Every week in the 2018/19 season, Football-Oranje’s Michael Statham gives you his predictions and betting tips for each Dutch Eredivisie round. Last weekend, Michael correctly predicted all of the weekend’s results. Michael competes against a different special guest each week. This time, it’s Xander Wilkinson, who is a scout based in the UK for an Eredivisie side.
Friday 8th March
Utrecht v Groningen
Michael’s prediction: Groningen are a totally different side entirely to the one we saw in Autumn – manager Danny Buijs was given time and could sign new players that he needed. Defensively, there are still errors though, and Utrecht’s 1-5 victory at Heracles was an overdue return to goalscoring form. Draw. 1-1 | Tip: Both teams to score.
Xander’s prediction: Utrecht struggled at the beginning of 2019, but they are unbeaten in their last 4, and against a side who’s recent away form isn’t great and they are not scoring many away from home. 2-0
Saturday 9th March
VVV-Venlo v Excelsior
Michael’s prediction: It’s five defeats in six for VVV. What’s going on? They haven’t played poorly, but also not to their maximum. Maurice Steijn is usually such a good motivator but I wonder whether mid-table comfort has got to players’ heads and the manager too. Away from home, Excelsior concede far too many opportunities though, and VVV are generally quite efficient with chances. 2-1 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
Xander’s prediction: Venlo have tailed off a little after a great start to the season, especially dropping points to sides around them in the table, and Excelsior have picked up a few results of late. Fancy a tight game to end even! 1-1
ADO Den Haag v Heerenveen
Michael’s prediction: I think that Heerenveen’s rejuvenated form will make this a difficult game for ADO. I’ve really enjoyed watching Sam Lammers, Michel Vlap and Mitchell van Bergen develop as an attacking force, along with new signing Dennis Johnsen. 1-2 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
Xander’s prediction: Heerenveen have the 3rd best away league record in the league, and every game they play in is guaranteed goals! Lammers and Vlap becoming a deadly duo going forward for them. 1-3
PSV v NAC Breda
Michael’s prediction: Let’s keep this brief: easy home win for PSV. Biggest shock of the season if not! 4-0 | Tip: PSV -1.5 Asian handicap.
Xander’s prediction: The gulf in quality is enormous. The league’s top side against the bottom club. Highest scorers against the worst defensive record. Can only see a big win for PSV! 5-0
Willem II v De Graafschap
Michael’s prediction: Willem II have been developing well as the season has worn on. Their defeat at Heerenveen last weekend was forgivable after reaching the Dutch Cup final, plus they’ve been hampered with defensive injuries, leading to a debut for centre-back Vincent van den Bogert, who showed his inexperience. I still think with Alexander Isak in attack showing his potential, that Willem II will have enough here. 2-0 | Tip: Home win.
Xander’s prediction: De Graafschap have only scored five on their travels in the league this season, and Willem II will be looking to carry on from their second half showing at Heerenveen and get back to winning ways! 2-0
Sunday 10th March
PEC Zwolle v AZ
Michael’s prediction: I was surprised with Jaap Stam’s decision to move to Feyenoord in the summer. OK, not 100% surprised, but I would have thought that Stam would have liked more time to establish himself in the Eredivisie with PEC Zwolle. A good start for him in Zwolle but has he truly proven himself yet? I think there will be some goals but AZ will earn a narrow win. 1-2 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
Xander’s prediction: Calvin Stengs form has been a huge plus for AZ, especially since the turn of the year, but Jaap Stam has got this Zwolle side believing in themselves again and making an impact. I fancy them to pick up a point at home in this one! 1-1
Emmen v Heracles
Michael’s prediction: Whenever Emmen have faced a top-half side this season, the quality difference has told. I wonder if seventh-placed Heracles will also possess too much quality on Sunday, despite often finding it especially difficult to play their football away from home. I’m backing Emmen to show the fight to earn a point. 1-1 | Tip: Both teams to score.
Xander’s prediction: At the moment you don’t know what Heracles side is going to turn up, their results are that inconsistent, but FC Emmen have really been poor in front of their home crowd. Going for a dull draw. 0-0
Vitesse v Feyenoord
Michael’s prediction: A very difficult game to predict. In short, Vitesse are a good quality team on their day that are working relatively hard for Leonid Slutsky at the moment, whilst Feyenoord sit a rather meek third, enduring some poor results away from home. That said, this season, Feyenoord have a better record against top-half teams than bottom-half teams, so it’s really anyone’s guess what happens on Sunday! So a draw is the result to pick. 1-1 | Tip: Vitesse double chance.
Xander’s prediction: Feyenoord have really been wobbly on the road, and with AZ breathing down their necks for that 3rd spot, I think they might have a tricky evening. Odegaard to be the key for Vitesse in a close victory for Vitesse. 1-0
Ajax v Fortuna Sittard
Michael’s prediction: What an outstanding result for Ajax and Dutch football as a whole in midweek! A 1-4 win in Madrid. The Amsterdam outfit were excellent! They need to take that energy into this game here though to continue their fight for the title. 5-0 | Tip: Ajax -1.5 Asian handicap.
Xander’s prediction: Huge difference in quality levels between the two sides, even if Ajax rotate a few players. Especially with the Amsterdammers playing at home, I fancy a comfortable victory for them. 4-0
How has Michael done so far?
Week 1: 4 results and 1 correct score | 6/9 betting tips won (WON versus author Ferdi Delies [2 results])
Week 2: 5 results | 2/9 betting tips won (LOST versus writer Alex Dieker [6 results])
Week 3: 3 results and 1 correct score | 4/9 betting tips won (DRAW versus author Abdul Al Sayed [4 results])
Week 4: 2 results | 5/9 betting tips won (LOST versus IMG UK’s Eredivisie Highlights Show expert Jonathan Beck [5 results and 2 correct scores])
Week 5: 4 results | 5/9 betting tips won (WON versus Notts County winger Enzio Boldewijn [3 results])
Week 6: 6 results and 2 correct scores | 7/9 betting tips won (WON versus Football-Oranje writer Charlie Pritchard [5 results and 1 correct score])
Week 7: 6 results and 2 correct scores | 7/9 betting tips won (WON versus Willem II graphic designer FootyGraphic [3 results])
Week 8: 6 results | 6/9 betting tips won (LOST versus commentator Paul Thomas Clay [7 results and 2 correct scores])
Week 9: 8 results and 4 correct scores | 7/9 betting tips won (WON versus Football Manager researcher Jeroen Thijssen [7 results and 1 correct score])
Week 10: 6 results and 3 correct scores | 5/9 betting tips won (WON versus PSV-watcher and Eindhovens Dagblad journalist Rik Elfrink [4 results and 1 correct score])
Week 11: 5 results* and 1 correct score | 4/8* betting tips won (WON versus secretary of England’s eighth division Matt Jones [4* results]) *=Feyenoord v VVV cancelled
Week 12: 6 results | 4/9 betting tips won (WON versus Sky Sports journalist Joshua Hayward [4 results])
Week 13: 5 results and 1 correct score | 6/9 betting tips won (LOST versus Northampton Town’s Dutch striker Kevin van Veen [6 results and 1 correct score])
Week 14: 4 results | 7/9 betting tips won (DRAW versus Football-Oranje.com editor Michael Bell [4 results])
Week 15: 5 results | 8/9 betting tips won (WON versus writer Alex Moretto)
Week 16: 5 results and 1 correct score | 5/9 betting tips won (WON versus Football-Oranje.com writer James Rowe [4 results])
Week 17: 5 results and 1 correct score | 5/9 betting tips won (WON versus ZiggoSport editor Joep Smeets [4 results and 1 correct score])
Week 18: 3 results | 6/9 betting tips won (LOST versus FC Utrecht e-Sporter Danny Hazebroek)
Week 19: 4 results and 1 correct score | 2/9 betting tips won (WON versus Football-Oranje.com writer Alex Royal [1 result])
Week 20: 5 results | 8/9 betting tips won (WON versus BN DeStem Voetbal journalist Maarten Elst [3 results])
Week 21: 4 results and 1 correct score | 4/9 betting tips won (DRAW versus Football-Oranje.com editor Michael Bell [5 results])
Week 22: 6 results and 1 correct score | 5/9 betting tips won (WON versus Dutch football tipster Crypto [4 results])
Week 23: 4 results | 5/9 betting tips won (LOST versus Football-Oranje.com writer Alex Royal [5 results])
Week 24: 8 results and 2 correct scores (+ Ajax v PEC Zwolle postponed) | 5/9 betting tips won (WON versus FC Groningen clubwatcher Merijn Slagter [7 results and 1 correct score])
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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.
