The Dutch in Europe…

November 6th, 2009 | by: Jan |

I don’t think we’ll win the Champions League this season. I’m sorry to break the news to you.

But we’re not doing too shabby in the Europa League and you have to start somewhere…

dembele
Dembele tries…

AZ Alkmaar is a club and a team in trouble. Replacing Van Gaal by Ronald Koeman is one thing, but having your sponsor, chairman and sugar daddy declared bankrupt is another. AZ could have impressed in Europe, under the right circumstances (and coach) but with all that’s going on in Alkmaar, you can’t blame them for being played off the pitch by Arsenal. And with Arsenal, in my view, we’ve mentioned one of the contenders for the title, by the way.

In Holland, AZ was the dominant team last season with a style that resembled Arsenal’s a little. The contrast is huge. The champs of Holland being given football lessons by the number 4 of England. That’s where we stand.

In the Europa League, we do have a chance that all four contestants survive the winter.

PSV was lucky away against Kopenhagen. Jesper Gronkjaer, the former Ajax winger, scored for the home side, but Rutten was able to secure his 22nd game without a loss when Dszudszak scored the equalizer in the second half, when the real PSV decided to show their colors. 1-1 the end result and PSV is firmly on second spot in their group.

Ajax played away in Zagreb against the local Dynamo. Without public. The home side was punished (and has three points deducted as well) and the empty venue didn’t motivate the hosts. Ajax scored early in the first half via Pantelic and when a Zagreb player was red carded, Jol knew the points were secure. De Zeeuw (again him) scored the 2-0 with a clean header this time, while the English ref decided to send another Zagreb player off. Jol decided to rest some players for the Twente game and only needs one more point in two remaining games to survive the European winter.

Pantelic

FC Twente had a shock loss against Sheriff in the last round. At home, the Tukkers took revenge. Twente started very sloppy though and players like Stam, Perez, Douglas and Janssen (consistent players normally) made mistake after mistake. Chelsea loan player Miroslav Stoch scored the 1-0 but an own goal by Tiote meant that Twente needed to fire on all cylinders. N’Kufo missed a couple of sitters but the same Stoch scored a late goal after a goalie mistake: 2-1. Twente has qualifications for the knock out phase in their own hands, still.

stoch
Matchwinner Stoch

Heerenveen didn’t do itself a favor at home against Hertha BSC. The Northerners had a good result away against the Germans and should have put this game away too, leading 1-0 after a couple of minutes. But a festival of faults resulted in a 2-3 loss in the Abe Lenstra Stadium. Heerenveen still has chances to proceed but can’t afford any more mistakes.

Tags: Ajax, AZ, De Zeeuw, Group C, Koeman, Pantelic, Perez, Stoch, Suarez, van Persie, Vermaelen

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Comments

By goose | November 6th, 2009 at 7:44 am

the 2 biggest problems for AZ this season:

1. Ronald Koeman
2. No deZeeuw

Koeman is lucky that De DSB Bank is bankrupt; AZ has no money left to fire Koeman so his job is secure for the moment… the whole saga with DSB doenst help ofcourse but its not the reason they are crap; thats all because of Koeman, the worst manager ever! (with vBasten close second)

i really hope fc Twente can keep its players fit; if the starting 11 are all fit they could have an impact in Europe but with such a small selection they are very vulnerable…i think a good run in Europe will do their title hopes in Holland lots of harm

btw; Madure scored a nice one for Valencia:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn9C5hlmrA4

Posted from Netherlands

By EJB | November 6th, 2009 at 9:46 am

Ouch, Arsenal #4 in England? Maybe last year, but they’ll be runners up this year

Posted from United States

By Alex | November 6th, 2009 at 9:58 am

V.Marwijk said some new stuff about players, first of all he said he followed Vlaar, but has left him out of selection this half season due to his previous injuries, so he wouldn’t overwork himself, so to speak.
But to me, it sounded pretty much as if he said, Vlaar could be a member of our selection before the WC.
As for others, now i’m combining several statements from V.Marwijk, Drenthe, Bruma, Fer, Bakkal, Emanuelson, Maduro, they’re all being followed, but he said, have to earn it, that means, play regularly, and play well. It’s obvious some current players have more credit, as Huntelaar, Engelaar, Gio don’t do considerably better than Emanuelson, Vlaar and such, at least Babel scores and impresses occasionally, unlike by many critics called “Stuntelaar”.
I think we’ll most of the current group will be at the WC, but we might just yet a few changes early in the new year. I hope so, Vlaar in Ooijer out.

Posted from Netherlands

By Alex | November 6th, 2009 at 10:46 am

Lol, look here, Ryan Babel in 1998, aged 12 at Ajax, in a contest. Funny to see Mitchell Donald in the ranking as well. Ryan broke the record of 143, with 196. Very funny to see.

Posted from Netherlands

By Alex | November 6th, 2009 at 10:46 am

here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ3wTfM2Q5o

Posted from Netherlands

By Fares | November 6th, 2009 at 10:48 am

Arsenal has one English player … One Dutch players.

So AZ, which has 1 or 2 Dutch international lost against a team full of Internationals, that has one of the best current Dutch players (RVP).

Dutch league has to pump more money to make the league bigger.

Posted from United States

By Alex | November 6th, 2009 at 12:42 pm

I’d say Dutch and Belgian league should have gone together a long time ago. Getting rid of teams like VVV, Ado Den Haag, RKC, Willem II, they add nothing. Anderlecht, Standard Luik etc. are a lot better. Then they would have had more funds and a bigger league already.

Posted from Netherlands

By goose | November 6th, 2009 at 12:44 pm

@Alex; EXCUSE ME???

Posted from Netherlands

By Shyam | November 6th, 2009 at 2:18 pm

Haha,
@Alex, our man goose will take umbrage if you belittle his club Ado Den Haag! Looking forward to the friendlies….

Posted from India

By Alex | November 6th, 2009 at 5:04 pm

Sorry for him, but I can’t help it if ADO doesn’t add much to Eredivisie, they’re ranked on the 12th spot, they play allright but I can’t say they make things very difficult for Twente, Ajax, PSV or even subtop clubs. It’s that simple.

Posted from Netherlands

By Alex | November 6th, 2009 at 5:06 pm

If they’d show progress this season, stay in Eredivisie and grow and improve over the next seasons, allright, but right now…

Posted from Netherlands

By Marc | November 6th, 2009 at 5:12 pm

van Persie won premier league player of the month for October. Great news for Oranje.

Posted from United States

By goose | November 6th, 2009 at 5:20 pm

@Alex;
1. Den Haag is the 3rd biggest city in Holland, so theres lots of potential
2. after years of problems with management and supporters we are on our way up again
3. we have more than 10.000 people watching the home games (cant have more cause of security reasons) and have a very large crowd visiting away games )if we are allowed to visit)
4. Den Haag is a club with great history
5. we have one of the most beatiful stadiums in Holland at the moment
6. we cant have a leaugue with just Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord
7. some great talents have began their carreers at Den Haag, a great team to start your carreer and than leave for a bigger team
8. remember that Twente or AZ werent top teams some years ago, clubs can always grow; thats one of the nice things in football

But most of all; we really dont need your approvement, but if you want to start a campain for it i wish you luck when you visit Den Haag!!

Posted from Netherlands

By Alex | November 6th, 2009 at 6:29 pm

>”But most of all; we really dont need your approvement, but if you want to start a campain for it i wish you luck when you visit Den Haag!!”<

Nice talk, no hard feelings and good for you, but here's the thing:

1- All very nice, but I don't actually care about ADO on any level other than if they play great, I'll look at it. For me it just ranks between Willem II and VVV-Venlo. Since you feel so strongly, you can start a campaigne of you're own if you like.

2- Looking at the history of ado fans, that last thing, since you noted that yourself, has been one of their previous problems, it would be best for ADO if that wouldn't even be relevant now would it.

3-I'm actually going to Den Haag soon, no fear whatsoever though , don't count on me making an effort for anything concerning ADO soon.

4-Talk about ADO with others or by yourself all you want, their opportunities, potential, the city itself, all great, but this is the last thing I'm saying about ADO all year.

Posted from Netherlands

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