Weekly wrap up of the performances of Dutchmen in the English Premier League 2014/15 season. Week 13 edition.
- By Daniel Gutman
- Follow Daniel on Twitter
Despite being in the midst of a rash of injuries, the limited amount of healthy Dutch players plying their trade in the Premier League came together for a weekend of inspired performances. Robin van Persie, Leroy Fer, Daryl Janmaat, and Erik Pieters all featured on Saturday and all four played productive roles for their clubs, regardless of the result.
Daryl Janmaat and Newcastle had to travel to West Ham without injured goalkeeper Tim Krul, and the absence of the Netherlands #1 likely sealed Newcastle’s fate before the match even kicked off. The team’s cause was not helped by Moussa Sissoko’s second-half sending off, and the Magpies ended up defeated 1-0 at Upton Park. Daryl Janmaat made multiple key interceptions and tackles but was ultimately responsible for closing down Aaron Cresswell, which he failed to do. The West Ham left back ended up grabbing the winner in the beginning of the second half, costing Newcastle a point and keeping the club 2 points from an Europa League place.
Stoke defender Erik Pieters also suffered defeat on Saturday as the trek to Anfield ended in disappointment for the Potters. Liverpool won the match through a late Glen Johnson header, and despite Pieters being on Johnson’s flank, there was nothing the Dutch international could do to stop the goal. That notwithstanding, Pieters’ defensive brilliance kept most Liverpool attempts to charge down the right flank quiet and relatively harmless. He kept Henderson and Johnson in his back pocket for almost the entire 90 minutes, and it was only dumb luck that the man Pieters was tasked with marking was able to score at all.
On a happier note, Robin van Persie enjoyed his best game this season as he contributed a goal and an assist to Manchester United’s 3-0 victory over Hull City. First setting up Wayne Rooney’s late first half strike and then following it up with a goal of his own in the 66′, van Persie was only on the pitch for a few more minutes after his 4th goal of the season. Replaced by the returning Falcao, van Persie nonetheless had a profound impact on the match, and without him starting United would have likely either failed to get all three points or would’ve barely scraped together a victory. Van Persie’s off the ball movement was also quite good, and the 21-year-old got into space well when he was called upon to.
Finally, Leroy Fer scored QPR’s second goal in a 3-2 victory over fellow relegation candidates Leicester City. Fer was a monstrous presence in the air for the capitol club, and his aerial prowess coupled with skilled dribbling eventually resulted in him grabbing a goal on the stroke of half-time. The Dutch midfielder has been QPR’s standout player in a rather lackluster season, and he has rightfully attracted attention from some of the biggest teams in the world. Desipite his decision to go to QPR seeming odd in the summer, Fer has proved all his critics wrong with great outings match after match.
Follow
