Every week in the 2017/18 season, Football-Oranje writer Michael Statham offers you his predictions for each Eredivisie round, accompanied by his betting tips. Michael competes against a different special guest each week. This time, it’s guitarist Hendrik Jan de Jong from alternative-rock band Nemesea. Check out their music linked in this article, and get excited as they plan to release “new material definitely this year”!

  • by Michael Statham
  • Follow Michael on Twitter @EredivisieMike
  • Follow Nemesea on Twitter @Nemesea

Saturday 10th February

Heracles v Willem II

Michael’s prediction: It was an abysmal showing from Heracles at NAC on Wednesday to lose 6-1. I worry for them in the long-term. There hasn’t been enough funds from player sales put back into the squad (perhaps because of the payback of their new stadium) which has told on the pitch throughout the season. There isn’t enough bite in midfield since Joey Pelupessy left for Sheffield Wednesday and Brandley Kuwas often feels like the only real threat in attack, with few others on the same quality level as him.

Willem II will come to Almelo to fight for points. A 3-0 win over VVV-Venlo midweek was their first of the new year. Heracles are far better at home, but I think will find it hard to win here. 2-2

HJ‘s prediction: 1-1

Tip: Both teams to score.

Utrecht v PEC Zwolle

Michael’s prediction: Even though Utrecht are unbeaten in five, there’s a bit of extra steam missing from the side ever since Erik Ten Hag departed for Ajax.

That’ll tell I think against PEC Zwolle. They have a bit of momentum again after beating Heerenveen 3-2 on Tuesday. Ryan Thomas was exceptional in going forward and keeping check of Real Madrid loanee Martin Odegaard.

I reckon it’ll be a real humdinger of a game, and PEC to steal all three points. 1-2

HJ‘s prediction: 3-2

Tip: PEC Zwolle double chance.

Sparta v PSV

Michael’s prediction: A last minute winner denied Sparta a good point in Utrecht mid-week, to build upon the win over Willem II at the weekend.

A five-man defence won’t keep out PSV though, despite looking bang average at times this season. Hirving Lozano and co will find too many opportunities against this Sparta side and the quality will tell. I do however think that PSV may struggle in upcoming away matches with Feyenoord, Willem II and AZ. 1-3

HJ‘s prediction: 1-5

Tip: Over 2.5 goals.

Heerenveen v Roda JC

Michael’s prediction: I think Heerenveen’s quality will shine through here and get them a home win. Roda tend to do better against the lower sides in the Eredivisie, teams they can battle against. They’ll sit in here and be defensive, but it won’t be enough. 3-1

HJ‘s prediction: 3-0

Tip: Both teams to score.

AZ v VVV-Venlo

Michael’s prediction: I can only criticise AZ of two things, which never seem to change: they miss too many good chances and they don’t manage games well enough to see out results.

They held off Twente well and in the end they buried four goals on Wednesday. A good night’s work. Now they will need to beat VVV to keep chase with Ajax and PSV. AZ have the creativity, but need to ensure they put away the goals. 3-1

HJ‘s prediction: 4-0

Tip: Over 2.5 goals.

Sunday 11th February

Ajax v Twente

Michael’s prediction: Ajax are unstoppable at the minute at home – they’ve won their last six in Amsterdam and have scored in every home league game in the last two years.

Twente will find it really difficult to get a result here, despite their recent improvement. They played well in their away game with PSV this season (4-3), but their defence just isn’t strong enough to contain Ajax for 90 minutes. 3-0

HJ‘s prediction: 3-0

Tip: Over 3 goals.

Vitesse v Feyenoord

Michael’s prediction: Vitesse boss Henk Fraser was adamant his side were creative in their defeat to ADO, and claimed they were unfortunate not to win. I’m not so sure. They only managed one shot on target.

Feyenoord responded to their poor defeat in Venlo with a comprehensive win over Groningen midweek. Robin van Persie is working his way back in and looks ready to flash his brilliance when required in a tight game, such as this one.

I think this has the potential to be a great game. Feyenoord will want to show further improvement after their last away game and I think that extra bit of quality will be important, especially with key defenders returning to full-fitness. 1-2

HJ‘s prediction: 2-2

Tip: Both teams to score.

Excelsior v NAC Breda

Michael’s prediction: Excelsior still don’t seem like dropping into the relegation picture at any point. They’re quite a consistent team who rarely go through good and poor patches of the season.

So unless they have a total off day, they should be able to get something against NAC Breda, who are a far-worse off team. Unless NAC can pull together another good performance like we saw against Heracles on Wednesday, they will struggle again. I think the visitors will get something here though. They will fight – and that’s key in the fight to stay up. 1-1

HJ‘s prediction: 2-0

Tip: NAC Breda double chance.

Groningen v ADO Den Haag

Michael’s prediction: Groningen have netted ten times in their last three at home, but come up against eighth-placed ADO who are a do or die team – they usually either win or lose – rarely do they play for the draw.

But I think both sides will go for it here. Groningen will see this as an important fixture to put distance between themselves and the relegation zone. That’s why it may end up all square. 1-1

HJ‘s prediction: 2-1

Tip: Both teams to score.

Check out Nemesea’s new single below:

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 from weeks 1 to 14 – Hit Rate: 60% & Average Odds: 1.70]

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: 3W – 6L – 0V (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)

Week 13: Michael: 7 results, 3 correct scores // Crypto: 6W – 3L – 0V (versus Football-Oranje writer James Rowe)

Week 14: Michael: 4 results // Crypto: 4W – 4L – 1V (versus Football-Oranje editor Michael Bell)

Week 15: Michael: 3 results // Crypto: N/A (versus Ajax Daily’s Bradley Dobson)

Week 16: Michael: 3 results // Crypto: N/A (versus Dutch football writer Alex Dieker)

Week 17: Michael: 5 results // Crypto: N/A (versus [Ajax Daily] writer Alex Moretto)

Week 18: Michael: 4 results, 2 correct scores (versus Piłka w Holandii writer Adam Sankowski)

Week 19: Michael: 3 results (versus Bristol City Women defender Danique Kerkdijk)

Week 20: Michael: 3 results (versus FC Groningen clubwatcher Merijn Slagter)

Week 21: Michael: 4 results (versus Total 14 Football Academy director Craig Hellier)

Week 22: Michael: 5 results (versus Football-Oranje writer James Rowe)




Michael Statham (802 Posts)

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