgroningen.nl/home/nieuws/nieuwsbericht/artikel/michael-de-leeuw-vertrekt-na-dit-seizoen-bij-fc-groningen/

Hi Dan, mostly lurking but still around. De Leeuw had his mind set on a foreign adventure for quite some time now. Can't say he's the best striker in the league, but he's been pretty decent for a mediocre team. Strong with the head, keen clever striker, bit lazy in terms of defending and helping his mates out though. But that's also because he saw a transfer to Asia fall through earlier iirc. He just really wanted to leave Holland, think he's a p decent acquisition for you tbh.

My news of the day: Ajax - equally miserably and miraculously - failed to win at the second to last Dutch club. PSV champions on the very last day. Ya dancerrrr

http://trib.al/kRQhpTX

Thanks LBI, that's about what I expected.