I was wondering why there wasn't one of these yet! Lets post results and general observations here. PSV considered big favourite this season (even though they're down 2-1 to RKC away at half time), second favourite Ajax, behind them a whole group of contenders notably including Feyenoord, AZ and Twente. PSV is the only club that hasn't lost any players and even strengthened their squad, so if they don't win the league this time it'd be downright embarrassing as far as I'm concerned. Twente, Ajax, Feyenoord and AZ are very different teams when compared to last season, so we'll have to wait and see. I personally have no idea how it'll pan it out..
Marcelo and Bouma were just awful. Who's willing to bet that they're going to put a bid in for Viergever now... They'll never win the league with a central defensive duo that bad. Narsingh looked pretty good, that's the only plus point for them. Strootman and Van Bommel both deserved a sending off but hey, we all know what the refereeing in this country is like.
^ right about the officiating. RKC gets a man sent off and the two PSV players stay on the field. Can't see where PSV is going to get the money to buy more defenders but maybe they don't care about debt.
Best man on the side of PSV: Hutchinson. Maybe not, as I have only been able to see parts of the game, but he looked lively and engaged. Strootman was the most engaged talker to the ref. . I mean even if he puts 50% of the temperament he has into playing football, PSV would have won. He needs to take it easy. Also with that foul called on him (that was none and Sneijder got yellow for) you see his low handling speed, opening up and getting caught. Needs to much time to get the ball, open up and pass further. Bommel getting away with with a red card, but RKC player didn't. That's also the difference in status, both club and player status. Depay is good on ball, is quite smooth, but has his ball losses and should become more dominant when not having the ball. It's a good sign he is already assigned to be the repeated free kick taker. I didn't think Narsingh was any good as he produced nothing of value during the time I have seen him and the commentator assured me he also didn't in the rest of the game. This Jozefzoon did a good job IMO on the side of RKC. Thumbs up to RKC after all those player transitions and trainer transition they are able to pull off such a stunt again right at the start of the season. Willems not impressive either after a good pre season and Cup game. Marcelo is a joker. Zoet should have done better with the header of Matavz. From him I want to see a great reflex. His throw in should also have been better. van Bommel remains a guy with great deep long balls at times. Went also wrong here and there, but I wonder why he only did that for Dutch NT against Germany to RVP opening minutes. Lens had a very dumb through ball passing it to the man off side rather to the man on side. Lens does have something special, but is a bit of a light weight. Hope Wijnaldum is oke for U21. All in all a great game to kick off with and congratulations to RKC on beating PSV again.
Interesting start to the season. I was impressed by AZ and Feyenoord who both lost a lot of players yet still managed to get a result. Also big well done to NEC and ADO, both with tiny budgets yet looking well up for the new season. On the down side it's safe to say that both PSV and Ajax looked weak defensively. Heerenveen arguably the weakest side in the first round of the league, if they also lose Assaidi now, oh dear. Finally I'm well pleased with Twente of course...
^AZ were really quite poor today and with any striker other than Altidore would not have gotten on the scoreboard. Maher was absent and other than Beerens who always seems to show up for Ajax I didn't see anyone capable of directing an offense. Ajax got in on the keeper twice but too close to score and Sana just missed the goal of the season from an amazing angle (hit the cross bar). Ajax had two bonehead plays on defense and were justifiably punished but I sure didn't see AZ do anything in the 1st half at all.
I only saw the match summary so I can't really comment other than that Alderweireld looked dodgy on both Altidore goals (and where was Van der Wiel on both occcassions?) I also think Theo Janssen should've been subbed on sooner. I know you don't him but that pass of his that led to the equaliser, there's few people in the eredivisie who are capable of that especially in a situation where your team is behind. I think you're going to miss him badly.
Alderweield was good other than the first goal. Second goal was Anita's fault (not clear on my Internet feed) for releasing Altidore too early. Janssen is great for 10 minutes a game. If football rules changed to allow unlimited substitutions, he would be a star. Once past 10 minutes he is gassed and just stands around. I gave him an '8' in my player ratings as he had two great cross field passes and a decent shot on goal.
But that's the type of player Janssen has always been. You don't see him for 80 minutes but when it matters he makes all the difference. In this game he had more of an impact than all of your other midfielders put together... Again I think it's a mistake to let him go, but hey that's just my opinion.
^ I don't think either he or Ajax would be happy to have him sit on the bench for 70 minutes every match and come on at the end of the game for some magic. He just cannot play a full 90 minutes any more.
Chicago Fire's striker Pappa to Heereveen for free. Apperently hes been very good for the Fire and should be a good fit for the current team. Without some new strikers Van Basten would be doomed from the start. Can play nr.10 aswell as on the flanks. http://www.vi.nl/nieuws/225585/Heerenveen-haalt-transfervrije-aanvaller-Pappa-uit-VS.htm EDIT: Forgot to mention he wont come untill 1 januari 2013, sadly
Last year, RKC surprised everyone by easily staying up. They almost got into the EL! So who knows is Willem II this years RKC. But to be honest, I give RKC more chance of that (although, only one game played, not much is to predict).
I have no idea if they strengthened their squad to be honest. They'll likely struggle to stay up but so will another five or six clubs.
Buttner signed for Man United. EDit: Never mind, I didn't read that correctly. Just a Dutch newspaper "The Gelderlander" reporting that he will sign there tomorrow. That's just crazy.
I read it here: http://www.gelderlander.nl/sport/vitesse/11555363/Büttner-van-Vitesse-naar-Manchester-United.ece How authentic is the source?
It really is. Confirms that it's all about the money really. Sit on a bench and earn loads of money, that's what footballers seem to want these days.
It's pretty much official. I love how practically none of the Mancs know him, but keep saying "but he graduated from the Ajax academy so he must be good". Evra is old and even lost his place to Clichy in the NT while Fabio is loaned out. Please don't become another flop for them and shine Alex you will probably get lots of game time in cups and such. Buttner in Oranje soon?
It's a 5 year deal though so a sign of confidence. Sitting on the bench for United is a huge step up from sitting on the bench for Vitesse reserves.
Conclusions after the second eredivisie round: - the refereeing still is beyond awful - Groningen, Utrecht & Roda shockingly poor in both games (Maaskantje the first coach to get the sack, I wonder?) - Vitesse what will all their money and ambitions still ain't going anywhere any time soon - quite impressed by RKC still, what with their extremely limited resources - Feyenoord really, really need a proper striker - AZ still going strong, impressive considering the players they lost - Twente only side that hasn't lost any points yet woohoooo!