Cheeseheads Unite! The AZ Alkmaar thread '11-'12 (R)

I don't know Dutch, but am ready for AZ to take the pitch again. This appears to be their schedule. Can't really make it out too well. Seems like their Ered. campaign starts on 16 July?

http://www.az.nl/ProgrammaUitslagen

Those are all training matches. Official start of the Eredivisie season is when Ajax receive Twente for the Johan Cruijff cup at july 30th. The first round of games starts in the weekend of 5/6/7 August.

Why are you an AZ fan btw?

AZ gets to play PSV at home and then away to Twente for the first 2 games--tough start

This will be the second season with Verbeek--last year they played quite well against the big clubs--beating Twente twice--split with Ajax and losing twice t PSV

their problems were getting it going against the minnows--they lost games even at home to the worst teams--it cost them any chance of going for the top 3--they were within 9 points of first in Feb and then lost back to back against feeble teams-

-the big reason was they went thru the year without a real striker
Sigthorrsen eneded with 15 but 5 were in one game--so if your best striker only gets 10 for the yea--you will lose some silly games

they are clearing out a lot of veterans-

-Schaars ( was very good)-

-Moreno--(never thought that guy had talent and he single handedly allowed 2 last second goals in the Euros 2 years ago to allow the Belgians to tie us)

Pele--seemed to find his stride when he only played the last 30 minutes so no big loss

--probably Sigthorssen--although holding him until Xmas makes a lot of $$$$ sense

possibly still more to go--maybe Martens --and Holman --and oh no--Elm

Its hard to speculate what they will look like but I'm sure they will give Adam Maher a real shot at starting especially if they lose Holman or Sigthorssen

Truth be told, I havent been able to tune into the Eredivisie in several years, but back when I was able, I think it was nothing more profound than I liked their branding and liked the fact they weren't a big three team, but seemed to have their moments. I also really like their stadium, but I really don't have a favorite player. Mainly, I just want to relearn about them. Follow them, and by extension, the Eredivisie. There have to be some matches on ATDHE.

Most of the games can be seen thru one of the sports streaming spots on the internet.

Not always AZ but there will always be a few Eredivisie games available

I was at a game last April right behind the AZ bench and yes its a great place to watch a game--vey cozy--and the beer was free in my section at half time

Anyon have the skinny on Boymans?

Also Romero to Man City???--its on an AZ site as a possible

We bought Sig for $150,000 4 years ago--sell for $4mil--not bad

I hope he's just as successful as our other recent sale to Ajax--El Hamdoui

AZ is testing the former Feyenoord youth international Rajiv van La Parra. He is a striker that went (as with all those youngsters too early) to Caen. Now he is back in the Netherlands trying to be hired by AZ. What if he had stayed and learned the ways of a striker from Makaay in those years like Castaignos did.

Might be the end of a rumour about Jozy Altidore.

Rajiv plays on the wing and is not a striker.

Altidore to AZ

Big chance at redemption for Altidore. Will be interesting to see how he does.

From what I have seen--he's not exactly a delicate player--more like a bull

He won't dribble or make the perfect touch but he is playing for the USA at 21.

He needs to play

Eredivisie may be exactly what he needs for a couple of years

I think this is quite right and he is either going to sink or swim with AZ. He should have gone to the Eredivisie three years ago since he has wasted those seasons.

What's the deal with Boymans? He was given the #9, he must be given a legitimate chance to compete with Jozy for the striker position right?

I asked a couple of weeks ago--can someone give me the skinny on this guy--he has been getting a big build up on an AZ site

The word over on the American Jozy Altidore thread is that Boymans is a bit like Siem de Jong. More like an emergency striker that's more comfortable playing in a withdrawn role. But AZ already have Falkenburg and Wernbloom for that position...Looks like he started most of his games as a lone striker for VVV last season so either he is more comfortable in that role than they give him credit for or VVV was just forced to play him there out of necessity.

Here is an article about him when he transferred to VVV.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/92840-ruud-boymans-the-poor-mans-kuyt-is-departing

what formation do AZ play. can someone use the diagram and project starting line up

They played a lot of 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 last season...

when altidore is 100 percent fit do you think he'll start. there's league football and europa football for AZ, so they cant wear out boymans.

He'll get his shot. AZ is pretty thin at that position after losing Pelle, Jonathas and Sigthorsson.

For my money none of those three were prime time yet

Sig has the most potential-

-they started with Falkenburg who was hopeless-then Benschop--equally inept

-Johnathas who was just a big body who sudddenly thought he had talent and ran off AWOL to Brazil

Pelle was effective as a 2nd half sub but no more

Sig started coming around and had that 5 goal game which really helped his confidence but he missed far too many chances to be considered an A striker--like El Ham was when he played or us

As far as formations they played a couple of different ones but it looked like Sig was the only real striker with Holman and a player like Martens playing back a little. They did try with 2 strikers.

they have lost Schaars and this will be the big adjustment but Elm I believe will be or is just as good. Wernbloom must take a step up in the middle this year.

Overall if they can find a decent "fullback-sweeper" in the middle I believe they will be better than last year

as long as one of Boyman or Altidore can score goals

AZ: Esteban, Poulsen, Viergever, Moisander, Marcellis, Wernbloom, Elm, Martens, Holman, Boymans, Benschop

This was the lineup for the exhibition game last night--so that looks like a 4-3-3- with Elm, Wernbloom and Martens in the middle

Altidore would probably replace Benschop in a better AZ world-

-not perfect yet--I really don't like Moisander in there and Viergever is basically a rookie

would like to also see Maher get some playing time

-----------------Romero----------------
Marcellis--Moisander--Viergever--Poulsen
--------Wernbloom----Elm--------------
-----------------Martens---------------
verhoek/beerens-------Altidore--------Holman

prefer verhoek or beerens

from the exhibition game last Saturday adainst Kaysiepor--

Boymans will be starting up front--he looked pretty good--

Klavan should be part of the back line

first real game Thursday--we shall see