Every week in the 2019/20 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 week, it’s Maarten Elst, who is a journalist for BN De Stem.

  • by Michael Statham
  • Follow Michael on Twitter @EredivisieMike
  • Follow Maarten on Twitter @elstmaarsten

Friday, 20th December

RKC Waalwijk v FC Twente

Michael’s prediction: No win in five (including an embarrassing cup defeat in midweek) sees Twente falling to only four points above the drop zone. At the start of the season, I was so optimistic about Javi Garcia’s side – and I was right – until a lack of wins over the past couple of months. RKC will be desperate for a win before the upcoming winter break to give them confidence of avoiding bottom spot. The home side have scored at least once in each of their last nine games; I think they’ll get the win they crave. 2-1 | Tip: Both teams to score.

Maarten’s prediction: FC Twente aren’t currently in form. Bottom of the league RKC Waalwijk are an ideal opponent to get back to winning ways, although I think the home side are ready to fight one more time during this calendar year. Against FC Twente, it won’t be a top notch game, but we’ll definitely see two teams fighting for the victory. 1-1

Saturday, 21st December

Heerenveen v Heracles Almelo

Michael’s prediction: For me, this is won or lost by Heerenveen’s front three, who have developed as a trio throughout the season to be important in winning balanced games. Against Willem II, they couldn’t engineer the space to create clear cut opportunities. Heracles will be most dangerous on the counter-attack. 1-1 | Tip: Both teams to score.

Maarten’s prediction: I’m still waiting for Doan Van Hau, the Vietnamese left back, to make his debut for sc Heerenveen. I have heard and read a lot about this young player, he could be the missing link on the left side in the strong Frisian defence with Van Rhijn, Dresevic and Botman (last one also a player with high potential). On the other hand, Cyriel Dessers is on fire! Tim Gilissen, technical director of Heracles Almelo, did an excellent job for swapping Dalmau with Dessers from FC Utrecht. I reckon Dessers will score, but sc Heerenveen to win. 2-1

PSV v PEC ZwolleDelayed airing on Premier Sports 2

Michael’s prediction: Mark van Bommel had to go. Two wins in 12 is not PSV standard, and matters have hardly improved since Ernest Faber took temporary charge for an extra-time cup win over amateurs GVVV. Still though, this should be an easy enough win for PSV, but probably far from convincing. 2-0 | Tip: Home win.

Maarten’s prediction: PSV will react after the sacking of head coach Mark van Bommel this week. PEC Zwolle are the best opponent who PSV could possibly get right now. PEC will be cannon fodder in Eindhoven, despite the bad form PSV are currently in. 3-0

Sparta Rotterdam v AZ Alkmaar

Michael’s prediction: Sparta have failed to score in their previous four matches. It’s a disappointing turn of results for the Rotterdammers – they were scoring for fun in the early weeks. I still think Sparta’s best players are their strikers. AZ, meanwhile, have had an outstanding first half to the season, emerging as true title challengers after going level on points with Ajax last Sunday. Myron Boadu’s last-minute goal was enough to beat the reigning champions. The centre-back injury mini crisis seemed to have been forgotten when midfielder Jordy Clasie stepped up in the absence of Ron Vlaar and Pantelis Hatzidiakos; but Clasie, due to suspension, is now unavailable too! I don’t see that causing many issues though for AZ, who may turn to Teun Koopmeiners to fill a gap. 1-3 | Tip: Boadu to score at any time.

Maarten’s prediction: This should be another day at the office for AZ. Fun fact: the last time AZ lost in Rotterdam against Sparta was on the 3rd of March in 1985. The current Sparta coach Henk Fraser played 90 minutes during that game. Afterwards, AZ didn’t lose for the next 15 games and it’ll be 16 games without a loss in a row at Het Kasteel. Easy win for AZ. 0-3

Willem II v Fortuna Sittard

Michael’s prediction: Surely here you can only back a home win. The hosts sit third and are playing exceptionally well as a team, whilst Fortuna seem to only ever win at home! 2-0 | Tip: Home win.

Maarten’s prediction: The party ain’t over yet in Tilburg. Willem II is in the right form with the Greek players Vangelis Pavlidis and Marious Vrousai. But the main man is the Belgian Mike Trésor Ndayishimiye (yes, I googled that). I watched the central midfield player during the game versus FC Twente, I’m still puzzled that NEC let their star player go on loan to Willem II. Fortuna Sittard will continue their win-loss-win-series against Willem II. After the victory last week against RKC Waalwijk, I think they will just come short against the number three of the Eredivisie. 1-0

Sunday, 15th December

Ajax v ADO Den HaagDelayed airing on Premier Sports 2

Michael’s prediction: Ajax feel as though they’re down to bare bones, whether that’s in terms of their squad injuries, goal creativity or their current game mentality. All that said, it would take one catastrophic performance to drop points against ADO. 2-0 | Tip: Ajax team goals +1.5.

Maarten’s prediction: After 33 victories and three draws at home, the series of unbeaten games at the Johan Cruijff ArenA was suddenly stopped by Willem II (0-2). Yes, Ajax have lost three games in a row, but no, I don’t think it’s a crisis in the capital city. Even without Quincy Promes, David Neres and Zakaria Labyad, Ajax should be strong enough to beat ADO Den Haag easily. The opponents do have a lot more trouble with the manager leaving, sacking of the technical director and some internal fights. 2-0

FC Groningen v FC Emmen

Michael’s prediction: Things were looking up for Groningen fans before a five match winless streak. Now they face an Emmen team who have the sixth best home record but the tied-worst away record. Groningen are generally quite a hard team to beat but they lack match-winners in games like this one. They don’t have a defined style of play either so cannot use a target man or a pacey forward’s best attributes. It could be a bore draw or Groningen edge it. 0-0 | Tip: Under 2.5 goals.

Maarten’s prediction: FC Emmen surprised FC Groningen last year with two victories. Another three points would be welcomed by Emmen head coach Dick Lukkien, who’s doing yet again a great job. The Peruvian player Sergio Peña is an amazing player for a team in the position of the away team. I’m surprised that no other European team picked him up before he arrived at FC Emmen as a free agent. Groningen are in desperate need of three points, which I don’t think they’ll get against FC Emmen. 1-1

FC Utrecht v FeyenoordDelayed airing on Premier Sports 2

Michael’s prediction: At one point this season, Dutch football fans may have chosen to avoid this fixture, given the lacklustre play from both teams. But not now! From somewhere, Utrecht have found a renewed energy and players such as Bart Ramselaar look rejuvenated; Feyenoord blew away PSV and have Kenneth Vermeer back from injury. I hope we see the best from both teams. I personally feel as though Feyenoord will come away from Utrecht the happier of the two sides. 1-2 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.

Maarten’s prediction: This is a game to look forward to. FC Utrecht and Feyenoord seem both to be back on track after a weak period. Feyenoord coach Dick Advocaat hasn’t lost a league game since he took over from Jaap Stam. I think Utrecht has a stronger side with players like Adam Maher, Bart Ramselaar and the experienced Willem Janssen and Sean Klaiber. They also have a quality young prospect in goal. A really hard game to predict, but I think FC Utrecht will win in the end. 2-1

Vitesse Arnhem v VVV-Venlo

Michael’s prediction: Since Leonid Slutsky stepped down as Vitesse boss, some key players have confirmed their futures lie elsewhere other than Arnhem. This may cause some unrest towards the end of the campaign, but for now, Vitesse are trundling along with some decent results and some disappointing ones keeping them out of European contention, for now. Three clean sheets in a row is positive though and there should be another one on the cards here too. 2-0 | Tip: Vitesse Asian handicap -1.5.

Maarten’s prediction: I haven’t seen a full game of Vitesse with Joseph Oosting as their head coach yet, but I’ve read about them. It’s all about the form of goalkeeper Remko Pasveer, isn’t it? One week he has a stinker, but a week later he could save every ball he wants. VVV-Venlo will have a hard second half of the season, kicking off at Vitesse. They won’t add another point to the three points in total they have managed to get after 8 away games. 2-0

How has Michael done so far?

Week 1: 2 results + 5/9 correct betting tips | Lost versus Derby County goalkeeper Kelle Roos [6 results]

Week 2: 5 results + 3/9 betting tips | Lost versus Football Manager head researcher Jeroen Thijssen [5 results & 1 correct score]

Week 3: 4 results & 1 correct score + 5/9 betting tips | Won versus ED journalist and PSV-watcher Rik Elfrink [4 results]

Week 4: **2 results & 1 correct score + 4/6 betting tips | Lost versus ED journalist Chris Ottens [**3 results] **reduced schedule of only 6 matches

Week 5: 4 results + 6/9 betting tips | Won versus commentator Phil Blacker [3 results & 1 correct score]

Week 6: 6 results & 1 correct score + 7/9 betting tips | Lost versus EiF founder & journalist Marc Gerschwind [8 results & 2 correct scores]

Week 7: 5 results & 1 correct score + 5/9 betting tips | Won versus commentator Jonathan Beck [4 results]

Week 8: 5 results + 5/9 betting tips | Lost versus commentator Paul Thomas Clay [6 results & 1 correct score]

Week 9: 6 results & 1 correct score + 4/9 betting tips | Won versus “Eredivisie Out of Context’s” Yorin Schrader [5 results]

Week 10: 2 results + 2/9 betting tips | Lost versus Eredivisie scout Xander Wilkinson [3 results]

Week 11: 5 results and 1 correct score + 6/9 betting tips | Lost versus VVV-Venlo midfielder Lee Cattermole [6 results and 2 correct scores]

Week 12: 5 results and 1 correct score + 5/9 betting tips | Won versus football graphic designer Joeri Gosens [4 results and 1 correct score]

Week 13: 6 results + 6/9 betting tips | Won versus betting tipster MegaFootyTips [5 results and 1 correct score]

Week 14: 3 results and 1 correct score + 5/9 (+ one void) betting tips | Lost versus betting tipster Crypto [5 results and 3 correct scores]

Week 15: 5 results and 1 correct score + 5/9 betting tips | Won versus author Abdul Al Sayed [5 results]

Week 16: 5 results + 4/9 betting tips | Won versus tactical analyst Thom Bleijerveld [4 results and 1 correct score]

Week 17: 4 results and 1 correct score + 4/8 & 1 void betting tips | Lost versus Groningen podcaster Maarten Siepel [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.