Every week in the 2019/20 season, Football-Oranje’s Michael Statham gives you his predictions and betting tips for each Dutch Eredivisie round. Michael competes against a different special guest each week. This week, it’s Xander Wilkinson, a first-team scout for an unnamed Eredivisie club.
Saturday, 19th October
RKC Waalwijk v Ajax – Delayed airing on Premier Sports 2
Michael’s prediction: If RKC get anything from this game, I’ll eat my hat! The two sides have almost identically opposite Eredivisie records so far; Ajax are by far the superior side. RKC will need to cut out mistakes so they can keep this match tight. Ultimately, the pace and trickery will tell by some margin. 0-4 | Tip: Ajax team goals +2.5.
Xander’s prediction: The team with the lowest amount of home points, against the team with the most amount of away points… I can’t see that trend changing either. I expect a very comfortable victory for the Amsterdam side. 0-3
AZ Alkmaar v Heerenveen
Michael’s prediction: You would think that an international break would offer an opportune rest to the overplayed AZ players that have performed excellently for the Alkmaar outfit so far this season. That wouldn’t be the case with many on duty for Netherlands’ U21s or other senior teams. This may well be the story of AZ’s Eredivisie campaign should they continue to play the same youngsters twice a week. I think this will be a narrow AZ win. A more compact Eredivisie unit may be able to frustrate AZ but Heerenveen are hardly known for their defensive prowess. 2-0 | Tip: Home win.
Xander’s prediction: AZ have only conceded one goal in home games this season, but only the top two have scored more away from home than sc Heerenveen. Jansen has massively addressed the defensive issues at Heerenveen from last season, but this is a big test of that! AZ having a big Europa league game on Thursday could potentially be in their thoughts. I’m going to go for a draw. 0-0
FC Twente v Willem II – Delayed airing on Premier Sports 2
Michael’s prediction: Twente have lost their last three games but will hope to use their home crowd to bounce back here. I think this will be a very even (and potentially exciting) game – which I don’t want to over-analyse – but Twente may edge this one. 2-1 | Tip: Both teams to score.
Xander’s prediction: Two sides sitting side by side in the table, and fairly evenly matched I feel. Both contain two of the league’s top scorers in early proceedings, and feel like they could cancel each other out. 1-1
FC Utrecht v PSV – Delayed airing on Premier Sports 2
Michael’s prediction: Usually, Utrecht would offer PSV a tough game (even though they haven’t beaten the Eindhoven side in De Galgenwaard since 2012). On the other hand, PSV’s attacking players are on scintillating form at the moment and hard to back against; Donyell Malen will have too much pace for the home side’s back-line. John van den Brom still needs a first-choice front three that can consistently trouble opponents, but he has certainly made steps with his new squad and settled a new back four and midfield trio. 1-3 | Tip: PSV team goals +1.5.
Xander’s prediction: Before the international break PSV were really flying, goals galore for them, but two clean sheets in their last eight fixtures. The loan signing of Justin Hoogma from Hoffenheim for Utrecht was a very clever move, but I don’t think they have enough quality to seriously trouble PSV in this one. I think they’ll score, but it will be a straight forward victory for PSV. 1-3
VVV-Venlo v Vitesse Arnhem
Michael’s prediction: I was impressed with how VVV kept PSV at bay for so long in Eindhoven. They’ll need a similarly compact midfield and back-line for the visit of in-form Vitesse. I think the Venlo side will deal better with Vitesse’s physical attacking players than most other Eredivisie sides; however, Vitesse are learning how to win away games such as this one. I think this will be a draw. 1-1 | Tip: VVV double chance.
Xander’s prediction: Venlo are leaking a lot of goals in the opening months of the season, a lot of costly individual errors giving away sloppy goals. They will want to bounce back after their last home game to sc Heerenveen when they lost the game in the opening 13 minutes, and they’ll want to see the back of 3 straight defeats with a positive result. Vitesse are looking fairly decent again, they’re coping ok with the loss of Odegaard back to Spain, and their overall squad quality is much higher than Venlo’s. I would expect them to carry on from winning their previous 3 matches with a victory in this one. 0-2
Sunday, 20th October
PEC Zwolle v ADO Den Haag
Michael’s prediction: Collectively, Zwolle (three) and ADO (four) have lost their last seven matches. I thought John Stegeman’s team had turned their form around and their attack finally clicked. I reckon PEC will turn the screw on Fons Groenendijk and win quite comfortably after a cagey first half. 2-0 | Tip: Home win.
Xander’s prediction: A big game for both sides lingering down the bottom end of the table. Zwolle have a better record of hitting the back of the net at home, and the introduction of Reza Ghoochannejhad could prove a smart piece of business. I’m just not overly convinced by this Den Haag side, and think Zwolle will come out on top. 2-1
FC Groningen v Sparta Rotterdam
Michael’s prediction: Groningen are slowly improving this season and I think they’ll make for a good game against Sparta who continue to impress with their fluid, attacking football. The club from the north have been struggling for goals ever since Ritsu Doan left for PSV and are yet to find their new ‘hero’ who can win a game in a tight situation. 2-2 | Tip: Both teams to score.
Xander’s prediction: Groningen are really lacking consistency this season in their performances, and results are showing. Sparta Rotterdam are an interesting side, Dervisoglu is an excellent talent and not surprised to see a club like Brentford have swooped in for him. Sparta have had a strong start to life back in the top flight, but defensively leaking too many goals. Close match yet again for me. 0-1
FC Emmen v Fortuna Sittard
Michael’s prediction: An important game at the bottom end of the table. Emmen are re-finding their feet still after heavy summer departures and Fortuna finally won their first game of the season last time out. Both sides will feel optimistic coming into this one, meaning it could produce plenty of goals. I was impressed with the manner Fortuna beat Feyenoord and if they can remain as well-drilled and sharp in attack, they could easily double their win-tally for the campaign. 1-2 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
Xander’s prediction: Another big battle down the bottom end. Sittard’s last fixture against Feyenoord when they picked up the 4-2 could be a catalyst to kick start their season. With new striker Bassala Sambou getting off the mark as well, could we start to slow see them climb a couple of places? All of Emmen’s seven points this season however have come in front of their own fans. I could see an argument for all outcomes in this one, but think that it could end level. 1-1
Feyenoord v Heracles Almelo – Delayed airing on Premier Sports 2
Michael’s prediction: Feyenoord have been so topsy-turvy this season that I really am starting to doubt them in games such as this one. Usually, this is a straight forward Feyenoord win, and I still do given how strong the Rotterdammers are in their own stadium. However, Heracles, typically a much better home team, have achieved a draw, two wins and a narrow defeat to AZ away from home thus far. Heracles may pose a bigger threat than one might anticipate, but Feyenoord should still win. 2-1 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
Xander’s prediction: A horror showing last time out for Feyenoord with the embarrassment of the 4-2 defeat to Sittard. Things haven’t been working out amazingly so far for Jaap Stam, and he hugely needs a response from his team! Heracles have really got going after a slow opening 4 matches, going on to win 4 of their last 5 league games. I think the influence of the home fans could be the difference though. 2-0
How has Michael done so far?
Week 1: 2 results + 5/9 correct betting tips | Lost versus Derby County goalkeeper Kelle Roos [6 results]
Week 2: 5 results + 3/9 betting tips | Lost versus Football Manager head researcher Jeroen Thijssen [5 results & 1 correct score]
Week 3: 4 results & 1 correct score + 5/9 betting tips | Won versus ED journalist and PSV-watcher Rik Elfrink [4 results]
Week 4: **2 results & 1 correct score + 4/6 betting tips | Lost versus ED journalist Chris Ottens [**3 results] **reduced schedule of only 6 matches
Week 5: 4 results + 6/9 betting tips | Won versus commentator Phil Blacker [3 results & 1 correct score]
Week 6: 6 results & 1 correct score + 7/9 betting tips | Lost versus EiF founder & journalist Marc Gerschwind [8 results & 2 correct scores]
Week 7: 5 results & 1 correct score + 5/9 betting tips | Won versus commentator Jonathan Beck [4 results]
Week 8: 5 results + 5/9 betting tips | Lost versus commentator Paul Thomas Clay [6 results & 1 correct score]
Week 9: 6 results & 1 correct score + 4/9 betting tips | Won versus “Eredivisie Out of Context’s” Yorin Schrader [5 results]
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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.
