Every week in the 2017/18 season, Football-Oranje writer Michael Statham offers you his predictions for each Eredivisie round, accompanied by betting tips from Betsmobil’s Dutch football tipster Crypto. Michael competes against a different special guest each week. This time, it’s James Rowe, who also writes and provides exclusive interviews for Football-Oranje.

Friday 24th November

AZ v Twente

Michael’s prediction: AZ needed a bit of luck to beat Roda last week, but on the whole looked good once again going forward. Wout Weghorst is also back after serving his suspension. His replacement, Fred Friday, once again looked incapable of filling the void and perhaps explains why AZ required that slice of fortune to win.

I thought Gertjan Verbeek’s introduction would have made Twente a more solid outfit – a 0-4 home defeat to Heerenveen proves I was wrong. It may take longer to get things right in Enschede.

I can see AZ dominating proceedings and creating plenty of opportunities. Twente will find it hard to get on the ball and even with it they struggle to play through teams. 2-0

James‘s prediction: I tip AZ Alkmaar to continue their fine form and they have been strong at home so far this season. They are on a great run of four consecutive Eredivisie victories and key players Gus Til and Wout Weghorst are becoming ever more decisive for them. FC Twente will be OK under Gertjan Verbeek in the long run. Last week’s defeat to SC Heerenveen and this game will just come to early for them. 2-0

Crypto Tip: AZ -1 Asian Handicap

Saturday 25th November

VVV-Venlo v Willem II

Michael’s prediction: VVV were so well defensively drilled in De Kuip. It’ll be a different game here, of course.

I think that Willem II will take a leaf out of ADO’s book. When ADO visited Venlo, they frustrated their hosts and took advantage of the chances that came their way, which won’t suit VVV. 1-1

James‘s prediction: I believe VVV Venlo will secure a home win here in De Koel. After picking up an unexpected point in De Kuip last weekend they will be full of confidence. Willem II are winless in their last 3 Eredivisie games and I can’t see them getting anything down in Venlo. 2-1

Crypto Tip: BTTS Yes

Groningen v Feyenoord

Michael’s prediction: The previous victory over Vitesse was a very welcome boost to Groningen and in particular under fire manager Ernest Faber who’s overseen a poor start to the season.

Next is Feyenoord, who are still spluttering through their campaign and look a far cry from the champions of May. Key figures are still missing but there have been so many issues throughout the side. Feyenoord should still beat the likes of ADO and VVV, with all due respect.

The midfield struggled to break through visiting Venlo last time out, but I wonder if this time they will fare better with more space to work in away from home. The previous occasion Feyenoord played away in the league, they created enough chances to beat ADO. We also saw the same kind of positive performance away at Manchester City on Tuesday.

With Groningen on a mini-high, I think this will be another tough afternoon for the Rotterdammers. That said, the display in Manchester was so much more positive. 1-2

James‘s prediction: FC Groningen will take heart from their 4-2 home win against Vitesse Arnhem last weekend and Feyenoord likewise v Man City in the Champions League. I just feel that Feyenoord must pick up a win for the first time in five games at some point and I tip that to be in Groningen this weekend. 1-2

Crypto Tip: BTTS Yes

Heracles v NAC Breda

Michael’s prediction: I thought Heracles were unfortunate not to take points in their last match at ADO. They hit the post at 1-1 but went on to lose 4-1 late in the game.

The Almelo side are a good team with plenty of technical talent. So I think they’ll find it easy to create chances here against NAC who are reeling from the 0-8 home drubbing to Ajax. 2-1

James‘s prediction: Heracles are relatively strong at home and are currently 11th in the Eredivisie. I just have a sneaky suspicion that NAC Breda will leave Almelo with a point, having been solid on the road with draws in Utrecht and Venlo recently. Despite the horror show last time out at home to Ajax I feel they will bounce back. Rai Vloet told me in a recent interview that Stijn Vreven has a winner’s mentality. He would have drummed that into them in training this week. 1-1

Crypto Tip: BTTS Yes

Heerenveen v PEC Zwolle

Michael’s prediction: Heerenveen are back amongst the goals but now face the second best defence in the league, which was bypassed in the final minute against PSV – a defeat the Zwolle outfit did not deserve.

PEC have kept clean sheets in their last three away from home though, and they’ll be difficult to beat again here. I think that their confidence will have been knocked by the late goal.

If Heerenveen continue to be clinical, I think they’ll gain at least a draw. 2-1

Jamess prediction: Although PEC Zwolle are in great form playing great football, I fancy SC Heerenveen to record a home win here. They beat FC Twente last time out at home 4-0 and will be full of confidence. PEC Zwolle were unlucky against PSV Eindhoven last weekend but I feel in Friesland they will come unstuck. 2-1

Crypto Tip: BTTS Yes

Sunday 26th November

Ajax v Roda JC

Michael’s prediction: Roda will be nervous travelling to Amsterdam this Sunday – Ajax are fresh from recording their biggest ever away victory.

How can Roda stop them? There will be a plan but at the end of the day, if Ajax perform like they did last weekend, the visitors will be powerless. 5-1

Jamess prediction: I will be attending this match on Sunday afternoon. I thought that Roda JC were really unlucky not to get at least a point against AZ Alkmaar last Sunday. I spoke to manager Robert Molenaar recently. He will have a plan to combat Ajax. I watched Ajax in a midweek friendly against Borussia Monchengladbach – they won 2-1 and all the first team squad played a part in the match at different points. They all look so comfortable with one another. 3-1

Crypto Tip: Ajax -2.75 Asian Handicap

Sparta v Utrecht

Michael’s prediction: Sparta manager Alex Pastoor has proven a few doubters wrong recently, myself included, by guiding his side to go four unbeaten.

Utrecht meanwhile look back to their best. Erik Ten Hag has turned around a poor run to win seven points out of nine, scoring eight goals along the way. That’ll make it a tough game for Sparta, but I think it will be close. 0-1

James‘s prediction: I am tipping FC Utrecht to win away in Rotterdam against Sparta. Their previous away win in Amsterdam against Ajax will further boost their confidence going in to away games and I feel they will be too strong for Sparta. Readers and listeners of Football-Oranje will know that I have never been completely convinced by Sparta under Alex Pastoor. They have drawn their last two Eredivisie games and I doubt that they will record a home in against a much stronger outfit. 0-2

Crypto Tip: Utrecht -0.25 Asian Handicap

Excelsior v PSV

Michael’s prediction: Excelsior are going well in the Eredivisie, sitting tenth, but do they have enough to really trouble PSV?

The reason why Phillip Cocu’s men are top of the table isn’t down to an outstanding defence, but instead the form of forward players – particularly Hirving Lozano.

It’s always in games like this where top teams do drop points sometimes – where you don’t expect them to do so. Also, even though it can be seen as a positive thing when title winners win on bad days, PSV were overrun in their last match with PEC Zwolle, and certainly did not deserve the victory. Some of the passing was atrocious.

I reckon Cocu will work on that during the week though and adjust the tactics for this one. 1-3

Jamess prediction: I believe that PSV will be too strong for Excelsior at Woudestein. Even though Excelsior have hit a bit of form with to wins in their last 3 Eredivisie matches, I tip Lozano and van Ginkel to put pay to Luigi Bruins and co in Rotterdam on Sunday. 1-3

Crypto Tip: 2nd half over 1.5 goals

Vitesse v ADO Den Haag

Michael’s prediction: Rather surprisingly, these sides sit only two points away from each other. Vitesse will want to increase that gap on Sunday, though, as they press for a top three place in a table that is looking very open.

Vitesse held the lead at Groningen last Sunday but ended up losing 4-2. The calamitous own goal didn’t help.

The mix of the home team having to play on Thursday and having to break a stubborn ADO Den Haag down I think will lead to a draw. 1-1

James‘s prediction: Although Vitesse Arnhem have been inconsistent I am tipping home advantage to see them over the line at home to ADO Den Haag. Vitesse Arnhem drew at home to PEC Zwolle last time out and they are due a home win. ADO Den Haag have done better than expected in my opinion so far this season and are currently 9th in the Eredivisie with three wins in their last six games. I just can’t see them taking all three points back to the Hague from Arnhem. 2-1

Crypto Tip: Over 2.5 goals

Agree/disagree with our predictions and betting tips? Did we win/lose you a fortune? Tweet us!

How have Michael & Crypto done so far?

Crypto’s running success – Hit Rate: 56% & Average Odds: 1.65

Week 1: Michael: 3 results // Crypto: 5W – 3L – 1V (versus PSV-watcher and journalist Rik Elfrink)

Week 2: Michael: 7 results, 2 correct scores // Crypto: 6W – 1L – 2V (versus commentator Paul Thomas Clay)

Week 3: Michael: 6 results, 1 correct score // Crypto: 5W – 2L – 2V (versus [Ajax Daily] writer Alex Moretto)

Week 4: Michael: 4 results, 1 correct score // Crypto: 6W – 2L – 1V (versus Sky journalist Joshua Hayward)

Week 5: Michael: 2 results, 1 correct score // Crypto: 5W – 4L – 0V (versus commentator Richard Connelly)

Week 6: Michael: 1 result // Crypto: 4W – 5L – 0V (versus Football Manager researcher Jeroen Thijssen)

Week 7: Michael: 5 results // Crypto: 6W – 3L – 0V (versus Ajax Daily’s Bradley Dobson)

Week 8: Michael: 3 results, 1 correct score // Crypto: 5W – 2L – 2V (versus journalist Sjors van Veen)

Week 9: Michael: 2 results // Crypto: 4W – 4L – 1V (versus engels-voetbal’s Ferdi Delies)

Week 10: Michael: 4 results, 2 correct scores // Crypto: W – L – V (versus Sheffield Wednesday defender Joost van Aken)

Week 11: Michael: 3 results // Crypto: N/A (versus Football-Oranje editor Michael Bell)

Week 12: Michael 3 results // Crypto: 7W – 1L – 1V (versus Opta Sports’ Bart Frouws)




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.