Every week in the 2018/19 season, Football-Oranje’s Michael Statham gives you his predictions and betting tips for each Dutch Eredivisie round. Michael competes against a different special guest each week. This time, it’s the voice of Dutch football in the United Kingdom, Jonathan Beck. Jonathan is the voiceover for Eredivisie highlights shows in the UK and commentates on Eredivisie games on a regular basis for IMG Media.
- by Michael Statham
- Follow Michael on Twitter @EredivisieMike
Friday 31st August
Emmen v De Graafschap
Michael’s prediction: So far, I think Emmen look the weakest of the three that came from the Eerste Divisie but it’s still early days. I think de Graafschap’s forward players are more dangerous (such as Daryl van Mieghem and Fabian Serrarens) and will prove particularly so on the counter-attack on Friday. 1-2 | Tip: De Graafschap double chance.
Jonathan’s prediction: The first meeting of two newly promoted sides is a tough one to call. Both picked up surprise wins on the opening weekend but have lost both matches since – although Emmen won’t be the only ones to struggle against AZ and Ajax this season. There were 11 goals over the two games between these two last season but I think this one will be tighter. 1-1
Saturday 1st September
VVV-Venlo v Heerenveen
Michael’s prediction: VVV’s new signings already look to be settling into the team and are back to last season’s ‘tough to beat’ attitude. I have not been impressed with Heerenveen’s defending so far, there are some very average players in that back-line and eight goals conceded in three matches suggests VVV have a good opportunity here. 2-1 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
Jonathan’s prediction: VVV looked much better going forward in the 2nd half of their game with Utrecht, although noone expected them to get a point there. I’d expect Heerenveen to bounce back from their defeat to Feyenoord though and have too much of an attacking threat for the home side. 0-2
Excelsior v ADO Den Haag
Michael’s prediction: It’s astonishing how Excelsior seem to get consistent performances every week considering they have yet again lost important players over the summer and have hired their physio as the new manager – not that I ever wrote them off anyway. A difficult test for ADO; I expect a close contest. 1-1 | Tip: Both teams to score.
Jonathan’s prediction: The arrivals of Giovanni Troupee and Tomas Necid are both intelligent signings for ADO and, on paper at least, they should solve two problem positions. Excelsior struggled at home last season and I’m tipping Fons Groenendijk to get one over on his old side with Excelsior’s strikers not yet up and running. 1-2
PSV v Willem II
Michael’s prediction: I would expect PSV to win easily here but they must be wary of Willem II on the counter-attack with Fran Sol, Donis Avdijaj and Aras Ozbiliz on form – as I alluded to last week before the Tilburgers’ attackers were influentual in a 5-0 win. The visitors could surprise but I think PSV will get enough opportunities to win as Willem II have attacking full-backs who may be caught out and their midfield three won’t be able to contain PSV’s midfield movement. 4-2 | Tip: Over 3.5 goals.
Jonathan’s prediction: Willem II’s front three will give plenty of sides problems this season, but beating PSV 5-0 two seasons in a row isn’t going to happen. Even if they did shock Heracles with that score last week. Reaching the Champions League group stage in style should give PSV a real boost despite the extra miles in their legs. 3-1
Fortuna Sittard v Utrecht
Michael’s prediction: A tricky home match for Fortuna, but if Utrecht suffer an off-day away from home (as we saw many times last season), I would heavily fancy Sittard to win. They have a good squad, but I have questions over Utrecht’s team selection so far this season, they need a target-man up front to link the play but have so far benched both Simon Makienok and Lukas Gortler. This really could go either way. 1-2 | Tip: Both score no draw.
Jonathan’s prediction: On paper this appears an easy away win. But in their opening home game Fortuna pushed PSV all the way, and if Mark van Bommel thinks they’ll be one of the surprises of the season, who am I to argue? After dropping points at home to VVV though I expect Utrecht to get all three here. 1-2
Sunday 2nd September
Groningen v PEC Zwolle
Michael’s prediction: Groningen put their unrest in the squad to bed by beating De Graafschap last weekend. Meanwhile, PEC are yet to earn a point despite a narrow 1-2 defeat to PSV in their previous game. These are two teams that I thought would succeed this year; though it’s still very early, I think a win for either side here will kick-start their season. 1-1 | Tip: Both teams to score.
Jonathan’s prediction: Just 3 games into his reign Danny Buijs has had disciplinary problems to deal with but he’ll hope shipping out Tom van Weert quickly to Aalborg in a swap for Jannik Pohl has nipped it in the bud. The question is can they score enough? Zwolle will be glad to see the back of August after 3 straight defeats but they were unlucky against PSV and I think they might sneak this one. 0-1
Vitesse v Ajax
Michael’s prediction: How will Ajax respond to qualifying for the Champions League group stages? A magnificent display again from Ajax in Europe but we’ve seen twice already this season that they haven’t quite performed in the league. They’ll be favourites to win every Eredivisie match this season but Vitesse are in a good place right now. Leonid Slutsky is having a great impact in Arnhem where he’s developing a strong defence, working on dangerous set-pieces and getting the best out of Bryan Linssen in attack. A tough one to call. 2-2 | Tip: Vitesse double chance.
Watch Michael’s interviews (by clicking on their names) from last weekend with Vitesse’s Jake Clarke-Salter and Ajax’s Frenkie de Jong.
Jonathan’s prediction: Tough to call this one. Leonid Slutsky’s men had enough chances to beat AZ but finishing let them down. Ajax managed to lose home and away to Vitesse last season but look better prepared this time around. Torn between a narrow Ajax win or a draw, but am going for the latter. 2-2
Heracles v AZ
Michael’s prediction: I watched AZ in Alkmaar last weekend and thought they were a little disappointing. However, I think they’ll get a few goals here against Heracles, who were dreadful in their 5-0 defeat at Willem II. 1-3 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
Jonathan’s prediction: Winning on natural grass has been tricky for Heracles over the last year but back on home (artificial) turf they’ll be keen to erase memories of the 5-0 loss to Willem II. I think AZ should have too much for them though, and can’t see them drawing a blank for 2 games in a row. 1-3
Feyenoord v NAC Breda
Michael’s prediction: NAC are missing a few quality players across the pitch to give greater defensive security and more spark in attack. The goalkeeper situation though is arguably their biggest issue, as they have a low quality selection of keepers. Feyenoord will win this. 4-0 | Tip: Feyenoord -1.5 Asian handicap.
Jonathan’s prediction: I think it’s going to be a tough season for NAC Breda and Feyenood could easily repeat what AZ did to them on the opening day. Last season’s league double over the reigning champions was an amazing achievement and went a long way towards keeping them up, but I’d expect this to be much more one-sided. 4-0
How has Michael done so far?
Week 1: 4 results and 1 correct score | 6/9 betting tips won (WON versus author Ferdi Delies [2 results])
Week 2: 5 results | 2/9 betting tips won (LOST versus writer Alex Dieker [6 results])
Week 3: 3 results and 1 correct score | 4/9 betting tips won (DRAW versus author Abdul Al Sayed [4 results])
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Writer/interviewer/YouTuber for Football-Oranje. Massive Dutch football fan from the UK. Follow me @EredivisieMike & subscribe to Football-Oranje on YouTube.
