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 Michiel Teeling, a commentator from the Netherlands for Fox Sports NL. You can hear his voice on Friday and Saturday as he commentates Roda v Heracles and NAC Breda v Feyenoord.
- by Michael Statham
- Follow Michael on Twitter @EredivisieMike
- Follow Michiel on Twitter @michielteeling
Friday 2nd March
Roda JC v Heracles
Michael’s prediction: Considering Heracles haven’t won away from home all season, Roda must pick up points here. Games against fellow relegation candidates Sparta and NAC Breda will follow, so Roda must put themselves in a good position. The picture of their campaign will be a lot clearer in three weeks’ time.
I feel like Roda won’t win simply because of the form of Heracles winger Brandley Kuwas. He has been electric recently. On the counter attack, I would fancy the Almelo side to pick off the hosts. This could be a first away win since April 2017. Be careful though, the last time I predicted Heracles to win away from home – they lost 6-1. 1-2
Michiel’s prediction: This will be really important for Roda. Heracles got 3 points by winning the game against PEC so they are almost safe, but for Roda this match at home is vital in their battle against relegation. My prediction is based on how poor Heracles’ away form is. 2-1
Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
Saturday 3rd March
PSV v Utrecht
Michael’s prediction: With Ajax dropping points at home to ADO and PSV beating Feyenoord away, PSV have regained their seven point lead at the top of the table. They have received criticism at times this season, but look to be the clear favourites as we head into the last nine matches of the campaign.
This is still an extremely difficult game to contend with. Utrecht are fourth in the Eredivisie and have a couple of star players who are playing well below their true level (Yassin Ayoub and Zakaria Labyad). If their best players can sparkle, PSV will face problems.
The stats back up their underrated ability. One defeat in sixteen games in the league and they’ve won their last four on the spin. However, earlier in the season you might remember that PSV smashed them 1-7 in their own stadium. Difficult to call, but with Steven Bergwijn, Luuk de Jong and Gastón Pereiro all stepping up their game in the absence of Hirving Lozano, PSV look stronger than previously. I’m going to call for an entertaining draw. 1-1
Michiel‘s prediction: FC Utrecht are still unbeaten with their new manager Jean Paul de Jong in charge but I think this streak will come to an end in Eindhoven. PSV played really solidly against Feyenoord and are almost faultless in their own stadium so my prediction is 2-0.
Tip: Both teams to score.
Excelsior v AZ
Michael’s prediction: Excelsior won’t be easy to beat and will enjoy playing AZ because of their similar styles of play. Mitchell van der Gaag has done a marvellous job with the Roetterdam outfit considering they have the smallest budget in the division.
AZ beat Sparta but yet again they needed SO MANY chances to win. 2-1 #azspa
AZ surely favourites for third place and the Dutch Cup. That would make a great season. Just a very good footballing side. @OnsAZAlkmaar— Michael Statham (@EredivisieMike) February 24, 2018
Alkmaar have been in great form but they have still struggled at times to put away their chances and see out games. Judging by the way they disposed of Twente to reach the Dutch Cup final on Tuesday though, AZ should win this match. 1-3
Michiel‘s prediction: I do like the way Excelsior play, but AZ are playing probably the best football in the Eredivisie. Last Wednesday, the cup game against FC Twente is a good example. If AZ play at the same level they will have an easy game: 1-3
Tip: Both teams to score.
Heerenveen v Willem II
Michael’s prediction: Heerenveen will play this game on the front foot from start to finish. Last time out they lost 0-1 to Excelsior, hitting the frame of the goal no less than three times in front of their own supporters.
Willem II have lost their last four away matches and scored only twice along the way. Confidence will be low but their recent win over fellow strugglers Roda has helped put a buffer between themselves and the bottom three. I don’t think they’ll be successful here though, they have been playing some extremely poor football. 2-1
Michiel‘s prediction: Both teams are struggling and like the match last weekend (Excelsior) this is a must win for Heerenveen and their manager Jurgen Streppel. Willem II needs the points as well in their fight to stay up so this will be a very interesting match. 2-1
Tip: Heerenveen draw no bet.
NAC Breda v Feyenoord
Michael’s prediction: NAC are fighting their way from the bottom three. Players like Manu Garcia help sprinkle a little quality into the team too.
Feyenoord are enduring an horrendous season, with only the Dutch Cup run brightening their campaign. The lack of fight they show in games at the moment is concerning for fans, with nine weeks still to go in the season. I am finding it hard to pick a winner, so I will go with a draw. 2-2
Michiel‘s prediction: NAC have played a couple of very strong home matches but the most recent one against AZ was a very disappointing one. NAC-Feyenoord is a special game for the NAC fans so Feyenoord will not have an easy game. 1-1
Tip: Both teams to score.
Sunday 4th March
PEC Zwolle v VVV-Venlo
Michael’s prediction: PEC Zwolle have now lost their last three fixtures and are not as confident as they once were. I hope they don’t drop down the standings now that their bubble seems to have burst.
They have struggled at home to ‘lesser’ sides all season though. VVV will make it difficult for the hosts’ midfielders to get going and Lennart Thy will bother the defence. A draw here, I think. 1-1
Michiel‘s prediction: PEC are having some problems this year and VVV are very dangerous in away games with their quick strikers and solid defenders. Could be a nice one for PEC to get back to winning ways. They very much need 3 points if they still have ambitions for European football. 2-0
Tip: VVV double chance.
Sparta v ADO Den Haag
Michael’s prediction: This represents a magnificent opportunity for Sparta to get some much needed points. They have deserved more from games since Dick Advocaat took over – and perhaps weren’t rewarded.
A bit of luck against a difficult ADO side, who kept a clean sheet against Ajax last time out, would be a great result, and would show how typical football can be at times when a mid-table team can lose to the bottom side instead of second place! 1-0
Michiel‘s prediction: Advocaat meeting his home town club. A must-win for Sparta at home but ADO showed Ajax last weekend that they can defend – to be honest ADO is favourite for this match. Last season this was the match where ADO won and played their way into safety. 1-2
Tip: Sparta double chance.
Vitesse v Ajax
Michael’s prediction: Vitesse have mounting problems: injuries, a departing manager and players that are not good enough for sub-top Eredivisie level. In my opinion, their goalkeeper Remko Pasveer and full-backs Lassana Faye and Fankaty Dabo have left Vitesse heavily exposed to concede goals. Their squad is young but needs to be better. The simple lack of fight from some players also shocks me. Henk Fraser is not getting the best out of his players.
Ajax didn’t play as poorly as people make out against ADO. It was 0-0, but Ajax were unlucky on several occasions not to score. Lady luck doesn’t seem to be on their side – not helped by teams that make it so difficult to for the Amsterdam side to play the football they want.
Erik Ten Hag needs to figure out a way for his young side to score earlier in games – a quicker start. They’ll get some space in Arnhem, but can Vitesse cause some problems down the other end? Not without all their missing players. 0-2
Michiel‘s prediction: If Ajax don’t win this match, they can kiss the title goodbye. Last weekend was the worst match Ajax played in 2018 and it cost them 2 points. Vitesse can be strong at home but played their best football at the beginning of the season. Hard to predict this one but I guess Ajax will win after a hard battle. 1-2
Tip: Ajax draw no bet.
Twente v Groningen
Michael’s prediction: Twente played a good first-half at Utrecht last weekend, but they crumbled in the second-half.
Groningen have gone seven games without a win and have been in poor form as a whole. Fans are crying out for the end of the season – you’ll realise why when you watch them.
I think Twente will win. They have been unfortunate at times. Groningen’s back-line will struggle to track the movement of Twente’s attacking midfielders. 3-1
My piece on FC Twente: their season so far and the club's recent decline.
Can they be saved?#Eredivisie #FCTwente #twespa @FCTwenteLatest @twentefans @TwenteOnline
⬇️https://t.co/bgy0xj5gTE— Michael Statham (@EredivisieMike) February 18, 2018
Michiel‘s prediction: Twente didn’t have a chance in Alkmaar in the cup game on Wednesday. But they must forget all that because this game is a big one. Groningen is playing far from brilliant so Twente must get 3 points. It will be very interesting to see how they will manage this game but my prediction is that Twente will win in the end. 2-1
Tip: Both teams to score.
Agree/disagree with our predictions and betting tips? Did we win/lose you a fortune? Tweet us!
How has Michael done so far?
[Crypto’s 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)
Week 23: Michael: 4 results (versus alternative-rock band Nemesea)
Week 24: Michael: 3 results, 1 correct score (versus Brentford winger Florian Jozefzoon)
Week 25: Michael: 3 results (versus football artist Barry Pirovano)
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Writer/interviewer/YouTuber for Football-Oranje. Massive Dutch football fan from the UK. Follow me @EredivisieMike & subscribe to Football-Oranje on YouTube.
