The Dutch Eredivisie Thread

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The Dutch Eredivisie Thread

Postby Spinozaad » Wed Feb 13, 2013 7:34 am

The Dutch Eredivisie; the highest tier in Dutch professional football ever since the introduction of professional football in the Netherlands. Traditionally dominated by three teams: Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven. All three teams won the Champions League (or its predecessor, the EC1) and the UEFA Cup. Both Ajax and Feyenoord also won the ol' Cup Winners' Cup.

Feyenoord was the first Dutch team to be crowned best team of Europe (and the world) in 1970, but it was Ajax who would go on to dominate Europe for three successive seasons, winning the EC1 three times between 1971 and 1973. PSV won the EC1 in 1998, while Ajax last won it in 1995 under the guidance of the enigmatic Louis van Gaal. Feyenoord was the first, and the last Dutch team to taste European glory; winning the now-defunct UEFA Cup in 2002 in their own stadium.

The Dutch Eredivisie is generally considered to be a second tier league, and the Dutch (cynical as they are) generally refer to their own league as a "Mickey Mouse Competition", which is "not very good, but extremely entertaining."

In recent years, the domination of Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV has been challenged by AZ Alkmaar, FC Twente from Enschede and Chelsea subsidiary Vitesse Arnhem. AZ Alkmaar was the first team in decades to break the hegemony of the Top Three by winning the league in 2009. FC Twente took the glory the next year, in 2010. Of these challengers, AZ more or less slipped after its owner went bankrupt following the crisis, but the team managed to survive because of solid policy at club level. Twente seems to have nestled itself among the greats, consistently playing for the top places the last few years.

The Eredivisie is an interesting league, although to the connoisseur it might seem as if Dutch teams ar eplaying in slow-motion. Nevertheless, the technical and tactical ability of the better Dutch teams (Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord, Twente, Vitesse, AZ and even the daring minnows of Heracles Almelo) is very good. The Eredivisie is a great jumping board for a career in the big leagues.

As of this moment (13-2-2013), the top six looks like this:
1 PSV 22 15 2 5 47 75 24
2 Ajax 22 12 8 2 44 51 24
3 Feyenoord 22 13 5 4 44 43 28
4 FC Twente 22 12 7 3 43 38 19
5 Vitesse 22 11 6 5 39 41 28
6 FC Utrecht 22 11 6 5 39 33 25

FC Twente, under management by the Master of Disaster/Wally with the Brolly had pole position for much of the first half of the season, but they have yet to win in 2013. Ajax and especially Feyenoord are the surprises of the season, managing to stun the competition with a seemingly endless supply of top talent from their own youth academies. FC Utrecht is surprising, as its a charming but very average team, nevertheless; they are emerging as "giant killers". Vitesse is the product of shady money, who look to buy success. Basically, everybody hopes that Vitesse crashes and burns once again; like they did at the end of the last century. PSV is probably going to end up champions. Although they are very unstable, their tactic of simply buying the best players from rivals using public funds is bound to pay off at some point.

In any case, it's once again being a crazy season, and it's hard to say who will be King of the Hill at the end of the season.
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Re: The Dutch Eredivisie Thread

Postby GSK_AFC » Wed Feb 13, 2013 1:20 pm

How is Eriksen doing this season? Apparently he said he's not renewing his contract. Is he good enough for us?
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Re: The Dutch Eredivisie Thread

Postby Spinozaad » Wed Feb 13, 2013 1:53 pm

He's having a very decent season. Definitely one of the greatest talents in the Eredivisie. The limelight is currently on his compatriot Viktor Fischer, but Eriksen is (imho) more important to Ajax' chances in the hunt for their third consecutive Eredivisie title. He has all the hallmarks of a typical Wenger signing: great technical ability, great vision on the ball, excellent movement off the ball; very capable of playing the "traditional" Dutch and the Arsenal passing game.

However, he also comes with the negative aspects of the typical (recent) Wenger signing: poor physique and a lack of willpower/determination. When the going gets tough, don't count on Eriksen to get going. He tends to exhibit little annoying mannerisms when things don't go his way.

If we can get him on the cheap, I'd say he should be bought. I wouldn't spend more than 15 million on him, though. The main issue with Eriksen is that he's still enigmatic regarding his potential. He could be immense, but it's just as likely that he will not become world class. To compare: Van der Vaart, Sneijder and Suarez were of far greater importance to the Ajax squad when they were about his age. The difference between these players and Eriksen might not be talent per se, but a lack of the holy fire of desire to win and to be the best. Eriksen, at times, looks lazy.
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Re: The Dutch Eredivisie Thread

Postby GSK_AFC » Wed Feb 13, 2013 1:57 pm

By your description, I don't want him here lol.
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Re: The Dutch Eredivisie Thread

Postby Spinozaad » Wed Feb 13, 2013 2:07 pm

Think of Eriksen as an amalgam between Arshavin, Rosicky and Van der Vaart, with the exact components being (yet) undetermined, haha!

I'd go for Dusan Tadic from FC Twente. Although his preferred position is the left wing, he can also play on the right wing (and even as a second striker/attacking midfielder); is an amazing dribbler, hands out assists like candy on Halloween and isn't one of those wingers who chickens out in front of the goal. He's basically the only reason why FC Twente are still considered candidates for the title (if the Wally with the Brolly manages to turn the sinking ship around).
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Re: The Dutch Eredivisie Thread

Postby Dejan » Sat Apr 13, 2013 10:01 am

This years league is so f***ing exciting

place ------- points
1. Ajax 63
2. PSV 60
3. Vitesse 60
4. Feyenoord 59


with on sunday PSV - AJAX :shock:
I hope that PSV will win, would be epic
Rest in Peace SE13 :(
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Re: The Dutch Eredivisie Thread

Postby Kyle? » Sat Apr 13, 2013 10:05 am

Dejan wrote:This years league is so f***ing exciting

place ------- points
1. Ajax 63
2. PSV 60
3. Vitesse 60
4. Feyenoord 59


with on sunday PSV - AJAX :shock:
I hope that PSV will win, would be epic


I'm guessing Vitesse are up there because of Bony?
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Re: The Dutch Eredivisie Thread

Postby Dejan » Sat Apr 13, 2013 10:13 am

yes
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Re: The Dutch Eredivisie Thread

Postby Dejan » Sat Apr 13, 2013 6:46 pm

Vitesse drew today -,- 3-3
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Re: The Dutch Eredivisie Thread

Postby Zenith » Sat Apr 13, 2013 6:53 pm

Tomorrow PSV - Ajax
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Re: The Dutch Eredivisie Thread

Postby Dejan » Sun Apr 14, 2013 12:52 pm

feyenoord leading 1-0 :D get the f**k in :D

http://cdn.livetvstatic.ru/webplayer2.p ... ci=22&si=1

stream for anyone interested
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Re: The Dutch Eredivisie Thread

Postby Trequartista » Sun Apr 14, 2013 1:03 pm

Cheers Dejan
Leno
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Ceballos - Torriera - Özil
Pépé - - Lacazette - - Auba
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Re: The Dutch Eredivisie Thread

Postby Kyle? » Sun Apr 14, 2013 1:07 pm

Dejan wrote:feyenoord leading 1-0 :D get the f**k in :D

http://cdn.livetvstatic.ru/webplayer2.p ... ci=22&si=1

stream for anyone interested


Thanks Hammond. :)

Much rather watch this than Stoke v Manure
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Re: The Dutch Eredivisie Thread

Postby Kyle? » Sun Apr 14, 2013 1:19 pm

This Feyenoord RB looks pretty good going forward.
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Re: The Dutch Eredivisie Thread

Postby Dejan » Sun Apr 14, 2013 1:43 pm

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
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