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 Joeri Gosens, who is a Social Media and Football Graphic Designer for companies such as Voetbal International, LiveWire Sport and Dutch Eredivisie club Willem II. You can visit Joeri’s website by clicking here.

  • by Michael Statham
  • Follow Michael on Twitter @EredivisieMike
  • Follow Joeri on Twitter @FootyGraphic

Saturday 29th September

Heerenveen v ADO Den Haag

Michael’s prediction: I want to moan once again about Heerenveen’s defensive organisation, or more the lack of it! It was very evident again in a 3-3 draw with Excelsior. ADO will be most dangerous from set-pieces here. 1-1 | Tip: Both teams to score.

Joeri’s prediction: In Heerenveen the new manager has failed to impress, battling against ADO Den Haag where the already well-performing El Khayati has managed to show his good play in a lot of goals as well, considering his spot on top of the top scorers list. 1-2

NAC Breda v PSV

Michael’s prediction: Despite acquiring manager Mitchell van der Gaag, usually excellent at getting the best out of lower quality players, NAC simply can’t compete with the teams they’re facing at the moment. PSV arrive in Breda having averaged four goals per game so far. It doesn’t take a genius to figure this one out. 1-4 | Tip: PSV -1.5 Asian handicap.

Joeri’s prediction: I feel NAC could quickly become the #1 relegation candidate. The new manager Mitchell van der Gaag hasn’t impressed yet and there doesn’t seem to be that many decent players in the side while PSV is on a full rampage, having shown multiple high-scoring results already even the win over Ajax (3-0). I feel an easy game for PSV that will hurt the fans of NAC for a while. 1-7

FootyGraphic’s Frenkie de Jong design.

Fortuna Sittard v Ajax

Michael’s prediction: I think that Fortuna will run Ajax really close here. Their attack will cause Ajax problems but the 4-4 draw with Willem II last weekend also shows there are too many defensive lapses to keep their illustrious visitors at bay. Ajax will also be keen to forget about their defeat to PSV – hopefully by playing Frenkie de Jong back in the midfield. 1-3 | Tip: Over 3.5 goals.

Joeri’s prediction: Even after the loss against PSV last weekend there is no doubt that Ajax have one of the best selections of the Eredivisie. I don’t feel they’re going to be in a lot of trouble in Sittard and that Fortuna Sittard are once again going to concede four goals this weekend. 1-4

 

Excelsior v VVV-Venlo

Michael’s prediction: I’m tempted to predict a draw here. VVV have had a very solid start to the campaign and will make life difficult for Excelsior here with some good physical players on the counter-attack. However, I’m backing Excelsior to get it right on the night and scrape a win their recent performances have deserved. 2-1 | Tip: Both teams to score.

Joeri’s prediction: A surprisingly good start to the season by VVV has them on 11 points already, while Excelsior have also enjoyed a solid start to the season. I don’t think it’s enough to stop VVV from grabbing their third win this season. 0-2

Sunday 30th September

Heracles v Emmen

Michael’s prediction: The goals just keep coming for Heracles. I’ve been impressed with the way they keep going in games to get the next goal – even if they are several goals up, like last Friday. Kristoffer Peterson is enjoying a fine purple patch, leading the top goalscorer charts in the Eredivisie with seven. I sense another win here for the home team. 3-0 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.

Joeri’s prediction: With 17 goals scored this season, only PSV is ahead of Heracles Almelo, a big contribution to this comes from top-scorer Peterson (shared with ADO’s El Khayati). The fact they can score so easily combined with the home advantage makes me feel they will win against new Eredivisie side FC Emmen. 3-1

Groningen v Utrecht

Michael’s prediction: Two teams who sit in the league’s bottom four, which is for me really surprising. Utrecht though, under new manager Dick Advocaat, looked solid in their defeat at Feyenoord and I think will now start to be on the way back up. I think they will sneak a win in Groningen, who may sink further into jeopardy. 1-2 | Tip: Both teams to score.

Joeri’s prediction: Both Groningen and Utrecht have had disappointing starts to the season, but I feel at Groningen there are the biggest problems. I don’t really see them changing this against Utrecht. 0-2

AZ v PEC Zwolle

Michael’s prediction: Even after a 3-1 win at Groningen last time out, I’m still not wholly convinced by AZ and I feel as though they’re still missing a midfield spark. Guus Til has not hit top form yet and Calvin Stengs is unfortunately taking longer than expected to return from injury. I am tempted to predict a sneaky draw for PEC but they’re missing a quality centre-back – they haven’t fully recovered from Dirk Marcellis’s surprise retirement. 3-1 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.

Joeri’s prediction: Another game in which I don’t expect too much surprise. AZ have had an okay start to the season but nothing special whereas PEC have had a lot of trouble scoring with only 5 goals so far. I don’t expect a lot of change in the away game in Alkmaar. 2-0

FootyGraphic’s Willem II design.

De Graafschap v Willem II

Michael’s prediction: Willem II will win here, for me. Fran Sol is back on fire and the midfield is finding its fluidity, especially Daniel Crowley. That will be enough to sweep away De Graafschap, who are really struggling to adapt to Eredivisie life. 1-2 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.

Joeri’s prediction: As a Willem II supporter I always hope to see my club win, with the top attack and good midfield we should be able to score against any team, however defensively we’ve turned out to be vulnerable at times. Given the low position of De Graafschap on the Eredivisie ranking I think 1-3 could well be the end result of this match and I’d be more than happy with that! 1-3

Feyenoord v Vitesse

Michael’s prediction: Vitesse may have had a great chance of a result in Rotterdam this Sunday, had they not been short at centre-back. Two regulars are out of action. Feyenoord will produce a similar performance to last weekend when they beat Utrecht 1-0. A little tighter than usual due to the strength of the opposition but quality should tell in the end. 2-1 | Tip: van Persie to score at any time.

Joeri’s prediction: The last game of this weekend, but I think from all the games this weekend these sides are the closest to each other which is why I expect a draw. Vitesse have already ended 3 games this season in a draw. I think for them a draw away against Feyenoord wouldn’t be a bad result to continue with. 1-1

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])

Week 4: 2 results | 5/9 betting tips won (LOST versus IMG UK’s Eredivisie Highlights Show expert Jonathan Beck [5 results and 2 correct scores])

Week 5: 4 results | 5/9 betting tips won (WON versus Notts County winger Enzio Boldewijn [3 results])

Week 6: 6 results and 2 correct scores | 7/9 (WON versus Football-Oranje writer Charlie Pritchard [5 results and 1 correct score]




Michael Statham (800 Posts)

Writer/interviewer/YouTuber for Football-Oranje. Massive Dutch football fan from the UK. Follow me @EredivisieMike & subscribe to Football-Oranje on YouTube.