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Feyenoord – PSV

March 15th, 2009 | By: Jan | 13 Comments »

Leroy Fer

After having seen Manchester United – Liverpool (1-4!!) I was poised to see our version of the super classic. Although there’s only one classic in Holland (Feyenoord – Ajax), for a fan in Australia you’ll call anything a classic when you get to see some Eredivisie action.

The first half of Feyenoord-PSV was entertaining, albeit not extremely good. PSV doesn’t have a lot to play for, funny as that sounds. They won’t be able to win the title or qualify for CL football and they practically can’t be played out of the Play Off top 9. And it showed. PSV played counterfootball against the pressing and hardworking Feyenoord team. But, whenever PSV moved forward, there was a smart through pass or a dangerous cross, while Feyenoord’s players had trouble enough to connect with the forwards.

Sure, there was pressure and thus opportunities but it looked too sloppy to really upset PSV.

If Feyenoord can improve that in the second half and PSV’s attempts can be stopped, there’s a good chance on a pleasant afternoon in Rotterdam. But if PSV ups their game, adds some pace and some more aggression, the Eindhoven club could win here. Feyenoord is more lively, PSV is more shrewd.

Rob van Dijk is the boss…

In the second half, PSV did up their pace and Feyenoord became more sloppy by the minute. Henk Timmer had to leave the pitch due to collision with Lazovic in the first half. 40 year old Rob van Dijk was his replacement. PSV got many chances in the second half and I mean 100% sitters. But Bakkal missed a tap in, Lazovic missed a huge one alone for goal and after he missed another one unmarked, thanks to incredible goal keeping by Van Dijk, it was clear that the old football law was still alive. If you squander too many chances, the other team will score. The first corner in the second half for Feyenoord. A great cross in, Leroy Fer claimed it flying through the air and headed the ball cross to the far post: 1-0. PSV get pushing and created more chances but it was one of those days.

Bakkal saw his attempt stopped by Van Dijk and a couple of headers went astray. PSV wouldn’t have scored even if they played on for three more hours.

Feyenoord creeps up to the UEFA Cup play off position and PSV can kiss the title goodbye.

Tags: Bakkal, Fer, Feyenoord, Group C, Lazovic, Lodeweges, Oranje, PSV, Timmer, Van Dijk, Vlemming

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Comments

By Jan | March 15th, 2009 at 8:52 am

I just saw the Madrid highlights on youtube and this is what I learned:

1. Huntelaar needs a more professional celebration routine. This one he learned from his dad.

2. Sneijder is getting back into awesome form

3. The fourth goal was Dutch: Sneijder to Robben, Robben to Hunter: 2-4.

4. We’re going to win the WC2010.

By sonneveld | March 15th, 2009 at 10:48 am

and sneijder to robben was the first goal

By sonneveld | March 15th, 2009 at 11:22 am

what do you guys feel about resting players in big tournaments for the last group game. The last two tournaments we have rested players in the third group game and lost both times. rest is important but im not sure its working. what are your feelings

By finnster01 | March 15th, 2009 at 1:18 pm

I think you go full on. Resting players breaks the routine. Yes, it will help them get rest, but unless it is a yellow card issue, if it isn’t broke why fix it?

Look at the Italians and not to mention the old school Brazilian teams, they never rested nobody, and look how many WC that won them.

By Jan | March 15th, 2009 at 4:18 pm

Yeah, they don’t need rest. Players want to play. Want to stay in their momentum. It’s only 90 minutes of football. A good mix or relaxation, training, preps, massage, stretching will keep them fit, both physically and mentally. Those second tier teams in the “third group match” could be killing, even…

By sonneveld | March 15th, 2009 at 4:38 pm

How about KNVB spending some Euros on having Michael Phelps come in and give a motivational speach to the team before WC2010 qual starts?
Hopefully they would actually listen to a 23 year old young man who’s desire to compete and win is bigger than anything I have ever witnessed in my life time, never mind that he is probably the greatest Olympian of all time (already at 23….)
That’s the kind of stuff Oranje needs, not talent. It’s already there. Phelps is from Baltimore, and although he didn’t have as hard an upbringing as many kids do have there, he sure had his issues to deal with. Baltimore is no sweet spot, trust me, if you have ever been there you’ll know what I mean. Maybe growing up in Holland is too “nice”, if you don’t make it so what? You’ll be well looked after anyway. The “edge” and “hunger” is clearly missing.

just reading an older and laughed when I read this because of the bong pictures

By sonneveld | March 15th, 2009 at 4:39 pm

older article*

By Felipe | March 15th, 2009 at 5:59 pm

I watched the match. Feyenoord seems with renewed spirit. Less “Makaay-ish”, more “Tomasson-ish”. And the young guys, as always, a relief to the bad year Stadionclub is having. Fer and Wijnaldum are very good. I hope people try to solve seriously the financial problems (OK, OK, too much innocent from my part…)

And Goose must be happy. A true boost to Den Haag fight against relegation.

By Tjeerd | March 15th, 2009 at 7:31 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-dToXeZ8z8

Real-Bilbao hi lites. The game was shown on GOLTV in Toronto. I know what you mean by Huntelaar’s celebration routine Jan.

Nice to see Feyenoord beat PSV, I think its been a while.

By Mario | March 15th, 2009 at 8:41 pm

Sonneveld:

I think resting players in big tournament like the World Cup or European Champions only makes sense when there is a player slightly injured or for precaution because of a risk of suspension for next game. Other than that I think it´s a bad decision to do so. An European Championship has six matches if you are lucky to get to the final game and the World Cup has seven games if you are finalist. But in the road to get there the team has to start growing each game so in the final game the squad can be much stronger than at the start of the tournament so each game is important to achieve that even if you are qualified for next round early like Oranje achieved in the last two tournaments. Automatism is pretty important and in national teams is harder to get that than in clubs because as we all know the national squads have very little time to train together so van Basten´s decision was pretty wrong because players tend to relax and think that everything is smooth and I think that´s what happen specially vs Russia…Oranje was not connected that day and additional to that there were some other factors that didn´t help the team…In 2006 we could have lost with Ruud on the field or with no players rested in the thirg game of the first round because a Portugal vs. Holland game is pretty equal although they have beaten us lately. I strongly think that in other competitions as the Premiership, la Liga or national cups it is possible to rotate the squad because you have over 40 games per season but in such a short tournament makes no sense unless you have injuries or a problem with yellow cards…

By finnster01 | March 15th, 2009 at 8:59 pm

@Sonneveld:

I know Baltimore pretty well, and it sure ain’t Club Med. However Michael Phelps in Amsterdam adressing the team, may not be the best idea…

By Jan | March 15th, 2009 at 10:27 pm

Well said Mario… I think Orange Angel should address the team every night before a game….

By Mario | March 16th, 2009 at 12:17 pm

Great idea Jan, that will work better, nice incentive for the team…that´s the motivation the boys need hehe.

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