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 Bradley Dobson from AjaxDaily.com – the English source for news surrounding Ajax.

  • By Michael Statham
  • Follow Michael on Twitter @EredivisieMike
  • Follow Crypto on Twitter @FcCrypto
  • Follow Bradley on Twitter @dobsonnpl

Friday 29th September

Twente v Heracles

Michael’s prediction: Twente have the won their previous four home derbies, and could really tap into that form to get out of the bottom three.

The hosts have failed to score in half of their games so far but Heracles have conceded an average of almost two goals per game so far. Both teams to score would be my bet, and the spoils to be shared in a good contest. 1-1

Bradley’s prediction: After Vermeij’s 93rd minute winner against Roda, I think it will certainly lift the spirits in the Heracles camp knowing they’re up against a struggling Twente side. Despite their previous win 4-0 thumping over Utrecht, Twente just can’t seem to find the back of the net. 0-2

Crypto tip: Both teams to score.

Saturday 30th September

NAC Breda v ADO Den Haag

Michael’s prediction: It’s a ‘tricky third album’ as musicians would say. NAC have beaten Groningen and Feyenoord in their last two matches and now ADO, arguably the most beatable of the three, visit Breda.

For that reason, I’m backing ADO to bag another battling point here. Besides, they have been playing more to their strengths recently. 1-1

Bradley’s prediction: NAC, one of the teams to talk about last week beating Feyenoord at De Kuip. So they’ll be packing a load of confidence coming into this one. Den Haag have hit a good run of form with a previous draw against Ajax and 1-0 win over Sparta. I just see NAC edging this one. 2-1

Crypto tip: Double chance ADO

PSV v Willem II

Michael’s prediction: PSV took advantage of Feyenoord and Ajax defeats to move top of the Eredivisie. A win here would move them four points clear before table neighbours AZ and Feyenoord, plus Heerenveen and Ajax face each other the day after – a big opportunity then for PSV to stamp their early authority on the title race.

It would still be a big surprise for me if the Eindhoven side are still top of the tree come Christmas. The wholes were exposed at Heerenveen and on most other days Feyenoord would have comfortably beaten this current PSV.

The challenge is still great for visiting Willem II though, and they will try to suffocate the hosts. Locadia, Bergwijn and Lozano will bring the pace to break them down. 3-0

Bradley‘s prediction: After crushing Utrecht at the Galgenwaard 7-1 I see PSV going into this one full of confidence with another chance of running rapid against struggling Willem II. 4-0

Crypto tip: PSV -1.5 handicap

PEC Zwolle v Groningen
Michael’s prediction: PEC’s secretly impressive start to the season will be put to the test here – at home to Groningen – a game they’re now expected to win.
Groningen are still too up and down for me. I think Ernest Faber wants consistency but can’t get the reliable goal scorers nor the clean sheets on a regular basis. 2-1

Bradley‘s prediction: Both Zwolle and Groningen have been hit and miss thus far with both scoring minimal goals but also both conceding. I’m going for what could be a very stale draw. 1-1

Crypto tip: Over 2.5 goals

Excelsior v VVV-Venlo

Michael’s prediction: Two teams that are in mid-table at the moment, but will always be staring downwards as the season goes on. It won’t be a top quality contest but I expect VVV’s Vito van Crooij, a player of quality, to make the difference.
A stat that may surprise you – VVV have the tied best defence in the league. I think that’s been largely helped by goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall.
Picking a draw may be the easy way out, so I’ll tip VVV for an away win. 0-1

Bradley’s prediction: Excelsior are always that team to watch as when they show up – they show up. However, despite drawing their last three games, Venlo know where the net is. I can’t see either side keeping a clean sheet. 2-2

Crypto tip: Under 3 goals

Sunday 1st October

AZ v Feyenoord

Michael’s prediction: These two sides were two of the biggest let downs last weekend in my predictions – it lead to my worst ever week since starting these weekly articles over two years ago.

AZ were highly disappointing when they lost at home to Excelsior, but before then were exciting to watch and it didn’t surprise me that they couldn’t win a game they were expected to – in my opinion because of manager John van den Brom’s deficiencies.

Meanwhile, Feyenoord have lost four of their last five. So neither are on top form which shows both sides’ inconsistencies – thus a tough game to predict. I think it’ll be entertaining but scrappy, with the visitors to put recent results and injuries behind them and come out fighting. 1-2

Bradley’s prediction: Neither of these two sides have done anything this season to catch people’s attention. AZ fell at home to mid-table Excelsior 2-0 as well as Feyenoord crashing and burning at De Kuip 2-0 to NAC. 0-1

Crypto tip: Both teams to score

Vitesse v Utrecht

Michael’s prediction: A rollercoaster fortnight for the hosts, including dropped points to VVV, cup humiliation, beating Ajax and a tough night in France, ends with a tie with Utrecht – who are recovering from conceding 11 goals in two games, after previously boasting the best defence in the league.

Another tricky game to foresee, but possibly Utrecht will be out to please fans with a more resolute performance, which they have had longer to prepare for. Usually this would be a very watchable game, but I think it could end up scrappy. 0-0

Bradley’s prediction: Vitesse sank Ajax in Amsterdam last weekend and will be ready to take advantage of the disarray that Utrecht must be feeling coming off the back of a 7-1 home thumping to PSV. 2-0

Crypto tip: Vitesse win

Heerenveen v Ajax

Michael’s prediction: Wow, this will be tough for Ajax. I ran a poll last weekend asking for opinions on Marcel Keizer, and the majority voted that the manager has to go. Harsh, but games like this now look extremely tough for Ajax, when before the season started I would have backed the Europa League finalists to win away matches with ease due to the quality of their forwards.

However, at the moment, Heerenveen’s attackers look more dangerous and we’ve already seen how they can rise to the occasion against a top side when they steamrollered PSV. I’m not confident that Keizer has the tactical nous to oust the Frisian forwards.

I’m looking forward to an exciting game though, whoever wins. I’ll plump for an in form Heerenveen to steal the points. 2-1

Bradley’s prediction: Heerenveen, the only team in the Eredivisie who are yet to lose. Scoring an average of 2+ goals as well as seeing off PSV a couple of weeks back I can see Heerenveen hold Ajax to a draw, especially with Ajax’s dip in form this season. 1-1

Crypto tip: Ajax win

Sparta v Roda JC

Michael’s prediction: A weekend full of exciting games finishes with a bottom of the table encounter. Sparta have celebrated every point so far, in what’s going to be a tough season. Roda are yet to experience that feeling, but were hugely unfortunate to concede a last minute goal to Heracles (consequently ruining my prediction).

The visitors will bring a similar type of performance here. I’ll back them to achieve a draw this time. 1-1

Bradley’s prediction: Battle at the bottom here, I can see this been a very scrappy and lifeless game. Both teams struggling to score goals and both sides are leaking goals for fun. 0-0

Crypto tip: Sparta win

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: 55.56% & 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)




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.