Tag Archives: PEC Zwolle

BETTING TIPS, EREDIVISIE, EREDIVISIE PREVIEW

EREDIVISIE WEEK 23 PREVIEW & BETTING TIPS

February 8, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

In the midweek games, our top tipster Will Burns hit a four bets out of nine at massive prices to make a huge profit (13/8, 13/5, 11/4 and 19/10) and last night hit ANOTHER one at 6/5. He is back with his picks for the Eredivisie this coming weekend and like all his tips, you will not see a ‘best bet’ under evens – good luck!

Saturday 8th February

PSV vs. FC TWENTE – 17:45

With both sides coming into this one on the back of good wins, it sure proves to a be a great game when second-placed Twente travel to the Phillips Stadion to face PSV on Saturday evening.

The installation of Guus Hiddink as Phillip Cocu’s advisor will only help the Eindhoven’s patchy season so far but Twente are in great form and are desperate to close the gap between themselves and Ajax. A win for Twente in this would sit them only a point off the top.

I believe a feel good factor could be back in Eindhoven for this one but Twente could be too strong for Cocu’s men. The best bet would be to sit on the fence and settle for a draw.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Draw (5/2 – BetVictor)

NAC BREDA vs. RODA JC – 18:45

It’s a relegation battle in Breda. NAC missed the chance to pick up three vital points in Nijmegen on Wednesday night and with just two wins from their last nine matches, they now find themselves just four points above the relegation zone.

Jon Dahl Tomasson’s Roda find themselves in the drop zone but only due to a poor goal-difference. In the past five trips, two draws and three defeats does not fill you full of confidence when away from home but they do have a young prodigy on their hands who could fire them up the league.

Of course, I am talking about Guus Hupperts. He is the main reason I’m betting that Roda could grab the win.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Roda to win (28/11 – Unibet)

GO AHEAD EAGLES vs. AZ ALKMAAR – 18:45

Dick Advocaat lead AZ to back-to-back wins last week, hosting Groningen and at Vitesse which gives them three wins from their first four games of the new year has revitalised their season.

The Eagles are yet to win in 2014 but have good form, one losing once in the last five games at Adelaarshorst but I see AZ’s firepower of Aron Johansson, 13 goals in 23 games being too strong for Go Ahead. Take AZ to win at 11/10.

BURNS’ BEST BET: AZ to win (11/10 – BetVictor & WilliamHill)

FEYENOORD vs. NEC NIJMEGEN– 19:45

Feyenoord had a great 2-1 away win to Roda midweek with Lex Immers and Samuel Armenteros getting involved in the goals, with Ronald Koeman not relying on Graziano Pellè notching.

NEC are undefeated in 2014 with two wins and three draws but four of those games have been played at home, the only away game was a tremendous 1-1 draw in Arnhem against Vitesse.

Could NEC gain another draw on Saturday night? Possibly… To play it safe I am going to say there are going to be goals in this one and plenty of them. Get on Over 4.5 Goals at Coral at 2/1 for the best bet of the day.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Over 4.5 Goals (2/1 – Coral)

Sunday 9th February

HERACLES vs. SC CAMBUUR– 11:30

Sunday’s set of games opens with Cambuur’s visit to Heracles. The hosts smashed ADO 3-0 on Tuesday so they will be full of confidence. Cambuur held their own against PSV even though they let a 1-0 lead slip to be defeated by Cocu’s men.

On the road, Cambuur’s form is not great, losing six out of the last seven away league matches. Heracles have been in decent form at home (losing only one in five) due to the in-form Bryan Linssen firing off all cylinders, scoring six in six.

The best bet will be Heracles to be winning at half-time and continuing on to defeat Cambuur at the final whistle.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Heracles HT/FT (3/2 – Ladbrokes)

PEC ZWOLLE vs. AJAX– 13:30

The resurgent PEC Zwolle go in search of a fourth straight win when they host league leader Ajax on Sunday.

Ron Jans’ men began the season in great form, winning their first four games and led the league for almost a month but a run of just one league win in 15 put pay to any title aspirations. Ajax started poorly for have clawed back and now top the league with a four point lead.

I predict this to be the game of the week and a real test for Ajax, with the game ending in a score draw.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Draw (13/10 – Bet Victor)

RKC WAALWIJK vs. FC UTRECHT– 13:30

Even though Jan Wouter’s Utrecht have won six of their last seven matches against Waalwijk in all competitions, they have lost six of their last seven away matches in league. Utrecht are truly in horrible form at the moment even though they clinched a great point at home to Ajax last weekend.

Erwin Koeman’s RKC had a great week last week, defeating PSV on Sunday and drawing away to Go Ahead on Wednesday and need more points on the board to improve their position.

Utrecht also need points to and since loan signing Juan Agudelo has arrived from Stoke, he has started in back-to-back games alongside Steven de Ridder up front. Agudelo and De Ridder have impressed and I feel they could be the two help Wouters clinch a win.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Utrecht to win (12/5 – Coral)

FC GRONINGEN vs. HEERENVEEN – 15:30

The final game of the weekend sees Marco van Basten take his Heerenveen side to Groningen. Both teams will be looking to bounce back after midweek defeats as Groningen lost narrowly away to Ajax and Heerenveen at home against FC Twente.

Groningen were incredibly unlucky against Ajax on Thursday with a late goal snatching a great point away from their grasp. With Hakim Ziyech and Alfred Finnbogason, Heerenveen are always dangerous but I feel Groningen could win this game especially if Filip Kostic can put in a performance like he did against Ajax. BetVictor are offering 6/5 for the home win and I see this as the best bet.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Groningen to win (6/5 – BetVictor)

Click the name above to follow Will on Twitter.

TotalDutchFootball.com WorldFootballWeekly.com

EREDIVISIE

Week 22 Eredivisie Report – Thursday: Ajax scrape past brave Groningen

February 6, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

Ajax scraped a narrow 2-1 win at home against a valiant FC Groningen to head the table four points clear of second placed FC Twente, although the Enschede side has a game in hand.

Thursday 6th February 2014

FC UTRECHT 1-2 PEC ZWOLLE

Ron Jans’s PEC Zwolle came from behind to nail their third win in the a row against a ten-man Utrecht side.

Adam Sorota was given his marching orders on just before the hour mark and Utrecht were made to pay. Referee Jeroen Sanders gave the midfielder a straight red card after a dangerous challenge on Zwolle striker Guyon Fernandez.

The home side made a good start with American striker Juan Agudelo, on-loan from Stoke City, opening the scoring in the 24th minute with a spectacular strike after turning his marker with ease in the penalty area.

Zwolle got a new lease of life when Sorota was shown the red card and Ron Jans’ side had the man advantage. The substitute of Macedonian striker Denis Mahmudov on for young debutant Australian defender Trent Sainsbury was inspired on and the 24-year-old scored an excellent goal within minute of being on.

Just three minutes later, the game had seen a total turnaround as Zwolle grabbed their second. Utrecht failed to clear a corner and the ball fell perfectly for Fred Benson to spin his marker and striker over Robbin Ruiter in goal.

Zwolle held onto to win, however, looking for the fourth win in a run on Sunday, they face the tough task of league leaders Ajax.

TEAMS

FC UTRECHT: Ruiter, Van der Winden (Dorda 46), Van der Maarel, Delpierre (Koevermans 86), Heerings (Markiet 47), Toornstra, Sarota, Ayoub, De Ridder, Oar, Agudelo.

SUBS NOT USED: Verhoeven, Diemers, Queseda, Badjeck.

GOALS: Agudelo 24.

BOOKINGS: De Ridder.

SENT OFF: Sarota.

PEC ZWOLLE: Boer, Van Hintum, Broerse, Sainsbury (Mahmudov 73), Klich (Nijland 72), Karagounis (Benson 47), Van Polen, Drost, Gravenbeek, Saymak, Fernandez.

SUBS NOT USED: Begois, Epe, Patricio, Fennich.

GOALS: Mahmudov 74, Benson 77.

BOOKINGS: Broerse.

AJAX 2-1 FC GRONINGEN

FC Groningen were unfortunate not to leave the Amsterdam Arena with a point this evening after a tremendous performance, however a Kolbeinn Sigthórsson goal seven minutes from time gave the Amsterdammers the win.

The game started cautiously but we soon saw Ajax dominate the possession and grab a hold of the game and before the half-hour we saw the opening goal.

With 28 minutes gone, Ajax were awarded a penalty by referee Serdar Gözübüyük after Eric Botteghin stuck out a leg to stop Spanish striker Bojan in the area. Danish midfielder Lasse Schöne stepped up to convert, this was his sixth goal of the season in all competitions.

However, Ajax were given a scare when Filip Kostic curled home an unexpected but a delightful left-footed effort before the break that left goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer totally stranded.

The second half was a different story and Groningen started to trouble Ajax and looked more likely to go onto win the game. Kostic was causing all sorts of trouble to the back tracking Ajax defenders but his shot did not match his excellent run and was easily saved by Vermeer.

De Boer rang the changes and brought on three substitutes but Kolbeinn Sigthórsson made the biggest impact and headed home a Christian Poulsen cross on 83 minutes to put a smile on the manager’s face.

TEAMS

AJAX: Vermeer, Van Rhijn, Moisander, Veltman, Riedewald (Poulsen 67), Serero (Duarte 75), Klaassen, Blind, Schöne, Bojan, De Jong (Sigthórsson 67).

SUBS NOT USED: Van der Hart, Van der Hoorn, Fischer, Denswil.

GOALS: Schöne 28P, Sigthórsson 83.

BOOKINGS: None.

FC GRONINGEN: Bizot, Wijnaldum, Burnet, Botteghin, Kappelhof, Kieftenbeld, Van Nieff (Zeefuik 87), Chery, De Leeuw (Zivkovic 76), Kostic.

SUBS NOT USED: Van der Lei, Adorjan, Lindgren, Hiarlej, Magnasco.

GOALS: Kostic 41.

BOOKINGS: Wijnaldum, Kappelhof, De Leeuw.

STANDINGS

Click the name above to follow Will on Twitter.

TotalDutchFootball.com WorldFootballWeekly.com

BETTING TIPS, EREDIVISIE, EREDIVISIE PREVIEW

EREDIVISIE WEEK 22 PREVIEW & BETTING TIPS

February 4, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

After nailing four out of nine games at the weekend, Will Burns is back with his picks for the midweek Eredivisie extravaganza (all nine games) and like all his tips, you will not see a ‘best bet’ under evens – good luck!

Tuesday 4th February

RODA JC vs. FEYENOORD – 17:45

Roda’s last game at Parkstad Limburg Stadion was Jon Dahl Tomasson’s first win as head coach in a 1-0 win over Utrecht. After losing 3-1 at PEC Zwolle on Saturday, they face the tough test of Ronald Koeman’s Feyenoord tomorrow night.

Feyenoord featured in Friday night’s game which was a 1-1 draw against Vitesse that leaves the Koeman’s men seven points off league leaders Ajax. The title race is not out of reach yet and they will look to Italian striker Graziano Pelle to add to his tally of 16 in 19 games this campaign.

I can see Feyenoord being too strong for Roda and at 13/8 at Betfair for the Rotterdam side to be winning at half-time and full-time, it’s too big of a bet to miss.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Feyenoord HT/FT (13/8 – Betfair)

ADO DEN HAAG vs. HERACLES – 18:45

Both sides experienced defeats over the weekend: Heracles at home to NAC Breda and ADO at Heerenveen, with a five points separating them in the league table.

I see this being a close game even though both sides will be itching to get back on track, I see this match finishing as a score draw. For the best bet, take a look at BetVictor’s at 13/5 for this one.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Draw (13/5 – BetVictor)

VITESSE vs. AZ ALKMAAR – 19:45

Tuesday’s main event will be second place Vitesse hosting sixth placed AZ Alkmaar. AZ have proved to be a bit of a jinx for the Arnhem side over the years, with Vitesse failing to find a win in the last eight meetings between the two sides.

Peter Bosz’s side will look to change all that this time round and place a bit of pressure on Ajax, currently two points clear them. A win would take Vitesse ahead of the Amsterdam side, with Ajax yet to play at home to Groningen on Thursday.

AZ will certainly not lay down for Vitesse and it will be a tough test for Bosz’s men. However, AZ has been a little inconsistent with two wins and three defeats from their last five matches played. Look for Vitesse to win this one and let’s take them to win by two clear goals to give us a bit of value.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Vitesse -1 (29/20 – SkyBet)

Wednesday 5th February

SC CAMBUUR vs. PSV – 17:45

After a shocking display at Waalwijk, a 2-0 defeat on Sunday, Philip Cocu needs to pick his side up for the trip to Cambuur on Wednesday evening. With only one win on the road in the last nine games, Cocu has a tough job.

Cambuur on the other hand put in a good showing away to Twente earlier on Sunday, despite running out on the wrong side of a 3-1 scoreline.

PSV are struggling to score goals and as we won on ‘Under 2.5 Goals’ in the RKC game on Sunday, let’s go for it again at 11/10 at Sky Bet. There has been under 2.5 goals in the last four games involving PSV so let’s see if that run will continue.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Under 2.5 Goals (11/10 – SkyBet)

GO AHEAD EAGLES vs. RKC WAALWIJK – 18:45

The impressive Evander Sno hit both goals in RKC’s win over PSV on Sunday and the Waalwijk side will look to build on that victory away to Go Ahead Eagles on Wednesday evening. However, Erwin Koeman’s side has a horrible away record with only two wins in the last 21 trips.

Go Ahead on the other hand has faired well at home this season with only two defeats in ten, and those losses were against the current top two, Vitesse and Ajax. A win for RKC is not unthinkable but I cannot see it happening.

Although the draw on the other hand could, with six draws for the Eagles and seven for RKC already this season I can see them adding to this tally on Wednesday.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Draw (13/5 – Betfred, SkyBet and Bet365)

NEC NIJMEGEN vs. NAC BREDA – 18:45

It is a close league this season with just five points splitting NEC (17th) and NAC (10th). NEC have a great home record this campaign with only losing two out of nine games (to Vitesse and Ajax) since the sacking of Alex Pastoor in September.

In an interesting stat, NEC Nijmegen have not beaten NAC in the last seven meetings between the sides in all competitions so going with the stats, I feel the best bet is a draw.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Draw (11/4 – WilliamHill)

HEERENVEEN vs. FC TWENTE – 19:45

FC Twente are in tremendous form and have only experienced a defeat twice in the Eredivisie this season, both away games to ADO Den Haag and Vitesse.

Heerenveen striker Alfred Finnbogason is also in tremendous form notching an amazing 20 goals in 18 games, which persuade Fulham to offer €10m on transfer deadline day.

With the Icelandic international notching left, right and centre I am unsure that Twente can defeat Heerenveen, but what I can predict is goals!

BURNS’ BEST BET: Over 3.5 Goals (13/5 – BetVictor)

Thursday 6th February

FC UTRECHT vs. PEC ZWOLLE – 17:45

Thursday sees PEC Zwolle travel to a struggling FC Utrecht full of confidence after Sunday’s 3-1 over Roda. While Jan Wouters’s Utrecht halted a run of four successive league defeats with a hard-fought point at home to Ajax, but they still remain five games without a win.

Zwolle look to clinch their third consecutive victory on Thursday but with the tricky Ryan Thomas providing balls for Guyon Fernandez and Mustafa Saymak, I think they could do it this Thursday at the Stadion Galgenwaard.

BURNS’ BEST BET: PEC Zwolle to win (19/10 – Unibet)

AJAX vs. FC GRONINGEN – 19:45

The final game of the Week 22 fixtures sees league leaders Ajax take on the underperforming FC Groningen.

The defending champions have won nine of their last eleven games and kept six clean sheets in their last seven at the Amsterdam ArenA. Do not look past an Ajax win if you are placing an accumulator this week, as I cannot see any other result coming close in this one.

Groningen lost away to AZ by two goals to nil on Saturday and I can see Ajax going one better winning the match 3-0. So let’s end the week with a huge 7/1 tip and good luck!

BURNS’ BEST BET: Ajax to win 3-0 (7/1 – Bet365)

Click the name above to follow Will on Twitter.

TotalDutchFootball.com WorldFootballWeekly.com

EREDIVISIE

Week 21 Eredivisie Report – AZ, Zwolle, NAC, Heerenveen all victorious

February 2, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

SATURDAY 1ST FEBRUARY 2014

HEERENVEEN 3-0 ADO DEN HAAG

After head coach Marco van Basten announced this past week that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season, Heerenveen stepped up to the plate and delivered three season half goals to defeat ADO.

Heerenveen’s latest signing, Anthony Lurling, who will be 37 in April, replaced Luciano Slagveer in the side but he failed to inspire this new side in the first half which was lacklustre, due to the attacking performances from both teams. Both midfields constantly failed to link up with their forwards and give the ball away to each other, and were restricted to long-range efforts which never bothered either goalkeeper. The score at half-time was goal-less.

The hosts pressed after the break and took the lead in controversial fashion that referee Ed Janssen under huge protests from the ADO players. Hakim Ziyech whipped in a free-kick from the right-wing which sailed into the arms of ADO goalkeeper Gino Coutinho low on the ground. Tom Beugelsdijk was marking Kenny Otigba who was heading towards the ball and both players momentum sent Otigba into the ball to knock it home. Coutinho did have two hands on the ball but the goal was given.

The advantage was doubled ten minutes later, when a spot-kick was awarded when Bilal Basacikoglu was weakly pushed over by Aaron Meijers. This gave Alfred Finnbogason the opportunity to score his 20th goal in just 18 games, which he duly took, coolly chipping the ball down the middle of the goal.

ADO applied pressure to try and get back into the game but the points were cemented deep into stoppage time. Heerenveen absorbed the attacks and sent Rajiv van la Parra on the counter attack to make it three.

TEAMS

HEERENVEEN: Nordfeldt, Van Anholt, Kum, Otigba, Dijks, De Roon, Van den Berg, Ziyech (Sinkgraven 91), Lurling (Van la Parra 83), Finnbogason, Basacikoglu.

SUBS NOT USED: Vandenbussche, Marzo, De Kamps, Slagveer, Zomer.

GOALS: Otigba 58, Finnbogason 68P, Van La Parra 90+2.

BOOKINGS: Van Anholt, Otigba.

ADO DEN HAAG: Coutinho, Malone, Zuiverloon, Beugelsdijk, Meijers, Bakker (Kramer 63), Holla, Van Haaren, Alberg, Van Duinen, Schet.

SUBS NOT USED: Zwinkels, Wormgoor, Gouriye, Kanon, Merencia, Cabral.

GOALS: None

BOOKINGS: Van Haaren, Schet.

PEC ZWOLLE 3-1 RODA JC

Jon Dahl Tomasson suffered his first league defeat as Roda manager as they fell to an improving PEC Zwolle side in a quiet an even game.

The away side failed to keep possession early on and in the 19th minute, New Zealand international Ryan Thomas gave Zwolle the lead. After Roda were unable to clear a corner, the ball fell to Thomas who slid home from close range.

As the first-half petered out and it looked like Thomas had scored the only goal of the game until after the half-time break. Tomasson’s side pressed for an equaliser and found the goal just after the hour mark after some great play from man-of-the-moment Guus Hupperts. Hupperts weaved his way past defenders into the box and found Mitchell Donald at the back post to tap into an empty net.

Roda looked more likely to grab a second but against the run of play, Zwolle were awarded a penalty on 77 minutes, after Thomas was adjudged to be bundled over by Bart Biemans by referee Bjorn Kuipers. It was a poor decision from the ref as video replays showed that Thomas had gone down easy from a shoulder nudge. Guyon Fernandez converted the spot-kick sending Filip Kurto in the opposite direction.

The points were cemented two minutes into stoppage time when substitute Fred Benson fired home Zwolle’s third. After Kurto had stopped Mateusz Klich and Thanasis Karagounis’s close range effort, Benson finished to send the home side home happy.

TEAMS

ZWOLLE: Boer, Van Hintum, Broerse, Van der Werff (Lachman 47 (Gravenbeek 68)), Mokotjo, Van Polen, Karagounis, Klich, Saymak (Benson 74), Thomas, Fernandez.

SUBS NOT USED: Begios, Nijland, Drost, Mahmudov.

GOALS: Thomas 19, Fernandez 77P, Benson 90.

BOOKINGS: Klich.

RODA: Kurto, Monteyne (Ramos 89), Van Peppen, Biemans, Luijckx, Paulissen (Hocher 82), Donald, Kali, Sutchin, Hupperts, Shkurti (Pluim 65).

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

GOALS: Donald 62.

BOOKINGS: Paulissen, Biemans.

HERACLES 1-2 NAC BREDA

NAC Breda defeated Heracles by two goals to one to leapfrog them into the top ten and win their first game in three matches.

Breda had goalkeeper Jelle ten Rouwelaar to thank in the opening half-hour after the hosts began the better of the two sides. However, at the other end Remko Pasveer gifted NAC the lead in the 38th minute with Jordy Buijs getting his third goal of the season. The Heracles ‘keeper failed to catch a corner and Buijs prodded home the opening goal.

Jan de Jonge’s men pressed for an equaliser but watched his side concede another just after the hour mark. Mats Seuntkens turned Jason Davidson on the right-wing and whipped in a pin-perfect cross to Rydell Popeon in the middle of the area to head past Pasveer.

Ten minutes later, Heracles did get a goal back through top scorer Bryan Linssen. Simon Cziommer surged into the right area of the box and looped a ball towards goal where Linssen rose above everyone to make it 2-1.

Linssen nearly got his eighth goal of the campaign to equalise near the end of the game, but Rouwelaar again, kept his team in it to fire his team into the top ten.

TEAMS

HERACLES: Pasveer, Veldmate, Davidson, Te Wierik, Schenkeveld, Rienstra, Bel Hassani (Bruns 80), Cziommer, Linssen, Rosheuvel (Tannane 64), Uth (Powel 67).

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

GOALS: Linssen 71.

BOOKINGS: Cziommer, Veldmate.

NAC: Ten Rouwelaar, Van der Weg, Buijs, Drost, De Roover, Matic (Suk 78), Gilissen, Hadouir (Verbeek 84), Seuntjens, Sarpong (Tighadouini 90), Poepen.

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

GOALS: Buijs 38, Poepon 61.

BOOKINGS: Van der Weg, Hadouir.

AZ ALKMAAR 2-0 FC GRONINGEN

Two first-half Nemanja Gudelj goals gave AZ a great 2-0 win over FC Groningen.

It was a great start for Dick Advocaat’s men as Gudelj opened the scoring in just the third minute of play. From a Celso Ortiz free-kick, the ball fell kindly in the area for the Serbian midfielder to strike off Groningen defender Eric Botteghin and past Marco Bizot in the visitors’ goal.

AZ smelt blood and attacked Groningen relentlessly until the Serbian made it two in the 17th minute, and it was a great volleyed effort. After Steven Berghuis curled a low ball into the box, Gudelj acrobatically hit a right foot smash past Bizot.

Groningen improved after the internval but were unable to breach the AZ defence, and now the Alkmaar side has won two of its last three Eredivisie matches to climb to sixth place with 30 points, moving the club two points clear of their opponents today.

TEAMS

AZ: Esteban, Wuytens, Gouweleeuw, Viergever, Reijnen, Gudelj, Elm, Berghuis (Gudmundsson 77), Ortiz, Johannsson, Beerens.

SUBS NOT USED: De Winter, Johansson, Gorter, Henriksen, Lewis, Avdic.

GOALS: Gudelj 3, 17.

BOOKINGS: None.

GRONINGEN: Bizot, Magnasco (Nieff 47), Wijnaldum, Kappelhof, Hiarlej (Zeefuik 76), Botteghin, Kieftenbeld, De Leeuw, Chery, Adorjan (Burnet 47), Kostic.

SUBS NOT USED: Van der Lei, Kirm, Lindgren, Zivkovic.

GOALS: None.

BOOKINGS: None.

Click the name above to follow Will on Twitter.

TotalDutchFootball.com WorldFootballWeekly.com

EREDIVISIE, NEWS, TRANSFERS

Introducing Zwolle new-boy Trent Sainsbury

January 31, 2014 Will Burns 1 Comment

PEC Zwolle today announced the signing of exciting young Aussie Trent Sainsbury from the Central Coast Mariners. The deal has been confirmed by both PEC and Mariners with the reported transfer fee being $AU350,000 (E225,000) with some provision for future bonuses for the Mariners. The bonus provision nearly apparently scuppered the deal due to some confusion about what entitlement the Football Federation Australia had to any future bonuses, but all was resolved in the end. He had less than 6 months left on his contract so the transfer fee is understandable.

So what are PEC getting for their money? Well the simple answer is that they are getting undoubtedly the most promising young defender from the A-League. At 22 years of age he has already played over 60 games at A-League and Asian Champions League level. He formed a formidable partnership with Patrick Zwaanswijk in the heart of the Mariners defence last season that lead the club to their first Championship and he was named in the Team of the Week 9 times throughout the season as well as in the Team of the Season. He was also runner-up in the Young Player of the Year Award, which was eventually won by Marco Rojas who has since joined Stuttgart. He has been capped numerous times for the Australian U/20 side.

Sainsbury is an imposing central defence player who is great in the air and with his head. He has a good understanding of the game coupled with great stamina and determination. He is known as a very laid-back character who likes to make a joke and this personality will fit in well into any dressing room. He trialed last season with Southampton and then came very close to signing with Basle in the off-season so this move can be viewed as a bit of a coup for PEC Zwolle.

The move to a ‘smaller’ Eredivisie club should provide him with the opportunity to get regular game time whilst not facing the pressures associated with joining a bigger club. PEC are having a good season and he should be joining a squad in good spirits. Hopefully he becomes a regular in PEC’s starting side with the lure of pressing for a World Cup place, particularly given the unfortunate injury to Rhys Williams from Middlesbrough this week.

Click on Rogier’s name to follow him on Twitter.

BETTING TIPS, EREDIVISIE, EREDIVISIE PREVIEW

EREDIVISIE WEEK 21 PREVIEW – Saturday

January 31, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

After a great 3/1 win with the Feyenoord-Vitesse draw prediction, Will Burns is back with his picks for Saturday and like all his tips, you will not see a ‘best bet’ under evens – good luck!

Saturday 1st February

HEERENVEEN vs. ADO DEN HAAG – 17:45

ADO head to Heerenveen full of confidence after their win over Feyenoord, while Marco van Basten’s men may be feeling a tad down after the head coach stated this week he will be not sticking around next season.

Under Van Basten, Heerenveen have never defeated ADO Den Haag and I’m predicting that the wait for the win will continue. I would except goals in this, especially with the fact that Heerenveen have conceded at least two goals in eight out of ten games, but also scored at least two goals in nine out of the last ten games.

If you’re feeling lucky opt for a 2-2 draw but I feel the best bet would be to stick with a draw at 18/5 at Unibet.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Draw (18/5 – Unibet)

PEC ZWOLLE vs. RODA JC – 18:45

Jon Dahl Tomasson’s Roda coming off a great 1-0 win last week against a struggling FC Utrecht side, head to Zwolle to face Ron Jans’ men who have failed to win in their last five games at the IJsseldelta Stadion.

Jans had to wait ten games to find an Eredivisie win which was the 2-1 away in Breda last round. Zwolle will be glad to ditch that stat and look to build their current ninth place into a run for European football qualification.

Tomasson has an in-form Guus Hupperts at his disposal and look for the young winger to try and get himself on the scoresheet again, he has scored four in the last six games from the right-wing. The best bet for me in this one is Under 2.5 Goals as I cannot see either team going for broke in this one.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Under 2.5 Goals (13/10 – BetVictor)

HERACLES vs. NAC BREDA – 18:45

Breda heads to Almelo after a great performance last weekend in a tight 2-1 defeat hosting Zwolle, while Heracles, undefeated in their last three games at home, defeated RKC 2-1 at Polman Stadion.

This game will provide goals and Bryan Linssen of Heracles is the man to watch. NAC Breda have conceded at least three goals in their last six away matches in Eredivisie. On this basis, the best bet seems to be a huge 17/10 at PaddyPower if you bet Heracles to be winning at half-time and full-time.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Heracles HT/FT (17/10 – PaddyPower)

AZ ALKMAAR vs. FC GRONINGEN – 19:45

FC Groningen’s game last week was postponed due to a frozen pitch as AZ’s miserable form continued losing in a 1-0 defeat at PSV. AZ Alkmaar have now lost five of their last six matches in the league.

Just one point splits these teams in the league and Groningen have only one win away from home in the last nine matches. I’m settling for a tied game at full-time on this one.

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

Click the name above to follow Will on Twitter.

TotalDutchFootball.com WorldFootballWeekly.com

EREDIVISIE, NEWS, TRANSFERS

BIG LACHMAN TO JOIN TWENTE

January 29, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

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.

Click the name above to follow Will on Twitter.

TotalDutchFootball.com WorldFootballWeekly.com

EREDIVISIE

Week 20 Eredivisie Report – Feyenoord fall, PSV defeat AZ

January 26, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

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 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 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 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.

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 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.

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.

Click the name above to follow Will on Twitter.

TotalDutchFootball.com WorldFootballWeekly.com

BETTING TIPS, EREDIVISIE, EREDIVISIE PREVIEW

EREDIVISIE WEEK 20 PREVIEW – Friday & Saturday

January 23, 2014 Will Burns 1 Comment

Week 20 of the Eredivisie is upon us and can Ajax and Vitesse maintain their good form and stay at the top of the pile or can Feyenoord catch up on Saturday and place a bit of pressure on them? Will Burns is here with this predictions and like all his tips, you will not see a ‘best bet’ under evens – good luck!

Friday 24th January

HERACLES vs. RKC WAALWIJK– 19:00

Currently undefeated in their last six Eredivisie games, RKC Waalwijk are surprising a lot of pundits in the Netherlands but on Friday night they face the tough challenge of Heracles.

With Romeo Castelen missing with a knee injury for RKC, it only get tougher. Heracles will want to bounce back from last week’s 3-1 defeat away to Twente, and will look to star player Bryan Linssen to get on the scoresheet.

The hosts will have Jeroen Veldmate serving a suspension for this game, after last Friday’s red card, but the central defensive pairing of Bart Schenkeveld and Ben Rienstra will cover in his absence.

Look for RKC to keep their undefeated run going by notching another point as I see this game being a draw, and with BetVictor offering 29/10, it’s a bet too good to miss especially when Heracles have just won one of their last six games at the Polman Stadion.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Draw (29/10 – BetVictor)

Saturday 25th January

ADO DEN HAAG vs. FEYENOORD – 17:45

A huge 5-2 win away to Utrecht last Sunday meant Feyenoord have now won five out of the last five Eredivisie games, but sadly for the Rotterdam side, they were knocked out of the KNVB Beker on Wednesday in a tough 3-1 defeat away to Ajax.

ADO will be the fresher side with no midweek game this week but due to far superiority in Ronald Koeman’s camp, I cannot see Feyenoord not coming out the victors. At 4/7 (BetVictor) Graziano Pelle and co. might be worth adding to your accumulator but it is certainly not our best bet.

Like last week I fancy Feyenoord to win both half-time and full-time in this one and we stick with BetVictor again at 11/8. For the record, Koeman’s men have now won this bet in the last four Eredivisie matches.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Feyenoord HT/FT (11/8 – BetVictor)

NAC BREDA vs. PEC ZWOLLE – 18:45

PEC Zwolle will be oozing with confidence after their trimpuant 5-1 win over Topklasse outfit JVC Cuijk in midweek to fire themselves into the semi-finals of the KNVB Beker.

No disrespect to JVC, but Zwolle will face a much stronger side in NAC Breda on Saturday evening. A side that is undefeated at home in the last six games, with five wins (AZ Alkmaar, Heracles, Go Ahead Eagles, PSV and Cambuur) and one draw (Groningen).

Breda have no real injury problems but Zwolle still are without strong powerful defender Darryl Lachman due to hamstring problem. Zwolle are on a four game losing streak in league games, but I can see the hunger to end that unwanted streak ending on Saturday. I can see this one ending as a draw and ending one streak for Zwolle, and continuing another for NAC.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Draw (13/5 – Bet365)

RODA JC vs. FC UTRECHT – 18:45

Both teams will be hurting after being knocked out of the Dutch cup in midweek, Roda at home to AZ (2-0) and Utrecht away to NEC (1-0).

Jon Dahl Tomasson still searches for his first win and he will be without main striker Krisztián Németh, after the Hungarian’s stupid red card on Tuesday night, as he serves his first of a five match suspension.

Both sides are in dire need of a win and I can see goals a plenty going in here. Utrecht started well last weekend against Feyenoord but ended up conceding five losing 5-2. Jan Wouters will be looking to capitalise on Roda’s poor form of losing their four Eredivisie games at the Parkstad Limburg Stadion. Roda have not won a game in eight league matches and you have to go back to late October when they defeated PSV for the last time they clinched all three points on offer.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Utrecht to win (29/10 – BetVictor)

PSV vs. AZ ALKMAAR – 19:45

Saturday night’s main event pits PSV vs. AZ in a repeat of the KNVB Beker final last May. Of course, the star of the show that day was Adam Maher, who has since swapped clubs.

On reflection, even before last week’s defeat to bitter rivals Ajax, PSV’s season is already over with only qualification to the Europa League to play for. AZ can still hope to retain their Dutch cup after Tuesday’s 2-0 victory at Roda, and in the league they currently sit in 7th, a place and one point above Saturday’s opponents.

PSV were unlucky to not get at least a point at the Amsterdam Arena on Sunday, and the addition of Bryan Ruiz looks like he could inject life into the PSV attack, linking up well with Memphis Depay and Jürgen Locadia.

Look for PSV to be successful here as Phillip Cocu’s men have only lost once in their last 11 Eredivisie games (a 6-2 defeat against high-flying Vitesse). However, for my ‘best bet’ I pick Fulham’s on-loan winger Bryan Ruiz to score anytime, which you can pick up for 7/5 at Bet365.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Bryan Ruiz to score anytime (7/5 – Bet365)

Click here for a preview of Sunday’s games.

Click the name above to follow Will on Twitter.

TotalDutchFootball.com WorldFootballWeekly.com

KNVB CUP

KNVB Beker Quarter-Finals Report – Final four decided

January 22, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

The semi-finalists have been determines tonight, with PEC Zwolle, NEC Nijmegen and Ajax joining defending champions AZ Alkmaar in the final four.

Wednesday 22nd January

PEC ZWOLLE 5-1 JVC CUIJK

PEC Zwolle hit Topklasse side JVC Cuijk with a 5-1 scoreline that could have been a lot more if Ron Jans’ side had finished their chances.

Dominating from the kick off, Zwolle were ahead inside three minutes. Two defenders got on the scoresheet for the Eredivisie side. Left-back Bart van Hintum curled home in a free kick from the edge of the area and central defender Maikel van der Werff doubled the lead in the 16th minute.

Joris van Gerwen made it three on 19 minutes and Zwolle took their foot off the gas for the remainder of the first half.

On the hour mark, Macedonian striker Denis Mahmudov got the fourth and fifth goals with Kevin van Veen’s consulation goal sandwiched in between.

NEC NIJMEGEN 1-0 FC UTRECHT

Struggling in the Eredivisie, NEC Nijmegen are into the final four of the Dutch cup with a close 1-0 win at home to FC Utrecht.

The only goal of the game came after just seven minutes when Marnick Vermijl (on loan from Manchester United) met a Søren Rieks ball from the right wing and the Belgian slid the ball home.

AJAX 3-1 FEYENOORD

Ajax are favourites to lift their 19th KNVB Beker after disposing of Feyenoord 3-1 at the Amsterdam Arena this evening.

The visitors took the lead after just six minutes, winger Jean-Paul Boëtius the goalscorer. After Lex Immers played Tonny Vilhena through on goal, recalled Ajax goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer rushed out and totally mistimed his challenge on Vilhena. The young Feyenoord playmaker attempted to chip the ‘keeper but the ball did not have enough pace to creep over the line, so Boëtius arrived to poke home.

Young Danish forward Viktor Fischer notched the equaliser on 34 minutes after a beautiful defence splitting ball from Daley Blind. The ball through played Fischer onside and one-on-one with Erwin Mulder, the Dane chipped the goalkeeper which allowed Daryl Janmaat to get back to challenge. Fischer persisted and eventually placed the ball home before Mulder got back on his line.

Bojan Krcic nodded home a second for Ajax on 68 minutes after Mulder had parried a Lasse Schöne header from Blind’s cross from the left. South African midfielder Thulani Serero grabbed a third in injury time to cement the win for the Amsterdammers.

Click the name above to follow Will on Twitter.

TotalDutchFootball.com WorldFootballWeekly.com

EREDIVISIE

Week 19 Eredivisie Report – Ajax & Vitesse stay top

January 19, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

The Eredivisie season resumed this weekend after the winter break and Ajax and Vitesse began their new year with wins to keep them atop of the pile in the Dutch top flight.

The final game of the weekend was the world famous De Klassieker but in all fairness it was a bit of a letdown. Ajax ran out winners against PSV keeping Frank de Boer’s side on top of the division on goal difference. The visitors dominated the opening half, with Ajax on the back foot with left winger Memphis Depay shining the brightest, giving the Ajax defence a torrid time. The young Depay nearly gave Phillip Cocu’s men the lead on 26 minutes with a cute touch that crept just wide after Adam Maher had whipped in the ball.

Two minutes earlier, Jürgen Locadia should have given the Eindhoven side the advantage. Locadia arrive into box on the right, and the on-loan Bryan Ruiz placed him in with a lovely deft chip, but the striker sent his shot inches wide.

With Ajax being forced into their own half for the majority of the first 45 minutes, they relied heavily on the counter attack. After the interval, the hosts came out fighting and on 64 minutes they took the lead and it was an excellent goal. A long ball out of defence from Niclas Moisander found Lasse Schöne on the right-wing Schöne, with fantastic technique hit a first time volleyed cross into the box, where Kolbeinn Sigthórsson nodded past Jeroen Zoet for 1-0.

The goal de-motivated the young PSV side and Ajax pressed for a second, but despite efforts from Davy Klaassen and Viktor Fischer they failed to add to their score. PSV’s title challenge is dust and dusted, if it was not already, as Ajax sit joint top with Vitesse, who defeated PEC Zwolle 2-1 on Saturday evening.

It was an eventful first half with Vitesse a goal ahead after in the third minute. Ghanaian on-loan star Christian Atsu twisted and turned through the Zwolle defence, before sliding the ball home past the helpless Diederik Boer. The visitors were not in the lead for long as Guyon Fernandez notched his fifth goal of the season on ten minutes. Then three minutes later, Vitesse winger Renato Ibarra was tripped in the area, but Lucas Piazón could not place the penalty past Boer. Another Chelsea loanee sealed the win for Vitesse in injury time, with Patrick van Aanholt striding up the field from the left wing to fire home.

On Friday, FC Twente defeated local rivals Heracles by three goals to one in the Derby of the East. Quincy Promes continued his great form firing Twente in the lead halfway through the first half and Luc Castaignos doubled the advantage before the hour mark. The visitors were down to ten-men when defender Jeroen Veldmate was shown the red card but Mark Uth gave Heracles some hope when he scored on 76 minutes with a tremendous solo effort. The points were clinched with minutes to go when Luka Đorđević was brought down by Thomas Bruns and Dušan Tadić converted the spot kick.

Twente are up to 37 points with Feyenoord a point behind them in fourth. Ronald Koeman’s men showed they are still challenging for the championship thumping FC Utrecht 5-2 at the Stadion Galgenwaard on Sunday afternoon. Five goals were shared in a crazy first half and it was the hosts that took the lead when Jens Toornstra capitalised on Jordy Clasie’s mistake on 12 minutes. Feyenoord equalised four minutes later when Ruben Schaken turned in Tonny Vilhena’s shot. The best goal of the game gave the visitors the lead when Italian hitman Graziano Pellè delivered a back-heeled flick to Schaken’s cross from the right. Utrecht levelled the game up when Toornstra notched again on 22 minutes, but Feyenoord went into the break with the goal advantage with a Stefan de Vrij header. Schaken got his second on 72 minutes with Vilhena scoring the fifth with a minute to go.

Heerenveen stay in fifth place despite being held to 2-2 draw on Saturday evening with Roda JC, now managed by Jon Dahl Tomasson. Tomasson will be happy with the away point, especially when he would have feared the worst when Hakim Ziyech put Heerenveen ahead on 12 minutes. The teams went into half-time level, as Guus Hupperts’ cross was fired home by Hungarian striker Krisztián Németh. Alfred Finnbogason notched his 18th of the season after Kees Luijckx blocked the Icelandic striker in the area and Finnbogason stepped up to convert for 2-1. However, Roda did not give up and Hupperts scored the equalising goal with a great show of speed and finishing. The 21-year-old overpowered Christian Kum down the right-wing and hit a wonderful outside of the boot finish from an acute angle to score. Tomasson will look to Hupperts in the coming months to help in the relegation fight.

FC Groningen were unlucky to be held by RKC Waalwijk to a 1-1 draw on Saturday evening, with Michael de Leeuw giving Groningen the lead on the half-hour mark. However, the visitors were reduced to ten-men when debutant Hans Hateboer was shown red for a foul RKC’s Remy Amieux. RKC snatched the draw with an 89-minute Evander Sno penalty after Maikel Kieftenbeld was adjudged to have handled in the penalty area.

Also on Saturday, AZ Alkmaar defeated NAC Breda 3-0. Steven Berghuis scored a brace along with Aron Johansson goal to help AZ climb to seventh place on 27 points.

ADO Den Haag now prop up the league in 18th after suffering a 3-1 defeat away to NEC Nijmegen. Kevin Conboy hit two alongside a Marnick Vermijl effort while a Danny Holla penalty replied for Den Haag. The win meant that NEC leapfrogged ADO into 17th.

Finally, in a battle of the promoted side, SC Cambuur turned over Go Ahead Eagles by two goals to nil, with Marcel Ritzmaier scoring the best goal of the weekend. In the 18th minute, the midfielder, on-loan from PSV hit a spectacular effort from 30 yards out straight past Eloy Room in the Eagles’ goal. Martijn Barto added a second to see Cambuur rise up to 14th while Go Ahead are four points better in 10th.

RESULTS

FC Twente 3-1 Heracles

AZ Alkmaar 3-0 NAC Breda

PEC Zwolle 1-2 Vitesse

RKC Waalwijk 1-1 FC Groningen

Heerenveen 2-2 Roda JC

NEC Nijmegen 3-1 ADO Den Haag

SC Cambuur 2-0 Go Ahead Eagles

FC Utrecht 2-5 Feyenoord

Ajax 1-0 PSV

STANDINGS

League table courtesy of FIFA.com

Click the name above to follow Will on Twitter.

TotalDutchFootball.com WorldFootballWeekly.com

NEWS

Jans extends contract

January 18, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

PEC Zwolle’s head coach Ron Jans has agreed to extend his current contract for another year. Jans’ deal now runs until the end of the 2014/15 season.

Jans spoke to PECZwolle.nl regarding this extension: ‘I feel very happy to continue my work here at PEC Zwolle along with the rest of my staff. We will ensure that our players continue to develop here in Zwolle. Our goal is for PEC Zwolle to remain in the top flight for many seasons to come.’

Zwolle’s technical director Gerard Nijkamp is also pleased that Jans has signed up for another year: ‘We wanted Ron to commit to the club and he was more than happy to do so. Under the leadership of Ron, it is clear that the plan is in place to push forward with this club and become a stable Eredivisie club.’

Click the name above to follow Will on Twitter.

TotalDutchFootball.com WorldFootballWeekly.com

EREDIVISIE

25 EREDIVISIE STARS OF THE SEASON… SO FAR – PART 3

January 14, 2014 Will Burns 1 Comment

The Eredivisie season restarts after the winter break on Friday night, so as a preview, we have decided to rundown the stars of the division so far this season.

Here’s Will Burns with the next five…

The attacking right-back, is also slowly making a name for himself in a AZ side that have failed to challenge at the top this season.

Starting every game this term, the Swedish international loves to bomb down the right wing, where he has notched three goals. One has to think how long AZ can keep the defender, his displays of dribbling and defeating an opposition full-back with ease, must have some clubs in the Europe’s top divisions scouting him.

In the Europa League, the Swede has started five games, where AZ are yet to taste defeat. He is vital to the Alkmaar side if they are to climb the league and qualify for European football again.

Twenty-year-old Klaassen was an observer for most of last season due to a persistent groin injury, this season, fit and raring to go; the attacking midfielder has been unleashed by manager Frank de Boer, with devastating consequences for the opposition.

Klaassen has made 10 appearances for the Amsterdammers this season, Ajax are undefeated in all ten, along with three Champions League games, where Ajax are undefeated in all three, including a great 2-1 win over La Liga giants Barcelona.

With seven goals in 10 appearances, including an impressive hat-trick against NAC Breda, it is no wonder that Arsenal have been linked with the player. After losing Christian Eriksen to Spurs in the summer, fans and media alike may have been thinking where De Boer would find a replacement – of course, Frank found the man for the job in De Toekomst academy.

Zwolle made a tremendous start to the season, even topping the Eredivisie for three weeks. Manager Ron Jans can be thankful in part to his 6ft 2inch central defender, Darryl Lachman. At over 6ft, Lachman is not strong in the departments you would presume. Strong on the ground, but in the air he fails to deceive.

For a centre-back, the 24-year-old loves to maraud forward, dribbling with confidence and dishing the ball out to the midfield to start attacks. Defensively, his concentration and decision making has helped Zwolle to concede only 18 times in the 16 games Lachman has started.

Even at 33 years old, Feyenoord are getting their money’s worth from Joris Mathijsen. The veteran central defender has appeared in 11 games this season averaging 4.8 clearances per match, a total of 58.

Leading from the back, with his help, Ronald Koeman’s men are on a four game winning streak before heading to Utrecht this Sunday afternoon.

When Jordy Clasie is protecting the Feyenoord defence, Lex Immers is attacking the opponent’s back four. With seven goals, and one assist in 17 starts for De Trots van Zuid, Immers is having his best season yet for the Rotterdam club.

The 27-year-old loves to draw a foul and has won 30 free-kicks this term already. Strong in the air, he can be seen nodding the ball to either winger from goal-kicks, for that winger to set-up the Italian goal machine that is Graziano Pelle.

JOIN US TOMORROW FOR PART FOUR

Click the name above to follow Will on Twitter.

TotalDutchFootball.com WorldFootballWeekly.com