Tag Archives: Roda JC

Week 26 Eredivisie Report: Fulham’s forgotten man does it again for PSV

March 1, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

Bryan Ruiz, PSV striker on loan from Fulham, scored an stoppage time winner in a spirited comeback that saw the Eindhoven side defeat Go Ahead Eagles in a five goal thriller.

Saturday 1st March 2014

PEC ZWOLLE 3-3 NEC NIJMEGEN

Six goals were exchanged in Saturday’s opening game where PEC Zwolle and NEC Nijmegen played out an entertaining 3-3 draw.

Ron Jans’ Zwolle are pushing for a top-eight finish and they found themselves two goals ahead after only 35 minutes. On-loan striker Guyon Fernandez scored after just six minutes after the striker was put through on goal by a defence-splitting ball by Mateusz Klich.

The Polish midfielder got himself on the scoresheet on 35 minutes scoring from a free-kick around 40 yards out. Mateusz Klich whipped a dangerous ball into the box but it missed everyone and sailed past Karl-Johan Johnsson in goal.

The visitors grabbed a goal back just before half-time when Søren Rieks blasted home from outside the box after Zwolle failed to clear a corner.

After the interval, the scores were tired with Englishman Michael Higdon notching his 10th goal of the season. Full-back Marnick Vermijl, loaned from Manchester United, surged into the box from the right wing and laid the ball on a plate for the Scouser to tap home.

Zwolle regained the lead just before the hour mark after defender Joost Broerse fired a long range effort past Johnsson but on 69 minutes the scores were levelled again. Danish midfielder Søren Rieks firing home inside the area from a Kevin Conboy cross deep on the left-wing.

Neither side could find a winning goal and the point means Ron Jans’ side are now in eighth place while NEC remain deep in the drop zone second bottom.

TEAMS

PEC ZWOLLE: Boer, Van Polen, Van der Werff, Van Hintum, Broerse, Saymak (Gravenbeek 90), Drost, Klich, Karagounis (Narsingh 56), Fernandez (Benson 71), Thomas.

SUBS NOT USED: Begios, Mahmudov, Hiwat, Pereira.

GOALS: Fernandez 6, Klich 35, Broerse 57.

BOOKINGS: None.

NEC: Johnsson, Van Eijden, Nielsen, Conboy, Vermijl, Koolwijk, Rieks, Štefánik, Higdon, Foor (Jantscher 65), Jahanbakhsh.

SUBS NOT USED: Gentenaar, Haitz, Hemlein, Disveld, Leiwakabessy, Castillion.

GOALS: Rieks 43 & 69, Higdon 46.

BOOKINGS: Van Eijden 14, Štefánik 84.

ADO DEN HAAG 1-1 NAC BREDA

ADO and NAC shared the points in a 1-1 draw as the hosts missed the opportunity to climb out of the relegation places.

After a goal-less first half, the visitors took the lead with Elson Hooi running onto an excellent through ball by Rydell Poepon and poking the ball past Robert Zwinkels on 55 minutes.

ADO’s Roland Alberg hit a replay just after the hour mark capitalising on a terrible mix-up in the by NAC defender Sepp De Roover. After the Belgian failed to hoof the ball clear, and Alberg steered in front of the defender to poke home.

The point moves ADO (15th) onto 28 points and extends their unbeaten run to four games. Breda on the other hand sit in tenth on 32 points, where the win in this game would have took them into the top eight.

TEAMS

ADO: Zwinkles, Wormgoor, Beugelsdijk, Meijers, Zuiverloon, Malone, Holla, Bakker (Van Haaren 76), Van Duinen, Schet (Wildschut 59 (Kanon 90+1)), Alberg.

SUBS NOT USED: Coutinho, Gehrt, Merencia, Cabral.

GOALS: Alberg 63.

BOOKINGS: None.

NAC: Ten Rouwelaar, De Roover, Drost, Buijs, Van der Weg, Matic, Suk (Swerts 90+3), Seuntjens, Tighadouini (Kwakman 78), Poepon, Verbeek (Hooi 45).

SUBS NOT USED: Sarpong, El Allouchi, Babos, Bodor.

GOALS: Hooi 55.

BOOKINGS: Poepon 77.

GO AHEAD EAGLES 2-3 PSV

PSV came back from two goals down in Deventer on Saturday evening to defeat the Go Ahead Eagles in a five-goal thriller.

The hosts exploded out of the blocks and scored after just 51 seconds of play. After great link-up the ball arrived to Xander Houtkoop on the left wing who fired the ball across the goal for Jarchinio Antonia to slot home at the back post. Some of the fans inside the Adelaarshorst were yet to take to their seats before the goal.

It was two on 25 minutes with Erik Falkenburg grabbing the second with a lovely finish inside the area. After a mix-up with Stijn Schaars just inside his own half, Jeffrey Rijsdijk pounced on the ball and outsprinted the PSV midfielder. Rijsdijk pulled the ball back to Falkenburg who spun in the box and finished past Jeroen Zoet.

Philip Cocu, after leading his side to four wins in a row, trudged down the tunnel at half-time with his sides two goals down. His team-talk must have worked a treat as PSV emerged for the second-half and went onto win the fifth game in succession.

Memphis Depay scored a screamer to give the Eindhoven side hope on 49 minutes. A left-footed power effort that flew into Stephan Andersen’s goal giving the Danish goalkeeper no chance of stopping.

With just over 20 minutes of the game remaining, the visitors levelled the score after the Eagles defence failed to clear the ball from a long throw. Ruiz collected the loose ball and continued in the area until the ball fell perfectly for Jürgen Locadia to fire home from close range.

Cocu urged his team on as PSV pressed for the winning goal but the glory did not arrive until the final minute of the game. PSV used great possession play to control the game and when Schaars caught full-back Santiago Arias bombing down the right, he played the young Colombian in. Arias fired the ball across the goal for Bryan Ruiz to flick home to steal all three points.

Five wins out of five for Cocu and the win means they site just five points of second place which could earn them Champions League football next season.

TEAMS

GO AHEAD: Andersen, Amevor, Van der Linden, Schenk (Haps 75), Schmidt, Overgoor, Turuc, Rijsdijk (Kolder 72), Antonia (Godee 84), Houtkoop, Falkenburg.

SUBS NOT USED: Ter Mate, Azevedo, Lambooij, Pot.

GOALS: Antonia 1, Falkenburg 25.

BOOKINGS: Van der Linden 61.

PSV: Zoet, Jorgensen, Rekik, Arias, Willems, Schaars, Hiljemark, Park (Maher 76), Depay, Ruiz, Locadia (Matavz 70).

SUBS NOT USED: Tyton, Narsingh, Bakkali, Brenet, Hendrix.

GOALS: Depay 49, Locadia 67, Ruiz 90.

BOOKINGS: None.

VITESSE 3-0 RODA JC

Vitesse looked to back to their best as they temporarily moved back into second position in the Eredivisie on Saturday night. It was a double from Japanese international Mike Havenaar that helped them to a 3-0 win over ten-man Roda.

Peter Bosz side found the lead after just 14 minutes with Mike Havenaar scoring from a back-post header. On-loan Ghanaian winger Christian Atsu gave Martijn Monteyne a torrid time, twisting and turning the defender before crossing to the far post where it met Havenaar’s header.

Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side are now without a win in six matches and their chances were dealt a blow just before the half-hour when referee Richard Liesveld sent off Roly Bonevacia for a professional foul on Havenaar. Marko Vejinovic curled home the resulting free-kick around 25 yards out.

Havenaar completed the scoring with 15 minutes remaining finishing a good move created by Davy Pröpper.

Defeat leaves Roda bottom of the table, six points from safety after ADO had earlier collected a point against NAC Breda.

TEAMS

VITESSE: Velthuizen, Achenteh, Van der Struijk (Qazaishvili 64), Kashia, Vejinovic, Pröpper, Labyad (Piazón 64), Havenaar, Atsu (Traoré 80) , Ibarra.

SUBS NOT USED: Room, Mori, Djurdjevic, Vink.

GOALS: Havenaar 14 & 76, Vejinovic 29.

BOOKINGS: Kashia 38, Atsu 53.

RODA: Kurto, Monteyne, Van Peppen, Bonevacia, Letschert, Höcher, Donald, Kali, Sutchuin (De Beule 68), Hupperts (Paulissen 40), Nemeth (Powel 80).

SUBS NOT USED: Dijkhuizen, Jacobs, Prus, Pluim.

GOALS: None.

BOOKINGS: Donald 13, Van Peppen 45, De Beule 76.

SENT OFF: Bonevacia 27.

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BETTING TIPS, EREDIVISIE, EREDIVISIE PREVIEW

EREDIVISIE WEEK 26 – SATURDAY PREVIEW & BETTING TIPS

March 1, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

After nailing his last three tips at 8/5, 10/3 and 11/5 – Will Burns returns with his selections for the Eredivisie for Saturday games and like all his tips, you will not see a ‘best bet’ under evens – good luck!

Saturday 1st March

PEC ZWOLLE vs. NEC NIJMEGEN (17:45 GMT)

Ron Jans’ Zwolle braces himself today for the visit of a NEC Nijmegen fighting for Eredivisie survival. The Nijmegen side sit 17th even thought they have only been defeated twice in 2014.

Indeed in the eight games so far in 2014, Anton Janssen has lead his side to three wins and three draws with losses coming to Eredivisie heavyweights Feyenoord (5-1) and PSV (2-0) and this is why I am backing them to grab a vital point in Zwolle this evening.

Zwolle sit in eighth place desperate to hold onto a Europa League playoff place but after holding league leaders Ajax to a 1-1 draw three weeks ago, they fell 3-1 in Cambuur and had to grab a late equaliser to snatch a point last weekend at home to Heracles. Not the greatest performances and I see 13/5 offered at Bet365 for the draw our best bet of the day.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Draw (13/5 – Bet365)

ADO DEN HAAG vs. NAC BREDA (18:45 GMT)

NAC Breda travel to Den Haag this evening knowing that they are not out of the relegation quagmire as of yet. Although they sit in 10th spot they are only five points from the drop zone.

ADO are 15th, one place above the dreaded three bottom spots and his is due to really struggling to find the net as of late only scoring seven goals in the last six games and not notching in three of those matches.

NAC also have only scored seven in six games and I see our best bet for these two to struggle in front of goal again today. Bet365 are offering 11/10 for Under 2.5 Goals and this is a price too good to miss for this game I see being the borefest of the weekend.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Under 2.5 Goals (11/10 – Bet365)

GO AHEAD EAGLES vs. PSV (18:45 GMT)

Phillip Cocu takes his PSV side to Deventer tonight to face Go Ahead in search of their fifth consecutive win with still a glimmer of hope of finishing second in the Eredivisie to qualify for Champions League football next term.

Once again, I look at goals in this game and although PSV are improving they are missing a vital player at the back today as Jeffrey Bruma will be missing in central defence. Nineteen-year-old Jorrit Hendrix will replace the former Chelsea man and I can see PSV conceding to the Eagles.

The Eagles, are just two points above the relegation places and they aim this season is to consolidate their top-flight position. Young midfielder Deniz Türüç pulls the strings in the Go Ahead attacks and he will need to be on form today if they hope to get anything against PSV.

Looking at the prices today, Over 3.5 Goals offered at 6/5 by Bet Victor looks to be the best bet in this match.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Over 3.5 Goals (6/5 – BetVictor)

VITESSE vs. RODA JC (19:45 GMT)

Jon Dahl Tomasson has a huge task ahead as his Roda side looked doomed, rock bottom of the league five points adrift of safety and unfortunately for the young Danish manager, I do not see it getting any better for him today.

Goals have been hard to find for Roda, with just three goals in the last seven games it is not looking good for the remainder of the season.

Vitesse suffered a blip at the start of the year but a great home win last week against RKC (3-1), with a weakened side, should give them some confidence. I cannot see Roda scoring today, but they cannot stop the talent of the young Chelsea lads – Christian Atsu, Lucas Piazón and Bertrand Traore.

Our best bet in this one is Vitesse to win but keep a clean sheet with is a massive 11/10 at Bet365.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Vitesse to win to nil (11/10 – Bet365)

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EREDIVISIE

Week 25 Eredivisie Report: Ruiz leads PSV to glory again

February 23, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

Usually when watching the Eredivisie, the writer does not have time to blink, but unbelievably on Saturday, only five goals were scored in the four games in the Dutch top flight.

Saturday 22nd February 2014

HEERENVEEN 0-0 NAC BREDA

A drab 0-0 draw is a rarity in the Eredivisie but at Abe Lenstra Stadion in Saturday’s opening game the 22,147 in attendance had not much to cheer about.

It was a pretty uneventful game apart from the electricity cutting out in the stadium shortly before half-time. The fans had a party with their mobile phones as their only source of light.

Minutes before NAC Breda had a really good penalty shout turned down by referee Eric Braamhaar. Anthony Lurling, facing his old club for the first time since his move to Heerenveen in the winter, clearly elbowed the ball as he tried to shield his face from an Anouar Hadouir free-kick. As Hadioir protested with Braamhaar, the referee waved the player away.

A draw that helps neither although Nebojša Gudelj will be happy with the point more than Marco van Basten. NAC sit in tenth just five points away from the relegation zone as sixth-placed Heerenveen are now four points adrift from PSV in fifth.

TEAMS

HEERENVEEN: Nordfeldt, Van Anholt, Marzo, Kruiswijk, Kum, Dijks, De Kamps, Lurling (Fazli 51), Van la Parra (Sinkgraven 83), Finnbogason, Basacikoglu.

SUBS NOT USED: Vandenbussche, Otigba, Raitala, Varga, Van Aken.

GOALS: None.

BOOKINGS: De Kamps 79.

NAC: Ten Rouwelaar, De Roover, Drost, Buijs, Van der Weg, Gilissen (Seuntjens 37), Matic, Verbeek (Swerts 77), Poepon, Tighadouini, Hadouir (Sarpong 58).

SUBS NOT USED: Babos, Kwakman, Hooi, Suk.

GOALS: None.

BOOKINGS: None.

SC CAMBUUR 1-0 RODA JC

In a game where both sides were desperate for all three points, it was a stoppage time goal from Paco van Moorsel that gave Cambuur a vital win, that saw Roda have two men shown red cards late in the match.

Poor finishing and great goalkeeping kept the scores at bay until late on but Mitchell Donald missed an easy chance early on. The ever-busy Guus Hupperts made a great run down the right wing and played in Donald at the back post and with the goalkeeper out of reach, Donald side footed his effort wide of the post.

Leonard Neinhuis pulled out great stops to halt the celebrations of Guy Ramos and Hupperts as in the Roda goal Filip Kurto denied Jody Lukoki and Erik Bakker’s effort before half-time.

The visitors are really struggling to score goals, notching twice in the last six games and unable to find the net in three consecutive matches now.

Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side were reduced to nine men in the space of just three minutes as Kees Lucijkx and Ramos were both booked for the second time by referee Bas Nijhuis.

The winning goal for Cambuur to take all three points came in virtually, the last kick of the game. After a long ball was headed down by Martijn Barto, Paco van Moorsel was in the right place at the right time to poke the ball home past Kurto.

The win takes Cambuur up to 12th while Tomasson is now under real pressure as this is his side’s fifth defeat in a row and remain rock bottom of the league, four points adrift from safety.

TEAMS

CAMBUUR: Nienhuis, Droste, Van der Laan, Bijker, Ritzmaier, Leeuwin, Van Brakel (Mulders 90), Bakker (Van Moorsel 67), Manu (Schepers 84), Lukoki, Barto.

SUBS NOT USED: Zeinstra, Van Boxel, Pereira, Dijkstra.

GOALS: Van Moorsel 90+2.

BOOKINGS: Manu 4.

RODA: Kurto, Ramos, Van Peppen, Luijckx, Donald, Paulissen (Hocher 77), Letschert, Sutchuin, Kali, Hupperts, Nemeth (Monteyne 89).

SUBS NOT USED: Prus, Bonevacia, Pluim, Shkurtaj, Jacobs.

GOALS: None.

BOOKINGS: Paulissen 22, Luijckx 29, Ramos 71.

SENT OFF: Luijckx 87, Ramos 89.

PEC ZWOLLE 1-1 HERACLES

Zwolle and Heracles shared a point after substitute Furdjel Narsingh netted a late equaliser for the hosts to send the IJsseldelta Stadion into raptures.

Bryan Linssen was unlucky not to give Heracles the lead on 20 minutes, once he spotted that Diederik Boer raced out to meet Mark Uth, the goalkeeper was out of position when Uth passed the ball into Linssen in the area. The in-form winger lashed a shot towards goal, but Joost Broerse got in front as the ball smashed the defender in the stomach. Boer raced back across the goal to stop Linssen rebound shot.

A few minutes later, Zwolle’s Mustafa Saymak was unlucky not to score as he shot from the right wing which was deflected off the top of Remko Pasveer’s crossbar.

After Heracles missed further attempts from Linssen and Iliass Bel Hassani they finally found the net through an unlikely source on 40 minutes. From a Bel Hassani corner, the unmarked Jeroen Veldmate simply headed towards goal and Saymak failed to stop the ball from passing into the net.

This was the defender’s first goal of the season but strangely enough, he nearly notched again with a similar attempt early in the second half but failed to get the header on target this time.

Zwolle pressed and pressed until but failed to breach Pasveer’s goal. The best effort was just before the hour mark when Thanasis Karagounis and Jesper Drost combined but the latter smashed his effort off the woodwork.

Four minutes into injury time the equaliser finally came to wave a sigh of relief over Ron Jans’ face on the touchline. Substitute Furdjel Narsingh delivered a cool and calm chip over Pasveer to keep Zwolle in eighth place in the standings as the Almelo side stay in 11th.

TEAMS

ZWOLLE: Boer, Van Hintum, Van der Werff, Broerse, Van Polen, Karagounis (Narsingh 66), Klich, Saymak, Drost, Mahmudov (Benson 39), Fernandez (Nijland 88).

SUBS NOT USED: Begois, Hiwat, Fennich, Fernandes Pereira.

GOALS: Narsingh 90.

BOOKINGS: Van Hintum 26, Saymak 62.

HERACLES: Pasveer, Veldmate, Te Wierik, Davidson, Schenkeveld, Cziommer (Bruns 77), Linssen, Bel Hassani (Quansah 90), Rienstra, Uth, Rosheuvel (Tannane 73).

SUBS NOT USED: Telgenkamp, Koenders, Belterman, Powel.

GOALS: Veldmate 40.

BOOKINGS: Davidson 24, Linssen 52, Te Wierik 79, Bel Hassani 89.

NEC NIJMEGEN 0-2 PSV

PSV are really starting to get their game together as they won their fourth in four games over a resilient NEC Nijmegen.

The visitors gave the Eindhoven some trouble but the majority of efforts were restricted to outside the area. On 12 minutes, Navarone Foor tested PSV’s Jeroen Zoet with a looping strike from 25 yards out but the goalkeeper, selected by Louis van Gaal in the Oranje squad this week, caught with ease.

As usual, PSV’s counter attack looked their best threat at scoring and the individual skill of the on-loan Bryan Ruiz was back, as he looked far happier on the ball here than in the Premier League with Fulham earlier this season.

The hosts should have been awarded a penalty just before the interval but referee Bjorn Kuipers missed Jeffrey Bruma pulling on Michael Higdon’s shirt. The Englishman was not happy as the Kuipers was virtually standing on top of the foul and had no excuse for missing it.

PSV improved and created more chances in the second half and went close on 50 minutes with a strong Oskar Hiljemark strike from long range, which needed a strong hand from fellow countryman Karl-Johan Johnsson to tip wide.

Bryan Ruiz got the goal he deserved on 58 minutes, again, after an excellent counter attack from Cocu’s men. After Higdon was robbed of the ball by Santiago Arias on the edge of the PSV box, the young Colombian carried the ball forward into the opposition’s half. Arias laid it off to the Costa Rican on the right wing, where Ruiz cut inside and smashed a low drive past Johnsson at his near post.

PSV finished the game off on 82 minutes with yet another Memphis Depay speculative effort from distance. The young winger set-up the shot perfectly from 25 yards out and his right footed attempt dipped perfectly past the Johnsson and under the bar.

Philip Cocu has now witnessed his team improved to four consecutive wins for the first time since December 2012.

TEAMS

NEC: Johnsson, Vermijl, Van Eijden, Nielsen, Conboy, Rieks, Koolwijk, Štefánik (Jantscher 65), Foor (Hemlein 84), Jahanbakhsh, Higdon.

SUBS NOT USED: Gentenaar, Haitz, Palsson, Mulder, Leiwakabessy.

GOALS: None.

BOOKINGS: Koolwijk 19, Higdon 41.

PSV: Zoet, Rekik, Bruma, Arias, Willems (Hendrix 83), Schaars, Hiljemark, Park, Depay, Ruiz, Locadia (Matavz 72).

SUBS NOT USED: Tyton, Jørgensen, Maher, Narsingh, Brenet.

GOALS: Ruiz 58, Depay 82.

BOOKINGS: Bruma 18.

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BETTING TIPS, EREDIVISIE, EREDIVISIE PREVIEW

EREDIVISIE WEEK 25 – SATURDAY PREVIEW & BETTING TIPS

February 22, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

Will Burns is back with his picks for the Eredivisie for this weekends games and like all his tips, you will not see a ‘best bet’ under evens – good luck!

Saturday 22nd February

HEERENVEEN vs. NAC BREDA (17:45 GMT)

NAC Breda gained an excellent home draw against title chasing Feyenoord last weekend as Heerenveen were on the end of a 3-0 defeat away to league leaders Ajax.

The hosts are forced in to make three changes with Hakim Ziyech, Marten de Roon and Joey van den Berg all suspended so Marco van Basten will look to Anthony Lurling, Daley Sinkgraven and Samir Fazli to fill in and gain all three points. Van Basten’s men home form is promising as in their last 9 games at the Abe Lenstra Stadion, only three sides have left with all three points, all in the top four – Feyenoord, Vitesse Arnhem and FC Twente.

However, Breda are in great form with two wins and two draws in their last four and will head to Heerenveen looking to improve their away record as they have only one win in their last nine games. The best bet for the day would be a great 2/1 at BetVictor for Rydell Poepon to score anytime. The striker is the designated penalty taker for NAC and Heerenveen are suspected in defence for discipline.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Rydell Poepon to score anytime (2/1 – BetVictor) – Click here to bet on this market and receive up to £25 in free bets.

SC CAMBUUR vs. RODA JC (18:45 GMT)

After a tremendous display last weekend against PEC Zwolle with a 3-1 win and Jon Dahl Tomasson’s Roda still unable to find their feet, one cannot look past Cambuur picking up another three points on Saturday evening.

Tomasson is under great pressure at Roda since taking over after the winter break with only one win in six and after falling at home to fellow strugglers ADO Den Haag last weekend, I feel the Dane may feel more strain at the full-time whistle of this one.

If the hosts can get going like last weekend and exploded out of the blocks, I think we have to look at the best bet of Cambuur to be winning at half-time and full-time at 7/4 at BetVictor.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Cambuur HT/FT (7/4 – BetVictor) – Click here to bet on this market and receive up to £25 in free bets.

PEC ZWOLLE vs. HERACLES (18:45 GMT)

Ron Jans will looking to get his side back-on-track after last week’s slip up at Cambuur, Zwolle’s first defeat after a run of three wins in a row a draw against Ajax.

Heracles will looking to bounce back after a narrow 2-1 defeat at PSV last time round and will rely on the in-form Bryan Linssen if they are to get anything out the game. Zwolle have not kept a clean sheet since the 24th November last year in a 0-0 draw away to Groningen. That is a run of 12 games in which they have conceded at least one goal.

Linssen has seven goals in his last seven games and let’s see if he can make it eight in eight at a great 11/5 at Bet365.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Bryan Linssen to score anytime (11/5 – Bet365) – Click here to bet on this market and get up to £200 in free bets.

NEC NIJMEGEN vs. PSV (19:45 GMT)

Philip Cocu takes his PSV side to Nijmegen in Saturday’s night game with his club captain, Georginio Wijnaldum back from injury and could make an impact from the bench. Looking to get their season back on course, the Eindhoven side are on a three-game winning streak and they have not recorded four successive wins since late 2012.

NEC bullied RKC Waalwijk last weekend and came away with a great 3-1 away win but target man Michael Higdon, creating a lot of goals with headed knockdowns, will find it tough against PSV central duo Karim Rekik and Jeffrey Bruma, both good in the air.

NEC have no problem scoring with goals in their last ten games but I see PSV gaining their fourth win and winning clear, espeically if Wijnaldum is ready to go if brought on. PSV -1 is being offered at 8/5 at BetVictor so we need PSV to win by two clear goals to win the bet.

BURNS’ BEST BET: PSV -1 (8/5 – BetVictor) – Click here to bet on this market and receive up to £25 in free bets.

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EREDIVISIE

Week 23 Eredivisie Report: PSV stun Twente, Feyenoord hit five

February 9, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

A great day for Feyenoord, PSV and AJAX fans as FC Twente were felled by the Eindhoven side 3-2 to help Ajax out who could go seven points clear at the top with a win at PEC Zwolle. For Ronald Koeman’s men, it was a tremendous home performance smashing five past Anton Janssen’s NEC side.

Saturday 8th February 2014

PSV 3-2 FC TWENTE

FC Twente’s title hopes were stalled by a resurgent PSV side in a fantastic five-goal thriller on Saturday evening.

It was a dream start for PSV who exploded out the blocks and took the lead after just seven minutes. Colombian right-back Santiago Arias, a summer signing from Sporting Lisbon, bombed down the right-wing, cut inside the box, shrugged off Andreas Bjelland to fire past Nick Marsman in goal.

Both sides played with high-octane pressure all the way up the pitch and on 23 minutes, PSV broke through the Twente defence again. Memphis Depay whipped in a pin-point cross to meet the head of Jürgen Locadia who got in front of Bjelland to double the lead. The Eindhoven crowd was in raptures, and the feel good factor was back in the Philips Stadion.

The second goal fired some life into Twente who could possibly feel their title challenge slipping away. Just past the half-hour mark, Serbian playmaker Dušan Tadić, on-fire as of late with 9 goals and 11 assists this season, nearly reduced the deficit. He intercepted a ball in the final third of the pitch and skipped the challenge of Jorrit Hendrix and smashed a shot from 25 yards that rattled Jeroen Zoet’s crossbar.

The back and forth action returned in PSV’s favour with a decent chance for Depay on 37 minutes. Breaking on the counter has become a specialty for the young PSV side and from a Twente corner, Depay found himself through on goal, but the winger saw his effort creep wide.

Robbert Schilder’s quick throw-in lead them to getting a goal back on 40 minutes. High up the pitch, Schilder caught the PSV defence asleep as the ball was thrown into Quincy Promes’s path and holding off Jeffrey Bruma’s attention, Promes blasted the ball past Zoet for 2-1.

After the break, even though they still had the lead PSV did not sit-back and searched for a third and in the 52nd minute they had the goal. Left-back Jetro Willems scored the goal of the night, emerging from the left-wing with the ball and finely curling a low shot from the edge of the area past the scrambling Marsman that had misjudged the shot.

The scoring was not finished and nor were Twente as we saw the fifth and final goal on 68 minutes. PSV failed to clear a corner and Kyle Ebecilio took advantage a prod home. The two goal conceded by PSV today will the type of errors that Phillip Cocu and Guus Hiddink will want to cut out in future games.

Twente pressed hard to level the game but to no avail and in the final stages of the games, the Phillips Stadion maybe said goodbye to Tim Matavz, whose rumoured €8m transfer to Rubin Kazan could happen sometime this week.

The Eindhoven crowd were jubilant and it was a great win for Cocu’s side that took them to fifth in the Eredivisie standings with Heerenveen (6th) still to play in Sunday’s games.

TEAMS

PSV: Zoet, Arias, Bruma, Hendrix, Willems, Park, Hiljemark, Schaars, Depay, Ruiz (Narsingh 82), Locadia (Matavz 90).

SUBS NOT USED: Tyton, Zanka Jorgensen, Maher, Jozefzoon, Brenet.

GOALS: Arias 7, Locadia 23, Willems 52

BOOKINGS: None.

FC TWENTE: Marsman, Rosales, Bengtsson, Bjelland, Schilder, Promes, Ebecilio, Gutiérrez, Mokhtar, Tadić, Castaignos.

SUBS NOT USED: Stevens, Koppers, Djurdjevic, Martina, Eghan, Tapia, Børven.

GOALS: Promes 40, Ebecilio 68.

BOOKINGS: Rosales.

NAC BREDA 2-0 RODA JC

NAC Breda jumped up to ninth placed with a 2-0 home win over Roda, who slip back into the bottom three.

It was an even game but Roda failed to make their chances into goals and it was NAC that nearly broke the deadlock just before the hour mark. Mats Seuntjens lofted a perfect ball over the top of the Roda defenders, and the onrushing Rydell Poepon stretched out for the ball but his effort scraped past the post.

NAC finally gained the lead on 73 minutes through substitute Adnane Tighadouini. Poepon knocked the ball down into Tighadouini’s path, who avoided Timo Letschert’s challenge to fire home.

The game was killed off two minutes before full-time by Stipe Perica. Also a substitute, the Croatian chased a ball down the right-wing in a tussle with the emerging Roda goalkeeper Filip Kurto. Perica won the race and got the ball before the ‘keeper and slid the ball home into the empty net.

TEAMS

NAC: Ten Rouwelaar, De Roover, Drost, Buijs, Van der Weg, Seuntjens (Perica 73), Suk, Matic, Verbeek, Poepon (Swerts 82), Sarpong (Tighadouini 65).

SUBS NOT USED: Babos, Hooi, Gommeren, Bodor.

GOALS: Tighadouini 73, Perica 87.

BOOKINGS: Seuntjens, Sarpong.

RODA: Kurto, Letschert, Luijckx, Biemans, Van Peppen, Hupperts, Donald, Sutchuin, Bonevacia, Jansen (Hocher 21), Pluim (Shkurtaj 90+1).

SUBS NOT USED: Prus, Ramos, De Beule, Paulissen, Jacobs.

GOALS: None.

BOOKINGS: None.

GO AHEAD EAGLES 2-1 AZ ALKMAAR

Dick Advocaat’s AZ side have been in good form winning defeating Groningen and Vitesse in the last seven days, but after a poor performance on Saturday, they fell to Go Ahead Eagles 2-1.

The Eagles took the lead with the goal of the day in the Eredivisie. Full-back Doke Schmidt found himself free to try a daring long-range shot from 40 yards out that gave Esteban no chance of stopping, hitting the post and into the net.

The 7,938 crowd inside the Adelaarshorst was loud and imposing as usual and AZ failed to get the ball down and play. Swedish striker Denni Avdić replaced the injured Aron Johansson up front and the 25 year-old failed to make an impact for Advocaat’s men.

The three points were clinched late on by a great counter attacking goal as AZ pressed for an equaliser. After a Stephan Andersen kick from the opposite end, Jeffrey Rijsdijk retrieved and dished out the ball to Jarchinio Antonia who was racing through on goal. The 23-year-old sidestepped Esteban and defender Jeffrey Gouweleeuw could not stop the effort on the line.

Roy Beerens notched a consolation goal for AZ, but it was a bad day at the office for the Alkmaar club.

TEAMS

GO AHEAD: Andersen, Schmidt, Vriends, Van der Linden, Schenk, Falkenburg, Overgoor, Türüç, Godee, Kolder (Rijsdijk 67), Houtkoop.

SUBS NOT USED: Ter Mate, Amevor, Antonia, Azevedo, Haps, Lambooij.

GOALS: Schmidt 35, Antonia 86.

BOOKINGS: None.

AZ: Esteban, Viergever, Reijnen, Gouweleeuw, Wuytens (Poulsen 73), Gudelj, Elm, Ortiz, Berghuis (Lewis 73), Beerens, Avdic.

SUBS NOT USED: Johansson, Gorter, Gudmundsson, De Winter, Henriksen.

GOALS: Beerens 90+4.

BOOKINGS: Avdic.

FEYENOORD 5-1 NEC NIJMEGEN

Ronald Koeman’s Feyenoord hit five past NEC as Jean-Paul Boëtius and Graziano Pellè ran riot all over Anton Janssen’s side.

The away side took the lead but should have had a goal earlier in the first minute if it were not for Feyenoord keeper Erwin Mulder. Michael Higdon, an aerial threat all game, knocked the ball down into the path of Christoph Hemlein. The German lashed a volley into the top corner but a strong palm from Mulder saved his side.

However, ten minutes later he could not stop another volleyed effort. Danish midfielder Søren Rieks opened the scoring after Higdon had again nodded the ball down into the Dane’s path and hit the first-time shot that looped over Mulder’s reach and into the goal.

Minutes later, John Goossens nearly scored the equaliser from a free-kick on the edge of the area but Karl-Johan Johnsson tipped the effort over.

The score was levelled up on 26 minutes after some great play from Boëtius. The winger played the lovely ball through to the overlapping Miquel Nelom on the left, the full-back swung a low cross into the back post where Lex Immers arrived to tap home.

Within nine minutes, Feyenoord has turned the game on its head with their second goal. Daryl Janmaat and Immers combined until the right-back found himself inside the area to pull the ball back from the byline to Graziano Pellè to make it two for the home side.

It should have been 3-1, on 39 minutes after the troublesome Boëtius pirouetted in the area and was subsequently brought down by NEC captain Ryan Koolwijk. Pellè stepped up but Johnsson saved with ease to the keep the score at 2-1 at half-time.

In the second-half, Koeman’s side ran riot. On 55 minutes, Jean-Paul Boëtius got a deserved goal tapping in an Immers cross at the back stick. Then the goal of the game came four minutes later.

Again, Nelom bombing down the left, crossed into the penalty at medium height. Italian hitman Pellè got in front of his marker Lasse Nielsen, and perfectly volleyed beyond Johnsson. A textbook goal that even gained the applause of the visiting fans.

He action was far from over as the visitors were awarded a penalty on 64 minutes after referee Reinold Wiedemeijer has adjudged Nelom fouled Hemlein in the area. This time, Rieks fired the ball into Mulder hands and the score stayed 4-1.

The final nail in the coffin for NEC came on 78 minutes and it was the impressive Boëtius grabbing his team’s fifth and his second after a great counter attack.

A great performance for Koeman’s side that moves ahead of Vitesse into third on goal difference.

TEAMS

FEYENOORD: Mulder, Janmaat, De Vrij, Kongolo, Nelom, Goossens (Bakkal 68), Immers, Vilhena, Pellè (Te Vrede 77), Boëtius, Schaken (Verhoek 82).

SUBS NOT USED: Graafland, Van Beek, Sleegers, Hardeveld.

GOALS: Immers 26, Pellè 35, 59, Boëtius 55, 78.

BOOKINGS: Janmaat, Boëtius.

NEC: Johnsson, Van Eijden, Conboy, Vermijl (Gravenberch 47), Nielsen, Koolwijk (Mulder 47), Foor, Rieks, Hemlein (Jahanbakhsh 75), Higdon, Jantscher.

SUBS NOT USED: Smits, Diarra, Leiwakabessy, Castillion.

GOALS: Rieks 11.

BOOKINGS: Van Eijden, Mulder.

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EREDIVISIE

Week 22 Eredivisie Report – Tuesday: Vitesse slump to AZ, Feyenoord press on

February 5, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

For the second round of games in a row, once again Vitesse failed to find the win that would have, albeit temporarily, took Peter Bosz’s side top of the Eredivisie. The Arnhem side tasted defeat for only the fourth time this season against Dick Advocaat’s AZ Alkmaar. Elsewhere, Feyenoord won to move four points within leaders Ajax and Heracles grabbed an emphatic but vital victory over ADO Den Haag.

Tuesday 4th February 2014

RODA JC 1-2 FEYENOORD

Ronald Koeman’s Feyenoord keep up with the leading pack in the Eredivisie on Tuesday night with a 2-1 away win to a plucky Roda JC side.

Feyenoord are now four points adrift of leaders Ajax, but the defending champions have a game in hand.

Lex Immers fired the away side in the lead with just 13 minutes gone. Roda defender Ard van Peppen failed to clear a Graziano Pellè chip into the box and Immers collected on the edge of area, stormed and finished with a low drive past Filip Kurto.

The visitors pressed for a second goal and just before half-time the game look done and dusted. Pellè and Immers again involved, with the Italian playing in Immers, whose shot was parried by Kurto into the path of Samuel Armenteros, who notched his first goal for the club.

After the interval, Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side looked a different team and attacked Feyenoord from the whistle but were unable to find a goal until the 76th minute. The ever-dangerous Arnaud Sutchuin surged into the area, but following him was Immers who stretched for the ball but brought the Cameroonian down. Moroccan midfielder Anouar Kali stepped up to convert and sent Erwin Mulder the other way.

Koeman dropped his team deep to save the three points and it worked a treat as the Rotterdam side held on and are now on 40 points.

RODA: Kurto, Monteyne, Luijckx, Biemans, Van Peppen (Ramos 89), Hupperts, Sutchuin, Donald, Kali, Jansen, Shkurtaj (Pluim 62).

SUBS NOT USED: Prus, Bonevacia, Hocher, Letschert, Jacobs.

GOALS: Kali 77P.

BOOKINGS: Kali, Hupperts.

FEYENOORD: Mulder, Janmaat, De Vrij, Kongolo, Martins Indi, Clasie, Immers, Vilhena, Armenteros (Goossens 79), Pellè, Boëtius.

SUBS NOT USED: Graafland, Verhoek, Bakkal, Nelom, Te Vrede, Van Beek.

GOALS: Immers 12, Armenteros 45.

BOOKINGS: Immers.

ADO DEN HAAG 0-3 HERACLES

ADO suffered their fifth loss in their last six outings which sent the Den Haag club to the bottom of the division and cost Maurice Steijn his job.

Steijn was sacked on Wednesday morning just a few hours after they suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat at home to Heracles. The visitors got off to a great start with the in-form Bryan Linssen put Heracles ahead in just two minutes. Mark Uth and Linssen combined in the area until the latter placed a shot home past Gino Coutinho.

It was then the turn of Mark Uth to notch after 34 minutes with a great header. Down the right-wing, Mikhail Rosheuvel whipped a ball into the front post and the striker, on-loan from Heerenveen, nipped ahead of his marker to nod past Coutinho.

Just before the hour mark the scoring was completed and it was Uth again on the scoresheet. Rosheuvel attacked down the middle while the ADO defender backed off, with Uth overlapping down the left. Rosheuvel played the striker in and he finished in style to make it 3-0 and confirm the three points for Heracles, and sent ADO crashing down to the bottom of the Eredivisie.

ADO: Coutinho, Malone, Beugelsdijk, Zuiverloon, Holla, Meijers, Van Haaren (Gouriye 47 (Kanon 85)), Alberg, Kramer, Van Duinen, Schet.

SUBS NOT USED: Zwinkels, Wormgoor, Gehrt, Bakker, Cabral.

GOALS: None.

BOOKINGS: Alberg.

HERACLES: Pasveer, Te Wierik, Schenkeveld, Veldmate, Davidson, Rienstra, Cziommer (Bruns 79), Bel Hassani, Rosheuvel, Uth (Amoah 85), Linssen (Van Dijk 51).

SUBS NOT USED: Telgenkamp, Tannane, Belterman, Powel.

GOALS: Linssen 2, Uth 34, 57.

BOOKINGS: None.

VITESSE 0-2 AZ ALKMAAR

Second-placed Vitesse Arnhem missed the chance to move ahead of Ajax temporarily after losing only their fourth game of the season to Dick Advocaat’s AZ Alkmaar.

AZ played Dortmund-like, high up the pitch with relentless immediate pressure from the kick-off. Pressing Vitesse in their own half, AZ kept possession well and were nearly a goal up after ten minutes. The hosts failed to clear a free-kick from the right and the ball fell perfectly for Roy Beerans from 35-yards out who hit the ball first time, Vitesse goalkeeper Piet Velthuizen scrambled across the goal to tip wide.

On twenty minutes, AZ found themselves in front with the unfortunate Patrick van Aanholt scoring an own goal. Beerens forced himself forward with the ball and laid the ball to the left to Aron Johansson. Johansson cut in and smashed the ball across the goal-line and Van Aanholt, trying to cut the ball from reaching Steven Berghuis, and unfortunately the Chelsea man fired the ball into the net.

Vitesse instantly picked themselves up and went for an equaliser, but each time they attacked they left gaps at the back and a horrible defensive mix-up lead to the second goal. Just before half-time, Aron Johansson notched one of the easiest goals of his career.

A long clearance up field from Jan Wuytens sent Johansson jumping for the ball deep into the Vitesse half with defenders Guram Kashia and Jan-Arie van der Heijden. The Vitesse pairing clashed together and the American international was left to calmly chip the ball over Velthuizen to make it 2-0.

After the break, Alkmaar determinedly protected their lead and kept all three points. This now makes Vitesse challenge for their first ever Eredivisie championship a huge challenge to overcome, especially if leaders Ajax can extend their lead against FC Groningen on Thursday evening.

VITESSE: Velthuizen, Leerdam, Kashia, Van den Heijden, Van Aanholt, Pröpper, Vejinovic (Traore 46), Atsu (Qazaishvili 81), Ibarra, Havenaar, Piazón (Labyad 46).

SUBS NOT USED: Room, Mori, Van der Struijk, Djurdjevic.

GOALS: None.

BOOKINGS: Leerdam.

AZ: Esteban, Reijnen, Gouweleeuw, Wuytens, Viergever, Gudelj, Elm, Ortiz, Beerens, Jóhannsson (Avdic 46), Berghuis (Gudmundsson 74).

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

GOALS: Van Aanholt 20OG, Jóhannsson 42.

BOOKINGS: Elm, Gudmundsson.

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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.

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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)

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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.

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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.

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KNVB CUP

KNVB Beker Quarter-Finals Report – AZ advance

January 21, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

Tuesday 21st January

RODA JC 0-2 AZ ALKMAAR

Dick Advocaat’s men advance in a controversial game that saw Roda’s Krisztián Németh sent off for barging into the referee. The Hungarian international clashed with referee Serdar Gözübüyük after the official’s deemed that the Hungarian striker had dived in the box on 57 minutes.

Current KNVB Beker holders AZ took the lead in fortunate fashion, Roy Beerens whipped in a corner on 31 minutes and after Jan Wuytens flicked the ball towards goal, the effort bounced onto the arm of Bart Biemens and past goalkeeper Filip Kurto.

Jon Dahl Tomasson must have rallied the team up as they blasted out of the blocks at the start of the second half but before they could get back into the game, in the 57th minute, Németh was sent off. It was an insane act by the striker that did not help the cause.

After arguments between players and Németh was finally removed from the pitch, which lead to AZ doubled their advantage just a minute later. Viktor Elm flicked on a long ball from the defence into the path of Aron Johansson who calmly finished and sent AZ into the semi-finals.

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EREDIVISIE

25 EREDIVISIE STARS OF THE SEASON… SO FAR – PART 2

January 13, 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…

Once nicknamed ‘the Dutch Xavi’, Jordy Clasie is once again having a great season for Feyenoord. The tough tackling 22-year-old defensive midfielder is as useful defending his box, as well as attacking the oppositions. This season, Clasie has seen his role sitting a lot deeper and more restricted than other seasons, but still as effective.

Clasie has appeared in all but one game for Feyenoord this term, and created five goals but his strong point has been his interceptions and tackling. Averaging 3.1 successful tackles per game, the stats suggest that the midfielder has helped Feyenoord concede just 24 goals in 18 games in the Eredivisie this season.

As another season passes, another round of transfer rumours involving Clasie are sure to circle around, but he has no plans to move. Clasie was quoted stating “I’m not going to judge the guys who left, they had their reasons.

“I can only speak for myself and I’ve always thought it best to complete your football education where you’re the most comfortable – and Feyenoord is my place. Ever since I was a kid my aim was to become a professional here, to regularly play in front of full-houses at De Kuip. That dream has now come true, but it doesn’t mean it’s the end of the story.

“I want to make a name for myself at Feyenoord, help the club win things again. I’m under contract until 2015, so any move abroad is much further down the line as far I’m concerned.”

One of the hottest properties in Europe, Depay has become a key player for the very young and struggling PSV side this season, starting 17 league games and every European game on the left wing.

Oranje coach Louis van Gaal has recognised his talents and this season has saw the 19-year-old break onto the international scene winning three caps, and looks to have an outside chance of heading to Brazil in the Netherlands 23-man squad.

PSV need to pick up points and quick, Phillip Cocu’s side currently are 11 points adrift from leaders Ajax and Vitesse. With six goals and four assists, if his team-mates can follow his form they may move up the league instead of lingering into seventh, as they are right now.

The Icelandic goal-machine, Finnbogason has netted an incredible 17 goals in 15 appearances in a tremendous five months for the striker. A lethal finisher that he earned many admirers since moving from Lokeren in Belgium in August 2012, and in another amazing goalscoring stat, scored 41 in 48 total games for Heerenveen.

Under Marco van Basten this season, the Frisian club are currently located in fifth place in the Eredivisie standings and Finnbogason has to take the majority of the plaudits. His finishing has been irresistible, scoring his 17 goals out 69 total shots with a massive 79% on target.

It is no surprise that Finnbogason is a wanted man across the European big leagues, with his magnificent goalscoring record a move will be in the future for the Icelander. Although, it will possibly have to wait until the summer as Finnbogason has stated he will not make any decisions on furthering his career abroad until this season is complete.

The Dutch central defender, that also finds himself at home in the holding role of the midfield, has been a revelation for the high-flying Vitesse Arnhem the past five months. While the goals have been banged in by Lucas Piazon, Peter Bosz can thank Van der Heijden at the other end with a huge 89 clearances in 17 games (an average of 5.2 per game).

Do not think because Bosz has selected Van der Heijden at the heart of defence all season, that those clearance stats suggest that the former Ajax youth player likes to boot the ball up the field. His short, simple accurate passing out of the defence, keeping the possession, provides even greater statistics. The ball-playing central defender that has an amazing 91.5% success rate, a total of 1166 passes have met his team-mates over his 17 appearances.

Due to his great footballing brain and concentration, Van der Heijden rarely makes a mistake and is a key cog in the Vitesse wheel, especially if they are to clinch their inaugural Eredivisie championship.

Even though Roda linger just above the relegation places, right-winger Hupperts, has become the ‘diamond in the rough’ this season. The 21-year-old has really shined, finding goals against top-half sides, FC Twente and Heerenveen.

In October, Hupperts led the struggling Kerkrade side to a great 2-1 win over PSV. Bombing down the right-wing, Hupperts gave PSV full-back Jetro Willems a torrid time and while standing at 6ft tall, also winning aerial duels over the Oranje international.

These impressive showings will see possible see Hupperts move at the end of the season, with Ajax being strongly linked with the player.

JOIN US TOMORROW FOR PART THREE

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NEWS

Tomasson unveiled as new Roda boss

January 3, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

Today, Roda JC unveiled former Danish international striker Jon Dahl Tomasson as their new head coach.

The club’s official website announced this morning that the 37-year-old signs a contract until the summer of 2017. Tomasson leaves Eerste Divisie side Excelsior, where he had been assistant coach for two years before becoming head coach last July.

The ambitious Dane replaces Ruud Brood, dismissed last month after a poor run of results that has left the club in 15th spot, collecting 18 points in as many games.

So heading into the second half of the season Tomasson faces a tough relegation fight with the Kerkrade club, just three points off the bottom of the Eredivisie standings. His battle begins with a trip to Heerenveen on January 18th, whilst his first duty will be to strengthen his new squad in the transfer window.

A GLITTERING CAREER ON THE PITCH

Tomasson had a glittering career spanned over the course of 15 years, which ended in the Dutch league.

He began at his hometown club of Køge BK in 1992, helping them win consecutive promotions and his talents caught the eye of then Heerenveen manager Foppe de Haan. As an 18-year-old he captured a spot in the De Haan’s first team and scored a total of 37 goals in 78 appearances over three seasons.

After being named ‘Dutch Football Talent of the Year’ in 1996 he moved onto England but due to the lack of physical strength needed for the Premier League, he experienced a disappointing year with Newcastle United.

Tomasson returned to the Netherlands with Feyenoord and the move resulted in four successful campaigns for the Scandinavian. Under the tutelage of Leo Beenhakker, the Rotterdam side claimed an Eredivisie league championship in 1998/99. With Bert van Marwijk leading Tomasson to an UEFA Cup in 2001/02 which was Feyenoord’s first continental trophy in 26 years.

In the summer of 2002, Tomasson’s contract with Feyenoord was expiring, and he agreed a move on a free transfer to Serie A giants AC Milan. Three seasons in Italy saw the Dane playing his part winning a Serie A title and the Coppa Italia for the Rossoneri during his time in the San Siro.

Spells in the Bundesliga and Spain’s Primera Divison came next for the striker with Stuttgart and Villarreal before a return to the De Kuip. Despite experiencing many injuries restricting his amount of games, Tomasson still managed an impressive 20 goals in 37 league games to conclude his career.

With over 112 appearances for his country, Tomasson became Denmark’s all-time joint top goalscorer after he netted 52 goals.

After hanging up his boots, Tomasson moved into the training ground, initially as the assistant to head coach John Lammers at Excelsior. Leon Vlemmings took over the next summer as Tomasson supported the new manager at the Eerste Divisie outfit until the Dane found himself appointed as head coach last June.

Excelsior, with low finishes in the last few seasons, now sit in seventh place in the Eerste Divisie under Tomasson’s command. Roda have been quick to acknowledge Tomasson’s potential as a coach.

Roda are in major need of boost after experiencing no wins in their last seven Eredivisie games. Tomasson has admitted that he will look to play an attacking style and will most likely pin point 24-year-old Hungarian striker Krisztián Németh, a former Liverpool youth player, as a player to support.

Already shown signs that he can be a success as a manager, if Tomasson can turn Roda around, then the Kerkrade side could well be the springboard to have a magnificent career in the dugout, like the one he enjoyed on the field.