All posts by Will Burns

Royston Drenthe – Where did it all go wrong?

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When Royston Drenthe signed for Real Madrid in 2007, he was a precociously talented youngster with a bright future and one of the Netherlands’ leading lights for the future.

Seven years on and he is one of football’s forgotten men, struggling to break into a Reading side just inside the Sky Bet Championship playoffs – it seems unlikely he will add to his solitary international cap any time soon. He is blessed with electric pace and impressive strength for his 5’6” frame, but it has been his options off the pitch which have caused him problems, frequently missing training sessions and being filmed drink driving by a friend.

Born in Rotterdam, Drenthe joined his first club Neptunus at the age of five, before being snapped up by Feyenoord eight years later. He had disciplinary issues as young as 15 and was nearly forced out of the club while still in the B-side, but he went on to make 29 appearances in the Eredivisie before his big-money move came along. £12million was a lot for then-manager Bernd Schuster to spend on an unproven youth player which says something about the excitement surrounding his talent, and he played regularly in his debut season. Occupying the left wing and left back roles, he scored an absolute scorcher from 35+ yards against Sevilla, (see video below) but was gradually phased out due to the emergence of first Marcelo at left back, then the purchase of Cristiano Ronaldo. His form dipped and his popularity with the fans followed, and under Juande Ramos it is rumoured that he asked not to be played after being viciously booed by the Madrid fans.

His first loan spell, to Hércules, followed in 2010 and although his performances were good he found himself relegated amidst a row over unpaid wages. He then spent a year under David Moyes at Everton, and again his performances made him popular with the Toffees’ faithful – once again, though, eventually his manager lost his patience. After several missed training sessions, Moyes decided he’d had enough and left him out of his squad for the FA Cup semi-final. After a period out on compassionate leave, he even accused Lionel Messi of being racist, saying that the Argentine repeatedly called him “negro” after an on-field altercation.

After returning to Madrid, he finally left as his contract expired and decided to make a move off the beaten track to FC Alania Vladikavkaz of Russia. He was there for less than a year and scored three goals in six games, all in a crucial victory over fellow relegation rivals Mordovia Saransk. His manager called him “a great professional and an example for the youth”, but it wasn’t long before he made his way to Reading. He has since struggled with injuries, but is slowly finding his way back into the first team after two months out. There is, then, a glimmer of hope under Nigel Adkins. A good season for the Royals and a promotion challenge would put him well and truly in the shop window for a Premier League club, which could even alert him to Louis Van Gaal; who knows, he could even build on that solitary substitute appearance against Turkey.

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EREDIVISIE WEEK 21 PREVIEW – Feyenoord vs. Vitesse

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A big weekend of Eredivisie clashes in Week 21 starting with the huge title chasing clash between Feyenoord and Vitesse. Will Burns is here with a prediction and like all his tips, you will not see a ‘best bet’ under evens – good luck!

Friday 31st January

Feyenoord-Vitesse

FEYENOORD vs. VITESSE – 19:00

Both sides will looking to bounce back from last week’s disappointing displays. Feyenoord were defeated 3-2 away to ADO and Vitesse were held to a 1-1 draw at home to relegation battlers NEC.

As Ajax overcome Go Ahead Eagles, the Amsterdammers are now two points ahead of Vitesse (41 pts) at the top of the league and will want to try to take out one of their rivals, Feyenoord (36 pts) on Friday night.

Vitesse, currently 2nd, have their captain Guram Kashia returning for the clash at De Kuip, while Feyenoord’s experienced defender Joris Mathijsen is missing due to an eye injury. Ronald Koeman has another injury worry as he may be without Tonny Vilhena with an ankle problem.

Vitesse are on a fantastic run and have not been defeated for 11 Eredivisie games now and travel to Feyenoord fully aware of the dangers ahead. Although, the last three matches have seen the Arnhem suffer a bit of a blip giving up a lead each time to draw twice and win once. Bosz’s men will have to be aware of the chances created by Feyenoord for Italian striker Graziano Pellè, who has scored 15 goals in 18 games in the league this season.

With both sides knowing that victory is only good enough for this one, there will be goals aplenty but I can see them cancelling each other out.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Draw (14/5 – BetVictor)

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BIG LACHMAN TO JOIN TWENTE

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PEC Zwolle’s Darryl Lachman is off to Enschede at the end of the season, as the 24-year-old central defender has signed a three-year contract with FC Twente.

Out of contract in the summer, Lachman will join Twente on a free transfer in June, but according to Zwolle’s technical director Gerard Nijkamp, he stated that it is possible that the defender could leave this week.

“The transfer window does not close until Friday at midnight, so it is uncertain whether Darryl completes the season with us so Twente wishes to take him earlier for a fee.” Nijkamp said Wednesday.

The 6ft 2inch Lachman has been a great asset for Zwolle this season, appearing in 16 games and helping his side to four clean sheets. His impressive performances have gained interest from the likes of PSV, Werder Bremen, Heerenveen and Fulham over recent weeks.

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VAN BASTEN TO LEAVE HEERENVEEN IN SUMMER

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Heerenveen head coach Marco van Basten will leave the job at the end of the season, the club announced this afternoon.

The club have offered a contract extension to the former Dutch international striker, but Van Basten has made his intentions clear to leave.

“Marco has notified us that he has decided not to extend his contract, and he will be leaving at the end of the season,” Heerenveen released in a statement on their official website this afternoon.

“In recent weeks, at the request of the club, there were several discussions held between club management and Mr. Van Basten about the possibility of extending his contract, Howver, he told the club he did not have the same feeling. The club management regrets his decision but, at the same time, naturally respects it.”

Van Basten signed a two-year deal with the club in the summer of 2012 and last season Heerenveen finished eighth in the Eredivisie.

Van Basten’s coaching career began with Jong Ajax in 2003 but a year later he was named head coach of the Oranje, staying from 2004 to 2008, after which he spent a year at Ajax. He was then out of the game for three years before joining Heerenveen.

Just last month, Van Basten told reporters he had no desire to coach outside the Eredivisie, but where his next destination will be in unknown at this time.

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Luuk de Jong – Who is Newcastle’s new loanee?

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Tonight, Newcastle United announced the loan signing of Dutch forward Luuk de Jong from Borussia Mönchengladbach until the end of the season, with a view to permanency.

The 23-year-old passed his medical today and joins fellow Oranje internationals Tim Krul and Vurnon Anita at the Premier League outfit. The striker is desperate to make an impression for the Magpies after being frozen out at Mönchengladbach.

De Jong joined the Bundesliga side for a reported €15m two years ago, after notching 45 goals in 86 appearances for FC Twente. Unfortunately, after the lack of chances in the first-team, De Jong has found the net just six times in Germany. De Jong did not fare well under Swiss coach Lucien Favre, who restricted him to cameo appearances this term and froze him out of his first team plans.

De Jong last scored in April 2013 in a 1-0 win against Greuther Furth. Reflecting on his time in Germany, De Jong stated: “The coach did not give me the impression he had faith in me. It has been a time to forget. He just did not talk to me that much.”

In an interview with the club official website, De Jong is now looking forward: “It has been a tough season for me so far but I am here to play games and want to be important for the team, and successful with goals and assists.”

“I am really looking forward to playing for Newcastle.”

The Oranje international, who has won seven caps, could make his debut in Saturday’s Tyne-Wear derby against bitter North-East rivals Sunderland at St. James Park. De Jong will compete with Loic Remy, Papiss Cisse and Shola Ameobi for a place up front, and try to play himself in contention for the Dutch World Cup squad this summer.

WHAT WILL HE BRING TO THE TOON?

The brother of Ajax playmaker Siem de Jong, Luuk started at De Graafschap and rose up through the ranks for the youth squad. He played one season in the first-team and that was enough to persaude FC Twente to snap him up at the start of the 2009/2010 season.

The notoriously composed De Jong has already, at 23, a history of winning titles and has played in pressure-cooker atmospheres such as the Amsterdam ArenA. Winning the Dutch title under Steve McClaren, he experienced some high-octane and shouldn’t be affected by a passionate but potentially overwhelming grounds of the Premier League.

Past history has shown that the Dutchman is pretty calm in the penalty area. If he regains his confidence, you will not see him rush his shot and he does not stress with defenders breathing down his neck.

An undervalued attribute is his ability to finish with both feet. Although the right foot is his strongest, he has scored a lot of goals with his left. His movement is excellent and quick, and even standing at 6ft 2inches tall, he can use his speed to move quickly to pressurize the opposition. He can hold his own in the air so if Newcastle can find some decent deliveries now that Yohan Cabaye has been sold, De Jong will become an aerial threat. With Remy and Cisse, Alan Pardew’s side lack height and presence up front so the arrival of De Jong should take that burden from Shola Ameobi, who has been a bit-part player for Newcastle this season as a target man.

Even though he is tall, do not except him to be the new Duncan Ferguson as he is not the most aggressive forward you’ll see. In the past, Twente’s and Mönchengladbach’s creative players have provided De Jong with clear-cut chances, not created many of his own, so this is where he may struggle and drift out of the game against the most aggressive of Premier League’s defences.

With a loan deal, it is not much of a gamble for Newcastle, the risk all falls on the Luuk de Jong. This is a chance for him to prove himself once again and either cement a permanent deal in the North-East, or once again impress scouts across Europe that had many clubs vying for his signature 18 months ago.

Whether or not he will be a success is yet to be seen, but with his cool attitude in the box and if the likes of Hatem Ben Arfa, Vurnon Anita and Moussa Sissoko can create for him, maybe you could see De Jong in the Oranje squad and a black and white shirt for years to come.

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LOANEE ROOM RETURNS TO VITESSE

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Eloy Room, who has spent this season on loan at Go Ahead Eagles, has returned back to his parent club Vitesse Arnhem.

Room has started all twenty games for Eagles this campaign, has been ordered to return to Vitesse as the Arnhem club as suffering an injury crisis in the goalkeeping department. Estonian ‘keeper Marko Meerits is due to have an operation on a troubled knee and will be out of action for 8-10 weeks. With the young Jereon Houwen, 17, the only cover for first-choice Piet Velthuizen, manager Peter Bosz recalled the Dutch-Curaçaoan immediately.

Eagles head coach Foeke Booy is disappointed but understand’s Vitesse’s position. Talking to www.ga-eagles.nl, the clubs official website, Booy said: ‘This is unfortunate for us, but there was nothing in our power to keep Eloy here. There was a clause in the deal that allowed Vitesse to recall Eloy in the event of an injury to any of their goalkeepers.

“I spoke Eloy to about this situation and I totally understand and I thanked him for his efforts. He stated that he would loved to continue here with us, but unfortunately it’s not happening.”

Booy is now left with three inexperienced goalkeepers to choose from with Erik Cummins (25) set to start away to NEC Nijmegen on Sunday. Cummins has been the number two goalkeeper for the majority of the season but now, Ruben Lucas (19) and Patrick Ter Mate (21) will be competing for the spot on the bench.

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Heerenveen sign Lurling

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Ten years after leaving for Feyenoord, 36-year-old Anthony Lurling has returned to Heerenveen on a deal until the end of the season.

36-year-old Anthony Lurling is not ready yet

Lurling has already stated that even at the age of 36, he wants to impress and win a longer contract at the Friesland club.

The striker, who will be 37 in April, arrives from NAC Breda where he has spent the last seven seasons, making 190 appearances scoring 33 goals.

Lurling had plenty of offers but chose Heerenveen out of them all: “When I was allowed to leave Köln eight years ago, the telephone hardly rang. Now I’m 36 and when NAC said I was allowed to leave, the phone has been ringing off the hook with Eredivisie and Eerste Divisie teams interested and also Belgian clubs.”.

Heerenveen’s director of football, Hans Vonk is delighted with the Lurling capture and looks to him nurture the young talent at the club: “Anthony is an experienced player who can play in many positions. We have a talented, but young team that could really do with the support of an experienced player like Anthony. Also, with Anthony knowing the club, this is a huge advantage which will make the transition that much easier.”

The move from NAC was arranged, after this past week, Lurling clashed with Breda manager Nebojša Gudelj after the coach has failed to select the player since the 1-0 win over Cambuur on December 21st 2013.

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Crystal Palace soaring towards Bjelland

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FC Twente and manager Michel Jansen are bracing for a bid for Danish central defender Andreas Bjelland from English Premier League strugglers Crystal Palace.

Twente-verdediger droomt van Engeland en is trots op interesse

Palace, managed by Tony Pulis, are currently sitting in 16th but only two points off the relegation places and are looking to bolster their defensive options with the 6ft 2 centre-back.

The 25-year-old will be a great asset to Pulis, who is known for his long ball football and uses height to his team’s advantage. The Dane is a master at aerial duels and his great concentration has helped Twente to helped four clean sheets this season when he has played, including a man-of-the-match performance in the narrow 1-0 away win to Cambuur.

The Dane always shows great discipline for a defender and has only been booked this season in 21 games for club and country. For the Danish national side, Bjelland has won 12 international caps and scored twice.

Bjelland has confirmed in the past that he has an ambition to play in England: “Where and when it will be, we must take time, but I have a dream of one day coming to England and playing.”

Whether or not Bjelland will be interested in a move to Palace, remains to be seen but as the London club faces some stiff competition from Russian giants CSKA Moscow for the defender’s signature.

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Week 20 Eredivisie Report – Vitesse held, Ajax clear at the top

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SUNDAY 26TH JANUARY 2014

Week 20 closed with just three games on Sunday as the Groningen-Twente match failed to take place due to a frozen pitch. The games that did go ahead provided great excitement and two more shock results to close the round of games.

Cambuur-Heerenveen

SC CAMBUUR 3-1 HEERENVEEN

SC Cambuur provided their fans with a good day on Sunday with their first win in the Friese Derby since 1994.

Nigerian forward Bartholomew Ogbeche stole the show making his debut for Cambuur, creating one and scoring in the fantastic win. The hosts warmed up their fans in the Cambuur Stadion on a bitterly cold winter’s afternoon in Leeuwarden with a goal after just four minutes.

The goal was created by a long ball from the back of the Cambuur defence, Ogbeche rose above Joey van der Berg with ease to flick the ball into the path of on-loan striker Elvis Manu. Manu overpowered Christian Kum to win the ball and chip the ball over the onrushing Kristoffer Nordfeldt. The stadium erupted as Manu and Ogbeche wheeled away to celebrate with a dance at the corner flag.

Marco van Basten’s men should have equalized on 16 minutes by Leonard Nienhuis pulled off a great save to deny Hakim Ziyech. After Luciano Slagveer crossed from Ziyech just outside the area, Ziyech let fly with a right-foot volley but Nienhuis got across a tipped it out for a corner.

Just before the half-time whistle, Cambuur’s lead was doubled. Heerenveen’s on-loan defender Mitchell Dijks was penalised for a soft foul on Ajax team-mate Jody Lukoki, currently on-loan to Cambuur. The free-kick was given on the right-wing and Marcel Ritzmaier, also on-loan from PSV Eindhoven, whipped the ball into the centre. Once again, winning the aerial duel was Bartholomew Ogbeche who slipped Ramon Zoner to make it 2-0.

Heerenveen came out for the second half hungry for an early goal but they were unable to cope with the speed of the Cambuur attack and with just twenty minutes to go, the home side wrapped up the points. Manu slipped a defence-splitting ball through to Jody Lukoki who beat the offside trap and raced through on goal. With a one-on-one challenge with Nordfeldt, the 21-year-old kept his composure and finished coolly. The game was done and Dwight Lodeweges could be proud of his team’s performance today.

Before the final whistle could be blown, the inevitable happened as Alfred Finnbogason got a consolation goal for Heerenveen, his 19th goal in 17 games. However, it was an embarrassing defeat for Van Basten and his side and will look to bounce back next week at home to ADO. They now sit fifth and six points of fourth place. Meanwhile, for Cambuur the win lifts them up to 13th but they will need to build on this win to climb out of the relegation battle as Lodeweges men are still only three points off bottom side NEC.

TEAMS

CAMBUUR: Nienhuis, Droste, Van der Laan, Bijker, El Makrini, Van Moorsel, Leeuwin, Ritzmaier, Lukoki, Ogbeche (Barto 74), Manu (Manu 91).

SUBS NOT USED: Zeinstra, Van Boxel, Pereira, Bakker, Van Brakel.

GOALS: Manu 4, Ogbeche 44, Lukoki 69.

BOOKINGS: Lukoki

HEERENVEEN: Nordfeldt, Van Anholt, Dijks, Zomer (Sinkgraven 59), Kum, De Roon, Van den Berg (De Kamps 74), Ziyech, Slagveer (Wildschut 57), Finnbogason, Basacikoglu.

SUBS NOT USED: Vandenbussche, Otigba, Marzo, Fazli.

GOALS: Finnbogason 85.

BOOKINGS: Basacikoglu, Finnbogason.

Vitesse-NEC

VITESSE 1-1 NEC NIJMEGEN

Vitesse’s title hopes suffered a bitter blow as they were held at home against relegation candidates NEC in the Gelderse derby.

Vitesse stay second after the draw but it looked promising early on for the Arnhem side after taking the lead on the half hour mark. Star of last week’s win over PEC Zwolle, Christian Atsu whipped in a corner that found defender Dan Mori in the box who headed home past Karl-Johan Johnsson in goal.

The basement boys NEC should have levelled the game up before the interval, after they pressed and had Vitesse on the ropes for the remaining ten minutes of the half.

Vitesse failed to score another and paid the price with just twenty minutes to go. Danish forward Søren Rieks spun in a cross that the Vitesse defence failed to clear and Englishman Michael Higdon notched to tie the game.

The GelreDome crowd went home unhappy and even more so that title rivals Ajax defeated Go Ahead Eagles a few hours later.

TEAMS

VITESSE: Velthuizen, Mori, Van Aanholt, Leerdam, Van der Heijden, Pröpper, Vejinovic, Piazón (Traoré 68), Atsu, Ibarra (Labyad 78), Havenaar.

SUBS NOT USED: Houwen, Achenteh, Van der Struijk, Đurđević, Kazaishvili.

GOALS: Mori 30.

BOOKINGS: None.

NEC: Johnsson, Conboy (Leiwakabessy 77), Van Eijden, Haitz, Vermeijl, Rieks (Foor 65), Koolwijk, Štefánik (Mulder 88), Jantscher, Hemlein, Higdon.

SUBS NOT USED: Smits, Cmovs, Disveld, Castillion.

GOALS: Higdon 71.

BOOKINGS: Van Eijden.

GAE-Ajax

GO AHEAD EAGLES 0-1 AJAX

Ajax struggled to find their finishing in Deventer on Sunday afternoon but a narrow 1-0 win means that they stay top of the pile.

As expected Ajax dominated in the early stages and should have taken the lead after just three minutes, if it were not for a shocking Kolbeinn Sigthórsson miss. Frank de Boer has his head in his hands after Bojan and Davy Klaassen had worked well to head the ball onto the Icelandic striker, but he fired his volley from just a few yards out straight in Eloy Room’s arms.

Ajax’s pressure was relentless but like Sigthórsson, Bojan, Klaassen and Lesley De Sa’s finishing was poor and unable to break the deadlock. Against the run of play, Go Ahead could have gone ahead themselves. Joël Veltman failed to head clear a Jarchinio Antonia cross from the right-wing but the defender got himself in front of Jeffrey Rijsdijk’s attempt to concede a corner.

The first-half petered out and ended goal-less but Ajax fired out of the blocks and were angry that they were not awarded a penalty after 51 minutes. Antonia bundled Klaassen over on the left side of the area, but referee Reinold Wiedemeijer booked the Ajax midfielder for diving, and the majority of the 7,938 attendance were cheering the decision.

De Boer needed a goal and quick and just after the hour mark injected some fresh legs into the attack with the double Dane substitution of Lasse Schöne and Viktor Fischer on for De Sa and the poor Sigthórsson. Within a minute, Fischer nearly opened the scoring but his header from a Klaassen cross forced a save from Room.

The goal finally came on 74 minutes and it was the other substitution that broke the deadlock. After Ajax were awarded a free-kick outside the area courtesy of a Deniz Türüç handball, Lasse Schöne stood up to take it. The Danish midfielder fired his first attempt in the wall but after the rebound returned in his path, his low drive was too powerful for Room to stop and nestle into the corner of the goal.

Ajax held on for the win and due to Vitesse being held by NEC, now sit two points at the top of the Eredivisie league table.

TEAMS

GO AHEAD: Room, Schmidt, Vriends, Van der Linden, Schenk, Overgoor (Amevor 84), Rijsdijk (Lambooij 68), Türüç, Antonia (Kavak 91), Houtkoop, Kolder.

SUBS NOT USED: Cummins, Pot, Oostinjen, Ten Den.

GOALS: None

BOOKINGS: Schmidt, Kolder.

AJAX: Cillessen, Van Rhijn, Veltman, Moisander, Boilesen, Blind, Serero (Poulsen 86), Klaassen, De Sa (Fischer 65), Sigthórsson (Schöne 66), Bojan.

SUBS NOT USED: Vermeer, Duarte, Hoesen, Denswil.

GOALS: Schöne 74.

BOOKINGS: Klaassen.

STANDINGS

140127 - Eredivisie

League table courtesy of FIFA.com

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Dutchmen in the A-League

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We have been following the fortunes of the following Dutchmen who have been playing in the Australian A-League in the 2013/4 season.

Marcel Seip (Central Coast Mariners) – the former VVV man was signed by the Mariners to replace the retired Patrick Zwaanswijk.  Unfortunately it hasn’t gone quite to plan for Seip who hasn’t lived up to his countryman’s shoes.  Has played a sum total of 8 games thus far and is currently out of favour in Gosford.

Orlando Engelaar (Melbourne Heart) – The former PSV man suffered an horrific leg break in a pre-season friendly against Brisbane which ruled him out of the first half of the season.  He has now returned to full fitness and has played bit parts in the past 2 games for the cellar dwellers.  His presence will hopefully lift the squad off the bottom.

Rob Wieleart (Melbourne Heart) – The former Ajax and PSV man has been a mainstay in the defence of the bottom placed Heart.  He has played 15 games thus far this season but has been unable to lift the defence.

John van’t Schip (Melbourne Heart) – Has recently been reinstated to his former role as Manager of the struggling Heart following the dismissal of John Aloisi.  He has steadied the ship and managed to lead the side to their first win of the season last week against Newcastle.  The club has been taken over by Manchester City and they are said to be impressed with van’t Schip’s experience.

Kew Jaliens (Newcastle Jets) – Jaliens has been ever present in the heart of defence for the inconsistent Jets.  His experience has lead to 12 appearances and 1 goal so far this season as well as a red card.

Pascal Bosschaart (Sydney FC) – Pascal suffered a serious Achilles tendon injury last season that resulted in him being released by Sydney FC early in the season.  He is now back in the Netherlands with Ijsselmeervogels.

Youssuff Hersi (Western Sydney Wanderers) – Hersi has quickly become a club legend at the Wanderers after his exploits last season.  He has been a bit inconsistent this season but has still managed 11 appearances for 1 goal in 16 game thus far for Western Sydney.

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Week 20 Eredivisie Report – Feyenoord fall, PSV defeat AZ

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SATURDAY 25TH JANUARY 2014

A few shocks in Saturday’s Eredivisie games with title challengers Feyenoord losing points and relegation battlers ADO and Roda gaining them.

ADO-Feyenoord

ADO DEN HAAG 3-2 FEYENOORD

Maurice Steijn walked out of the Kyocera Stadion on Saturday a happier man as he saw his ADO Den Haag side defeat title-chasing Feyenoord, to lift his men off the bottom of the league table.

It was Ronald Koeman’s men that were more dangerous early in the match but failed to score during their domination. The closest they came was a great chance for the lively Jean-Paul Boëtius after 16 minutes. A long ball came out of midfield from John Goossens landed at the feet of Boëtius, but unfortunately for the young winger, Tom Beugelsdijk placed Boëtius under sufficient pressure that the Feyenoord man smashed his shot into the side netting. The 19-year-old had a further chance ten minutes later but shot straight at goalkeeper Gino Coutinho.

As the half went on, ADO started to get into the game more and went a goal ahead on 36 minutes. Aaron Meijers was bundled over by Bruno Martins Indi on the right-wing and from that free-kick, Danny Holla crossed for Mike van Duinen who won a corner. Holla whipped in the corner that met a Tom Beugelsdijk header that sailed past Erwin Mulder in goal, the big defender was being poorly marked by Lex Immers.

The goal took the confidence out of Feyenoord and in first half stoppage time they found themselves another goal down. Surging down the right was ADO full-back Dion Malone, he planted in a dangerous whipping cross and Danny Bakker got in front of the visitors defence to place home a glancing header.

Koeman’s team-talk fired up Feyenoord and they pressed from the restart. It was not until the 68th minute before they a goal back. From a Goossens corner, striker Graziano Pellè (reasonably quiet until now), held the ball up to play into Jordy Clasie’s path on the edge of the area. The tenacious midfielder lashed a ball home to fire up the away crowd.

The tails were up for Feyenoord and ADO were against the ropes trying to protect their lead, but to no avail as the game was tied six minutes later. Meijers turned the ball over to Clasie on the edge of the box and the ball fell to Immers to the right of the area. Immers played in a low cross towards Graziano Pellè and the Italian does not miss from five yards out and it was 2-2.

From the restart, ADO began to play the ball and three minutes later they took the lead again, and won the game with the best piece of movement all match. Holla again involved crossing into the feet of Roland Alberg on the edge of the box, and with beautiful link-up play, Alberg played an excellent one-two with Van Duinen to finish elegantly.

A bitter blow for Koeman and his side’s title chances but a vital three points for the hosts today in their relegation fight.

TEAMS

ADO: Coutinho, Malone, Beugelsdijk, Zuiverloon, Holla, Meijers, Bakker (Kanon 87), Van Haaren, Alberg, Schet (Merencia 90), Van Duinen.

SUBS NOT USED: Zwinkels, Wormgoor, Gouriye, Buwalda, Cabral.

GOALS: Beugelsdijk 36, Bakker 45, Alberg 77

BOOKINGS: Alberg, Schet

FEYENOORD: Mulder, Janmaat, De Vrij, Mathijsen (Nelom 55), Martins Indi, Clasie, Immers, Goossens, Boëtius (Te Vrede 83), Pellè, Schaken (Armenteros 46).

SUBS NOT USED: Lamprou, Verhoek, Bakkal, Van Beek.

BOOKINGS: None

NAC-PECZwolle

NAC BREDA 1-2 PEC ZWOLLE

As the rain lashed down in Breda, Ron Jans celebrated extended his contract for another year leading his side to a great 2-1 win away to NAC Breda.

It was a game of few chances but Zwolle went behind on 20 minutes with an excellent finish from NAC’s Joey Suk. Danny Verbeek crossed from a free-kick on the left and after an aerial scramble to the ball right for the striker to acrobatically volley home.

Zwolle fought to get back into it and should have been level through Guyon Fernandez on 37 minutes. Great link-up play Kamohelo Mokotjo and Ryan Thomas played Fernandez in the area, the striker did well to turn his defender and a shot away but unfortunately dragged the effort just wide of Jelle ten Rouwelaar’s goal.

It took a penalty just after the restart to get the visitors level with Guyon Fernandez converting after Anouar Hadouir fouled Mokotjo in the box.

Zwolle stole the game in controversial fashion on 75 minutes. It was a tremendous goal by Mustafa Saymak who hit the ball from 35 yards out that gave Ten Rouwelaar no chance, but the goal should not have stood.  Video replays after the game proved that seconds earlier, substitute Thanasis Karagounis had took the ball out of play on the right wing but the assistant referee missed the call.

TEAMS

NAC: Ten Rouwelaar, De Roover, H. Drost, Buijs, Van der Weg, Gilessen (Hooi 81), Suk, Hadouir (Tighadouini 74), Sarpong, Poepon, Verbeek (Perica 67).

SUBS NOT USED: Babos, Kwakman, Swerts, Bodor.

GOALS: Suk 20.

BOOKINGS: None.

ZWOLLE: Boer, Van der Werff, Broerse, Van Hintum, Van Polen, Mokotjo, Klich, J. Drost (Karagounis 45), Fernandez, Thomas (Mahmudov 65), Saymak (Gravenbeek 89).

SUBS NOT USED: Begois, Benson, Hiwat, Labylle.

GOALS: Fernandez 50, Saymak 75.

BOOKINGS: Klich 83.

Roda-Utrecht

RODA JC 1-0 FC UTRECHT

Jon Dahl Tomasson clinched his first win as Roda manager on Saturday evening sending Jan Wouters’ Utrecht to a fourth consecutive league defeat.

ANP

Wouters should have seen his side take the lead on 12 minutes, but Tommy Oar failed to guide Yassin Ayoub’s great through ball on target.

Tomasson has to re-jig his side after a mid-week defeat in the KNVB Beker to AZ Alkmaar. In that game, Hungarian striker Krisztián Németh was stupidly sent-off after charging into a referee, which has gained him a five-match suspension. In his place in this game was Vasil Shkurti, a 21-year-old Albanian striker only appearing in his second game for the club. However, it was the Albanian that nearly grabbed Roda the lead on 23 minutes, but Utrecht ‘keeper Robbin Ruiter was on his usual top form protecting the goal.

Just after the half-hour mark, Roda scored the only goal of the game. The man in-form for the Kerkrade side is Guus Hupperts, and he showed his worth again to Tomasson in this game. After Mitchell Donald robbed Kai Heerings of the ball and played in Shkurti, the Albanian flick the ball onto the on-rushing Hupperts at the right of the box and the winger slammed the ball home past Ruiter.

Utrecht barely bothered opposition goalkeeper Filip Kurto and Wouters will need to spark in his side and quick before they are dragged into the relegation battle.

TEAMS

RODA: Kurto, Dijkhuizen (Monteyne 39), Biemans, Van Peppen, Sutchin, Donald, Luijckx, Kali, Paulissen (Hocher 81), Shkurti (Pluim 68), Hupperts.

SUBS NOT USED: Prus, Ramos, Bonevacia, Jacobs.

GOALS: Hupperts 23.

BOOKINGS: None.

UTRECHT: Ruiter, Markiet, Derijck, Heerings, Van der Gun, Sarota, Diermers (Agudelo 59), Toornstra, Ayoub, De Ridder, Oar.

SUBS NOT USED: Verhoeven, Martensson, Bjelica, Klaiber, Van Velzen, Badjeck.

GOALS: None.

BOOKINGS: Heerings.

PSV-AZ

PSV 1-0 AZ ALKMAAR

After a great showing at the Amsterdam Arena in their close 1-0 defeat against rivals Ajax last Sunday, PSV returned to winning ways with a great win over AZ Alkmaar in Saturday’s evening game with the same scoreline.

20140125 - Jetro Willems - PSV

Phillip Cocu saw his team explode out of the blocks and were 1-0 up after just three minutes. The relentless PSV attack bombarded the AZ goal with shot after shot with pinball like effect. Eventually after Santiago Arias, Ji-Sung Park and Memphis Depay saw shots blocked, the ball fell to left-back Jetro Willems at the edge of the area, and his tame long range effort crept past Esteban to put the hosts ahead.

Cocu can thank his goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet for the three points as the 22-year-old pulled off save after save for his side.  His most vital, was his first on 12 minutes. From a corner, Jan Wuytens emerged at the near post and back-heeled flicked the ball towards the goal and once the ball had ricocheted off the post, Zoet bravely palmed the attempt away out of the AZ preying attackers.

PSV had their chances to further the lead and win the game comfortably. With 18 minutes gone, Adam Maher latched onto a long ball from Willems and volleyed towards goal but the attempt raised to high to bother Esteban in goal. Also, on the half-hour mark, Stijn Schaars spotted Arias sprinting down the right-wing and when the young Colombian found himself one-on-one with the Costa Rican goalkeeper, he smashed his effort into the side netting.

AZ pressed after the break and Zoet’s gloves were kept warm, denying them time and time again.  Most notably, Johann Berg Gudmundsson combining well with Aron Johansson but both were unable to find the leveller.

PSV held on and grabbed a vital three points in their chase for a Europa League place in the top four. Dick Advocaat will be disappointed with his return to the Phillips Stadion but look forward to next week’s game hosting Groningen to get back on track.

TEAMS

PSV: Zoet, Arias, Willems (Hendrix 67), Rekik, Bruma, Schaars (Hiljemark 79), Park, Maher, Depay, Locadia, Ruiz (Narsingh 90).

SUBS NOT USED: Tyton, Zanka, Bakkali, Brenet.

GOALS: Willems 3.

BOOKINGS: Depay, Willems.

AZ: Esteban, Wuytens, Gouweleeuw, Viergever, Reijnen, Elm, Gudmundsson (Lewis 73), Gudelj, Ortiz (Henriksen 80), Beerens, A. Johansson.

SUBS NOT USED: De Winter, M. Johansson, Gorter, Haps, Avdic.

GOALS: None.

BOOKINGS: Wuytens, Reijnen, Gudelj, A. Johansson.

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Feyenoord look to future Cuban talents

Team-Feyenoord

Dutch giants Feyenoord, currently sitting fourth in the Eredivisie are well renowned for producing great talents.

In the past stars like Ruud Gullit, Johan Cruyff and current manager Ronald Koeman have all being given their ‘big break’ at the Rotterdam club and went on to become Dutch footballing legends. The current crop of home-grown stars like Stefan de Vrij, Jordy Clasie and Tonny Vilhena are excelling and wowing scouts from some of Europe’s top sides.

In an interesting development, the Dutch side have branched out into the Caribbean in Havana, Cuba. The club opened up a five-day soccer clinic earlier this month, in the nation where the main sports that are watched and participated in are boxing, baseball and basketball.

Feyenoord sent two ex-players to Havana to run the clinic, former striker Robin Nelisse (from the Dutch Antilles) and ex-Oranje international defender Ulrich van Gobbel. Nelisse and Van Gobbel coached and scouted the youngsters with ages ranging from six to sixteen, looking to take anyone that catches their eye to Rotterdam on a trial at their youth academy.

With football not being big in the nation, Cuba has always struggled with qualifying for major tournaments and developing youngsters as the lack of investment in football has always been a problem. However, Nelisse was impressed with the youngsters he has trained and speaking to Sarah Rainsford of the BBC, he stated: ‘The discipline of the kids is really good, if you tell them something and they will listen and they work really good.’

Van Gobbel added: ‘If you compare the level of talent to Holland, it is low but I think the first thing that is really important that the kids have pleasure playing the game. If they experience pleasure then we can see if some kids have more quality than others but it most important that they enjoy the experience.’

A main problem for the two coaches was that although Nelisse and Van Gobbel can speak excellent English and basic Spanish, communicating with the kids was a challenge, but by a few days the kids were responding well.

The Cuban trainer at the academy, Alfredo Martinez stated that since the opening of the school in Havana, he has seen a vast important from the majority of the youngsters. Now that football is becoming more popular in the country, other sports are being dropped by the children in favour of ‘the beautiful game’ with the Spanish La Liga being the most watched league on Cuban television.

To gain some publicity and to help political relations with the communist country, Dutch foreign minister, Franz Timmermans was present on 6th January at the training camp. He is the first member of the Dutch government to ever visit Cuba.

Timmermans looked to the visit to strengthen political links between the Netherlands and Cuba. Timmermans said: ‘I am a strong believer in football diplomacy. I think that it is important that we increase the human contacts of Europe and the people of Cuba and sport is a fantastic way of doing this.’

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Week 20 Eredivisie Report – Heracles end RKC’s run

Header-EredivisieReport

FRIDAY 24TH JANUARY 2014

Week 20 of the Eredivisie began with RKC Waalwijk’s undefeated run of six games ending with a 2-1 away defeat to Heracles Almelo. Erwin Koeman’s side have not lost a game since early November in a 5-2 thrashing at Heerenveen.

Heracles-RKC

HERACLES 2-1 RKC WAALWIJK

The hosts pressed for the majority of the first half, not giving RKC much chance of an attack, and Heracles nearly went ahead on the half hour mark if it were not for Arjan van Dijk in the RKC goal. After Imad Najah fouled Simon Cziommer on the edge of the area, the German midfielder stepped up and smashed the ball towards goal. It was a fierce effort but Van Dijk got across his goal to tip over.

Heracles laboriously along RKC in moderately duel

The deadlock was broken before half-time and it was Bryan Linssen once again on the scoresheet. The ever lively Iliass Bel Hassani was tormenting RKC defence throughout and fire a ball across the goal on 39 minutes, Ben Rienstra’s sliding effort was denied by Van Dijk but unfortunately for the goalkeeper the ball fell to Linssen to notch his sixth goal of the season.

Shortly after the break, Heracles extended their lead. After some great work twisting and turning the left side of the RKC defence, winger Mikhail Rosheuvel swung a high ball into the box where Mark Uth met with a header, unchallenged by the two on looking Waalwijk defenders who were blaming each other for not marking.

RKC’s newest signing Daniel de Ridder made an appearance just after the hour mark replacing the Sander Duits, and a few minutes later his new side were handed a lifeline. It was a fortunate goal for Damiano Schet, the winger lined up a free-kick to a similar position to Cziommer’s in the first-half and hit a low drive towards Remko Pasveer’s goal. The ball ricocheted off the legs of the Heracles wall and diverted past the helpless Pasveer.

The visitors should and could have claimed a point in the dying embers of the game but Robert Braber blared an easy chance over the bar.

Heracles held on in the late stages to claim all three points to lift them up to ninth at this point, while RKC drop into sixteenth just two points adrift of the basement spot.

TEAMS

HERACLES: Pasveer, Schenkeveld, Dorda, Davidson, Te Wierik, Bel Hassaini (Bruns 78), Rienstra, Cziommer, Rosheuvel (Tannane 70), Linssen, Uth (Powel 85).

SUBS NOT USED: Telgenkamp, Quansah, Van Dijk, Belterman.

GOALS: Linssen 41, Uth 54.

BOOKINGS: None

RKC WAALWIJK: Van Dijk, Van Hoevelen (Anderson 81), Apau, Gouano, Amieux, Najah, Duits (De Ridder 65), Braber, Sno, Schet (Beaugel 88), Joachim.

SUBS NOT USED: Seda, Ivens, Jungschlager, Lamey.

GOALS: Schet 67.

BOOKINGS: None

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