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 Jeroen Thijssen, who is Head Football Manager Researcher for the Netherlands.

  • by Michael Statham
  • Follow Michael on Twitter @EredivisieMike
  • Follow Jeroen on Twitter @FM_Nederland

 

Saturday 20th October

Excelsior v Vitesse

Michael’s prediction: Excelsior are only two points above the bottom three which would suggest they’ve had a poor start but they’re also three points off fifth place. That’s when you realise it’s still very early in the season. However, this will be a good match between two sides who I think are well-coached and are on the right path for good campaigns. Vitesse will carry greater threat, but I think Excelsior will get a point. 1-1 | Tip: Both teams to score.

Jeroen’s prediction: There’s definitely a difference in strength between the sides. Excelsior will be in the lower end of the league, while I think Vitesse are headed for a 4th or 5th place finish. Vitesse have “just” 12 points from 8 games, but losing to Ajax and PSV and drawing in Alkmaar and Heerenveen is hardly anything to be ashamed of. 1-2

PSV v Emmen

Michael’s prediction: It would take a very brave man or woman to predict anything other than a ninth straight league win for PSV. When Emmen played Ajax away, they were very comfortably brushed aside. 6-0 | Tip: PSV -2.5 Asian handicap.

Jeroen’s prediction: This should be an easy home win. PSV are in excellent form and have obtained 24 points from 8 games. I really can’t see an upset here. FC Emmen will have a difficult season, although I think they will not finish bottom. 3-0

Utrecht v AZ

Michael’s prediction: A very nice match awaits; Dick Advocaat faces one of his former employers. AZ are a little flat at the moment. I’m unsure about John van den Brom’s defensive selection to leave out his two recognised centre-backs, who are admittedly out-of-form, instead only to play his second choice right-back and a central midfielder there! Also, in attack, Bjorn Johnsen has looked out of his depth, which is a shame because I think he’s a good target-man but perhaps the quick style of AZ is not to his comforts. Utrecht could heap further misery on the visitors. 2-1 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.

Jeroen’s prediction: This is one of the more interesting match ups this weekend. Dick Advocaat should be the man to lead Utrecht back to European play-offs, whilst AZ will accomplish the same even if they will lose a few games here and there. They also come off a 5-0 beating by Ajax. Utrecht have won this 7 from the past 10 occasions and I do think they will book a small win again. 2-1

Heerenveen v Ajax

Michael’s prediction: Whatever Heerenveen’s form, they always do well against the ‘traditional top three’ sides PSV, Ajax and Feyenoord. I saw a stat this week that they have the best Eredivisie record over the last seven years against the top three sides. However, whilst this could be a close encounter, Ajax have been relentless recently in attack and have kept six clean sheets out of eight. 1-2 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.

Jeroen’s prediction: Easy picking for the Amsterdam side normally. They have won 7 out of the 9 last meetings in Heerenveen and drew the other too. With the team in peak condition, it could be a landslide win, but let’s keep the score relatively safe: 1-3

Sunday 21st October

NAC Breda v Willem II

Michael’s prediction: I’m not sure how many chances NAC are going to get over the course of the season to improve results. This could already be one of their last chances to turn their season around before confidence drops further and pressure is applied on relatively new manager Mitchell van der Gaag. The player quality though is quite simply not high enough for the Eredivisie. Meanwhile, Willem II have looked so much more dangerous this season and the form of Fran Sol always gives them a chance, regardless of opponent. 1-1 | Tip: Both teams to score.

Jeroen’s prediction: A match that can go every way. NAC have lost six straight and are in big trouble already. They will need some signings during the winter transfer period. I expect Willem II to finish in the top half. Or near the top half in the worst case scenario. The Breda side will need to clinch a few points here and there and this is one of those home games where with the fans backing them (as usual) a draw seems possible. 1-1

VVV-Venlo v ADO Den Haag

Michael’s prediction: Seventh plays eighth at this early stage but the difference comes in the goal conceded, ADO have conceded double the amount of VVV (18 to 9). In Venlo, I wonder how Maurice Steijn will play it. If his team are inferior in terms of quality, his side will sit back and contain ADO until a counter-attacking chance arises. VVV will certainly be comfortable with ADO’s aerial threat, particularly from set-pieces. I fancy a home win. 2-0 | Tip: VVV home win.

Jeroen’s prediction: This must always be a great match for Maurice Steijn. Both sides are performing reasonably well and sit in 7th and 8th place respectively. ADO have lost just once from the last seven meetings in Venlo, so that favours the away side. ADO have drawn their last two away games 1-1, and you know what – that seems like a result worth going for. 1-1

Feyenoord v PEC Zwolle

Michael’s prediction: Sunday matches in De Kuip are often comfortable affairs. Feyenoord will dominate possesion, largely keep PEC at arm’s length and the quality of the host’s strikers will shine through. 2-0 | Tip: van Persie to score [every time so far I’ve predicted RvP to score – he actually does!]

Jeroen’s prediction: Zwolle have only ever won once in De Kuip in the league, back in August 1987. Feyenoord have won 13 of 18 meetings and with Zwolle struggling – although gaining 7 points from the past three – they will find a result in Rotterdam too much to ask for. 2-0

Heracles v Groningen

Michael’s prediction: Heracles’s season came crashing down to Earth after a 4-0 drubbing at Vitesse a fortnight ago. I did mention in a recent Football-Oranje podcast that Heracles would soon play one of the league’s better teams and realise their ‘true’ level. Groningen, however, are not one of those anymore and currently sit in seventeenth. They have the quality to escape danger but they really have not impressed me in any match this season. 2-1 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.

Jeroen’s prediction: Team overachievers vs Team underperformers here. Sorry for Groningen, but this seems a no-brainer home win. 2-0

Fortuna Sittard v De Graafschap

Michael’s prediction: If the last meeting between two of the league’s newest sides (Emmen 3-3 Fortuna) is anything to go by, we’re in for another entertaining yet mistake-ridden treat! I think though that Fortuna are the clear favourites here. It’s a matter of time before they climb the table a little. Their strength lies in their forward players. 3-1 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.

Jeroen’s prediction: Interesting match between two of the three promoted sides. I have hope for Fortuna this season. They’re not great, but they do have a decent side. I think De Graafschap will be the team to finish last in the division. 2-0

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])

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 betting tips won (WON versus Football-Oranje writer Charlie Pritchard [5 results and 1 correct score])

Week 7: 6 results and 2 correct scores | 7/9 betting tips won (WON versus Willem II graphic designer FootyGraphic [3 results])

Week 8: 6 results | 6/9 betting tips won (LOST versus commentator Paul Thomas Clay [7 results and 2 correct scores])




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.