"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

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.