Michael Bell picks his talking points from round two of the Eredivisie which saw Ajax finally get their season going, while Feyenoord, Vitesse VVV, PSV and Utrecht maintained their 100% records.

Huntelaar is back and still has plenty to offer

For the first time since 2008, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar started an Eredivisie match in the ArenA as Ajax hosted Groningen on Sunday and the veteran put in a performance which proves he can be pivotal to club and country this season.

Yes he may not be the same player that left for Real Madrid in 2008, although the overhead kick in the first half which flew over and resulted in a ripped shirt may prove otherwise, but Huntelaar is still a major threat in the box and one of the best finishers Netherlands have. His bullet header on Sunday was great and he could have added more in his first full ninety minutes for Marcel Keizer’s side.

If Robin van Persie can be considered for the Netherlands squad to face France and Bulgaria, then surely Huntelaar should also come into Dick Advocaat’s plans. The national team boss will have been impressed if he watched the Hunter in action on Sunday.

Cerny deserves more chances

Vaclav Cerny was frozen out under Peter Bosz last season but the young Czech winger took his chance on Sunday and proved he can be a big asset to Ajax during the season ahead. He ended the match with two assists but was also a constant threat to the Groningen defence and should have got himself on the scoresheet. Amin Younes and Justin Kluivert appear to be the first choice wing pairing but Cerny proved he is ready to shine when called on.

Vito van Crooij is a superstar in the making

VVV Venlo are a breath of fresh air to the Eredivisie and in Van Crooij they have an excellent young talent that is already proving to be a revelation in the top flight. The winger not only scored a goal of the season contender in the win over FC Twente on Saturday he also terrified the Tukkers defence throughout with his pace and dribbling ability.

I was shocked that no club moved for the forward last summer and I am stunned that he is still with VVV now. But other clubs loss is VVV’s gain and they have a forward that could be destined for the top in the future if he keeps up this level.

Jorrit Hendrix could be the answer to Netherlands midfield issues

It’s well documented that Netherlands are struggling to find a new DM for the national team. Kevin Strootman has struggled in the position and the likes of Jordy Clasie, Nigel de Jong and Jonathan de Guzman have fallen off the radar. However, in Jorrit Hendrix, Netherlands may have found the answer to their problem.

The midfielder was excellent in PSV’s win over NAC Breda on Sunday, not only providing cover for the defence but also proving pivotal at the other end of the pitch. He nearly scored a stunning volley before he did get himself on the scoresheet with a nice finish from outside the box. He made more tackles and interceptions than anyone else in the PSV side and contributed two key passes and four shots. He was all over the pitch and hopefully, Dick Advocaat was watching ahead of his squad announcement later this week.

Come on Feyenoord, up the tempo!

Feyenoord got their second win of the season against Excelsior, but much like their victory over FC Twente last weekend, it was a laboured and rather boring performance from the champions. Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side took the lead with a great passage of play but then seemed happy just to shut up shop and let Excelsior come at them.

It nearly resulted in an equaliser for the hosts and the worry for fans will be what happens when they come up against better sides, whether that be in the Champions League or in the Eredivisie. Van Bronckhorst seems to have shackled some of his players, like Ridgeciano Haps, who seemed unwilling to move forward throughout the game, and I want to see them given a bit more attacking freedom.

Some will say that if it isn’t broke then don’t fix it, but come on. Nobody want’s to see Feyenoord continue to play this brand of cautious football throughout the campaign.

Ten Hag has got Labyad firing again

Zakaria Labyad was a major talent when he broke through at PSV Eindhoven, but lost his way after leaving for Sporting Lisbon and only impressed in glimpses for Vitesse on loan.

However, with Utrecht, Labyad is in the best form of his career and has been instrumental to their great start to the season. It is another credit to coach Erik ten Hag, who seems to be able to get the best out of the players he has at his disposal. With Ayoub, Labyad and Dessers all in great form, Utrecht are on course for another great campaign.

Pressure still on van den Brom despite AZ’s win over ADO Den Haag

AZ Alkmaar got their first win of the season but it won’t ease the pressure on coach John van den Brom who is still under fire from the club’s support for their performances last season.

In the opening stages against ADO Den Haag, AZ were pretty awful and they needed the red card for Wilfried Kanon and Wout Weghorst’s resulting penalty to change the tempo of the game. Even after going ahead and having a man advantage, AZ still didn’t really impress until Guus Til finally put ADO Den Haag down.

I think AZ have the talent in their squad to challenge Utrecht and Vitesse for a top four spot, but whether van den Brom is still the man to lead them is another question.

Early days but worrying signs for Willem II and Roda JC

It is way too soon to be thinking about who will be relegated from the Eredivisie at the end of the season, but if I had to pick some clubs who look in danger after week two then I would come up with Willem II and Roda JC.

Roda JC were dismantled by PEC Zwolle in week one and fell to a 3-1 defeat to Vitesse at home this week. Robert Molenaar’s side look off the pace at the back and front, with Simon Gustafson the only real spark the Kerkrade side have. Hidde Jurjus is supposed to be one of the most talented young goalkeepers in Dutch football but he has looked awful since joining from PSV on loan and can be criticised for several of the seven goals the club have already conceded.

Willem II also look short of some quality on the field. Last week’s defeat at home to Excelsior was bad, but this week they were awful and should have been hammered by Utrecht, who somehow only managed the two goals. Erwin van de Looi admitted after the game that they were looking for some new players and two or three are definitely needed if the Tilburg side are to avoid a long hard season.




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