I don’t have a girlfriend so something has to fill the void and recently it’s been the Dutch Eredivisie. It’s a relationship that started through watching the odd game and I fully committed through managing FC Twente…on Football Manager.
The Eredivisie isn’t a hidden gem in European Football as the league is well known with the likes of Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord and in recent years Steve McClaren’s former employers FC Twente. Ajax’s performances in The Champions League didn’t go unnoticed either with the likes of Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen shining bright.
If we let UEFA cast the vote on the standard of the league then we look upwards to the co-efficient rankings. The rankings are determined over a four year period depending on how your countries clubs fare in European competition. They were 6th and 4th for their performances in the 10/11 and 11/12 seasons but this year has been disappointing to leave them 8th overall, a bit of a way behind Ukraine in 7th.
The Holland national squad itself is a big indication to the talent of the league although on an initial look the squad is made up mostly of players who have now moved on like Tim Krul, Johnny Heitinga, Gregory Van Der Wiel, Rafael Van Der Vaart, Ibrahim Afellay and Robin Van Persie but all have been youth products of Ajax, Feyenoord, ADO Den Haag and PSV.
What is it about the league that stands out? Well, you know when you play as Holland on FIFA the defenders seem to not have an overall stat higher than 80, but the midfielders/attackers are on 85-92? If you watch the Eredivisie you’ll understand how those stats are formed.
It’s the league that entertains with goals as attacking football is the staple diet and therefore where many attacking midfielders and strikers make a name for themselves. The basic style of play seems to be about countering your opponents as games are normally quite open.
PSV are the shining lights of this currently as Dick Advocaat’s side have scored 78 goals in 24 league games thanks to a plethora of attacking options in Tim Matavz, Jermaine Lens, Dries Mertens, Lars Narsingh and George Wijnaldum. The magnificent five have scored 50 goals with Wijnaldum and Mertens scoring 13 and 12 each with the Belgian Mertens adding 13 assists too, the highest in the Eredivise.
Jermaine Lens has been a standout player with nine goals and nine assists in 24 games but has also shone in the Oranje of Netherlands leading to 4 goals in his last five appearances. PSV paid just 6.4million euros to AZ Alkmaar for his signature and in return they’ve got 30 goals over three seasons at the Philips Stadion.
Mark Van Bommel is the immovable object of the team in centre midfield and he’s joined by always linked to Manchester United star Kevin Strootman. Another bargain from within the league as PSV paid Utrecht 7.5 million euros for his signature and at 23 looks set to more than double that price tag if he is to move abroad.
Ajax will always be the main team in Holland with their history and the talent at The Amsterdam Arena is still coming. However, it’s coming from next neighbours over Denmark. Normally you wouldn’t really converse with those except either side of your house but Ajax have done well from the Danes.
Christian Eriksen, formerly a youth player from Odense but did go through two years of Ajax youth system before his break into the first team, is the current big name star at the club. However, he has rejected the opportunity to talk about a new contract meaning speculation over where his future may lie. He’s only 21 and from the centre of midfield has contributed seven goals, automatically attracting the senses of scouts and managers.
Another Danish player has caught my eye though in Viktor Fischer. When seeing his first two senior goals for Ajax on his league debut versus PEC Zwolle, I couldn’t believe that he was 18. It wasn’t that he has a beard and wrinkles but the style and nature of the goals. He plays with a sense of calm but with that youthful confidence that he quite rightly owns.
FC Twente is the side I’ve been paying most attention too and like others it’s the midfield that shines through. Dusan Tadic and Nacer Chadli, from Serbia and Belgium respectively, provide the spark in the side along with 23 year old Leroy Fer who should be well known by Premier League followers. Fer nearly clinched a deal to join Everton in the January transfer window but due to a problem with his medical the move fell through.
They also have some good talent breaking through like 20 year old striker Luc Castiagnos who has eight goals in 24 appearances. A lot of pressure is on the young man but he has scored goals in the past in the Eredivisie with Feyenoord so time is on his side.
Feyenoord themselves have two young Dutch players coming through who you may have to keep an eye on, those being 18 year olds Jean Paul Boetius and Tonny Trindade De Villhena. Boetius espically shone in the recent win v PSV as his threat down the wing caused constant problems as he played with great freedom. Their striking threat comes from 27 year old Italian Graziano Pelle, he has 18 in 20.
The main striker though currently in the league is Vitesse’s Wilfried Bony with an astonishing 22 goals in 21 games. Vitesse bought him from Sparta Prague for only 4 million euros in 2011 and are now 4th in the league challenging for the title. He is a strong striker that is good in the air and with the ball at his feet. Bony is only 24 and, like all decent talent in the league, looks set for a move away.
So the Eredivisie is blessed with lots of attacking talent to bring a great spectacle and as I mentioned before it is currently PSV who lead the way although only six points separate 1st and 5th.
With the capability of outscoring any opponents it does lean the tag of favourites in Dick Advocaat’s favour but after a defeat away at Feyenoord on Sunday, it showed that PSV don’t always get it their way.
Ajax is on their case but they couldn’t capitalise on this defeat by drawing 1-1 v ADO Den Haag thanks to a late equaliser from another Danish player Lasse Schone. Ajax has depth in their squad with Belgian Toby Alderweireld, Dutch players Danny Blind, Siem De Jong and Ryan Babel alongside Spanish winger Isaac Cuenca so a late charge is very possible.
Feyenoord are also in amongst the race being only three points off 1st and have an array of good young Dutch players hungry for success. FC Twente has the individuals if they can find form and 4th place Vitesse look short across other areas of the pitch to maintain a title push but top four is a real possibility.
The battle in the coming weeks for me will turn into a PSV v Ajax grudge and it’s literally the flick of a coin which could decide the title, along with plenty of goals. The open style of play reflects in the battle of the title but that’s the Eredivisie and that’s why I love it.
Suggested Twitter people to follow:
@football_oranje
@jouracule
@eredivisie_uk
Adam Johnson 