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 Brentford winger Florian Jozefzoon, who has experience playing with Eredivisie sides PSV, Ajax and NAC Breda. He gave an exclusive interview with Football-Oranje too, which you can watch here (or the embedded video below).
Friday 16th February
VVV-Venlo v Groningen
Michael’s prediction: VVV have the second best defence outside of the top four. They have also scored the second least amount of goals in the entire division. So this game will be tight.
It’s an embarrassment that Groningen are seven points behind VVV in the table considering their budgets. It’s going from bad to worse for this weekend’s visitors, a defeat here could spell a relegation battle. It’s about time they rolled their sleeves up and battled. 1-2
Florian’s prediction: Groningen are struggling now. VVV are playing at home, so I think a draw. 1-1
Tip: Groningen double chance.
Saturday 17th February
Vitesse v Excelsior
Michael’s prediction: Vitesse are playing with so much more confidence at the moment that I would find it hard to predict anything other than a home win here. They are missing Tim Matavz in attack, but luckily their attacking midfielders have been on form to deliver the goods. 2-0
Florian’s prediction: Vitesse are playing very good and Excelsior are struggling. 3-1
Tip: Home win.
PSV v Heerenveen
Michael’s prediction: PSV continue to edge out victories which have maintained their seven-point lead over Ajax at the top of the table. Can an energetic and talented, yet inconsistent, Heerenveen spring a surprise here?
Steven Bergwijn was the hero with two goals for PSV last time out, with Luuk de Jong or Hirving Lozano being other recent heroes to get the table toppers out of jail when it mattered.
Heerenveen have dominated recent home games, and perhaps haven’t had the rewards they’ve deserved. Should PSV match the open style of play that the Frisians enjoy, we could have a great game on our hands.
In the end, I think it’ll be another slim PSV victory. Listen to our podcast linked below for more of my thoughts on PSV and the title-race. 2-1
Florian’s prediction: PSV will win. At home they are very strong but they always struggle against Heerenveen. 2-1
Tip: Both teams to score.
NAC Breda v AZ
Michael’s prediction: We’ve seen two great performances from NAC Breda recently, showcasing their attacking capabilities and battling qualities respectively.
It goes without saying they’ll need both against AZ here. The Alkmaar side have dropped points in their last two home games because of poor finishing, but away they have more space to play in, giving them more openings to score easier chances. 1-3
Florian’s prediction: AZ are a good footballing team, sometimes unlucky. But I think against NAC Breda they will win. 0-2
Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
ADO Den Haag v Willem II
Michael’s prediction: ADO, on paper, have the edge on Willem II, especially at home. However, I fancy the away team to show some more of the spirit they’ve conveyed in recent matches, and grab a point. 1-1
Florian’s prediction: ADO Deen Haag are a little bit better, I think. Willem II have bought Eyong Enoh, I played with him at Ajax, I think he will do something there. 2-1
Tip: Willem II +1 Asian Handicap.
Sunday 18th February
Roda JC v Utrecht
Michael’s prediction: I’m backing Roda to pick up another point in their fight for survival. They come up against a strong Utrecht side, who will be hard to beat (considering they’re only two points behind Feyenoord), but the home side have been playing much better lately. 1-1
Florian’s prediction: Utrecht are really enjoyable to watch, how they play with Labyad and Emmanuelson. Roda are struggling. 0-2
Tip: Utrecht double chance.
Twente v Sparta
Michael’s prediction: Both of these sides endured difficult ties with Ajax and PSV respectively last weekend, both losing narrowly (2-1). Now these relegation threatened teams must face each other. It should be fascinating to see who comes out on top.
Twente have the better quality players but have not been able to cut out defensive mistakes to pick up enough points. Sparta strengthened well in January and have the well-seasoned manager Dick Advocaat.
At this moment, it’s so difficult to call. Home advantage will help Twente, but I feel as though Sparta will arrive in Enschede with loads of fight, so it wouldn’t surprise me if they caused an upset here. 2-1
Florian’s prediction: Twente are at home – they must win. But they are struggling. They have a really good squad. This one is difficult! I really don’t know. But even Sparta played well against Ajax. Both teams don’t score a lot in games. 1-1
Tip: Both teams to score.
Feyenoord v Heracles
Michael’s prediction: In De Kuip, Feyenoord’s players will want to respond following another dismal away day. I said this when I predicted their previous home match, but this is the same situation where there is pressure on the players and manager to deliver at least third spot. They currently trail AZ by eight points and have several players out injured and suspended – again.
Heracles are without an away win still in this campaign. Brandley Kuwas is back, and is the league’s top assister with nine. It wouldn’t surprise me if a player like him popped up with a goal to snatch a draw. I will pick the obvious result this time though. 2-1
Florian’s prediction: I think Heracles will win. At home, the audience is amazing, even if they’re not playing well, the crowd will give them a little bit more. Away from home they collapse because the team don’t feel that. Heracles always make it difficult. *Michael – Heracles haven’t won away from home all season…* Ah! Well that changes things! If van Persie starts they will win. 2-0
Tip: Feyenoord – draw no bet.
PEC Zwolle v Ajax
Michael’s prediction: Even though PEC aren’t quite as strong as they were before Christmas, I think at home to Ajax, the players will lift their level again.
On Football-Oranje’s latest podcast, I stated that I’ve not been satisfied with Ajax recently. Hakim Ziyech aside, who’s been on fire, something is lacking from their play to really see off teams. Blinded by my admiration of Erik Ten Hag, I would suggest it’s good game management. The points are the most important thing at the moment.
However, when Ajax were away to Utrecht, they were outbattled and dropped points. This one is tricky to call but I think Ajax will create enough chances to win against PEC who have been more open of late. 1-2
Florian’s prediction: Ajax will win. Always ‘Lucky Ajax’. 1-3
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)
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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.
