Before I forget - it's the second round of the Dutch Cup on September 23/24/25. Here is the list of fixtures as I can make them out.


Tuesday September 23:
Rijnsburgse Boys v. RBC Roosendaal
Cambuur Leeuwarden v. FC Zwolle
Jong PSV v. PSV
EHC/Norad v. Fortuna Sittard
FC Den Bosch v. Haarlem FC
IJsselmeervogels v. AGOVV Apeldoorn
Dordrecht '90 v. BV Veendam
AZ Alkmaar v. Heracles
Helmond Sport v. FC Omniworld
Wednesday September 24:
De Bataven v. Excelsior
FC Emmen v. Twente Enschede
MVV Maastricht v. Heerenveen
VVV Venlo v. FC Volendam
Capelle v. Roda JC Kerkrade
Ajax B v. Vitesse Arnhem
De Treffers/Kegro v. De Graafschap
GVVV Veenendaal v. NAC Breda
HHC Hardenberg v. Go Ahead Eagles
HSC '21 v. Sparta Rotterdam
Kozakken Boys v. WKE
Quick Boys II v. FC Eindhoven
Spakenburg v. SC Stormvogels Telstar
Sparta Nijerk v. FC Lienden
Feijenoord v. TOP/Oss
Thursday September 25
Be Quick 1887 v. NEC Nijmegen
Papendrecht v.Haaglandia/Winston
Jong FC Twente v. ADO Den Haag
Hollandia v. FC Groningen
Ajax v. FC Utrecht



Dutch Cup (or KNVB Beker)... hardly worth watching.  But at least they've made things a little more interesting, by throwing in the top teams as well this early (in the past, teams like Ajax/PSV/Feijenoord would be exempt from play until quarter finals). So who knows...there may be some surprises. Let's hope so.
It's good to know at least three amateur teams will make it to round three (I can tell because there's three all amateur matches).

Before I forget - because I always lose the link, the results will appear either here, on ESPN's site, or here, on the Wikipedia entry for KNVB Cup 2008-09.

Today's results:


PSV 1 - 0 Sparta Rotterdam
Twente Enschede 1 - 1 NEC
ADO Den Haag 3 - 0 AZ
AZ lost Aussie Brett Holman in stoppage time in the first half of the match.
Feijenoord 5 - 0 Volendam


So, Feijenoord make up for their last game, a 3-1 defeat, while Den Haag maintain their 100% record.

Today's results:


PSV 1 - 0 Sparta Rotterdam
Twente Enschede 1 - 1 NEC
ADO Den Haag 3 - 0 AZ
AZ lost Aussie Brett Holman in stoppage time in the first half of the match.
Feijenoord 5 - 0 Volendam


So, Feijenoord make up for their last game, a 3-1 defeat, while Den Haag maintain their 100% record.


I can hear people calling for Van Gaal's head already... I fear relegation may be a serious danger for AZ this season.

Four games today, all will be finished by 3:30 my time. Hopefully Willem II can go two for two with a win at the Rat Verlegh Stadion, against NAC. Let's be honest, after conquering Ajax last week, now we can go on to conquering the world! *laughs nervously*

Today's results are in:


De Graafschap 1 - 0 Vitesse Arnhem
Ajax 1 - 0 Roda JC
NAC 1 - 3 Willem II
FC Groningen 2 - 0 FC Utrecht


Rather surreally, this gives Willem II six points from their first two fixtures. Tomorrow sees ten fixtures in the Eerste Divisie.

Tonight's Eerste Divisie results:


FC Den Bosch 1 - 1 Fortuna Sittard
FC Zwolle 4 - 0 FC Emmen
Emmen lost 25-year-old Mark Bevaart in the first half of the game
SC Stormvogels Telstar 1 - 1 RBC Roosendaal
BV Veendam 2 - 1 AGOVV Apeldoorn
Helmond Sport 1 - 0 Dordrecht 90
MVV Maastricht 3 - 1 FC Eindhoven
RKC Waalwijk 1 - 1 Haarlem FC
VVV Venlo 3 - 1 Top/Oss
Excelsior 3 - 0 Go Ahead Eagles
FC Omniworld 1 - 0 Cambuur Leeuwarden


Top/Oss, now in eighth place, retain their rather skewed records of three wins from three matches at home, and no wins from four matches away. Fortuna Sittard remain winless, while Excelsior stay at the top of the table.

Next Eerste Divisie fixtures on Friday. Same for the Eredivisie, with Willem II, currently in fourth place in the table, •breathes in the goodness• taking on FC Utrecht, currently bottom with two losses from two.

PSV face Atletico Madrid in the UEFA cup tonight.

The result of which was a 0-3 victory to Atletico, not the best result the Dutch side could have hoped for, especially as they now have to travel to the Vicente Calderón stadium to face Atletico at home.

A full quota of Eerste Divisie results this evening, along with one game in the Eredivisie, FC Utrecht v. Willem II.

Yesterday's Eerste Divisie results:


Fortuna Sittard 2 - 0 FC Omniworld
Dordrecht 90 0 - 2 VVV Venlo
RBC Roosendaal 2 - 1 FC Emmen VV
Go Head Eagles 1 - 0 Helmond Sport
AGOVV Apeldoorn 1 - 1 SC Stormvogels Telstar
Haarlem FC 1 - 5 FC den Bosch
Cambuur Leeuwarden 1 - 1 RKC Waalwijk
FC Eindhoven 1 - 0 Excelsior
Eindhoven finished the game with nine men, having lost Prince Asubonteng and Ruud van de Rijt in the second half
BV Veendam 0 - 0 FC Zwolle
Zwolle finished with ten men, losing Dave Huijmans at the end of the first half
TOP/Oss 1 - 0 MVV Maastricht

Yesterday's Eredivisie results, and a little smileyface one at the end for you, Henk!


Vitesse Arnhem 1 - 1 Sparta Rotterdam
Both teams still searching for their first win. Ricky van Wolfswinkel scores his first ever Eredivisie goal.
Heracles 1 - 1 FC Groningen
Groningen have Ajilore Oluwafemi sent off within the first two minutes of the game. A second-half goal apiece from each side sees the game finish in a stalemate.
AZ 1 - 0 PSV
Maarten Martens scores the goal late on in the game, giving PSV their second consecutive defeat, following their 0-3 reverse in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.


Today's matches include Feijenoord v. Ajax at De Kuip. Willem II don't play their next game until September 27. We'll be facing... AZ.

Today's results are all in, and here we go:


Feijenoord 2 - 2 Ajax
Roda JC 0 - 3 NAC Breda
De Graafschap 2 - 0 ADO Den Haag
Heerenveen 2 - 1 NEC Nijmegen
FC Volendam 1 - 2 Twente Enschede

KNVB Beker action over the next three days. Hopefully I will be able to report on the results as and when they come in.

Yesterday's results:


Rijnsburgse Boys 2 - 1 RBC Roosendaal
Jong PSV 0 - 3 PSV Eindhoven
FC Den Bosch 2 - 1 Haarlem FC
Dordrecht '90 3 - 2 BV Veendam
Helmond Sport 2 - 2 FC Omniworld
Cambuur Leeuwarden 3 - 3 FC Zwolle
IJsselmeervogels 1 - 3 AGOVV Apeldoorn
Lisse 3 - 4 Achilles 29
Quick Boys 0 - 1 Willem II Tilburg
Be Quick '28 1 - 2 RKC Waalwijk
HHC Hardenberg 1 - 1 Go Ahead Eagles
AZ Alkmaar 3 - 0 SC Heracles Almelo


I'm not sure what to make of the first result. Is that a giantkilling, or do teams like RBC put reserve teams out so as not to shame the opposition?

Seems I'm missing one result, EHC/Norad v. Fortuna Sittard, which I cannot find.

Yesterday's results:


Rijnsburgse Boys 2 - 1 RBC Roosendaal
Jong PSV 0 - 3 PSV Eindhoven
FC Den Bosch 2 - 1 Haarlem FC
Dordrecht '90 3 - 2 BV Veendam
Helmond Sport 2 - 2 FC Omniworld
Cambuur Leeuwarden 3 - 3 FC Zwolle
IJsselmeervogels 1 - 3 AGOVV Apeldoorn
Lisse 3 - 4 Achilles 29
Quick Boys 0 - 1 Willem II Tilburg
Be Quick '28 1 - 2 RKC Waalwijk
HHC Hardenberg 1 - 1 Go Ahead Eagles
AZ Alkmaar 3 - 0 SC Heracles Almelo



As this is only a one-leg competition, three games had to be decided by penalty kicks.
Results are: Omniworld beat Helmond Sport; Cambuur beat FC Zwolle; and HHC Hardenberg beat Go Ahead Eagles (quite a shocker, the last one).


I'm not sure what to make of the first result. Is that a giantkilling, or do teams like RBC put reserve teams out so as not to shame the opposition?


It is indeed giantkilling (although maybe RBC Roosendaal isn't exactly a giant). RBC took an early lead by a goal in the 15th minute, but the Rijnsburgse Boys managed to score twice within a couple of minutes in the final ten minutes of the game.


Seems I'm missing one result, EHC/Norad v. Fortuna Sittard, which I cannot find.


EHC - Fortuna Sittard  0 - 3

Thank you for the results, I wasn't entirely sure how those turned out. Good to see a couple of shock results going on in cup competitions, keeps the romance alive for the smaller clubs, and, with the amount of money that I assume will therefore be poured into the clubs, keeps the smaller clubs financially occupied for the time being.

So that's twelve matches done and dusted. Fourteen further matches today, including the rather interesting-looking VVV Venlo v. FC Volendam. Great to see amateur side Hardenberg overcome the Go Ahead Eagles. One game already started in today's set of matches, two all-amateur ties going ahead at 8pm, as well as Feijenoord v. Top/Oss later on...

And tomorrow, five more fixtures, including one all-amateur tie, Papendrecht v. Haglandia.

First results of today's matches are in:

Wednesday 24 September 2008, 17:00 (CET)
De Bataven - Excelsior 0-1

Wednesday 24 September 2008, 18:45 (CET)
FC Emmen – FC Twente 0-5


So, no surprises so far today. FC Emmen continue their losing streak...

...and more results:

Wednesday 24 September 2008, kick-off 20:00 (CET)
Spakenburg - Telstar 0-1
MVV – sc Heerenveen 0-3
Ajax (amateurs) - Vitesse 0-2
HSC'21/Brein - Sparta Rotterdam 1-2
GVVV - NAC Breda 1-3
Quick Boys 2 - FC Eindhoven 0-3
Capelle - Roda JC 2-4
VVV-Venlo – FC Volendam 2-3 (after extra time)
Sparta Nijkerk - FC Lienden 1-2 (after extra time)
De Treffers - De Graafschap 3-4 (after extra time)

Final results for today:

Wednesday 24 September 2008, kick-off 20:00 (CET)
Kozakken Boys - WKE 1-2 (after extra time)

Wednesday 24 September 2008, kick-off 20:45 (CET)
Feyenoord – TOP Oss 3-0 (after extra time)


The latter one must've been rather disappointing for TOP Oss... I assume they had good hopes of pulling a stunt after 90 minutes (and a goalless draw at that time).

Yep, the rest of September 24th's results:


Ajax Amateurs 0 - 2 Vitesse Arnhem
Capelle 2 - 4 Roda JC
De Treffers/Kegro 3 - 4 De Graafschap
GVVV Veenendaal 1 - 3 NAC Breda
HSC '21 1 - 2 Sparta Rotterdam
This in spite of HSC being 1-0 up at the end of the first half.
Kozakken Boys 1 - 2 WKE
Quick Boys II 0 - 3 FC Eindhoven
Spakenburg 0 - 1 SC Stormvogels Telstar
Sparta Nijerk 1 - 2 FC Lienden (AET)
MVV Maastricht 0 - 3 Heerenveen
VVV Venlo 2 - 3 FC Volendam
All five goals in the second half.
Feijenoord 3 - 0 TOP/Oss (AET)
Two second-half-of-extra-time goals from Pole Michal Janota, Makaay having put Feijenoord ahead in the 2nd minute of extra time.

That would appear to be all the results done and dusted.

While I'm still awake, might as well think about what's coming up: Six Eerste Divisie games scheduled on Friday, including a match between the top two, Excelsior and VVV, while on Sunday TOP/Oss have the opportunity to get their first away league victory of the season - despite having picked up twelve points out of twelve thus far at home.

TOP/Oss's current coach is 48-year-old former AZ player Hans de Koning, who was playing with the team at the time they secured their most recent title, in 1980/81.

And today's results:

Thursday, September 25
Be Quick 1887 - N.E.C. 0-5
Hollandia - FC Groningen 2-3 (after extra time)
Jong FC Twente – ADO Den Haag 1-4
Papendrecht - Haaglandia/Sir Winston 3-3 (Haaglandia wins after penalties)
Ajax – FC Utrecht 2-0

A narrow escape there for FC Groningen...

Results from the Eerste Divisie, Friday 26th:


Fortuna Sittard 0 - 0 RBC Roosendaal
AGOVV Apeldoorn 2 - 0 HFC Haarlem
FC Dordrecht 4 - 0 FC Zwolle
FC Den Bosch 2 - 2 BV Veendam
Go Ahead Eagles 2 - 0 Cambuur Leeuwarden
FC Omniworld 1 - 1 RKC Waalwijk


Three further matches today, and one tomorrow. Meanwhile in the Eredivisie, four matches occurring today, and five on Sunday.

Yesterday's Eredivisie results:


NAC Breda 4 - 2 Heerenveen
Twente Enschede 2 - 0 De Graafschap
PSV Eindhoven 1 - 0 FC Volendam
Willem II Tilburg 2 - 5 AZ Alkmaar


A sound thrashing for my boys then, Henk... five further Eredivisie matches today.

----

Yesterday's Eerste Divisie results:


VVV 3 - 1 Excelsior
FC Emmen VV 1 - 1 MVV Maastricht
SC Stormvogels Telstar 2 - 3 Helmond Sport


One Eerste Divisie fixture today.

All Eredivisie games over, and here we go wtih some results:


ADO Den Haag 0 - 0 FC Utrecht
NEC Nijmegen 1 - 1 Heracles
Joel Tshibamba becomes the second Nijmegen player in four matches to be sent off for overexuberant goal celebrations.
FC Groningen 3 - 1 Feijenoord
Kevin Hofland gets sent off in the tenth minute for Feijenoord, and three goals are scored in the final ten minutes of the game.
Ajax 3 - 0 Vitesse Arnhem
Sparta 2 - 2 Roda JC


Meanwhile, one result in the Eerste Divisie:


FC Eindhoven 2 - 2 TOP/Oss


One Eredivisie fixture and nine Eerste Divisie fixtures on Friday.

Yesterday's Eredivisie results:


NAC Breda 4 - 2 Heerenveen
Twente Enschede 2 - 0 De Graafschap
PSV Eindhoven 1 - 0 FC Volendam
Willem II Tilburg 2 - 5 AZ Alkmaar


A sound thrashing for my boys then, Henk... five further Eredivisie matches today.



Actually, it was a 2 to 5 victory for AZ, with AZ already 5 to 0 up after 45 minutes. Sorry Bobo...



NEC Nijmegen 1 - 1 Heracles
Joel Tshibamba becomes the second Nijmegen player in four matches to be sent off for overexuberant goal celebrations.


It wasn't so much the overexuberant goal celebrations that got him sent off, although that did cost him a yellow card (standard penalty for taking your shirt off). It was more the fact that this was his second booking of the game.

You're right. 2-5. I was just making things seem slightly less bad than they were, really. But yes, I mistyped. Thank you Henk.

Yesterday Liverpool beat PSV 3-1, the first Liverpool goal being scored by former Feijenoord man Dirk Kuijt.

Today's results:


Ajax 2-0 Borac Cacak
FC Twente 1-0 Rennes
Heerenveen 5-2 Vitoria Setubal
Kalmar 1-2 Feyenoord


I think that's all of them... tomorrow sees one Eredivisie game and nine Eerste Divisie games, with six teams all within a point of each other eitherside of the promotion play-off line.

Today's results:


Ajax 2-0 Borac Cacak
FC Twente 1-0 Rennes
Heerenveen 5-2 Vitoria Setubal
Kalmar 1-2 Feyenoord


I think that's all of them... tomorrow sees one Eredivisie game and nine Eerste Divisie games, with six teams all within a point of each other eitherside of the promotion play-off line.


You missed only one:

Dinamo Bucarest - NEC Nijmegen 0 - 0



You know what this means...? All Dutch clubs have made it to group stage of UEFA Cup. :D Can't remember the last time this happened.

Aha. I didn't see that on my fixture list. Thank you very much Henk. This is great news, though for the Dutch sides. Just checking the news about NEC, it appears that their coach was very critical of their lack of preparedness prior to their European fixture, not just in recent matches but in their build-up to this one. However, their qualification to the group stages is a great sign.

It seems weird to look at stats at the turn of the millennium where NEC were quite often in the bottom half of the table - their worst point over the last decade-and-slightly-more coming in 1996-97 when they finished second-bottom of the Eredivisie. Unfortunately, neither AZ nor Willem II did much better that season!

Aha. I didn't see that on my fixture list. Thank you very much Henk. This is great news, though for the Dutch sides. Just checking the news about NEC, it appears that their coach was very critical of their lack of preparedness prior to their European fixture, not just in recent matches but in their build-up to this one. However, their qualification to the group stages is a great sign.

It seems weird to look at stats at the turn of the millennium where NEC were quite often in the bottom half of the table - their worst point over the last decade-and-slightly-more coming in 1996-97 when they finished second-bottom of the Eredivisie. Unfortunately, neither AZ nor Willem II did much better that season!


The last time NEC made it to the second round of any European tournament was in 1983, so I imagine they've something to celebrate in Nijmegen. ;)

A great result for your boys, Henk - a 6-0 victory against Sparta, with Hamdaoui putting the team ahead after just 35 seconds. This temporarliy puts AZ into fourth place in the table.

Three games tomorrow, including Willem II away at Vitesse and De Graafschap at PSV.

In my excitement I forgot about yesterday's Eerste Divisie games:


TOP/Oss 0 - 0 Dordrecht '90
FC Emmen VV 2 - 1 FC Omniworld
Helmond Sport 2 - 2 Fortuna Sittard
RKC Waalwijk 3 - 1 AGOVV Apeldoorn
Cambuur Leeuwarden 3 - 2 Haarlem FC
RBC Roosendaal 1 - 4 VVV Venlo
MVV Maastricht 1 - 2 BV Veendam
Excelsior 2 - 1 FC Den Bosch
SC Stormvogels Telstar 1 - 1 FC Eindhoven


The top three run out winners again, and RKC maintain their unbeaten start to the season. I believe I'm right in saying, therefore, the last time they were beaten in the regular season, outside of last year's promotion/relegation playoffs, was on March 10th. Almost seven months.

Eredivisie results, October 4:


Vitesse Arnhem 2 - 2 Willem II
PSV 3 - 0 De Graafschap
Heracles 2 - 0 Roda JC


Five Eredivisie fixtures today, and one Eerste Divisie fixture. Next weekend the Eredivisie takes a break, so the next round of fixtures after today's begins on October 17th.

Today's games are all done and dusted:


FC Groningen 3 - 0 ADO Den Haag
FC Utrecht 3 - 0 Twente Enschede
FC Volendam 2 - 4 NAC
Heerenveen 5 - 2 Ajax
Feijenoord 0 - 2 NEC


And the one Eerste Divisie fixture:

FC Zwolle 1 - 0 Go Ahead Eagles

Today's games are all done and dusted:


FC Groningen 3 - 0 ADO Den Haag
FC Utrecht 3 - 0 Twente Enschede
FC Volendam 2 - 4 NAC
Heerenveen 5 - 2 Ajax
Feijenoord 0 - 2 NEC




Five games gone, and Volendam still pointless. Not the best of starts...
On the other hand: they're not too far behind Feijenoord (who have only 4 points so far) and Ajax (with only 7 points).
Top of the list it's still Groningen, who remain unbeaten (4 wins, 1 draw). AZ have moved up to 5th place now.

I should imagine supporting Volendam is quite pointless at the best of times! As you say, not the best of starts for the top two, and we've had for 25 or more seasons now the same three teams win the Eredivisie, it would be nice to see if Groningen can keep this up.

Top scorers for the season so far, three players on 6 goals, including Frank Demouge from Willem II and Mounir El Hamdaoui from AZ.

I should imagine supporting Volendam is quite pointless at the best of times! As you say, not the best of starts for the top two, and we've had for 25 or more seasons now the same three teams win the Eredivisie, it would be nice to see if Groningen can keep this up.

Top scorers for the season so far, three players on 6 goals, including Frank Demouge from Willem II and Mounir El Hamdaoui from AZ.


According to my information, Frank Demouge has scored only 4. :-\\

El Hamdaoui is on 6 alright, but he's not leading the table either. Amoah (NAC Breda) and Pranjic (sc Heerenveen) are both on 7.

I apologise, Henk, I forgot to update the stats on the day. Amoah's two goals yesterday saw him head up the table on eight goals.

UEFA Cup draw:

Group A: Schalke 04, Paris SG, Manchester City, Racing Santander, FC Twente
Group B: Benfica, Olympiakos, Galatasaray, Hertha BSC, Metalist Kharkiv
Group C: Sevilla, VfB Stuttgart, Sampdoria, Partizan Belgrado, Standard Luik
Group D: Tottenham Hotspur, Spartak Moskou, Udinese, Dinamo Zagreb, NEC
Group E: AC Milan, SC Heerenveen, Braga, Portsmouth, VfL Wolfsburg
Group F: Hamburger SV, Ajax, Slavia Praag, Aston Villa, MSK Zilina
Group G: Valencia, Club Brugge, Rosenborg, FC Kopenhagen, Saint-Etienne
Group H: CSKA Moskou, Deportivo la Coruna, Feyenoord, Nancy, Lech Poznan

Thank you for the updates with the draw, Henk. I see you've already cross-posted this to the two threads. An awesome job.

The Netherlands face Iceland on Saturday, and can move right to the top of Group 9 in their qualification table in their own right if they are victorious, and with their opponents winless and currently bottom of the table, it's tough to see it not happening.

Ten matches in the Eerste Divisie tomorrow, top-of-the-table VVV take on Haarlem FC, while second-top take on second-bottom, as Excelsior face FC Omniworld.

Yesterday's Eerste Divisie results:


Haarlem FC 0 - 4 VVV
Helmond Sport 3 - 0 TOP/Oss
FC Zwolle 2 - 2 FC Eindhoven
MVV Maastricht 2 - 0 SC Stormvogels Telstar
BV Veendam 2 - 0 Go Ahead Eagles
FC Den Bosch 5 - 0 FC Emmen VV
Cambuur Leeuwarden 2 - 0 Dordrecht '90
RKC Waalwijk 2 - 0 Fortuna Sittard
Excelsior 2 - 1 FC Omniworld

The Netherlands face Iceland on Saturday, and can move right to the top of Group 9 in their qualification table in their own right if they are victorious, and with their opponents winless and currently bottom of the table, it's tough to see it not happening.


Netherlands win 2 to 0. Goals by Matthijsen and Huntelaar.

I didn't see the game, as I was in theatre, so I can't give you more detailed information.

Sadly I didn't see any of it either. They were busy focusing on some England game.

Yesterday's Eerste Divisie results:


Haarlem FC 0 - 4 VVV
Helmond Sport 3 - 0 TOP/Oss
FC Zwolle 2 - 2 FC Eindhoven
MVV Maastricht 2 - 0 SC Stormvogels Telstar
BV Veendam 2 - 0 Go Ahead Eagles
FC Den Bosch 5 - 0 FC Emmen VV
Cambuur Leeuwarden 2 - 0 Dordrecht '90
RKC Waalwijk 2 - 0 Fortuna Sittard
Excelsior 2 - 1 FC Omniworld



Sorry, this team name just caught my eye.  It doesn't fit in with the others at all - is it a new team?

They were founded 106 years ago, they're based in someplace called Deventer, which I have to confess I don't recognize.

Maybe they are sponsored by those low-fat chocolate bars.

They were founded 106 years ago, they're based in someplace called Deventer, which I have to confess I don't recognize.

Maybe they are sponsored by those low-fat chocolate bars.


The name's got nothing to do with the sponsor.

The club was founded in 1902 as Be Quick, but they had to change the name in 1906 when the club joined the NVB (because there already was a club called Be Quick), so they changed it to Go Ahead.
In 1971 the "Eagles" were added, when the professional branch of the club was split off of the amateur branch. That part was inspired by the name of the stadium, the Eagles' Nest (what's the proper English term again?). Also, the city of Deventer has an eagle in its coat of arms.

The best year of Go Ahead Eagles (or GAE for short) was 1965, when it played first round of (what is now known as) UEFA Cup. They played against Celtic FC, and lost both the home (0 - 1) and away game (6 - 0). The home game was attended by approx. 25,000 people - still a record for the club. The stadium currently has a capacity of only 6,750, although it hasn't changed that much since its opening in 1920.

Famous players: Bert van Marwijk, Jan Jongbloed, Ruud Geels and last but not least Marc Overmars.

Thank you very much Henk. Interesting. Presumably this other Be Quick team you refer to is Be Quick 1887?

Netherlands play Norway, apparently in an hour's time. Domestically, we have one Eredivisie match on Friday, and all ten Eerste Divisie matches. In the Eredivisie, second play third on Saturday as NAC face PSV. AZ are parked in fifth spot, they face De Graafschap, who have two wins from two at home this campaign. Feijenoord have lost two from two away from home, and next match they face... Willem II. Having lost heavily against AZ three weeks ago, I can only hope we can turn our form around.

Thank you very much Henk. Interesting. Presumably this other Be Quick team you refer to is Be Quick 1887?


That would be them, yes. Founded 15 years prior to Be Quick (Deventer), Be Quick (Groningen) of course would be granted senior rights.


Netherlands play Norway, apparently in an hour's time.


And we win again! Only one goal, by Mark van Bommel, but it's enough to keep our perfect score so far.


Domestically, we have one Eredivisie match on Friday, and all ten Eerste Divisie matches. In the Eredivisie, second play third on Saturday as NAC face PSV. AZ are parked in fifth spot, they face De Graafschap, who have two wins from two at home this campaign. Feijenoord have lost two from two away from home, and next match they face... Willem II. Having lost heavily against AZ three weeks ago, I can only hope we can turn our form around.


Hah! You've nothing to fear from Feyenoord this season. ;)

I hadn't seen the Netherlands-Norway result, thank you for reporting.

Yesterday's Eredivisie result:


ADO Den Haag 2 - 0 FC Volendam


Four games in the Eredivisie today, including the rather tasty-looking NAC v. PSV, third against second in the table.

Yesterday's Eerste Divisie results:


BV Veendam 1 - 1 Helmond Sport
Go Ahead Eagles 1 - 0 RBC Roosdendaal
FC Omniworld 1 - 2 FC Den Bosch
Haarlem FC 2 - 1 Excelsior
Dordrecht '90 1 - 1 MVV Maastricht
TOP/Oss 0 - 3 RKC Waalwijk
VVV Venlo 1 - 0 SC Stormvogels Telstar
FC Eindhoven 2 - 2 FC Emmen VV
AGOVV Apeldoorn 2 - 1 FC Zwolle
Fortuna Sittard 1 - 4 Cambuur Leeuwarden


VVV remain at the top of the table, still undefeated at home. RKC retain their unbeaten start to the season, currently occupying third place in the table.

Today's Eredivisie results:


FC Twente 2 - 0 Heracles
NAC 2 - 1 PSV
Roda JC 2 - 2 Heerenveen
Ajax 1 - 0 FC Groningen


So, NAC jump to the top of the table. Tomorrow, Willem II face Feijenoord. •gulp• AZ face De Graafschap at De Vijverberg.

Today's Eredivisie results:


FC Twente 2 - 0 Heracles
NAC 2 - 1 PSV
Roda JC 2 - 2 Heerenveen
Ajax 1 - 0 FC Groningen


So, NAC jump to the top of the table.


And that's a first in the history of professional football in The Netherlands (not counting their lead after only one round in 1968).


Tomorrow, Willem II face Feijenoord. •gulp• AZ face De Graafschap at De Vijverberg.


Willem II - Feyenoord 1 - 0. Like I said: Feyenoord are no threat whatsoever... ::) Feyenoord are currently in 15th place - they haven't started this bad in 19 seasons. Still better than Volendam, though, who are still at zero points after 6 games.

De Graafschap - AZ 0 - 2.  AZ move up to third place. :)

Current table (after 6 games):

1. NAC Breda...................... 15 
2. FC Groningen...................13   
3. AZ..................................12   
4. PSV............................... 12   
5. NEC............................... 11   
6. SC Heerenveen............... 11   
7. FC Twente..................... 11   
8. ADO Den Haag............... 10   
9. Ajax.............................. 10   
10. Willem II...................... 10
11. Heracles Almelo.............. 9
12. FC Utrecht..................... 7
13. De Graafschap................ 6
14. Sparta........................... 5
15. Feyenoord..................... 4
16. Roda JC......................... 3
17. Vitesse.......................... 2
18. FC Volendam ................ 0

Willem II actually won? Something definitely is wrong!

As for the other two matches:


NEC Nijmegen 3 - 1 Vitesse Arnhem
Sparta Rotterdam 1 - 0 FC Utrecht

PSV beat Marseilles yesterday 2-0, goals at 71 and 85 by Danny Koevermans.

----

Looking ahead slightly - one fixture on Friday, four on Saturday, including AZ v. bottom-of-the-table, nil from six Volendam, and Willem II v. De Graafschap. Feijenoord have not won a league game for six weeks. Fighting relegation come the end of the season? Surely not...

According to my stats, NAC haven't won a top division title since 1920-21, though they finished second in two consecutive seasons during the mid-1950s. And the winner in the first of these - 1954-55? Willem II. The omens look good all round - plus we've already beaten NAC at the Rat this year.

Aston Villa 2-1 Ajax
Dyn. Zagreb 3-2 NEC Nijmegen
FC Twente 1-0 Racing
Heerenveen 1-3 Milan
Nancy 3-0 Feijenoord


Feijenoord's poor start to the season continues. Their second away defeat of the week. Tomorrow, nine Eerste Divisie fixtures, top-of-the-table VVV face Veendam, while the still undefeated Waalwijk face the unbeaten-at-home FC Zwolle.

Aston Villa 2-1 Ajax
Dyn. Zagreb 3-2 NEC Nijmegen
FC Twente 1-0 Racing
Heerenveen 1-3 Milan
Nancy 3-0 Feijenoord


Feijenoord's poor start to the season continues. Their second away defeat of the week. Tomorrow, nine Eerste Divisie fixtures, top-of-the-table VVV face Veendam, while the still undefeated Waalwijk face the unbeaten-at-home FC Zwolle.


So, only one out of five Dutch teams win. Not the result we were hoping for. :\'(
Of course, for Heerenveen there's no real shame in losing, but Feyenoord on the other hand... They played fairly well in the first half but then gave it away in just ten minutes after the break. Things are not looking good.  :-\\
NEC Nijmegen went 2 to 1 ahead with 10 minutes left to play (which would've been an amazing result), but sadly couldn't keep that score.  :(

Oh, and Twente were facing Racing Santander, btw. ;)

Thanks for clarification, Henk, I saw the result and I knew it was against Racing Someone — I just didn't bother to check on ESPN after checking on Soccerbase.

Every team that has recorded a win in the Eredivisie after six games has at least one win at home. Top scorer after six rounds is Matthew Amoah, with nine goals, and in second place, Mounir El Hamdaoui of AZ.

Yesterday, Heracles beat ADO Den Haag 3-1. Four Eredivisie games today, four tomorrow.

Yesterday's Eerste Divisie results:


RBC Roosendaal 1 - 2 Cambuur Leeuwarden
FC Zwolle 1 - 1 RKC Waalwijk
MVV Maastricht 2 - 1 FC Omniworld
FC den Bosch 0 - 2 FC Eindhoven
Helmond Sport 1 - 1 Haarlem FC
FC Emmen VV 2 - 3 AGOVV Apeldoorn
VVV 1 - 0 BV Veendam
Excelsior 2 - 1 TOP/Oss
Dordrecht 3 - 0 Fortuna Sittard


One Eerste Divisie game on Sunday, otherwise we're waiting until next Friday.

Results from today's games:

AZ - Volendam  3 - 0
Willem II - De Graafschap  1 - 1

Not to mention:


FC Groningen 3 - 0 Sparta Rotterdam
PSV 2 - 3 Roda JC

Not to mention:


FC Groningen 3 - 0 Sparta Rotterdam
PSV 2 - 3 Roda JC



You just beat me to it.

The word "OOPS" comes to mind. :-\\ Losses like this might just make the difference in the end.

This puts FC Groningen back in the lead (for now).

Results from today's games:

AZ - Volendam  3 - 0
Willem II - De Graafschap  1 - 1




Forgot to mention: Volendam have made history with this result (sad, but true). Never before did a team lose their first seven matches in Eredivisie.

Now if only they could keep it at this... :-\\

Three of their five goals so far this season have come from Jack Thuijp, who was the Eerste Divisie's top scorer last campaign. Meanwhile, eight of Willem II's eleven goals this season have been scored by the same player (Frank Demouge).

Scary how a single team can rely on an individual player quite so much as they have done so far this season.

Results coming soon. Promise.

Today's results:


Ajax 2 - 0 NEC
FC Utrecht 0 - 0 NAC Breda
Vitesse Arnhem 0 - 2 Twente Enschede
Feijenoord 2 - 2 Heerenveen

Feijenoord make it back from 2-0 down at half time.

Three Eredivisie fixtures on Tuesday, and four on Wednesday.

And the one Eerste Divisie game:

SC Stormvogels Telstar 4 - 1 Go Ahead Eagles
A hat trick from 21-year-old Glynor Piet sealed the game for the home side.

A full quota of fixtures in the Eerste Divisie on Friday. Groningen are top of the Eredivisie, their next fixture is away at NEC, who are yet to lose so far at Goffertstadion this term.

Three Eredivisie fixtures tomorrow, including what looks like three points in the bag for us at the 6,200 capacity Kras Stadion in Volendam - but you never know these things for certain! Five more on Wednesday and one on Thursday. Ajax have a chance to secure their first away victory of the season, though they face Heracles, who are as yet unbeaten at home.

Nothing in the Eerste Divisie until Friday night. Looking a long way ahead, I forgot that the Eerste Divisie takes a rather long Christmas break, from Friday December 19 until four weeks later, Friday January 16.

————

And just a reminder for me when I work on some stats tomorrow:

Friday, December 21, 2007: SC Stormvogels Telstar 0 - 3 MVV Maastricht

Today's results:

Roda JC  - AZ  0 - 2

Mounir El Hamdaoui scoring his 10th and 11th goal of this season.
This result puts AZ in the lead of the Eredivisie (for the time being).

FC Volendam - Willem II  2 - 2

Finally, a point for struggling Volendam. Platje opened the score for the home team, but goals by Zijler and Quasten put Willem II in the lead. With 15 minutes to go, De Lange secured a point for Volendam.


Forgot to mention: Volendam have made history with this result (sad, but true). Never before did a team lose their first seven matches in Eredivisie.


I was wrong about this... :-eight consecutive losses from the opening game on (a record shared by Volendam (1963/64) and MVV (1968/69)).

And finally:

ADO Den Haag - PSV  0 - 2

Goals from Addo and Bakkal keep PSV in the race for the top, although the team itself is far from "top".

Thank you for updates, Henk. Five Eredivisie matches today and one tomorrow. Saturday sees Willem II at the Philipstadion to face PSV.

And some more results have come in.

Sparta Rotterdam - Feyenoord  2 - 1
Feyenoord have now officially entered the relegation zone... :o


NAC Breda - FC Twente  0 - 1


sc Heerenveen - Vitesse Arnhem  0 - 2
Three valuable points for Vitesse there. Maybe this is the turning point.


Heracles Almelo - Ajax  1 - 3
It was an even match with one goal apiece until 15 minutes before the final whistle. The game saw two goals from Klaas Jan Huntelaar.


NEC Nijmegen - FC Groningen  2 - 2
With the two teams sharing the points, AZ are now definitely top of the table. And to think AZ lost their first two games...

One Eredivisie match this evening, four on Saturday. AZ have now gotten all 18 of their last 18 points, in five of which they have not conceded a goal. They face Heerenveen away on Saturday night.

Volendam have the chance to achieve their first win on Sunday against De Graafschap.

—

All ten Eerste Divisie fixtures on Friday. While i'm still thinking about it, the third round of the KNVB Beker happens between November 11—13. All times CET.

November 11, 2008
20:00 Excelsior (1) FC Den Bosch (1)
20:00 WKE (H) De Graafschap (E)
20:00 FC Omniworld (1) NAC Breda (E)
20:00 RKC Waalwijk (1) Achilles '29 (H)
20:00 NEC (E) Rijnsburgse Boys (H)
20:45 Roda JC (E) Willem II (E)

November 12, 2008
18:45 FC Volendam (E) v. Ajax (E)
20:00 Sparta Rotterdam (E) v. SC Cambuur (1)
20:00 FC Eindhoven (1) v. Twente (E)
20:00 sc Heerenveen (E) v. Haaglandia (H)
20:00 FC Lienden (H) v. Vitesse (E)
20:00 ADO Den Haag (E) v. Fortuna Sittard (1)
20:00 AGOVV (1) v. FC Dordrecht (1)
20:00 Telstar (1) v. Groningen (E)
20:45 AZ (E) v. PSV (E)

November 13, 2008
20:45 HHC Hardenberg (H) Feyenoord (E)

November 13, 2008
20:45 HHC Hardenberg (H) Feyenoord (E)


Heh. The odds are in favor of Hardenberg, I suppose, with Feyenoord in the shape they're in.

Forgot to report on yesterday's result: De Graafschap 0 - 2 FC Utrecht. Four Eredivisie fixtures tomorrow, five on Sunday, Feijenoord have the chance to get their first points of the season away from home against Roda, who sacked Raymond Atteveld just three weeks ago.

Ten games in the Eerste Divisie today. Bottom v. top as VVV face Omniworld. Second v. fourth as Excelsior face Helmond, RKC Waalwijk have a chance to continue their unbeaten run, facing FC Emmen.

Yesterday's results:


Cambuur Leeuwarden 2 - 1 TOP/Oss
Two goals in two minutes by Cambuur to come back with less than ten minutes remaining.
Haarlem FC 3 - 1 FC Zwolle
Helmond Sport 1 - 1 Excelsior
Go Ahead Eagles 0 - 0 Dordrecht '90
The Eagles lost Said Bakkati with eight minutes of the game remaining
FC Den Bosch 2 - 1 RBC Roosendaal
FC Omniworld 3 - 5 VVV Venlo
A veritable goalfest, VVV made it back from 2-0 down after 29, and 2-1 at half time.
AGOVV Apeldoorn 2 - 3 MVV Maastricht
Fortuna Sittard 2 - 1 SV Stormvogels Telstar
RKC Waaliwjk 1 - 0 FC Emmen VV
Emmen lose Sieme Zijm with seven minutes of the game remaining
BV Veendam 2 - 2 FC Eindhoven


No more Eerste Divisie matches until next Friday. Four matches in the Eredivisie today.

Today's results:


Twente Enschede 0 - 2 Ajax
PSV 2 - 0 Willem II
Including an own goal from Arjan Swinkels
NAC 1 - 0 FC Groningen
Heerenveen 3 - 3 AZ

Today's results:


Twente Enschede 0 - 2 Ajax
PSV 2 - 0 Willem II
Including an own goal from Arjan Swinkels
NAC 1 - 0 FC Groningen
Heerenveen 3 - 3 AZ



You know what this means, don't you?







We have now three teams leading the table with 19 points each (AZ, Ajax and NAC Breda). AZ has the better goal difference, so they're holding on to the top spot. Interestingly, Ajax and NAC Breda have the exact same goal difference (17 - 10).

True true. Ajax now break even in terms of goal difference away from home. At least Volendam can claim one thing. Their away record is identical to that of Feijenoord. :D

Five fixtures today, and the aforementioned Eredivisie giants can secure their first away points of the season by travelling to Roda. Ajax and PSV face off in two weeks time, though neither is leading the table, that honour belonging to AZ.

Today's results:


Vitesse Arnhem 3 - 1 ADO Den Haag
Including a 49 second goal from Ricky van Wolfswinkel
Sparta Rotterdam 0 - 2 NEC Nijmegen
Roda JC 0 - 4 Feijenoord
Feijenoord pick up their first away points of the Eredivisie season
FC Utrecht 2 - 0 Heracles
FC Volendam 3 - 1 De Graafschap
Volendam pick up their first win of the campaign, but remain at the bottom of the table


One Eredivisie fixture on Friday, four on Saturday, four on Sunday. Ten Eerste Divisie fixtures on Friday.

Tomorrow, PSV travel to the Stade Velodrome to face Marseille.

Marseilles win 3-0 against PSV.

Marseilles win 3-0 against PSV.


Oh boy. :(

This evening, Manchester City face FC Twente.

Domestic Eredivisie action coming up soon, one game on Friday, four games Saturday and four games Sunday.

All ten Eerste Divisie games taking place on Friday. Second-placed Waalwijk have the chance to go fifteen games from fifteen this season undefeated against Roosendaal, though it'll be their following fixture that'll be interesting, against Excelsior who currently occupy third place in the table.

In a game which finished 3-2 to City.

Two goals from Matthew Amoah close to the end of the game ensure a victory away from home for NAC Breda, continuing their unbeaten run away from home and bouncing them to the top of the table.

Groningen can make it five from five at home on Sunday, as can Ajax. Three Eredivisie fixtures tomorrow, five on Sunday.

And today's Eerste Divisie results:


MVV Maastricht 0 - 2 Fortuna Sittard
FC Zwolle 0 - 1 Helmond Sport
VVV Venlo 3 - 1 AGOVV Apeldoorn
FC Emmen VV 2 - 0 Haarlem FC
SC Stormvogels Telstar 3 - 1 FC Omniworld
Thanks to a hat-trick from Glynor Plet
RBC Roosendaal 2 - 2 RKC Waalwijk
Waalwijk make their way back from 2-0 at half-time, scoring their second goal in the final minute of the game
Dordrecht '90 0 - 1 FC Den Bosch
FC Eindhoven 3 - 3 Cambuur Leeuwarden
TOP/Oss 0 - 2 Go Ahead Eagles
Scorer of the second Eagles goal, Frank Broers, is sent off in the final minute of the game
Excelsior 4 - 1 BV Veendam

Yesterday's Eredivisie results:


NEC 1 - 0 PSV Eindhoven
Willem II 2 - 1 Roda JC
Heracles 0 - 0 Vitesse Arnhem


That's a third defeat from five away from home for PSV, while Roda, having gotten rid of Raymond Atteveld last month, remain second from bottom, and are the only team who remain winless at home this campaign. Vitesse's draw bumps Feijenoord down a place into a rather precarious fourteenth. Five Eredivisie fixtures today, AZ will regain the top spot so long as they win against McClaren's FC Twente.

We appear to be having the third round of the KNVB-Beker coming up between November 11-13. In the last 16, we still have six Hoofdklasse clubs, though we could easily have none left by the end of this round, as none are facing each other.

Today's results:

FC Groningen - FC Volendam 5-0 
AZ - FC Twente 3-0 
Ajax - Sparta 5-2 
Feyenoord - FC Utrecht 5-2 
ADO Den Haag - SC Heerenveen 0-1


Top three teams all win, and thus no changes at the top.
Bottom 4 teams all lose their respective games.

Thank you Henk. Next week, one match on Friday, four on Saturday and four on Sunday.

Hopefully I will remember to update the KNVB scores on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Six KNVB-Beker matches today, including Roda v. Willem II, nine tomorrow, including AZ v. PSV, and November 13's sole match is HHC Hardenberg v. Feijenoord, which, depending on who you believe, is either taking place in Hardenberg's De Boshoek stadium or FC Emmen's Univé Stadion.

Not Eredivisie news as such but, what a great day for Brighton & Hove Albion keeper Michael Kuipers.

Brighton shock City in Cup

Results 3rd round Dutch Cup:

FC Omniworld - NAC Breda  0 - 1
For the first time since the introduction of professional soccer in Almere, the stadium was sold out, but that didn't stop NAC from winning (albeit by a goal well into stoppage time of the second half).

NEC - Rijnsburgse Boys 1 - 0 (AET) 
Bennie van Noord for Rijnsburgse Boys missed a penalty in the first half of the match, but NEC's Youssef El-Akchaoui didn't in extra time.

Excelsior - FC Den Bosch  2 - 0

AGOVV - FC Dordrecht  2 - 3
 
RKC Waalwijk - Achilles '29  1 - 2 
So, with Achilles '29 defeating RKC Waalwijk, at least one Hoofdklasse team has made it to round 4.
RKC went 1 - 0 up in the 18th minute, and they appeared to have the game bagged, but two goals from Thijs Hendriks in the last 15 minutes (one from the penalty spot) stunned the Eerste Divisie team.


WKE - De Graafschap  2 - 4 
WKE went 3 to 0 down, before scoring twice in the last 15 minutes of the game. In a desperate all-or-nothing attempt by the hosts to take the game to extra time, it was De Graafschap who secured the victory.

Roda JC - Willem II  1 - 0
I'm sorry Bobo... :-\\

Breaking news

FC Volendam - Ajax  1 - 0 (AET)
A poor performance from Ajax, who also lost defender Vermaelen due to an injury in extra time, forcing the team to continue with 10 players.
On the other hand: party time in Volendam... :D Match winner: Jack Tuyp (111th minute).

I've just looked through the stats - and realized - Willem II are one of only two sides so far this Eredivisie campaign to have a victory against two of the "big three" sides, that is, PSV, Feijenoord, Ajax - the other being sixth-placed NEC.

And while our performance this year so far is a long way from our metaphorical "dice with death" of last season, it goes a long way to show just how much we rely on the performances of individuals, rather than the whole team - this year, Demouge is one of only two of our scorers to have scored more than a single goal this campaign, while last year it was Rydell Poepon, who has thus far scored just two goals for his new club, Sparta.

Please correct me if I have any of these wrong, Henk, but these results are not from my normal source, which for some reason doesn't appear to be housing tonight's results - and nobody has been all that quick in editing the relevant Wikipedia page.

Anyway, tonight's results, according to dodgy source. Here we go. :D


FC Volendam 1 - 0  AFC Ajax
FC Lienden 1 - 0 SBV Vitesse
SC Heerenveen 7 - 0 Haaglandia
FC Eindhoven 2 - 3 FC Twente
Sparta Rotterdam 2 - 1 SC Cambuur Leeuwarden
Telstar 0 - 3 FC Groningen
ADO Den Haag 4 - 1 Fortuna Sittard
AZ 1 - 0  PSV Eindhoven

Please correct me if I have any of these wrong, Henk, but these results are not from my normal source, which for some reason doesn't appear to be housing tonight's results - and nobody has been all that quick in editing the relevant Wikipedia page.

Anyway, tonight's results, according to dodgy source. Here we go. :D


FC Volendam 1 - 0  AFC Ajax
FC Lienden 1 - 0 SBV Vitesse
SC Heerenveen 7 - 0 Haaglandia
FC Eindhoven 2 - 3 FC Twente
Sparta Rotterdam 2 - 1 SC Cambuur Leeuwarden
Telstar 0 - 3 FC Groningen
ADO Den Haag 4 - 1 Fortuna Sittard
AZ 1 - 0  PSV Eindhoven




Your source seems to be right. Some highlights:

FC Lienden 1 - 0 SBV Vitesse
The shocker of the evening. Hoofdklasse Amateurs' FC Lienden beat Eredivisie's Vitesse Arnhem. For FC Lienden, this is their first Cup appearance ever, and they've already exceeded all expectations.

FC Volendam 1 - 0  AFC Ajax
Ajax have now played Volendam four times in Volendam in a Cup match, and have yet to win.


AZ 1 - 0  PSV Eindhoven
After extra time. The only goal was scored by David Mendes da Silva.

PSV and Ajax are now both out of the Cup competition, and face each other next Sunday for the regular competition. Should be interesting...

Thank you Henk. I retrieved the results from Soccerway, which incidentally includes rather comprehensive coverage of the six Hoofdklasse and eleven  Eerste Klasse leagues. I might just keep my eye on those in the future.

Having just surfed through each Eerste Klasse league, it seems amazing how a single team appears so dominant in almost all of the leagues. The rather wonderfully named Sportlust are eight wins from nine and undefeated in Eerste Klasse Saturday A, RVVH are currently undefeated in Saturday B, LRC are eight from nine in Saturday C, SVZW are seven from nine and undefeated in Saturday D (having just beaten a team I should probably keep my eye on, FC Zutphen, in the last round, Urk are eight from nine, and ACV are also undefeated in Saturday E.

In the Sunday divisions, FC Chabab have nine wins from nine, though second-placed De Zouaven have five wins from five and no goals conceded at home, Sunday B is currently led by SC Neptunus, though, for a change, no single team seems to be an outright dominant force in the league. RKVV Best Vooruit and RKSV Nuenen remain undefeated in Sunday C. Sunday D is quite packed near the top, SV Juliana lead Sunday E, having most recently beat Avanti Wilskracht by a score of 2-6, while Hoogeveen lead Sunday F and are four for four at home.

It seems that it's not just in this country that there's such a wide gap when it comes to quality of teams in non-league football, especially at levels that low, even within the same divisions.

I digress. Sliding back into the Eredivisie, we have one match on Friday, four on Saturday, including ADO Den Haag v. Willem II, as we attempt to recover from our cup loss, and four games on Sunday, including the mega-matchup against Ajax and PSV.

If AZ win this season, providing my stats and memory are correct, this'll be the first title that's gone outside the big three since the 1980-81 season, and only the second since defunct outfit DWS (who I believe we've mentioned before on account of at least two of the big three teams' poor form) won in 1963-64.

Sometimes I wish it were 1954-55 all over again, but then where's the fun in that? :D

Our regular set of fixtures this week in the Eerste Divisie, though this week, five are taking place on Friday and five on Saturday. VVV still lead the table - while RKC's undefeated run is under threat tomorrow evening.

One last result from the Dutch League Cup:

HHC Hardenberg - Feyenoord 1 -5
Well, no surprises there (although Hardenberg took the lead). The game was done and dusted right after the break, with Feyenoord scoring twice a space of three minutes, thus making it 1 to 3.


Oh, and this is the draw for the 4th round (to be played on 20, 21 and 22 January 2009):

Roda JC - FC Lienden
ADO Den Haag - FC Twente
Feyenoord - SC Heerenveen
NEC - Sparta
FC Dordrecht - De Graafschap
NAC Breda - FC Groningen
AZ - Achilles '29
FC Volendam - Excelsior


Very unlucky draws for the remaining amateur teams - although FC Lienden probably still have a chance against struggling Roda JC.

Tonight's final scores.

The one Eredivisie match:


NAC Breda 3 - 0 Heracles


And our five Eerste Divisie results:


Go Ahead Eagles 1 - 2 Haarlem FC
FC Omniworld 2 - 1 Dordrecht 90
RKC Waalwijk 1 - 1 Excelsior
FC Den Bosch 1 - 1 Helmond Sport
AGOVV Apeldoorn 3 - 2 TOP/Oss


Tomorrow, four Eredivisie matches and five Eerste Divisie matches. While Klaas-Jan Goalmachine is indeed Ajax's top scorer so far this season, Hamdaoui has the top Eredivisie tally, with 13 runs from 10 games.

Go Ahead Eagles 1 - 2 Haarlem FC
FC Omniworld 2 - 1 Dordrecht 90
RKC Waalwijk 1 - 1 Excelsior
FC Den Bosch 1 - 1 Helmond Sport
AGOVV Apeldoorn 3 - 2 TOP/Oss



With the numbers 2 to 5 in Eerste Divisie all sharing the points, VVV Venlo have good prospects of gaining on their persecutors (provided they win themselves, of course).

Today's final scores:

Eredivisie:


ADO den Haag 0 - 1 Willem II
Willem II scored their goal just after ADO lost their goalkeeper to injury. His replacement was Boy Waterman, who is on loan from AZ. Incidentally, Waterman's first match for AZ came against Willem II.
Heerenveen 3 - 2 FC Utrecht
Sparta Rotterdam 4 - 0 FC Volendam
Sparta scored their first goal as late as the 72nd minute.
Roda JC 3 - 0 NEC


Willem II bounce up a place to eighth, PSV slip outside the Champions League play-off spots, if only temporarily, thanks to Heerenveen's victory.

And from the Eerste Divisie:


FC Eindhoven 0 - 1 RBC Roosendaal
Roosendaal continue their unbeaten run thanks to a goal from Tim Peters, who played with De Graafschap in their Eerste Divisie-winning season of 2006-07.
FC Emmen VV 2 - 4 VVV Venlo
Thanks to a hat-trick from former Helmond Sport player Sandro Calabro.
Fortuna Sittard 1 - 3 FC Zwolle
SC Stormvogels Telstar 1 - 0 BV Veendam
Cambuur Leeuwarden 2 - 1 MVV Maastricht

Today's Eredivisie final scores:


Ajax 4 - 1 PSV
FC Twente 1 - 1 Feijenoord
Vitesse 1 - 1 AZ
FC Groningen 3 - 0 De Graafschap

Apparently the next round of KNVB-Beker fixtures isn't happening until January 21. This week in the Eredivisie, one match on Friday, four on Saturday, four on Sunday. This week in the Eerste Divisie, one match on Sunday but the rest of the matches all on Friday.

One story that ESPN never covered that has been covered extensively by Soccerway is the comeback to soccer of Marc Overmars. The 35-year-old, who started his career with the Go Ahead Eagles, has returned to his first ever side. The Roadrunner spent a season with Willem II before moving to Ajax, Arsenal and Barcelona.

The Netherlands win tonight's international fixture against Sweden by 3 goals to 1, thanks to two goals from Robin Van Persie and one from Dirk Kuijt.

The Netherlands win tonight's international fixture against Sweden by 3 goals to 1, thanks to two goals from Robin Van Persie and one from Dirk Kuijt.


Haven't seen the game, but I like those figures. :) We don't get to defeat Sweden (away!) that much... ;)


One story that ESPN never covered that has been covered extensively by Soccerway is the comeback to soccer of Marc Overmars. The 35-year-old, who started his career with the Go Ahead Eagles, has returned to his first ever side. The Roadrunner spent a season with Willem II before moving to Ajax, Arsenal and Barcelona.


Yes - he's back, and yes - he's played, but no - he hasn't scored (yet).

Random thoughts:

AZ, currently in fourth place, two points off the top of the table, face top side Ajax this weekend. With third-placed Groningen facing Willem II, we all know who's going to win that one *cough*, and with second-placed NAC at home, with their slightly unpredictable form, against NEC this weekend, AZ could theoretically be top of the table this weekend.

That's the plan, anyway, I would think?

In the Eredivisie, we have one game tomorrow, four on Saturday, giving Breda the chance to temporarily move three points clear at the top of the table, and four matches on Sunday, including Willem II against Groningen.

Tonight's results:

Eredivisie

FC Volendam 3 - 1 Roda JC

Eerste Divisie

RKC Waalwijk 2 - 2 FC Eindhoven
FC Omniworld 3 - 3 FC Zwolle
BV Veendam 1 - 1 FC Emmen VV
Cambuur Leeuwarden 2 - 3 SC Stormvogels Telstar
TOP/Oss 0 - 3 RBC Roosendaal
Excelsior 1 - 1 Dordrecht '90
Helmond Sport 3 - 2 VVV Venlo
Fortuna Sittard 2 - 4 AGOVV Apeldoorn
Haarlem FC 0 - 3 MVV Maastricht


So, just one home win in tonight's bunch of Eerste Divisie games, and perhaps surprisingly, it was top-of-the-table VVV who stumbled against home team Helmond Sport, the losing team even having their blushes spared considerably by two goals in the last nine minutes.

One Eerste Divisie game on Sunday. Four Eredivisie games tomorrow, NAC having the chance to go top if they win against NEC. Ajax, five wins in their last five games, go up against AZ at the Almaarderhout - who happen to be unbeaten in their last ten.

Tonight's results:

Eredivisie

FC Volendam 3 - 1 Roda JC



Both teams are in serious danger of (direct) relegation...It's good to see Volendam taking the points, bringing back the excitement at the bottom of the table.


One Eerste Divisie game on Sunday. Four Eredivisie games tomorrow, NAC having the chance to go top if they win against NEC. Ajax, five wins in their last five games, go up against AZ at the Almaarderhout - who happen to be unbeaten in their last ten.


The Alkmaarderhout was abandonded a couple of seasons ago. Nowadays AZ have the all new DSB Stadium. ;)
I hope AZ can win this one - that would keep the competition entertaining.

That's what happens when you start reading the wrong source for results, for some reason the thing I read said it was happening at the Alkmaarderhout. ESPN are right. :D

Tonight's Eredivisie results:


NAC 1 - 1 NEC
PSV 4 - 0 Heracles
•cough• Wait a minute. Every time I refresh the page, the final score of this game keeps changing. Any idea Henk?
Twente 6 - 0 Heerenveen
Heerenveen lost Mika Väyrynen in the last minute of the game
De Graafschap 3 - 3 Sparta Rotterdam


Tomorrow, one Eerste Divisie game, and four Eredivisie games, including AZ v. Ajax, both of whom are undefeated in their last five, and ADO, who have five defeats from their last five game, against Feijenoord.

Today's Eredivisie results:


Feijenoord 3 - 1 ADO Den Haag
AZ 2 - 0 Ajax
Willem II 3 - 0 FC Groningen
FC Utrecht 4 - 0 Vitesse


And the one Eerste Divisie result:


Go Ahead Eagles 0 - 0 FC Den Bosch
Den Bosch lost Israeli-born Samuel Scheimann in the 59th minute

Tonight's European results:


Group D - NEC 0 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur
Group F - SV Hamburg 0 - 1 Ajax
Group H - Deportivo 3 - 0 Feijenoord


Tomorrow, one Eredivisie game, AZ away, and nine Eerste Divisie games, VVV can go for their eighth win from nine at home against struggling Fortuna Sittard, while RBC can extend their unbeaten season to 18 games against Helmond Sport.

I assume that means that if they go nineteen games unbeaten, they've avoided defeat at every Eerste Divisie team at least once? I don't know whether Holland works like that, that every team faces each other once in the first half of the season and once in the second half. i'll check later...

Tonight's European results:


Group D - NEC 0 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur
Group F - SV Hamburg 0 - 1 Ajax
Group H - Deportivo 3 - 0 Feijenoord




Excellent performance by Ajax, I must say. They played aggressive and were eager to win.
NEC are lacking international experience, and it shows. Apart from that, it's a rather mediocre team, internationally speaking. Still, I think they had a fair chance against the Spurs tonight.
Haven't seen the Feyenoord match, so I can't say much about that one.


Tomorrow, one Eredivisie game, AZ away, and nine Eerste Divisie games, VVV can go for their eighth win from nine at home against struggling Fortuna Sittard, while RBC can extend their unbeaten season to 18 games against Helmond Sport.

I assume that means that if they go nineteen games unbeaten, they've avoided defeat at every Eerste Divisie team at least once? I don't know whether Holland works like that, that every team faces each other once in the first half of the season and once in the second half. i'll check later...


In general, yes, that's how it works. So I guess your conclusion must be correct.


On a sidenote: Discovery Channel (Netherlands) will be broadcasting three live Eredivisie matches this weekend. On Friday we get FC Groningen vs AZ, on Saturday it's sc Heerenveen vs PSV, and on Sunday it's Ajax vs FC Utrecht. 8)

In general, yes, that's how it works. So I guess your conclusion must be correct.


To answer my own question -

RKC Waalwijk's first nineteen games are indeed against nineteen different sides (I've only just had the patience to type these out and check for myself). Their first repeat comes against the very first side they played against in the Eerste Divisie, FC Den Bosch, and while the rest of their fixtures follow a similar pattern, there are some minor differences (too minor to want to go into right now). :D

Well well well. •pondering face• That's what you call jinxing it... Results before the end of the night.

Tonight's results:

Eredivisie

FC Groningen 0 - 2 AZ


Eerste Divisie

AGOVV Apeldoorn 0 - 2 Cambuur Leeuwarden
Dordrecht '90 1 - 1 SC Stormvogels Telstar
FC Eindhoven 1 - 1 FC Omniworld
FC Zwolle 1 - 1 Excelsior
Haarlem FC 1 - 0 BV Veendam
MVV Maastricht 2 - 1 RKC Waalwijk
RBC Roosdenaal 1 - 1 Helmond Sport
TOP/Oss 2 - 1 FC Den Bosch
VVV 2 - 0 Fortuna Sittard


The first defeat of the season for RKC Waalwijk. Cambuur Leeuwarden — the surprise package of this season? Finished last season in eighteenth place, flying up in third place as of tonight's results. Venlo remain top of the Eerste Divisie table, still having dropped just two points at home from their first nine games.

No change at the top of the Eredivisie. Four games tomorrow in the Eredivisie. Next Eerste Divisie game on Sunday.

We have our results in, and off we go:


De Graafschap 1 - 1 Roda JC
Heracles 1 - 0 Willem II
ADO Den Haag 1 - 2 Twente Enschede
Heerenveen 2 - 2 PSV


Tomorrow, four Eredivisie fixtures, and one Eerste Divisie fixture.

Tonight's results:

Eerste Divisie

AGOVV Apeldoorn 0 - 2 Cambuur Leeuwarden
Dordrecht '90 1 - 1 SC Stormvogels Telstar
FC Eindhoven 1 - 1 FC Omniworld
FC Zwolle 1 - 1 Excelsior
Haarlem FC 1 - 0 BV Veendam
MVV Maastricht 2 - 1 RKC Waalwijk
RBC Roosdenaal 1 - 1 Helmond Sport
TOP/Oss 2 - 1 FC Den Bosch
VVV 2 - 0 Fortuna Sittard



It's worth mentioning that with this result, Stormvogels Telstar claim the Periodetitel (Period Championship), which means they've qualified for promotion play-offs after the regular season. The last (and only) time the team claimed such a championship was in 1978/1979 season (the season following relegation from Eredivisie).
Stormvogels Telstar are a minor player in Eerste Divisie, with one of the smallest budgets, so this is a great achievement for/from the team. They're not likely to move up to Eredivisie again, though.

Thank you for filling me in on that, Henk, for some reason ESPN didn't report on the period title victory...

Anyway, tonight's results:

Eredivisie

Vitesse Arnhem 1 - 1 Feijenoord
Ajax 1 - 1 FC Utrecht
Sparta 4 - 0 NAC
NEC 6 - 1 FC Volendam

Eerste Divisie

FC Emmen VV 2 - 2 Go Ahead Eagles


Joint second-top scorer in the Eredivisie remains Willem II's Frank Demouge. Not quite sure why I mention that. :D

Real Madrid have confirmed the signing of Klaas-Jan Goalmachine. More here.

Coming up in the Eredivisie - four games on Saturday and four games on Sunday, top-of-the-table AZ face Heracles, second-placed Ajax face bottom side Volendam.

One game tonight in the Eerste Divisie, top-of-the-table VVV face their latest challenge at home against MVV Maastricht. The other nine games take place tomorrow, second take on third as surprise package Cambuur Leeuwarden face Excelsior.

UEFA Cup action from last night:

Spartak Moscow - NEC Nijmegen  1 - 2

A truly amazing victory for NEC, who were trailing most of the game after a goal in the second minute. The team realized they really needed to win this game to still have a chance for Round Three, and they went for it in the second half! Still, it took them till the 85th and 87th minute to turn the tables...


FC Twente - Schalke 04  2 - 1

Second win for Twente, which means they've already qualified for Round Three. Excellent result!

Yesterday's Eerste Divisie result:


VVV Venlo 2 - 2 MVV Maastricht


VVV falter at home, nearly suffering their first league defeat this season at their home stadium, before two goals in the last four minutes of the game.

Today, nine Eerste Divisie fixtures.

Tonight's Eerste Divisie results:


Go Ahead Eagles 2 - 0 AGOVV Apeldoorn
SC Stormvogels Telstar 0 - 2 FC Emmen VV
Dordrecht '90 1 - 1 RBC Roosendaal
BV Veendam 1 - 1 TOP/Oss
Fortuna Sittard 2 - 1 FC Eindhoven
Excelsior 0 - 0 Cambuur Leeuwarden
Helmond Sport 1 - 2 RKC Waalwijk
FC Den Bosch 3 - 4 FC Zwolle
FC Omniworld 0 - 1 Haarlem FC


Next two rounds of the Eerste Divisie take place on December 12 and December 19, before a break which lasts until January 16.

Four Eredivisie matches tomorrow, top-of-the-table AZ take on Heracles, while second-placed Ajax face bottom club Volendam.

Tonight's Eredivisie results:


PSV 4 - 2 FC Groningen
Roda JC 3 - 0 Vitesse Arnhem
Twente 6 - 2 Sparta
AZ 2 - 0 Heracles


Tomorrow, five Eredivisie games.

Roda JC 3 - 0 Vitesse Arnhem


If Vitesse even fail to win these (relegation) games, it's pretty much over for the Arnhem team (not to mention their coach Hans Westerhof). :(

It's hard to imagine that not so long ago they were battling for Champions League tickets.


AZ 2 - 0 Heracles


Fixed. ;)

Apologies. ESPN broke again. :D

Okay, let's see if ESPN have gotten it right this time. Tonight's results:


FC Volendam 1 - 2 Ajax
This in spite of Volendam going ahead in the 41st minute
Feijenoord 1 - 3 De Graafschap
NAC 0 - 4 ADO Den Haag
NEC 1 - 2 FC Utrecht


Two come-from-behind victories tonight. No more Eredivisie action until Friday, which is also when we next pick up the Eerste Divisie - where we have two rounds left before Christmas. According to Wikipedia, our three Periodekampen so far are second-placed Excelsior, first-placed VVV, and fourteenth-placed Stormvogels Telstar.

Okay, let's see if ESPN have gotten it right this time. Tonight's results:


FC Volendam 1 - 2 Ajax
This in spite of Volendam going ahead in the 41st minute
Feijenoord 1 - 3 De Graafschap
NAC 0 - 4 ADO Den Haag
NEC 1 - 2 FC Utrecht




Yes, those are right.

De Graafschap victorious over Feyenoord...in Rotterdam. :o That must be a first. It just goes to show (once again) that anything is possible in Dutch competition.

Yes, those are right.


Thank you Henk. Coming up in the Eredivisie, one game on Friday, four on Saturday and four on Sunday. Second play fourth as Ajax and NAC face off, Willem II can bump back into the UEFA Cup placings with a home victory this week.

Roda meanwhile are somewhat stuck near the root of the table. Slightly worrying times. Teams currently in 14th, 15th and 16th places all won their respective Eredivisie games last round.

Two rounds of Eerste Divisie action left before Christmas, with ten games each on Friday 12, and the following Friday 19, before we take a break until Friday January 16.

Real Madrid have confirmed the signing of Klaas-Jan Goalmachine. More here.


Well, to be honest...Klaas-Jan ain't that much of a goalmachine (anymore). I wish him the best of luck in Spain, but I fear it will all turn out to be a great deception. He should've stayed with Heerenveen, if you ask me.

Perhaps unfortunately, I completely agree. I also didn't realize - and it's the top story on ESPN Soccernet as I speak - that Real have sacked Bernd Schuster and brought in former Tottenham coach Juande Ramos. I knew Ramos was leaving Tottenham but I didn't realize a space was going to open up for him in Spain.

I love how the top scorers chart is looking at the moment though - Hamdaoui at the top, Demouge in second. Unfortunately Hamdaoui's 14 goals so far this season do include a hat-trick at none other than Willem II, but if the two remain at the top of the scoring chart by the end of the campaign, that'll certainly be something.

Current top scorer in the Eerste Divisie is Sandro Calabro of top-of-the-table VVV with sixteen goals, while tied for second - perhaps surprisingly - are Serhat Koc of seventeenth-placed FC Eindhoven and Glynor Plet of recent Periodekampioen Stormvogels Telstar.

Yesterday's European result:

Group C

PSV 1 - 3 Liverpool

Yesterday's European result:

Group C

PSV 1 - 3 Liverpool



And that ends the European adventures of PSV this season. They needed at least a draw to maybe qualify for UEFA Cup.

Well, if you can't win (against "Liverpool-B" in your home stadium), you're just no good. And that's that. I'm a bit sad, but this is where Dutch football stands today.

While I'm still awake.. one Eredivisie match on Friday, four on Saturday, including AZ at Feijenoord and NEC at Willem II, and four on Sunday.

Our usual batch of ten Eerste Divisie matches on Friday.

One Eredivisie fixture tonight, Ajax v. NAC, four games tomorrow, and four games on Sunday.

Two further Eerste Divisie rounds until the Christmas break, tonight's games include Go Ahead Eagles' match against top side VVV.

Tonight's results:

Eredivisie

Ajax 3 - 0 NAC

Eerste Divsie

AGOVV Apeldoorn 1 - 0 Helmond Sport
Cambuur Leeuwarden 2 - 2 BV Veendam
FC Eindhoven 2 - 1 Dordrecht '90
FC Emmen VV 1 - 2 Fortuna Sittard
Go Ahead Eagles 1 - 0 VVV
MVV Maastricht 4 - 1 FC Zwolle
RBC Roosendaal 1 - 1 FC Omniworld
RKC Waalwijk 1 - 1 FC Den Bosch
SC Stormvogels Telstar 1 - 1 Excelsior
TOP/Oss 1 - 0 Haarlem FC


So a defeat for the top side, though it means little at the top of the table.

Tomorrow, four Eredivisie games, including top side AZ away at eleventh placed Feijenoord.

We have tonight's Eredivisie results in:


ADO Den Haag 1 - 1 Roda JC
Feijenoord 0 - 1 AZ
Heerenveen 2 - 0 De Graafschap
Willem II 1 - 2 NEC


Nice job for AZ, less so for Willem II. Four Eredivisie games tomorrow.

Today's Eredivisie results:


Vitesse Arnhem 1- 1 PSV
FC Utrecht 0 - 0 FC Volendam
FC Groningen 1 - 4 Twente
Heracles 2 - 1 Sparta Rotterdam


Next week, one Eredivisie game on Friday, three on Saturday, five on Sunday.

Our usual quota of ten Eerste Divisie games next Friday, the final round before the Christmas break. The Eerste Divisie kicks off again on January 16th, soon followed by the Last 16 round of the Dutch Cup.

Today's Eredivisie results:


Vitesse Arnhem 1- 1 PSV
FC Utrecht 0 - 0 FC Volendam
FC Groningen 1 - 4 Twente
Heracles 2 - 1 Sparta Rotterdam





PSV spilling points again (against Vitesse, currently holding 17th place in competition, no less)... :(

On the bright side: First away point for Volendam this season. :)

I think it's safe to say that both NAC Breda and FC Groningen have now dropped out of the race for the Dutch competition title. They've spilled too many points in the past two to three weeks.

Without making it necessary to mention that it is indeed AZ at the top of the table, it would be nice, from a footballing perspective, for the title to go outside of the "big three".

And heck, the fact that one of those "big three" is currently in twelfth position in the table... is somewhat encouraging.

Tonight's results:

UEFA Cup Group E

Portsmouth 3 - 0 Heerenveen

UEFA Cup Group F

Ajax 2 - 2 Slavia Prague

UEFA Cup Group H

Feijenoord 0 - 1 Lech Poznan

Yesterday, NEC beat Udinese 2-0 in the UEFA Cup, and PSG beat Twente 4-0.

In the Eredivisie, we have one match today, three matches tomorrow, including NAC, who have now lost three games on the run, and five matches on Sunday, including PSV v. Feijenoord and Twente v. Willem II. Willem II will be looking for their first points since their win at Groningen on November 23.

The usual ten Friday fixtures in the Eerste Divisie tonight at 19:00 GMT.

VVV are nine points ahead of their nearest rivals at the top of the Eerste Divisie - who, ironically enough, they happen to be playing in the final round before the Chrsitmas break. Excelsior are leading the race for the promotion playoffs, while Cambuur are still flying high in fourth place in the table after their poor 2007-08 season.

With eighteen games remaining in this season's Eerste Divisie, Cambuur have already matched their ten wins which they achieved in 2007-08, and on Friday February 13, they have the opportunity to do the double over VVV.

Tonight's results:

UEFA Cup Group E

Portsmouth 3 - 0 Heerenveen

UEFA Cup Group F

Ajax 2 - 2 Slavia Prague

UEFA Cup Group H

Feijenoord 0 - 1 Lech Poznan



Both Heerenveen and Feyenoord lost all of their group matches and are eliminated.

Ajax has secured a place in the third round.


Yesterday, NEC beat Udinese 2-0 in the UEFA Cup, and PSG beat Twente 4-0.



FC Twente had already secured a place in third round, but the surprise of the day comes from Nijmegen, where NEC were victorious over Udinese. :) For the first time in club history, they've made it to round three.

Today's results:

Eredivisie

AZ 2 - 0 FC Utrecht


Eerste Divisie

BV Veendam 2 - 4 FC Den Bosch
Cambuur Leeuwarden 2 - 2 Go Ahead Eagles
Excelsior 1 - 2 VVV
FC Zwolle 2 - 1 Dordrecht '90
Haarlem FC 1 - 0 AGOVV Apeldoorn
Helmond Sport 1 - 1 SC Stormvogels Telstar
RBC Roosendaal 0 - 1 Fortuna Sittard
RKC Waalwijk 1 - 0 FC Omniworld
TOP/Oss 1 - 2 FC Eindhoven


RKC rise back into second place, at the expense of Excelsior.

Busy last night, I apologize. Saturday's results:


Sparta Rotterdam 4 - 1 Heerenveen
Five goals in the second half of the game.
Roda JC 2 - 5 FC Groningen
Four of Groningen's goals came from Marcus Berg
NAC 2 - 0 Vitesse Arnhem
Two goals in quick succession for NAC, followed by a 52nd minute sending off of Ricky van Wolfswinkel for Vitesse


Five matches today, including PSV v. Feijenoord, and Twente v. Willem II.

Results from today's matches:

NEC - ADO Den Haag 0-0 
No goals, no story. ADO got what they wanted, with NEC probably still not fully awake after this week's UEFA Cup success.


De Graafschap - Ajax 0-6 
With Ajax scoring twice in the first 13 minutes of the game, and with Joost Volmer of De Graafschap sent off (after elbowing Dario Cvitanich in the penatly box) in the 35th minute, the game was already over before it even began for the home team.
BTW: last season, Ajax (with Huntelaar) crushed De Graafschap 1 to 8 in "De Goffert".


FC Volendam - Heracles Almelo 3-1
An important victory for Volendam, who have now nearly closed the gap with De Graafschap and Vitesse (only one point behind).
And next week it's Vitesse - FC Volendam... Should Vitesse lose that one, I think it's bye bye Hans Westerhof.


FC Twente - Willem II 2-0
FC Twente win again, and are now holding 3rd place. So this is what Steve McClaren came to do.. ::)


PSV - Feyenoord 1-0
Disappointing performance from both sides, with one goal by Ibrahim Affelay, sending Feyenoord back to the trouble zone once again (13th place).

Thank you for covering the results again, Henk. Been very busy this week.

Alkmaar remain at the top of the table, and at the bottom, four teams separated by just three points. Feijenoord's next fixture is against NAC, while Volendam face Vitesse, which if Volendam win the match, could make the bottom of the table somewhat interesting.

Eredivisie games this week, one on Friday, four on Saturday, including Willem II's match against Sparta, Willem II having lost every single one of their last games — and PSV v. Twente — both of whom are undefeaten in their last five, Twente with five consecutive Eredivisie victories.

The last eight of the KNVB-Beker is to take place between January 20 and 22. The fixture list will be as follows:

January 20
FC Dordrecht v. De Graafschap
Feijenoord v. Heerenveen

January 21
NEC v. Sparta
AZ v. Achilles '29
Roda v. FC Lienden
FC Volendam v. Excelsior
NAC v. Groningen

January 22
ADO den Haag v. FC Twente

So, two Eerste Divisie teams left, and two Hoofdklasse teams, both of whom play in the same Hoofdklasse division, Hoofdklasse Sunday C. While Achilles are on the charge up the table, with five wins from their last six games, Lienden are currently going through a bad patch, with no wins in their last three games.

Achilles overcame Eerste Divisie high-flyers RKC Waalwijk in the last round. Neither of us will want to see them do the same against AZ, who have conceded just a single goal in their last eight games.

I think I have all of that right. Hope you're having a good Christmas, Henk.

Tonight's Eredivisie game, Feijenoord v. NAC, finished 3-1 to Feijenoord.

Four games tomorrow, four on Sunday.

Yesterday's results:


PSV 0 - 0 FC Twente
Heracles 0 - 0 De Graafschap
Willem II 3 - 2 Sparta
Vitesse 3 - 1 FC Volendam

Today's Eredivisie results:


Ajax 3 - 0 ADO Den Haag
Thanks to a hat-trick from Dario Cvitanich
FC Utrecht 3 - 1 Roda JC
AZ 1 - 0 NEC
FC Groningen 2 - 3 Heerenveen


End of year review:

By my reckoning, with seventeen games gone, we're now halfway through the Eredivisie season. AZ lead the pack on 41 points, Ajax trail in second place with 38 points. AZ's only two defeats of the campaign so far came in the first two games of the season, though they hit back against none other than PSV in the third round of fixtures.

This also must mean, therefore, that the two goals that AZ conceded against NAC in their defeat in the first game of the season are the only goals they have conceded at home so far this term. Since the goalkeeper in each of the home games up to this point has been Sergio Romero, this must mean he's now gone... *gets calculator out* 754 minutes without conceding a goal at home.

Alkmaar's next fixture comes on January 18 against bottom club FC Volendam, who I am surprised to discover have so far scored more goals at home than they have conceded so far this season.

Other columns in which teams have notable zeroes, second-placed Ajax are undefeated at home, their only blemish coming in a 1-1 draw against Utrecht on the final day of November. Heracles, Sparta and Volendam are the only teams without a win away from home.

In the Eerste Divisie, RKC Waalwijk jump into second place. Theoretically, Maastricht, in ninth place, and with two games in hand over all but the two teams they still have to play to catch up, could go from 30 points to 36 points with two wins from their two games in hand. If they were to score more than three goals in these two fixtures, and assuming no other team were to play before then (which isn't strictly accurate) they could go up to second place in the table.

Columns with notable zeroes in the Eerste Divisie, both VVV and RKC are undefeated at home, RKC having a surprisingly similar season to their last, in which only their away form stopped them from being promoted to the Eredivisie. Once again they are in second place, though they are being pursued by Excelsior and, perhaps surprisingly, Cambuur. TOP/Oss, five spots from the bottom of the table, are without a win away from home this season, as are second-from-bottom side Dordrecht and bottom side FC Omniworld.

Still nothing in the Eredivisie, kicks off again on January 16. Similarly in the Eerste Divisie, kicks off again on the 16th with VVV in top position. According to my stats, Excelsior in third have not won a game in the last five. Peter Uneken of Helmond Sport apparently "leads" the disciplinary league, having received five yellow cards and one red this year.

Sandro Calabro from VVV has 17 goals from 17 appearances in this season's Eredivisie competition, twelve more than he achieved in twice the number of games in VVV's relegation season.

Only one team remains unbeaten in the Hoofdklasse, Rijnsburger Boys have not conceded a goal in their last three fixtures, and have won 11 of their 12 fixtures thus far. In the same division, Alphense Racing Club have lost all of their previous nine fixtures and face second-placed VV Capelle in the next round of fixtures.

Nothing in the Dutch leagues today. Casting our net slightly wider into Europe, mostly to stop us from feeling devoid of football, however, non-league Dunkirk have pulled off a shock in the latest round of the Coupe de France, beating Ligue 2 side Montpelier. Another match saw Ligue 2 side Troyes squeak past Championnat National side Louhans-Cuiseaux.

CFA Group C team Montlucon will have to wait until tomorrow to see if they can pull off another shock, against last season's Ligue 1 strugglers PSG. Besançon host Marseilles, currently in fifth in the French league. Any shocks in this round will be most assuredly reported on this page!

To tie up the loose ends — Montlucon indeed only lost the match 0-1 against PSG, while Marseilles only won against Besançon on penalty kicks. Eeeeenteresting, Mr. Bont.

We're finally back in action next week. Friday sees one Eredivisie fixture, Saturday four fixtures, and similarly, Sunday, four fixtures.

AZ have won every single one of their last six fixtures, including one against Feijenoord, without conceding a goal. Heracles have the chance to get their first away win of the season, against ADO den Haag.

Feyenoord coach Gertjan Verbeek has been given the sack last Wednesday.
According to all sources, all Feyenoord players had completely lost faith in Verbeek (who only 7 months ago signed a 3 year contract with the club).
Feyenoord are undergoing one of their worst seasons in recent history. The team was eliminated in the second round of the UEFA Cup (with every game lost in that group stage) and they're currently 12th in competition.

In a rather strange twist of fate, Feyenoord's next opponents (both tomorrow evening and again next Tuesday*) are sc Heerenveen, former employers of Gertjan Verbeek...


*On Friday, January 16, the teams face each other for national competition. Four days later they meet again for Dutch League Cup.

According to Wikipedia, Feijenoord's interim manager is Leon Vlemmings, who was the assistant coach at NAC between 2006 and 2008.

The team themselves lie in twelfth place with half the season gone - 7 points away from the UEFA Cup Playoffs.

Ajax are just three points behind AZ, and have scored two goals less than them this season.

----

Willem II get the chance to do the home and away double over what will presumably still be a managerless Feijenoord team on January 24.

Willem II's joint second-highest scorers in this Eredivisie season each have two goals. Demouge, for whom 13 of his 14 goals at Willem II have come in this season, is still the joint second-highest scorer in the league. Sort of makes you wonder where the team would be without him. One more goal for Demouge will equal the 15 he scored with his home-town team NEC, having played 41 games fewer.

----

Enough rambling. One Eredivisie game on Friday, four on Saturday, four on Sunday. Top play bottom as AZ travel to play Volendam. Ajax face NEC, who have only lost once at home so far this season.

In the Eerste Divisie, top side VVV are defending their unbeaten home record against RBC - but with 12 points between first and second place in the table, they look to be in pretty safe shape for promotion.

RKC, it must be repeated, still have just one league defeat so far this season, at Maastricht - who, in ninth place, still have two games in hand over almost all Eerste Divisie sides.

According to Wikipedia, Feijenoord's interim manager is Leon Vlemmings, who was the assistant coach at NAC between 2006 and 2008.

The team themselves lie in twelfth place with half the season gone - 7 points away from the UEFA Cup Playoffs.



...and also only 7 points clear from direct relegation. ::)

Friday's results:

Eredivisie

Heerenveen 3 - 1 Feijenoord


Another slip-up for the effectively managerless team. Four Eredivisie games on Saturday - including De Graafschap v. Willem II, both of whom have won just once in their last five matches, and NAC v. Utrecht, NAC having lost four of their last five games.

Eerste Divisie

Dordrecht '90 2 - 0 Top/Oss
FC Omniworld 1 - 0 FC Emmen VV
FC Eindhoven 1 - 4 SC Stormvogels Telstar
AGOVV Apeldoorn 2 - 2 RKC Waalwijk
Fortuna Sittard 3 - 1 Helmond Sport
VVV 3 - 1 RBC Roosdenaal
FC Den Bosch 0 - 0 Excelsior
Haarlem FC 0 - 1 Cambuur Leeuwarden


One Eerste Divisie fixture on Sunday, and one on Monday. The remaining nine, next Friday.

...and also only 7 points clear from direct relegation. ::)


Sorry, that should be 8 (eight) points. One point that could just make the difference...


Friday's results:

Eredivisie

Heerenveen 3 - 1 Feijenoord


Another slip-up for the effectively managerless team. Four Eredivisie games on Saturday - including De Graafschap v. Willem II, both of whom have won just once in their last five matches, and NAC v. Utrecht, NAC having lost four of their last five games.



Feyenoord's defence suck, and while Heerenveen didn't play their best game ever they deserved the win.

Four matches tonight, one is already complete, three are in their second half. If you catch the results before I get back tomorrow morning, Henk, please post them. Sadly the game which is complete isn't the happiest of results for me.

Yesterday's results:


De Graafschap 1 - 0 Willem II
ADO Den Haag 2 - 2 Heracles
Twente 2 - 1 Vitesse
NAC 1 - 1 Utrecht
A goal in the 90th minute for Utrecht saving a point for the team.


Four games today, AZ looking for another victory. With half the season gone, AZ already have two victories more than they achieved during the 2007-08 campaign.

Another stat I just happened to look up, in their relegation season of 2005-06, apparently RBC achieved just a single point away from home all season.

----

Presumably with 22 rounds of the Eerste Divisie gone we are just two rounds away from discovering who our next periodekampioenen are. If I've understood the table correctly, our period champions so far are Excelsior, VVV, and Stormvogels Telstar, meaning that RKC, who are in second place in the table, are yet to win a period.

The current leaders in this period are Fortuna Sittard, who have four victories from their last four games. Excelsior, winners of the first period, are winless so far this period. Presumably the same situation occurs as last year, whereby our six period champions compete against the two lowest teams in the Eredivisie for the right to appear in the Eredivisie.

----

What I don't fully understand is this new ruling about Hoofdklasse teams being allowed to be promoted into the Eerste Divisie, which apparently is going to happen from next season. I assume they will need to comply to special conditions in terms of stadium quality and so on in order to do so. As for our first five Hoofdklasse games of the calendar year? All postponed!

Today's results:


Roda JC 1 - 1 PSV
Both goals are credited as being in the 60th minute. Intriguing...
NEC 2 - 4 Ajax
Ajax lost Dario Cvitanich in the second half
FC Volendam 0 - 2 AZ
Sparta 1 - 1 FC Groningen

Not quite sure when it happened, but this is the first time I've seen it mentioned on the page - BV Veendam have been docked a single point because of financial irregularities. Meanwhile, their coach, Joop Gall, has signed a new two-year contract - good news considering their current position of sixteenth in the table.

Willem II are currently in tenth place, two points away from a UEFA Cup qualifying slot. Our next fixture, against Feijenoord. An interesting February for us to negotiate, our first match of the month is against Volendam, and our second against AZ.

Over January 20, 21, and 22, we have our eight fourth-round KNVB-Beker matches - Dordrecht, second from bottom in the Eerste Divisie, will be looking to upset the applecart against De Graafschap, whose first win in four games came at the weekend. The least said about that match, the better. That said, De Graafschap only just squeaked a cup victory against Hoofdklasse side De Treffers in the last round.

AZ face Achilles 29, unbeaten in their last six Hoofdklasse games. FC Lienden's prize for knocking out Eredivisie side Vitesse in the last round is a trip to play Roda JC.

(And just in case I forget, the link for KNVB results is here.)

Yesterday's results:


De Graafschap 1 - 0 Willem II
ADO Den Haag 2 - 2 Heracles
Twente 2 - 1 Vitesse
NAC 1 - 1 Utrecht
A goal in the 90th minute for Utrecht saving a point for the team.



But it should have been 2 to 3 for Heracles, who were denied a crystal-clear goal. Both the referee and the linesman didn't see the ball cross the line... When confronted with the video images afterwards, the referee had to admit he was wrong.


What I don't fully understand is this new ruling about Hoofdklasse teams being allowed to be promoted into the Eerste Divisie, which apparently is going to happen from next season. I assume they will need to comply to special conditions in terms of stadium quality and so on in order to do so. As for our first five Hoofdklasse games of the calendar year? All postponed!


Currently, teams from Eerste Divisie can only promote to Eredivise (or stay in Eerste Divisie). There is no risk of relegation. This is against international soccer rules/standards. That's why coming next season relegation from Eerste Divisie and promotion from Hoofdklasse will be introduced. (Introduction has been postponed by one season because of protests from Eerste Divisie teams)
It is not yet clear how this promotion/relegation will work. It could be there's direct relegation for bottom of table in Eerste Divisie vs direct promotion for #1 in Hoofdklasse, but it's also possible there will be some sort of relegation/promotion play-off/s (like we already have for Eredivisie/Eerste Divisie).



Today's results:


Roda JC 1 - 1 PSV
Both goals are credited as being in the 60th minute. Intriguing...
NEC 2 - 4 Ajax
Ajax lost Dario Cvitanich in the second half
FC Volendam 0 - 2 AZ
Sparta 1 - 1 FC Groningen



This is correct. The PSV goal was scored from the penalty spot, and the Roda goal was scored straight from the following kick-off.
There shouldn't have been a penalty at all, though... The referee thought to have seen a foul (hands) by Pah Modou Kah, when in fact there wasn't. The referee was man enough to admit he was wrong afterwards - but thank goodness Roda also scored...

One match yesterday that I missed out on reporting:


MVV Maastricht 1 - 1 FC Emmen VV
MVV lose Tom Daeman in the last minute of the game


And as a diversion - I seem to remember reading something similar about the Scottish Division Three (from which of course there is still no relegation-promotion). If a team finishes bottom of the division for two years in succession, the team are put to a vote by the Scottish FA, to see whether they should be allowed to stay in the league, and if not, who should take their place.

I believe the first team to which this happened was East Stirling, but I'm too lazy to look it up. :D So many Highland League teams are gagging to get into the league system, it's all a bit silly. The current ruling according to Wikipedia is as follows:

"There is no direct relegation from the Scottish Third Division but since the 2005–06 season if a club finishes bottom for three successive seasons then they will have their full membership of the SFL suspended. The club will then play the next two seasons as a non-voting associate member after which the full members shall vote on the fate of the suspended club."

In spite of Annan being allowed into the Scottish League following Gretna's closure, they finished only seventh in the East of Scotland League in the previous season, showing that it wasn't entirely a choice based on quality.

Former EDO player Joop Wille has died at the age of 88. If my Dutch is up to scratch, Wille played a single game for the national team, in April 1940, against Belgium - a 4-2 victory in which he came on as a substitute in the 82nd minute.

Completely on a tangent, from what I garner from this link, this is a list of every scorer in the Eredivisie - up to the end of the 2002-03 season. Someone had too much time on their hands!

Former EDO player Joop Wille has died at the age of 88. If my Dutch is up to scratch, Wille played a single game for the national team, in April 1940, against Belgium - a 4-2 victory in which he came on as a substitute in the 82nd minute.


Sad but true. Joop Wille was the last player alive to have played for the Dutch national team prior to WW II.
Additional information: he was a goalkeeper.

Matches from January 20:


Dordrecht '90 0 - 1 De Graafschap
The Eerste Divisie team presumably then very unlucky to lose to a single goal, a penalty in the 71st minute.
Feijenoord 0 - 3 Heerenveen
Oh dear oh dear. Two goals from Viktor Elm, who has just signed for the team in this January transfer window, and who has so far made just a single league appearance for the side.


If my stats are correct, this means that Feijenoord haven't beaten Heerenveen in the last four attempts - including one defeat and two draws in the Eredivisie. Five matches today, if all goes to plan. Which it probably won't, knowing my luck. We shall see.

Coming up in the Eredivisie this week, we have four matches on Saturday and five on Sunday. Nine Eerste Divisie matches on Friday, one on Saturday. Fortuna Sittard, with four wins in their last five matches, but still stuck in 12th place, will be looking to beat SV Cambuur Leeuwarden, who are undefeated in their last five matches.

Latest results, KNVB Beker:

Full Time:
AZ - Achilles '29              3 - 0
NEC - Sparta                  2 - 1
FC Volendam - Excelsior  3 - 0 (all goals were scored in the final 7 minutes of the game)
Roda JC - FC Lienden      2 - 0 (AET)

Latest:
NAC Breda - FC Groningen 2 -1 (play in extra time)

So sadly, both Hoofdklasse teams are eliminated. :\'(

Cheers Henk, I've been too busy to post tonight.

Latest results, KNVB Beker:

Latest:
NAC Breda - FC Groningen 2 -1 (play in extra time)



Still in play.
Berg missed a penalty for FC Groningen in the 101st minute... :(

Still in play.
Berg missed a penalty for FC Groningen in the 101st minute... :(


115th minute: Granqvist makes it 2 - 2.

And btw: NAC are playing with 10 men. Patrick Zwaanswijk was sent off in the 100th minute of the game (second yellow).

115th minute: Granqvist makes it 2 - 2.

And btw: NAC are playing with 10 men. Patrick Zwaanswijk was sent off in the 100th minute of the game (second yellow).


There's the final whistle. Well, it's up to penalties now...

Feher (NAC) - scores 1 - 0
Van de Laak (Groningen) - scores 1 -1
Penders (N) - misses
Berg (G) - scores 1- 2
Reuser (N) - misses
Garcia (G) - misses
Gilissen (N) - scores 2 -2
Granqvist (G) - scores 2 - 3
Boukhari (N) - scores 3 - 3
Levchenko (G) - misses

Mtiliga (N) - scores 4 - 3
Holla (G) - scores 4 - 4
Elshot (N) - scores 5 - 4
Sankoh (G) - scores 5 -5
Loren (N) - scores 6 - 5
Cahais (G) - scores 6 - 6
Idabdellhay (N) - scores 7 - 6
Krohne (G) - misses

...and that's it. Game over for Groningen, NAC Breda proceed to quarter finals.

Damn. Sudden death penalties. Is there a worse way to go out of a competition? Thank you for the updates Henk. I misread your first post, didn't realize the game was still in play at the time.

How times change in the Eredivisie. Way back in the dim and distant past of a couple of years ago, you wouldn't be caught dead saying that Feijenoord have just one win from their last six games. Mind you, Willem II are doing no better, coincidentally having an identical last five record as the team they face on Saturday evening.

The only remaining game in this round of KNVB Beker (ADO Den Haag - FC Twente) has been postponed due to heavy rainfall.
The game has been rescheduled for 28 January.

McClaren will be used to the rain having spent so much time in this country..! Thanks for the update Henk.

Results from Friday:


MVV 2 - 2 FC Dordrecht
SC Stormvogels Telstar 2 - 1 VVV
Helmond Sport 1 - 3 BV Veendam
FC Zwolle 3 - 2 AGOVV Apeldoorn
FC Den Bosch 3 - 1 FC Omniworld
RKC Waalwijk 5 - 0 TOP/Oss
FC Emmen VV 1 - 4 FC Eindhoven
Cambuur Leeuwarden v. Fortuna Sittard - Postponed
RBC 0 - 1 Go Ahead Eagles


So, a loss for the top-of-the-table side and a resounding win for second placed RKC. It may be too late for things to start to get nervewracking for either team, but time will tell.

Four Eredivisie fixtures and one Eerste Divisie fixture today.

Joost Volmer currently "leads" the current fair play charts. The De Graafschap player, who has previously played for AZ and West Bromwich Albion, is the only player so far this season to have received two red cards - the first against Sparta and the second a month, and two games (for him) later, against Ajax - which according to my stats is the most recent match in which he has played.

With just three points from their last six games, bottom of the "Recent Form" table is.. Willem II.

Our Eerste Divisie fixture is finished:


Excelsior 1 - 1 Haarlem FC

Results from Eredivie games this weekend:

Saturday, January 24:
sc Heerenveen - Roda JC 2-0 
PSV - NAC Breda 2-2 
AZ - De Graafschap 2-0 
Feyenoord - Willem II 1-1 (Feyenoord securing a point in the last minute of additional time...)

 
Sunday, January 25:
Vitesse - NEC 0-0 
FC Utrecht - Sparta 3-3  (Sparta are still awaiting an away win this season)
FC Groningen - Ajax 1-0  (Groningen back on the 'up', and Ajax on the 'down'...?)
Heracles Almelo - FC Twente 1-2 
FC Volendam - ADO Den Haag 0-1 (Another loss for Volendam. Things are starting to look grim.)


And with that, AZ are now six points in the lead. Ajax are still second, but are just one point ahead of FC Twente.
PSV, now 15 points behind AZ, are definitely out of the race for the championship, while Feyenoord are still struggling on 12th place (although relegation seems rather unlikely, with bottom three teams not closing in).

And the one Eerste Divisie result, from Saturday:


Excelsior 1 - 1 HFC Haarlem

Let's have a look at the past... Just how many different Eredivisie champions do you think we have seen, since the introduction of professionalism (in 1954)..? ::)





















Only nine! :o

So far, 6 teams have managed to grab the championship title one time each, while the Big Three (Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord) are holding 48 championship titles between them (see table below). Wouldn't it be nice to see AZ claiming the title (which would be their second ever) for a change..?



1954/'55 Willem II
1955/'56 Rapid JC
1956/'57 Ajax
1957/'58 DOS
1958/'59 Sparta
1959/'60 Ajax
1960/'61 Feyenoord
1961/'62 Feyenoord
1962/'63 PSV
1963/'64 DWS
1964/'65 Feyenoord
1965/'66 Ajax
1966/'67 Ajax
1967/'68 Ajax
1968/'69 Feyenoord
1969/'70 Ajax
1970/'71 Feyenoord
1971/'72 Ajax
1972/'73 Ajax
1973/'74 Feyenoord
1974/'75 PSV
1975/'76 PSV
1976/'77 Ajax
1977/'78 PSV
1978/'79 Ajax
1979/'80 Ajax
1980/'81 AZ Alkmaar
1981/'82 Ajax
1982/'83 Ajax
1983/'84 Feyenoord
1984/'85 Ajax
1985/'86 PSV
1986/'87 PSV
1987/'88 PSV
1988/'89 PSV
1989/'90 Ajax
1990/'91 PSV
1991/'92 PSV
1992/'93 Feyenoord
1993/'94 Ajax
1994/'95 Ajax
1995/'96 Ajax
1996/'97 PSV
1997/'98 Ajax
1998/'99 Feyenoord
1999/'00 PSV
2000/'01 PSV
2001/'02 Ajax
2002/'03 PSV
2003/'04 Ajax
2004/'05 PSV
2005/'06 PSV
2006/'07 PSV
2007/'08 PSV

I knew AZ were the last champions outside the "big three", and partially for that reason, it would be very nice to see them achieve this again. According to Wikipedia, this means that DWS won the Eerste Divisie in one season and then the Eredivisie the very next. Presumably they are the only team to ever do this.

What I'm unsure of is what happened to VCV Zeeland after 1992. Having just read, it appears that they briefly became a professional club between 1990 and 1992, changing their name in the process, and then went back to amateur status once again. According to RSSSF they finished bottom of the Eerste Divisie in 1991-92 and were never seen again.

Bottom of the all-time table as of the end of the 2003-04 season, and therefore probably still there, given they played two 34-game seasons and then vanished, are DS '79, about whom I knew nothing, but this page explains pretty much everything I didn't previously understand.

This week, one game on Friday, as Roda JC attempt for their first league win of the year - having squeaked past FC Lienden in extra time on Wednesday of last week. Well I guess if they can beat Willem II, they can beat anyone! *wry grin*

Willem II go for just their second win in eight games on Saturday as they face Vitesse Arnhem, whose draw against NEC over the weekend pushed them gingerly out of the Relegation Play-off places. Ajax can temporarily move to within three points of the top spot if they keep up their unbeaten home run against fourth-placed Heerenveen, while AZ travel to play Sparta, who have won five of their nine games at home this season.

But with that away record..!

Today in the Eerste Divisie, we have a game between Cambuur Leeuwarden, unbeaten in five games and within touching distance of third place in the table, and Fortuna Sittard, which I assume was either postponed, not played, or both, on Friday. Otherwise, this coming Friday, we have our usual ten fixtures, with third-placed Excelsior Rotterdam going after what would appear to be their first league win in all of ten games - having won six games in a row from games 2 - 7 of the season.

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I was slightly surprised to find this in my stats: Between August 19, 2005 and October 13, 2006, Fortuna Sittard played precisely 50 league and cup games, and won just two. Between November 19, 2004 and April 1, 2005, they played 15 games and failed to win even one.

A similar run in November 2001-April 2002 saw 15 losses and 5 draws from 20 games - though this was an Eredivisie season - they started Eerste Divisie life with 6 losses from 9 games.

I knew AZ were the last champions outside the "big three", and partially for that reason, it would be very nice to see them achieve this again. According to Wikipedia, this means that DWS won the Eerste Divisie in one season and then the Eredivisie the very next. Presumably they are the only team to ever do this.


Correct. I doubt if any team will ever be able to repeat that double.


What I'm unsure of is what happened to VCV Zeeland after 1992. Having just read, it appears that they briefly became a professional club between 1990 and 1992, changing their name in the process, and then went back to amateur status once again. According to RSSSF they finished bottom of the Eerste Divisie in 1991-92 and were never seen again.


I can tell you what happened: the team returned to amateur ranks. The team (now known as VC Vlissingen) are currently in Sunday 3rd Division.

Amateur club VC Vlissingen made it to quarter finals in Dutch league cup in 1989. Following that success, plans to form a professional team were launched, and in 1990/1991 season VC Vlissingen made its professional debut. Name was changed to VCV Zeeland starting 1991/1992 season. Although the team didn't perform badly, it was all over after just two seasons. Mismanagement and financial shortcomings caused the KNVB to revoke the teams professional license.
VC Vlissingen returned to the ranks of amateur soccer, and went bankrupt two seasons later (still due to the massive losses following their Eerste Divisie adventure). This time, however, the team was saved by the management and a restart was made.

I must admit I'd completely forgotten about VC Vlissingen / VCV Zeeland... :-\\

I assumed they were indeed essentially the same team, thanks for the clarification Henk.

I assumed they were indeed essentially the same team, thanks for the clarification Henk.


It's quite bizarre, now that I've looked into the matter. In those years, they were playing teams like AZ, NAC, NEC and sc Heerenveen - who are all established teams in Eredivisie nowadays.
VC Vlissingen / VCV Zeeland ended dead last in both 1990/1991 and 1991/1992 season, btw, with only 6, respectively 4 wins.

The next team to maybe disappear from the ranks of professional soccer are FC Eindhoven. They shouldn't have been given a license this season in the first place (unbalanced budget, going on for years already). It looks like it's gonna be all over at the end of this season.

At which point presumably they will be replaced by the Hoofdklasse team with the best facilities to apply for a position.

At which point presumably they will be replaced by the Hoofdklasse team with the best facilities to apply for a position.


I don't think that's gonna happen. KNVB wants to decrease the number of teams in Eerste Divisie, so they're very much supporting teams merging (like Fortuna Sittard and MVV). It's unlikely they'll replace one team with another.

More news: Huub Stevens has resigned as coach of PSV. Kinda sad, a bit unexpected - and then again, maybe it wasn't. PSV (reigning champions) are currently in 5th position in competition (15 points behind leaders AZ).

Mario Been, on the other hand, is going to make a move as coach from NEC Nijmegen to Feyenoord next season, to maybe get the team back where they belong.



And then there's one result from KNVB Beker:

ADO Den Haag - FC Twente 1 - 5.

You can watch the first 5 goals (all in first half of the game) right here. No sound, just video, and not the best of quality either - but the last goal especially is worth watching.

Poor performance by Den Haag (again). And yes, the goalkeeper was replaced at half time (although the damage was already done).

I don't think that's gonna happen. KNVB wants to decrease the number of teams in Eerste Divisie, so they're very much supporting teams merging (like Fortuna Sittard and MVV). It's unlikely they'll replace one team with another.


Understandable. Not all leagues would switch right to the Briitsh mindset of "quick, we need to replace the team immediately!".

Thanks for covering the KNVB Beker result. We have our usual ten Eerste Divisie fixtures and one Eredivisie fixture tomorrow.

ESPN's results window has been given somewhat of a makeover, though this does not prohibit me from bringing yesterday's scores:

Eredivisie

Roda JC 3 - 1 Heracles

Eerste Divisie

VVV 6 - 0 FC Eindhoven
Six goals, six different scorers, and FC Eindhoven lose Kevin van Assauw in what may be just his second appearance for the team. Or it may not, depending on how reliable my source is. VVV meanwhile make up for their loss against Telstar last week.
Helmond Sport 2 - 1 MVV Maastricht
No win in the last four for Maastricht, who are still clinging on by their fingernails to a promotion play-off place.
Fortuna Sittard 1 - 1 Excelsior
Top/Oss 3 - 0 SC Stormvogels Telstar
Dordrecht '90 1 - 0 FC Emmen VV
Go Ahead Eagles 0 - 0 RKC Waalwijk
AGOVV Apeldoorn 3 - 2 FC Den Bosch
Henk Baum, who once again, may or may not have made his league debut in this game according to Soccerway, scored the second AGOVV goal.


Other three matches listed as "postponed", probably means they'll just be picked up someday soon.

Next week in the Eerste Divisie, nine matches on Friday, and one on Sunday. In the Eredivisie, ADO Den Haag, who picked up their first league win in five games after a disastrous seven losses on the bounce between October 24 and November 29, against Volendam on Sunday, face Groningen, Volendam travel to play NAC, a team who they've only beaten once away from home since 1993.

Ajax attempt to bounce back against Heerenveen, who need to win to ensure they stay in fourth position. Ajax lost the corresponding fixture in October, however, they have suffered just two losses since then, one against Groningen last week, and the other against the might that are this season's AZ.

Yesterday's Eredivisie results:


ADO Den Haag 0 - 1 FC Groningen
Ajax 0 - 1 Heerenveen
NAC 1 - 1 Volendam
Willem II 0 - 2 Vitesse Arnhem


That's two losses in the last two games for Ajax. Every team from PSV in fifth to Sparta in thirteenth has now gone at least two games without a win. Heerenveen are the only team apart from AZ to have won all of their last four fixtures.

AZ will make it five months unbeaten in the Eredivisie if they can survive their next three games - the third of these is against Willem II. El Hamdaoui has scored 15 goals from the 18 Eredivisie fixtures in which he has played this season.

Twente can leapfrog Ajax and go into second place with a win against FC Utrecht.

Today's Eredivisie results:


FC Twente 0 - 0 Utrecht
De Graafschap 0 - 3 PSV
NEC 1 - 0 Feijenoord
Sparta 0 - 2 AZ

Today's Eredivisie results:


FC Twente 0 - 0 Utrecht
De Graafschap 0 - 3 PSV
NEC 1 - 0 Feijenoord
Sparta 0 - 2 AZ



Which means there's now a 9 point gap between AZ (in first place) and Ajax (in second). FC Twente are tied (in points) with Ajax, but have a lesser goal balance.
Wouldn't it be great to see AZ take the championship, with FC Twente coming second? What a great rehabilitation that would be for Steve McClaren!

One of the most interesting games coming up this week is gonna be Feyenoord - Sparta Rotterdam.
That's always an interesting match (sibling rivalry), but right now even more so because both teams are currently tied at 12th place.

It would be nice to see Steve McClaren in with a shot of winning something at least..!

I haven't yet looked at this week's fixtures - seems we have a bunch of midweek games to wade through - three Eredivisie games on Tuesday, five on Wednesday, and one on Thursday.

Next weekend, we have four Eredivisie fixtures on Saturday and five on Sunday - AZ take on Willem II - Willem II have only won one game between the sides away from home - eight years ago!

Which means there's now a 9 point gap between AZ (in first place) and Ajax (in second). FC Twente are tied (in points) with Ajax, but have a lesser goal balance.
Wouldn't it be great to see AZ take the championship, with FC Twente coming second? What a great rehabilitation that would be for Steve McClaren!


I've been trying to find out when was the last time none of the traditional Top 3 Teams were either champion or runners-up. I've found this was exactly 50 years ago. In 1958/1959 season, Sparta Rotterdam were champions with Rapid JC (that would be Roda JC today) runners-up.

Mind you, professional soccer was still in its infancy in those days.

I don't know why, but I can't seem to find any results from 1955/1956 competition (other than that Rapid JC were champions)... :-\\

Interesting stats - and I haven't been able to find stats from 1955-56 either, which is a bit of a bummer. I'm surprised to learn that the Eredivisie top scorer in 56-57 scored 43 goals - considering we had only a 34-game season.

Results from today's Eredivisie games:

Vitesse - sc Heerenveen 1-0
Second consecutive win for Vitesse end the winning streak of Heerenveen (who had won three games in a row since the end of winter break). Vitesse have now moved up considerably.
 
Willem II - FC Volendam 1-2 
First away win for Volendam this season brings them within touching distance of De Graafschap.

Ajax - Heracles Almelo 2-2
Heracles could hold on to their 0 to 2 lead until the 70th minute of the game, but then Ajax scored twice within two minutes (including one from the penalty spot). A late (winning) goal by Suarez was being disapproved because of offside, but video footage showed this was an unjust decision.

AZ can now extend their lead to 11 points when they win their game against Roda JC.


Speaking of Roda JC:
The boards of Roda JC and Fortuna Sittard have agreed on a merger of the two teams, to form one new FC Limburg. Of course the fans of both teams aren't happy with this decision (which is a bit odd, considering both Roda and Fortuna are merger teams themselves...)
Although the merger still needs the approval of the Roda JC Foundation (founded five years ago by the board of Roda JC, to protect the identity of the team) it's really just a question of time.
It's a bit sad that recently the chairman of Roda JC (very much in favor of a merger) had to step down when his family was threatened by hardcore Roda fans, trying to stop the merger plans.

Thanks for the results Henk, and what a bummer for Willem II. Why is it that rubbish teams are always rubbish until they end up playing my team?! Gah, the mysteries of football.

Interesting news about Roda and Fortuna, thanks for filling me in on the latest information. I assume the merger will take place very soon - next season perhaps?

Five games today, AZ, 27 points from their last 27 available, face Roda, who are just hovering in the relegation play-off zone.

Ajax are without a win in their last three matches, having suffered the indignity of a KNVB-Beker loss to Volendam in November.

One Eerste Divisie result from yesterday too:


Haarlem FC 2 - 0 RBC Roosendaal


No wins since November 21 for RBC. And the less said about their KNVB loss to Rijnsburgse Boys, the better. Something's going wrong here. The squad's oldest player is 40-year-old Henk Vos, whose career started in 1984-85, even before I was born!

One Eerste Divisie result from yesterday too:


Haarlem FC 2 - 0 RBC Roosendaal


No wins since November 21 for RBC. And the less said about their KNVB loss to Rijnsburgse Boys, the better. Something's going wrong here. The squad's oldest player is 40-year-old Henk Vos, whose career started in 1984-85, even before I was born!


Here's something Quite Interesting... ::) When RBC Roosendaal played HFC Haarlem at home earlier this season, they won 2 to 0. So now the scores are even.

Ah, well...Both Haarlem and RBC have seen better days: HFC Haarlem ended in 4th place in Eredivisie (twice: 1981/1982 and 1983/1984), but that was back in the days when Ruud Gullit was playing for the team. They even played UEFA Cup in 1982/1983, reaching 2nd round.
RBC Roosendaal also has an Eredivisie past, though not as successfull as Haarlem. Best result was a 12th place in 2003/2004 season.

I certainly remember RBC being in the Eredivisie - though this was in the days when I was taking much more note of Spanish and Italian football than Dutch.

Five matches this evening.

Let's see if I've got these results right.


Twente 4 - 1 NAC
AZ 1 - 0 Roda
Feijenoord 1 - 0 Sparta
FC Utrehcht 3 - 0 De Graafschap
FC Groningen 2 - 0 NEC


Five away defeats, and just one goal scored away from home tonight.

One Eredivisie match tomorrow. On Friday, our remaining nine Eerste Divisie matches. FC Zwolle aim for their fourth consecutive victory, though their opponents are top-of-the-table VVV. Three teams have no victories in their last five matches - nineteenth-placed FC Emmen, seventeenth-placed RBC, and quite worryingly, fourth-placed Excelsior. FC Emmen face Cambuur, unbeaten in their last five, and still high-flying in third place. Maybe if results go Cambuur's way they can bounce up into second place.

Let's see if I've got these results right.


Twente 4 - 1 NAC
AZ 1 - 0 Roda
Feijenoord 1 - 0 Sparta
FC Utrehcht 3 - 0 De Graafschap
FC Groningen 2 - 0 NEC


Five away defeats, and just one goal scored away from home tonight.



Yep, those are right - which means that FC Twente have now moved into 2nd place, trailing AZ Alkmaar by 9 points. This is going to be one of their best seasons ever, if they can hold on to their current form.
On a sidenote: again, no goal(s) conceded by AZ Alkmaar this round.

Though Volendam are still in 18th (and last) place, they've now nearly closed the gap with 17th placed De Graafschap. Only one point separates the two.

This weekend, we have four matches on Saturday and five matches on Sunday. Twente are now eleven games unbeaten facing second-from-bottom De Graafschap, three losses on the bounce, on Sunday afternoon.

Ironically their KNVB Beker quarter-final match is also against De Graafschap, on March 4th.

One last result from this midweek round:

PSV - FC Den Haag 6 - 0

Well, that's more like it. Three goals from Dzsudzsak, two from Amrabat and one from Toivonen bring PSV back to 4th place, 4 points behind Ajax and 6 behind FC Twente. Anything is still possible.

This weekend in the Eredivisie, four matches on Saturday and five on Sunday - AZ face Willem II at 7:45CET. Willem II are without a win in their last four matches, while AZ, of course, unbeaten in 22 in all competitions.

On March 5, they face NAC in the KNVB Beker - the team against whom they came unstuck in the first match of the season.

According to my stats, the last time AZ lost more than two consecutive matches at home was the 2000-01 season, when they went eight home games without a victory - against - amongst others, RKC, Fortuna Sittard, and De Graafschap.

AZ lost their KNVB Beker first-round tie against Cambuur Leeuwarden in the 2007-08 season - but in the previous year's competition, they beat two teams - VV Bennekom and SV Meerssen - the latter of whom is floundering in Sunday Hoofdklasse B - having scored 10 goals against each.

Glory days(?!)

Tonight's results:
Roda JC - Sparta Rotterdam   0 - 1 (first away win this season for Sparta)
sc Heerenveen - NAC Breda   3 - 1
AZ - Willem II                       3 - 1 (another win, but the one goal kept AZ from breaking a club competition record)
Heracles Almelo - NEC           1 - 1

Indeed, the first goal AZ have conceded since November 16. Thanks for posting the results. AZ are now 11 wins in a row - and that's in spite of Willem II going 1-0 up within 18 minutes.

Sparta's win is indeed their first away league win since January 27 last year - and their first win in seven matches in all competitions. Today's loss for NAC means they have gone six Eredivisie games without a win. They apparently face AZ at home in the quarter finals of the KNVB-Beker.

Full time in all our games:


FC Utrecht 3 - 1 ADO Den Haag
Utrecht go a goal down, but pull back to win the game following the sending off of ADO den Haag's goalkeeper, Robert Zwinkels.
Vitesse 4 - 1 Ajax
Ajax have now lost three of their last four games.
Feijenoord 0 - 0 Groningen
De Graafschap 2 - 2 FC Twente
FC Volendam 3 - 5 PSV
Jack Tuyp and Ola Toivonen get sent off, leaving each side with ten men.


And today's only Eerste Divisie result:


SV Stormvogels Telstar 0 - 0 HFC Haarlem


Next week in the Eredivisie, Willem II get the Friday fixture, against Utrecht. AZ face PSV on Saturday, with the chance of their thirteenth consecutive victory in league and cup. Three other fixtures on Saturday, ADO Den Haag with the chance of brekaing their three-game losing streak against second-from-bottom De Graafschap, while the similarly hapless NAC face Roda on Saturday also.

NAC have three more games before their next KNVB match, and will be wanting some points after just one win in their last eleven games.

Eleventh-placed Vitesse have every chance to gain their fourth consecutive victory, with a win against Sparta next Sunday.

As for the Eerste Divisie, we have two matches on Tuesday, Cambuur Leeuwarden face FC Zwolle. Their record against each other? Six wins, six draws, and six losses from eighteen competitive matches. Otherwise, our usual ten matches on Friday.

Full time in all our games:


FC Utrecht 3 - 1 ADO Den Haag
Utrecht go a goal down, but pull back to win the game following the sending off of ADO den Haag's goalkeeper, Robert Zwinkels.
Vitesse 4 - 1 Ajax
Ajax have now lost three of their last four games.
Feijenoord 0 - 0 Groningen
De Graafschap 2 - 2 FC Twente
FC Volendam 3 - 5 PSV
Jack Tuyp and Ola Toivonen get sent off, leaving each side with ten men.



Jack Tuyp was sent off only about one minute after his entrance as a substitute... Way to go, Jack! ::)
Quite remarkably, Volendam pulled back to 2-all after going two goals down within 26 minutes of play. PSV's fifth goal was scored from an offside position, but that didn't really matter anymore.
Ajax didn't only lose the game, but their heads as well, and any title aspirations that may have been lingering. This could be the end of Marco van Basten.
You missed a red card for Feyenoord's Norichio Nieveld, who was sent off after a gross charge on Koen van de Laak. The Groningen player was lucky to escape without injury.
FC Twente drop two valuable points in the race for the championship. AZ are now 11 points clear. Done and dusted...?


And today's only Eerste Divisie result:


SV Stormvogels Telstar 0 - 0 HFC Haarlem




FC VVV are leading the table, 13 points clear of #2 RKC Waalwijk. Champagne at the ready in Venlo...

Thanks for the note on the red card Henk. As you say, hopefully that's the title one step closer.

The two Eerste Divisie matches scheduled for yesterday were postponed. Therefore I'm guessing we won't have any more action until Friday.

Tonight's friendly against Tunisia finished in a 1-1 draw, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar opening the scoring for the Netherlands after coming on at half time, and some fella named Jamelle Saihi equalized for Tunisia.

Tonight's friendly against Tunisia finished in a 1-1 draw, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar opening the scoring for the Netherlands after coming on at half time, and some fella named Jamelle Saihi equalized for Tunisia.


I've only watched the first 45 minutes of the game. Wish I hadn't, 'cause it was very disappointing and annoying. I don't know what Bert van Marwijk told the boys before the game, but I'm quite sure it didn't include the words "football", "attack", "speed" or "offense" in any shape or form. Pathetic! 8-P

Tell me about it. I've not watched most of the England/Spain game, I come to the TV and find out we're 1-0 down. Something's gone wrong here.

Today's Friday fixture in the Eredivisie is for my boys Willem II, just one win in their last ten games, against FC Utrecht, seventh place and undefeated in six.

Otherwise, four fixtures on Saturday, including AZ against fourth-placed PSV, three wins from their last three games.

Four fixtures on Sunday, bottom-of-table Volendam face second-placed FC Twente - undefeated in the Eredivisie since November 9. Remind me who they were playing that day, Henk? *grin*

Since February 23rd, 2008's draw against the very same, AZ, Twente went undefeated for seventeen Eredivisie games, until a loss away at Utrecht on October 5th. Twente's last two games of the campaign are, conveniently, against AZ and Ajax. Hopefully AZ will have wrapped up the title by then, though.

A bit of crazy statwork - though we're going far into the depths of last season here - Volendam won all of their final eight fixtures in last season's Eerste Divisie, and went undefeated in seventeen between October 12, 2007 and February 22, 2008. If only they could have carried that over into the Eredivisie.

In the Eerste Divisie we have ten matches, VVV with a potential banana-skin against Cambuur. RKC, who last week it was confirmed will go an entire calendar year without a home defeat in the Eerste Divisie - face BV Veendam.

And to finish, our occasional Hoffeinheim-watch. Leading by one point over second-placed Bayern Munich, they remain one of four teams unbeaten at home - alongside Hamburg, VfL Wolfsburg, and Borussia Dortmund, who have won just three, and drawn the other seven, of their ten home games so far this season. Wolfsburg, despite having won eight out of nine at home, have not won a league game away from home this season. Between September 20th and November 18th, 1997, they lost five successive away games by the exact same scoreline - 2-1.

*cough* Back to Holland.

Yesterday's results:

Eredivisie

Willem II 0 - 2 Utrecht

Eerste Divisie

BV Veendam 0 - 2 RKC Waalwijk
Dordrecht '90 2 -  1 AGOVV Apeldoorn
Excelsior 1 - 1 MVV Maastricht
FC Den Bosch 3 - 0 SC Stormvogels Telstar
FC Omniworld 0 - 2 Top/Oss
FC Zwolle 0 - 2 RBC Roosendaal
Fortuna Sittard 0 - 1 Go Ahead Eagles
Haarlem FC 2 - 1 FC Eindhoven
Helmond Sport 3 - 1 FC Emmen VV
VVV 1 - 2 Cambuur Leeuwarden


Willem II lose their Eredivisie match, VVV fall to their second defeat in four matches. Excelsior secure their fourth draw in the last five games, and thus sacrifice third place to Cambuur.

It's as if I knew what was going to happen before it happened.

Four games in the Eredivisie today.

Forgot to report on yesterday's results, but, here we go:


ADO Den Haag 1 - 0 De Graafschap
PSV 2 - 2 AZ
Twente 2 - 1 Volendam
Volendam had gone ahead in the sixth minute, but went down to ten men shortly afterwards.
NAC 1 - 0 Roda JC

Today's results:


Ajax 2 - 0 Feijenoord
Feijenoord lose Dwight Tiendalli in the 82nd minute
NEC 1 - 1 Heerenveen
Sparta 0 - 0 Vitesse
Groningen 2 - 0 Heracles


Next week, one match on Friday, four matches on Saturday, and four matches on Sunday.

In the Eerste Divisie, next week sees two matches on Tuesday, one match on Thursday, and the remaining seven matches on Friday.

Yesterday's Eerste Divisie game:


Cambuur Leeuwarden 1 - 2 FC Zwolle


One match coming up on Thursday, the other nine on Friday.

Completely passed me by on Friday, but TOP/Oss's victory against FC Onmiworld was their first victory away from home this campaign.

UEFA Cup results:

Wednesday:
N.E.C. Nijmegen - HSV Hamburg 0 - 3

...which makes the second leg kinda superfluous. :-\\


Thursday:
Fiorentina - Ajax 0 - 1
Olympique Marseille - FC Twente 0 - 1

Two surprise victories. There is still hope. :)

Yesterday's Eerste Divisie result:


Fortuna Sittard 1 - 0 FC Den Bosch

Today's Eerste Divisie results:


AGOVV Apeldoorn 4 - 1 BV Veendam
FC Eindhoven 1 - 1 MVV Maastricht
Go Ahead Eagles 1 - 1 Excelsior
Cambuur Leeuwarden 2 - 0 FC Omniworld
Dordrecht '90 1 - 0 Helmond Sport
Haarlem FC 0 - 2 RKC Waalwijk
TOP/Oss 4 - 2 VVV
FC Emmen VV 1 - 0 FC Zwolle
RBC Roosendaal 1 - 0 SC Stormvogels Telstar


So... That's three losses in the last five games for VVV - despite this, they still lead the table by seven points with eleven games remaining. RKC lead the form table with four wins and two losses from their last six games. Excelsior, meanwhile, have five draws from their last six in the Eerste Divisie, having exited the KNVB Beker last month at the hands of Volendam.

Next Eerste Divisie match is on Tuesday, BV Veendam and FC Omniworld face off, both have three losses from their last three games.

Elsewhere, Rijnsburgse Boys are still undefeated in this year's Hoofdklasse Saturday A, despite having to beat off a stern challenge from sixth-placed ASWH three games ago.

Westlandia regain the top spot in Hoofdklasse Sunday A, having won their first match in five against Elinkwijk last weekend. Bizarrely, every team in the bottom seven of Westlandia's division have lost their most recent match.

Similarly, HSC lead Hoofdklasse Sunday C having won just once in their last six games.

Just two more weeks until the KNVB Beker quarter finals. Volendam and Roda, two real relegation candidates in this year's Eredivisie, face off in one match, Roda having squeezed past Hoofdklasse opponents in their most recent match.

Back to normality - four Eredivisie games tomorrow, including Willem II, with the worst last-six form in the league, away at Heerenveen, and AZ, unsurprisingly top of the league on last-six form, against Heracles, who coincidentally are second-bottom in the same table.

There was one Eredivisie game on Friday..

Vitesse Arnhem - Roda JC  3 - 0

Vitesse have finally picked up the pace, while Roda are facing more and more problems.

Saturday's results:


Heerenveen 3 - 1 Willem II
Willem II now the only team with five defeats in their last five games.
ADO den Haag 1 - 1 NAC
Heracles 0 - 2 AZ
Two goals from El Hamdaoui, including one in the 94th minute
Groningen 0 - 1 PSV
The only goal in the game came in the 93rd minute.


Today, four games - including Ajax, one win in their last five, against bottom side Volendam, also one win in their last five. Let's not mention who that game was against...

Next week in the Eerste Divisie, one game on Tuesday, nine games on Friday, one game on Saturday. Second plays third on Friday as RKC Waalwijk play host to Cambuur. TOP/Oss can get their fifth win from their last five games with a victory against one-win-in-five MVV on Friday.

Also undefeated in their last five, seventeenth-placed Dordrecht.

Elsewhere, undefeated Hoofdklasse Saturday A team can make it fifteen wins from seventeen with a win at second-from-bottom ARC, who will be playing their first match for three weeks, having achieved in their most recent game their first points in eleven fixtures.

Five Eerste Klasse teams remain undefeated this season, with Sunday A team FC Chabab having won all fourteen of this season's games so far.

Today's results from the Eredivisie:


FC Utrecht 0 - 2 NEC
De Graafschap 0 - 2 Feijenoord
Sparta 1 - 2 FC Twente
Ajax 2 - 1 Volendam

Yesterday's Eerste Divisie results:


BV Veendam 0 - 2 FC Omniworld


Omniworld's first away league victory since April 4th last year.

A sad day in the history of Dutch amateur soccer last Saturday, when legendary football club Türkyemspor ceased to exist.
The club, only formed in 1987, won the championship of Sunday Hoofdklasse A in 2003, 2004 and 2006, as well as the national Sunday Amateur Championship in 2003 and 2006, and the KNVB Cup for Amateur teams in 2007.

Sadly, in 2007 the founder and moneylender of the club, Nedim Imaç, was shot, after which the club got into severe financial problems. This ultimately lead to the bankruptcy of the club.

Always a shame when a club who rely on a single individual, much like Gretna, are forced to go out of business on the basis of money problems. They say so many of the Scottish lower-league teams are going in the same way, that if it weren't for a single individual bringing in a trickle of money to the club, that club would soon cease to exist. And to be frank, the qualify of Scottish football is about as bad as you can get...

UEFA Cup results:

HSV Hamburg - N.E.C. Nijmegen  1 - 0 (aggregate: 4 - 0)
N.E.C. didn't really stand a chance of making the next round to begin with, and it was all over after a 9th minute goal by Olic. Still, I think they deserved an equalizer, hitting the goal post twice.

FC Twente - Olympique Marseille  0 - 1 (aggregate: 1 - 1) (after extra time) (Marseille win 7 to 6 on penalties)
Marseille were the better team, especially in the first half.

Ajax - Fiorentina  1 - 1 (aggregate: 2 - 1)
The Italians took the lead in the 62nd minute, but it was "super sub" Leonardo who scored a late equalizer (87th minute) thus helping Ajax to the next round. Ajax were definitely not the better team of the two, but who cares?

Thanks for the updates Henk. Definitely bad news for two of the teams, though if Ajax can go through and play less well than they are capable, this is presumably good news.

Today, nine Eerste Divisie matches and one Eredivisie match. Dordrecht, undefeated in six Eerste Divisie matches, can hand VVV their third consecutive defeat tonight. Waalwijk, meanwhile, have seven points to make up, and eight matches in which to do it. Possible? Maybe with VVV in this kind of form!

Today's match:


PSV 2 - 3 Heerenveen
Heerenveen go 1 - 0 up, go down 2 - 1, and then haul it back to win 2 - 3 thanks to a 91st minute penalty.


Four games tomorrow, Willem II look for just their second win in thirteen games, against Heracles. Shock of all shocks, we have just been passed in the table by Feijenoord!

I reckon AZ could probably go the rest of the season undefeated, which would mean that the only two games they lost in the entire season were their first two.

And the Eerste Divisie:


FC Den Bosch 0 - 2 HFC Haarlem
Excelsior 3 - 2 FC Eindhoven
MVV Maastricht 1 - 1 TOP/Oss
FC Omniworld 4 - 1 Fortuna Sittard
FC Emmen VV 1 - 0 RBC Roosendaal
RKC Waalwijk 1 - 1 SC Cambuur Leeuwarden
FC Zwolle 3 - 2 BV Veendam
VVV 1 - 1 FC Dordrecht
SC Stormvogels Telstar 1 - 0 AGOVV Apeldoorn


Tomorrow, the remaining fixture, Helmond Sport v. Go Ahead Eagles.

Henk Vos remains in the Eerste Divisie, at the age of 40. The striker, who has played not just in the Netherlands, but also in Belgium and France, began his career in the 1984-85 season.

Four games tomorrow, Willem II look for just their second win in thirteen games, against Heracles. Shock of all shocks, we have just been passed in the table by Feijenoord!


Well, it wasn't to be... Another defeat (sixth in a row) for Willem II (0 - 3 against Heracles), who now have scored only four points from their last 13 games.
To make matters worse, Frank Demouge suffered a knee injury and was left behind in the dressing room at half time.


I reckon AZ could probably go the rest of the season undefeated, which would mean that the only two games they lost in the entire season were their first two.


They could very well manage to do so... With today's 3 to 0 victory over FC Groningen, they're heading in the right direction.
Other results:

NAC Breda - Sparta        3-1 
Roda JC - De Graafschap 3-1

Which means the gap between Roda JC (in 16th place) and De Graafschap (in 17th place) is now 4 points.
De Graafschap coach Henk van Stee has been given the sack last Wednesday, but apparently this has had no effect whatsoever.



Tomorrow, the remaining fixture, Helmond Sport v. Go Ahead Eagles.


And that game ended in a one-all draw.

Thanks for the update Henk - I fell asleep early last night and caught none of the action.

I missed the news on De Graafschap's coach, thanks for filling me in.

Four matches today. For the fourth time in four consecutive games, Volendam could lift themselves off the bottom with a win against today's opponents NEC, though they themselves have a lot to go for, as a win today could put them in the final UEFA Cup Playoff spot - at least for the time being.

A win for Twente would see them move to within nine points of AZ, but this season pretty much looks done and dusted by now.

Today's results:


Utrecht 0 - 2 Ajax
Feijenoord 2 - 2 Vitesse
Twente 1 - 0 ADO den Haag
Volendam 1 - 1 NEC


Next week, one game on Friday, three games on Saturday, five games on Sunday. Volendam move to within a point of being out of the automatic relegation place, and have picked up four points in their last five games compared to De Graafschap's one.

Next week in the Eerste Divisie, ten games, including VVV, without a win in three but still at the top of the table, away at second-to-bottom BV Veendam, just two wins in their last seventeen games.

FC Den Bosch have four losses from their last five games, and are away at FC Eindhoven.

Volendam 1 - 1 NEC


Thanks to a late equalizer (3 minutes into stoppage time!) by Milano Koenders, N.E.C. Nijmegen got more than they deserved.

This week, one match on Friday, three matches on Saturday, five matches on Sunday. Volendam are a point away from potential safety, after last week's draw against NEC, and have a better goal difference in comparison with second-from-bottom De Graafschap.

AZ, meanwhile, face NEC on Saturday, and while AZ are looking to further cement their position at the top of the table, NEC have a lot to play for too, as they are just one point away from the UEFA Cup Play-off places.

Ten matches in the Eerste Divisie on Friday, VVV desperately need to score their first victory in four games, against a BV Veendam side who have won two in seventeen. Veendam have won two of the last ten games between the teams.

Rijnsbergse Boys can go for their sixteenth victory from eighteen games in this season's Hoofdklasse Saturday A, as they face eighth placed FC Lisse.

Eerste Klasse Saturday E side ACV suffered their first defeat of the season last week, having been relegated from Hoofdklasse Saturday C last season.

FC Chabab dropped their first points of the season on Sunday, having gone 14 games, 14 wins since the beginning of the season.

---

That's all the league stuff, but we have the KNVB Beker to deal with too, as we see the first two quarter finals today and the second two tomorrow. I wanna back Volendam in the race of the two Eerste Divisie strugglers, but you never know what's going to happen in a match like that.

That's all the league stuff, but we have the KNVB Beker to deal with too, as we see the first two quarter finals today and the second two tomorrow. I wanna back Volendam in the race of the two Eerste Divisie strugglers, but you never know what's going to happen in a match like that.


Two games tonight:

FC Twente - De Graafschap  1 - 0 (after extra time).

Boy oh boy, what a poor performance by FC Twente. I was almost starting to root for De Graafschap to end all misery... But a late goal credited to Marko Arnautovic, literally in the last seconds of the stoppage time of the extra time, bursted De Graafschap's bubble.


sc Heerenveen - N.E.C. Nijmegen 3 - 1

This one just ended. Late in the first half, Nijmegen took the lead by a wonderful goal by Lasse Schöne, but their lead was shortlived. Right from the kick-off, it was Paulo Henrique who scored an amazingly beautiful equalizer.
With just under 15 minutes left in the second half, two goals from Patrik Ingelsten and Victor Elm (only three minutes apart) sealed N.E.C.'s fate.

Two games tonight:

FC Twente - De Graafschap  1 - 0 (after extra time).

Boy oh boy, what a poor performance by FC Twente. I was almost starting to root for De Graafschap to end all misery... But a late goal credited to Marko Arnautovic, literally in the last seconds of the stoppage time of the extra time, bursted De Graafschap's bubble.


sc Heerenveen - N.E.C. Nijmegen 3 - 1

This one just ended. Late in the first half, Nijmegen took the lead by a wonderful goal by Lasse Schöne, but their lead was shortlived. Right from the kick-off, it was Paulo Henrique who scored an amazingly beautiful equalizer.
With just under 15 minutes left in the second half, two goals from Patrik Ingelsten and Victor Elm (only three minutes apart) sealed N.E.C.'s fate.


Thanks for covering these games, Henk. FC Twente through by the skin of their teeth..?

Thanks for covering these games, Henk. FC Twente through by the skin of their teeth..?


Definitely. I really don't know what they were thinking, taking the game into extra time and very nearly to penalties. One might think, after their game against Olympique Marseille... ::) McClaren will be pleased it didn't get to that.

Tomorrow, Willem II once again get the Friday fixture, as they attempt to get just their third away win of the season at the thirteenth attempt. Every Eredivisie team has at least one away win this season, bottom side Volendam's coming at, yes, Willem II. What is happening to us?

Today, meanwhile, sees the two remaining KNVB-Beker quarterfinals, Roda v. Volendam, a real relegation dogfight (if such a thing ever exists in the Cup) and AZ, still, of course, unbeaten in 23 in the league, against UEFA Cup chasing side NAC, who beat Groningen 7 - 6 on penalties in the last round.

Tonight's KNVB-Beker results:


Roda JC 2 - 3 FC Volendam (AET)
Melvin Platje scoring two goals, including the crucial game-winner.
AZ 1 - 2 NAC
Despite AZ going ahead at 13, two goals from NAC in the second half mean that AZ are out of the cup.


Tomorrow, Willem II have the Friday Eredivisie fixture, and can jump into twelfth place with a win against Sparta.

Our usual ten Eerste Divisie fixtures tomorrow, top-of-the-table VVV, without a win in three, are looking to reverse their fortunes against second-bottom BV Veendam. Sixteenth-placed FC Dordrecht are unbeaten in six, and can leapfrog both their opponents Fortuna Sittard, and, if results go their way, Stormvogels Telstar.

Having finished bottom of the table last season, HFC Haarlem are currently in sixth place and heading for the promotion play-offs. Things could get interesting.

Tonight's KNVB-Beker results:


Roda JC 2 - 3 FC Volendam (AET)
Melvin Platje scoring two goals, including the crucial game-winner.
AZ 1 - 2 NAC
Despite AZ going ahead at 13, two goals from NAC in the second half mean that AZ are out of the cup.



I missed both games - thanks for the update.

It would be interesting to see Volendam not only making the final, but winning it too, and relegate from Eredivisie at the same time. That would be a first, to my knowledge.

I missed both games - thanks for the update.

It would be interesting to see Volendam not only making the final, but winning it too, and relegate from Eredivisie at the same time. That would be a first, to my knowledge.


I too would like to see Volendam win the cup, partially for these reasons. If the winner of the KNVB-Beker goes into the UEFA Cup, would the same remain true if a team were in the Eerste Divisie? They had this argument about Cardiff City winning the FA Cup over here last season.

I too would like to see Volendam win the cup, partially for these reasons. If the winner of the KNVB-Beker goes into the UEFA Cup, would the same remain true if a team were in the Eerste Divisie? They had this argument about Cardiff City winning the FA Cup over here last season.


I've found something rather interesting...It's already happened once in our history!

In 1962/1963 season, the winner of the KNVB Beker also relegated from Eredivisie. Still, the team were allowed to play Europacup II, where they met Manchester United (of all teams...) in the first round (home: 1 - 1, away: 6 - 1 defeat).

Guess which team I'm talking about... ::)









That's right: Willem II.



So the answer to the question is: even if the winning team was playing Eerste Divisie (or lower), they would be allowed to play UEFA Cup. Those are the rules, and we stick by them.

BTW: In the unlikely event of FC Twente winning the title and reaching the KNVB Beker Final (still a possibility!), the other finalist would be automatically assured of playing UEFA Cup, no matter what the result of the KNVB Beker Final would be.

That's awesome news, Henk, thanks for clarifying. And for it to have been Willem II of all teams.. quite a coincidence. :D

So it happened in the Netherlands 45 years before it even had the chance of happening over here! If only our bosses were quick enough on the draw to do something about it closer to the time.

Tonight's Eerste Divisie scores:


AGOVV Apeldoorn 1 - 1 FC Emmen VV
BV Veendam 1 - 2 VVV
Cambuur Leeuwarden 2 - 1 RBC Roosendaal
FC Eindhoven 1 - 7 FC Den Bosch
FC Omniworld 1 - 2 MVV
Fortuna Sittard 0 - 0 Dordrecht '90
Fortuna Sittard finished with ten men after the sending off of Jurgen Heinrichs
Go Ahead Eagles 2 - 2 SC Stormvogels Telstar
Haarlem FC 1 - 3 Helmond Sport
RKC Waalwijk 1 - 0 FC Zwolle
Bram van Polen was shown a red card after 88 minutes.
TOP/Oss 3 - 1 Excelsior
Each side finished with ten men, Bart van Hintum for TOP/Oss and Erwin Mulder for Excelsior were both shown red cards.


The Eredivisie match is yet to be completed.

BV Veendam 1 - 2 VVV


Good to see VVV can still win...


FC Eindhoven 1 - 7 FC Den Bosch


Ouch! That must've hurt... Especially 'cause this was Brabant derby.


RKC Waalwijk 1 - 0 FC Zwolle
Bram van Polen was shown a red card after 88 minutes.


Bram van Polen playing with FC Zwolle, to fill in the details.

FC Zwolle coach Jan Everse has been dismissed earlier this week, after insulting a waiter at a club party when he and his wife weren't offered a snack (or something along those lines). Apparently, this wasn't his first offense, so Everse had to go.
Assistant coach Claus Boekweg is now in charge, but he has stated to be loyal to Everse and is only helping the team out temporarily.



The Eredivisie match is yet to be completed.


You mean...

Sparta Rotterdam - Willem II  0 - 1.. ::)

I'm guessing you're doing a little celebrating... ;)

I went to sleep before it finished, but I just caught news of the goal before I went to sleep. Thanks for filling me in, Henk.

Just two Eredivisie matches today. A further six take place on Sunday.

Helmond Sport have bounced up into sixth position in the Eerste Divisie table. Nine rounds of Eerste Divisie fixtures to go, followed by, I would assume, some promotion play-offs. Hopefully this season I will remember to cover the Nacompetitie results.

Unless Omniworld pull something out of the bag, it looks like they might become the first team since 1971 to be relegated from the Eerste Divisie. It was Omniworld themselves who were promoted to the Eerste Divisie in 2005.

Helmond Sport have bounced up into sixth position in the Eerste Divisie table. Nine rounds of Eerste Divisie fixtures to go, followed by, I would assume, some promotion play-offs. Hopefully this season I will remember to cover the Nacompetitie results.


You've always got me for a backup. ;)


Unless Omniworld pull something out of the bag, it looks like they might become the first team since 1971 to be relegated from the Eerste Divisie. It was Omniworld themselves who were promoted to the Eerste Divisie in 2005.


No no - no relegation from Eerste Divisie at the end of this season, remember? That's been postponed until next season, so Omniworld got at least another year of Eerste Divisie ahead of them. Who knows - they might actually start playing better in the meantime. ::)

I still think the final curtain will fall for FC Eindhoven at the end of this season, though... :(

Sh*t, I'm still getting my seasons mixed up. Thanks for clarification, Henk. Now that we're in the new year, I'm fixed in 09-10 mode.

FC Eindhoven? Financial difficulties?

Anyway, I hope ESPN Soccernet will cover the Nacomptitie, I might just email them and ask at some point.

Today's results:


Hereenveen 2 - 1 FC Groningen
Groningen lost Martijn Meerdink in the 25th minute and Gonzalo Garcia-Garcia in the 75th.
De Graafschap 1 - 0 Heracles


Six Eredivisie matches tomorrow.

Today's results:


Hereenveen 2 - 1 FC Groningen
Groningen lost Martijn Meerdink in the 25th minute and Gonzalo Garcia-Garcia in the 75th.


Both got sent off after receiving a second yellow, FTR. No discussion about the two yellows for Meerdink (in fact, he could've/should've been sent off earlier in the game), but the second yellow for Garcia...maybe a bit harsh.
And just like in the earlier competition match between the two teams, a goal in stoppage time left Groningen empty handed.


De Graafschap 1 - 0 Heracles


A well deserved victory for the Superboeren, which gives them some breathing space in their fight against Volendam for 18th place.



FC Eindhoven? Financial difficulties?



Very much so. I'm sure I've mentioned their problems before.

ADO Den Haag 1 - 1 Ajax
Volendam 1 - 0 Vitesse
NAC 1 - 2 Feijenoord
Roda JC 0 - 0 Utrecht
NEC 0 - 1 AZ
Twente 1 - 1 PSV


So, with second-in-table Twente only managing a draw today, AZ increase their lead at the top of the table to eleven points, with eight games remaining. The two meet up in AZ's penultimate match of the season, though to ensure that the game is of any meaning, Twente really have to hope that AZ slip up away from home against Ajax in the match prior to their meeting. The title could be wrapped up very soon.

Volendam were certainly unfortunate today - they win their first game of five in the Eredivisie, and second-bottom De Graafschap go and do the same.

Elsewhere, following their 3-1 victory yesterday, Rijnsbergse Boys retain an unbeaten record in this season's Hoofdklasse Saturday A. They are still to play a match against tenth-placed Noordwijk, postponed from January 31st.

In the Eredivisie, we are pretty much back to normal, with one game on Friday of next week, four games on Saturday, as Willem II attempt to make it an almost uncreditable TWO games unbeaten(!), and four games on Sunday, including AZ away at UEFA Cup-chasing Utrecht.

Next week, we have nine Eerste Divisie fixtures on Friday 13 and one on Saturday. top-of-the-table VVV face Helmond Sport, and with positions 5-10 in the Eerste Divisie being so close, almost any of those teams could wind up in the promotion play-offs.

ADO Den Haag 1 - 1 Ajax
Volendam 1 - 0 Vitesse
NAC 1 - 2 Feijenoord
Roda JC 0 - 0 Utrecht
NEC 0 - 1 AZ
Twente 1 - 1 PSV


So, with second-in-table Twente only managing a draw today, AZ increase their lead at the top of the table to eleven points, with eight games remaining. The two meet up in AZ's penultimate match of the season, though to ensure that the game is of any meaning, Twente really have to hope that AZ slip up away from home against Ajax in the match prior to their meeting. The title could be wrapped up very soon.


Twente were lucky Ajax also slipped up, which means the gap between the two remains the same. I think the title race is run, though.


Volendam were certainly unfortunate today - they win their first game of five in the Eredivisie, and second-bottom De Graafschap go and do the same.


The same goes the other way round: De Graafschap must've felt safe, after winning their game - but then Volendam do just the same!
I think the two teams have to face each other once more for the competition, but I'm not sure when. That game might just turn out to be all decisive...

De Graafschap v. Volendam is on the last day of the regular season, May 10th. Talk about a six-pointer...

De Graafschap v. Volendam is on the last day of the regular season, May 10th. Talk about a six-pointer...


Thanks. :) It might be there's nothing left to play for for either side by then, but then again...if the gap is still only one point...what a finale!

Somehow amongst all the North American sport chat this thread has sunk slightly. Nevertheless, one Eredivisie match tomorrow, and nine Eerste Divisie matches. Tomorrow's Eredivisie match features Groningen, who have lost each of their last three fixtures, but are still in sixth place, and Roda JC.

Willem II will be going for two wins in a row on Saturday as they face Twente.

The remaining Eerste Divisie match takes place on Saturday. BV Veendam have six losses from their last six games.

Yesterday's results:

Eredivisie

FC Groningen 2 - 0 Roda JC

Eerste Divisie

AGOVV Apeldoorn 1 - 0 Fortuna Sittard
Dordrecht '90 0 - 1 Excelsior
FC Den Bosch 1 - 0 Go Ahead Eagles
FC Eindhoven 1 - 1 RKC Waalwijk
FC Zwolle 3 - 1 FC Omniworld
MVV Maastricht 3 - 0 Haarlem FC
RBC Roosendaal 3 - 2 TOP/Oss
SC Stormvogels Telstar 1 - 1 Cambuur Leeuwarden
VVV 2 - 0 Helmond Sport


Four matches today. Willem II face Twente. That one probably won't turn out as well as I want.

Roda JC remain in the relegation play-offs with yesterday's win, but they will be unlikely to lose ground over 15th-placed Sparta, who face in-form Heerenveen today.

AZ's game is on Sunday, they'll be hoping for a win against a Utrecht side fighting for a place in the Uefa Cup but without a win in three games.

Yesterday's results:


Vitesse Arnhem 0 - 3 NAC
Heerenveen 5 - 1 Sparta
Sparta finished the game with just nine men on the pitch.
Willem II 0 - 2 Twente
Heracles 1 - 1 Volendam
I guess Volendam thought they had the away victory sewn up, but Heracles equalized in the 88th minute.


Four matches today. Feijenoord take on PSV, AZ face Utrecht.

Yesterday's results:

Vitesse Arnhem 0 - 3 NAC


Vitesse seemed to be on the way up, but have lost their last two games.


Heerenveen 5 - 1 Sparta
Sparta finished the game with just nine men on the pitch.


..and they still managed to score (3 - 1). Heerenveen weren't playing their best, that's for sure.


Willem II 0 - 2 Twente


Yes, well...what can I say?  :-\\


Heracles 1 - 1 Volendam
I guess Volendam thought they had the away victory sewn up, but Heracles equalized in the 88th minute.


Heracles more than deserved the equalizer, no discussion about that. I think Volendam have had only one chance in the entire second half of the game...

Twente are on a great run of form, I expected nothing less from that result than yet another home defeat. Situation is such that these days I struggle to remember who's even in charge of us any more. That's seven home defeats in the last eight home games for us, including a somewhat demoralizing defeat by Volendam.

Looking back over our season, it's amazing to think that two of our victories have come against Feijenoord and Ajax.

AZ have got Heerenveen on the last day of the season. While it will be by no means a decider, if Twente slip up between now and then, it could mean qualification for the Champions league for a Heerenveen side which finished in fifth place, rallying with a last-day victory over relegated Excelsior.

This kind of form for Willem II, the word "relegation" scares the crap outta me, but it's something which has to be thought about.

Feijenoord v. PSV today. And to think several times in the past that's probably been a title decider.

Today's Eredivisie results:


Feijenoord 1 - 0 PSV
Ajax 3 - 0 De Graafschap
ADO Den Haag 3 - 0 NEC
FC Utrecht 0 - 1 AZ


So, all three of the top three teams have four wins and a draw from their last five. PSV, meanwhile, have dropped to fifth, thanks to Heerenveen's win over Sparta.

FC Utrecht are looking precarious in the last UEFA Cup play-off spot, thuogh with NEC in ninth performing no better, it may be up to Feijenoord to make that last run of form.

Though hopefully they don't start that run of form next week, when they face AZ at home.

Volendam, meanwhile, are yet to lose this month, and with yesterday's draw against Heracles, lift themselves off the bottom.

Meanwhile, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who scored 34 goals last season in 33 games, has, if my stats are right, 6 goals from 10 games for both Ajax and Real Madrid this season.

Today's Eredivisie results:


Feijenoord 1 - 0 PSV
Ajax 3 - 0 De Graafschap
ADO Den Haag 3 - 0 NEC
FC Utrecht 0 - 1 AZ



With 25 consecutive league games without a loss (and counting...), AZ have set a new club record.



Volendam, meanwhile, are yet to lose this month, and with yesterday's draw against Heracles, lift themselves off the bottom.



Finally! :D They've been in last place since round 2 of this season. But of course, it's still very close...

With 25 consecutive league games without a loss (and counting...), AZ have set a new club record.


Didn't know that. I haven't really been following for more than two seasons, but you know 2006-07? Says here that AZ had a final-day loss to Excelsior, does that mean they would have won the Eredivisie that year had they have won that match? On that final day, PSV beat Vitesse, and Ajax beat... mumble mumble.

Didn't know that. I haven't really been following for more than two seasons, but you know 2006-07? Says here that AZ had a final-day loss to Excelsior, does that mean they would have won the Eredivisie that year had they have won that match? On that final day, PSV beat Vitesse, and Ajax beat... mumble mumble.


They would've, unless either Ajax or PSV would've thrashed their respective opponents.
After 33 rounds of play, the three teams were tied, the only difference being their goal balances: AZ +53, Ajax +47 and PSV +46.
With AZ losing, they could only hope the other two teams would also lose - but that didn't happen.
Ajax won 0 to 2, thus improving their goal balance to +49, but PSV won 5 to 1, which meant they became the new champions on goal difference (+50).

Gotcha. I thought as much. Pretty close race then.

Nice to see, also, that with Volendam and De Graafschap now with identical win-draw-loss records, that these last seven games will be a straight knock-out.

In April, Volendam must face Heerenveen twice within two weeks, first in the Eredivisie, second in the KNVB Beker. As for NAC, despite their seventh place in the league, and despite who they beat in the last roud of the competition, they have only won four Eredivisie games since Christmas, and, between November 22 and February 7, won just one game in eleven. Anything is possible.

RKC drew with VVV earlier in this Eerste Divisie season, and with just one defeat this season, I wonder how the corresponding fixture, on April 3, is going to turn out. Time will tell.

There's some new developments on the promotion/relegation issue (promotion to/relegation from Eerste Divisie, that is).

Turns out it won't be introduced until 2010/2011 season - so it's been postponed again. I totally missed this.
The 2010/2011 season will also see the introduction of two "Topklasse" divisions of 16 teams each in amateur football: one for Saturday teams, and one for Sunday teams. Under that, there will be six "Hoofdklasse" divisions, with 14 teams each. Mixing the Saturday and Sunday teams proved impossible at this stage.
The overall champion of the Topklasse has the right to promote to Eerste Divisie, but if the team don't want to, the losing finalist gets to promote.

Thanks for the update Henk. Postponed the issue for another season to save having to deal with it, hey?