High Noon in the Eredivisie: AJAX vs PSV

Only four games to go. PSV leads with 3 points. And it has a better goalscoring position. +45 versus +42.
And it’s looking frantically over their shoulders…

What’s the programme for this year’s competition?

NEC PSV

NEC has a difficult season. They had to let off a lot of players, installed a new coach (former Feyenoord star Mario Been) and needed time to get warmed up. They had a reasonable run in the competition, but with four matches to go, they still have a chance to grab a UEFA cup ticket. Chance is slim, but they have something to fight for. So this will not be an easy game for PSV.

RKC AJAX

RKC might have to go back to the first division. But theoretically, they can still escape. They will not want to go down without a fight. But quality wise, they are not that good – compared to NEC for instance. But still, not a walk over for Ajax.

AJAX NAC

NAC has still UEFA cup fooball to fight for. They grabbed 2 points off PSV last week and they will try to hurt Ajax. Their new coach Ernie Brands (former PSV and Oranje defender) is doing very well this first season. Not an easy game for Ajax.

PSV TWENTE

Interesting match. Twente made the play-offs. And whether they’ll end as number 2 or number 4 doesn’t really matter. But, theoretically they have even a chance of becoming champs. Coaches Rutten and Eykelkamp have pushed Twente forward with very Dutch School football. Dominating, attractive and confident. Knowing them both a little, they won’t allow their team to “chill out” because they reached the play offs. They’ll figure that you need to keep the pressure on the team to perform well in those play off games. Furthermore, Rutten and Eykelkamp were put forward by Hiddink to take over his role as head coach when he left PSV. But the PSV management wanted a big name and grabbed Ronald Koeman. Therefore, there will be some bad blood with Rutten and Eykelkamp, even though they both had some good and sweet years in Eindhoven. This could be the match inwhich PSV loses the championship.

UTRECHT PSV

FC Utrecht doesn’t have anything to play for. That could make them fodder for PSV canons, or maybe they’ll play their happy go-lucky game and upset PSV. Who will tell? Utrecht does have that fighting spirit and historically a warm heart for Ajax, so….

AJAX SPARTA

Traditionally, Sparta is never really able to upset Ajax. Sparta plays a similar, open game but never at the same level of Ajax. Ajax won in the past with enormous scores. I remember Marco van Basten scoring 5 times against Sparta. Sparta needs only 1 point to be safe in the competition and they won’t expect to get that point against Ajax.

WILLEM 2 AJAX

Willem 2 is like Sparta a footballing team. And that means, that 99 out of a 100 times, the team with the best players will win. Ajax. Theoretically, Willem 2 is not safe yet, but they will not have counted on a victory over Ajax. Willem 2 is mentally the weakest team in the competition and Ajax will be 1-0 ahead before the teams enter the pitch.

PSV VITESSE

Vitesse had a good first half of the season, but are now in trouble. Coach Aad de Mos – former PSV and Ajax coach – tried to work wonders, but the club is a bit in dire straits. However, they do have a quality side and I am sure De Mos holds a grudge against PSV and still favours first love Ajax. Furthermore, it’s the last match of the season for Vitesse and they want to make good.

All in all, my money is on Ajax. The pressure is on PSV, whereas Ajax is on a roll. PSV has a tougher program ahead. Maybe, we’ll have a season finish like the Spanish have seen many times, with nailbiting last minutes of the season…. But…Alex may be absent from the PSV line-up, Ajax will have to miss Stam in these exciting times…

Watch this space….