Michael Bell takes you through the main talking points from round seven of the Eredivisie.
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Riechedly Bazoer excelling for Ajax. Time f0r Netherlands call-up?
Ajax weren’t at their dazzling best on Saturday in the 2-0 win over Groningen, but the league leaders completely dominated the game, thanks to a terrific midfield display from Riechedly Bazoer.
The 18-year-old completely shut down the threat from Groningen duo Simon Tibbling and Hedwiges Maduro with a strong midfield performance which earned him a man of the match rating from coach Frank de Boer, who called Bazoer a “Extraterrestrial” after being impressed by the youngster.
There are now calls for Bazoer to be added to the Netherlands squad, which will be finalised by Danny Blind this Friday. With Nigel de Jong and Jordy Clasie both expected to be left out, Bazoer could add some bite to the national team midfield, which was sorely missed during the losses to Iceland and Turkey earlier this month.
What do you think. Should Bazoer be in Netherlands squad this week?
Feyenoord’s attacking trio leading title charge
Feyenoord are the nearest challengers to leaders Ajax at the moment after a clinical 2-0 win over PEC Zwolle on Sunday saw the Rotterdam side move to second. Michiel Kramer, Eljero Elia and Dirk Kuyt once again proved they are a formidable attacking trio during the game with their link up play outstanding at times. Kuyt opened the scoring with a clinical finish before Elia completed the scoring after a move involving all three attackers.
With Elia’s pace, Kramer’s height, and Kuyt’s experience and clinical finishing Feyenoord have an attack capable of troubling any defence in the Eredivisie and if they continue this fine form then it could guide them to a first league title since 1999.
What have you made of Elia, Kramer and Kuyt so far this season?
Heracles not much without Tannane?
After five straight wins in the league Heracles Almelo crashed back to earth with a 3-1 defeat at AZ Alkmaar on Saturday. Heracles star man Oussama Tannane was forced out in the warm up and without their winger the Almelo side lacked spark and creativity in their attack, and failed to trouble an AZ defence that has been shaky so far this season.
Heracles will now have to do without Tannane for their next two matches due to a suspension, and fans of the club may fear a slide down the table without their top scorer.
Can Heracles maintain their place in the top four without Tannane?
PSV missing Guardado brilliance
After the disappointing defeat to Heracles last week and the slim win over Cambuur in the KNVB Cup midweek, PSV put in another lacklustre performance in a 2-1 victory against NEC Nijmegen at the Philips Stadion on Saturday. The link in all three matches is the absence of midfield metronome Andres Guardado, who was ruled out for six weeks after an injury picked up in the 2-1 Champions League win over Manchester United two weeks ago.
Without the Mexican in the middle of the pitch PSV have lacked composure, fight and control, which has allowed their opponents to overrun them at times. With PSV travelling to both CSKA Moscow and Ajax this week coach Phillip Cocu will need to find a solution to their midfield problem or the club’s Champions League and Eredivisie campaigns may suffer major blows.
Can PSV maintain their title and Champions League hopes without Guardado?
Dazzling Ziyech inspires Twente after disappointing Netherlands
FC Twente finally tasted victory on Sunday and unsurprisingly it was Hakim Ziyech who inspired the Enschede side in their 2-1 win over Roda JC. The midfielder maestro continued his good start to the season by firstly setting up Jari Oosterwijk to head in the opener before laying the ball on a plate for Kamohelo Mokotjo to net a second.
Ziyech was a constant threat to the Roda JC defence, and his dazzling performance will have been a sad reminder to Netherlands boss Danny Blind that he has missed out on a terrific talent. After being overlooked by Blind in his first Netherlands squad, Ziyech has decided to switch his allegiance to Morocco, which has ended expectations that the 22-year-old could be a successor to Wesley Sneijder in the number ten role.
Three goals and four assists in seven games this season. How big a blow to Netherlands is Ziyech’s decision?
Vermeij and Oosterwijk. Young Dutch striker’s showing promise
Sunday’s Eredivisie action saw two young strikers hit the headlines for their clubs and give a glimmer of hope in Netherlands search for their next big striker. With both Klaas jan Huntelaar and Robin van Persie coming to the twilight of their careers, Netherlands haven’t yet produced an attacker who looks capable of replacing the duo. However in Twente’s Jari Oosterwijk and De Graafschap’s Vincent Vermeij, Netherlands have two strikers with potential.
Twenty-year-old Oosterwijk was handed his first Twente start on Sunday against Roda JC and the tall forward opened the scoring with a nice header from Hakim Ziyech’s cross. Oosterwijk was a constant threat to the Roda JC defence throughout the game, as their defence seemed unable to cope with his height and movement in the box.
Twenty-one year old Vermeij was also on target for his club as his header in injury time saw De Graafschap earn a 2-2 draw with Willem II, their first point of the season. It was Vermeij’s second goal of the season for the league’s bottom side.
Both players were prolific in the Eerste Divisie last season and it remains to be seen whether they can regularly net in the top division and stake a claim to be involved in the Netherlands set up, albeit at U21 level.
Do you see either Oosterwijk or Vermeij becoming good enough for the Netherlands set up?
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