Deze Week: The Eredivisie round-up

The winter break is over, football is back! What a way to get back too. Steve McClaren taking control of his first league game with FC Twente and the clash between Ajax and AZ, this time without goalkeeper-kicking pitch invaders. Pity.

Welcome to Deze Week. Much like the wonderful (you should read them, sublime) This Week series by Adam Araujo,Dave McFarlane, and David Stringer, I’ll be taking a look back at the last week’s talking points with regards to everything Dutch.

Steve McClaren Returns

And in style! A 5-0 thrashing of RKC Waalwijk was the perfect start for a man seemingly hated everywhere outside of Enschede. The Englishman was greeted with an enormous banner saying “Welcome home Steve: Bring us back the passion”.

To be fair, and reasonably objective, the result was perhaps more than Twente deserved. Though they unquestionably dominated, three goals could be put down to mistakes from RKC’s Jeroen Zoet. However, it’s a confidence booster for a team in need of one, and that is maybe all they need at the moment. Just something to lift the morale and give Twente a second wind to ensure a stronger challenge for the title than they were putting up under Co Adriaanse.

NAC Breda’s Discipline

Or lack thereof. Saturday’s devastating defeat to Excelsior saw both Roly Bonevacia and Kees Luijckx (one day I will be able to spell his name without checking, one day) dismissed. Bonevacia picked up two yellows for clumsy challenges while Luijckx (does that count or is it too soon) was sent off after a petulant face-grab type thing and an equally ridiculous tackle, both incidents only warranting a yellow card.

Excelsior ran out 3-0 winners with two of those goals scored against the nine men of NAC which clearly demonstrates how NAC’s poor discipline was responsible for the loss. That, my friends, is cutting insight you just won’t find anywhere else.

David Texeira – Not the next Luis Suarez

But totally the next Luis Suarez.

Texeira has drawn media interest due to stories he’s set to sign for Liverpool. Of course, being a Uruguayan striker playing for Groningen, he’ll undoubtedly be dubbed the next Suarez. The on-paper similarities are difficult to escape. Both are the same height and were born in the city of Salto. Both are also footballers. Is David Texeira actually Luis Suarez?

No. They’re different players. Texeira is more of a finisher, a poacher without the all-round game that Luis Suarez boasts. Saying that, Suarez would quite fancy Texeira’s finishing at the moment.

The surprise comes in the fact that Texeira has hardly torn the Eredivisie apart in his first few months. He has indisputably made a mark, with an admirable eight goals in 13 games but you get the impression he’s still finding his feet a little in the Eredivisie and a move to a club like Liverpool so soon seems strange.

Bas Dost Scores Some Goals

Well, I won’t be doing this everytime Dost scores. With 16 goals already this season, it would become boring. The 22 year old bagged a brace against De Graafschap. Why is it worth a mention? Heerenveen seemed to play a larger portion of their game throught the middle of the park whereas many felt there was an emphasis on attacking down the wings previously which was an obvious advantage for 6’5” Dost. The striker is beginning to demonstrate an on-the-ground game that, here we go, is indicative of good feet for a big man.

Ahmed Musa, Pontus Wernbloom and CSKA Moscow

Russian giants CSKA raided the Eredivisie to pick up VVV Venlo’s Nigerian star Ahmed Musa, and AZ’s Swede Pontus Wernbloom. Both exceptional players, CSKA have found real value like so many other clubs in the Eredivisie market. The duo were essential first team members for their former teams and questions stood over whether VVV and AZ could cope without them. Speaking of which:

VVV Venlo and Maarten Martens

VVV coped extremely well without Musa. A fantastic team performance was helped by Feyenoord’s questionable defending. Questionable is perhaps a compliment. Nevertheless, VVV did exactly what was required of them, winning 2-1 and giving them the lift they needed to mount a serious attempt at survival over the next few months. Ahmed Musa? If he’s being missed, it’s not evident at the moment.

Pontus Wernbloom’s departure was conveniently covered by Maarten Martens’ (so good they named him twice) return from injury. The Belgian was on top form, his silky skills and excellent passing range prominent as AZ drew 1-1 with title rivals Ajax. Martens has eased the fears of AZ fans missing Wernbloom.

The Title Race

Is getting fun. The top four – AZ, PSV, FC Twente and Ajax – are separated by five points with all four in contention. AZ, who have been sitting pretty at the top for some time now, are beginning to show frailties. PSV are getting results but look inconsistent and at times, uninspired. Twente had fallen behind but have a returning hero in McClaren to help them turn things around. Ajax can’t be ruled out, despite being five points behind, because they’re the champions. Let’s not entirely rule out 5^th place Heerenveen either, who find themselves in a great run of form.

Theo Bos

The thoughts of all of us at BornOffside are with the former Vitesse player and manager, with the story emerging of his battle with cancer. Bos was a one club man, spending 14 years and playing nearly 400 times for Vitesse. He became their manager in 2009 but was replaced a year later.

NEC and Vitesse fans put their issues aside with a moving tribute. Though bitter rivals, NEC fans joined their counterparts in wishing Bos well in the fourth minute of the game, four being the number worn by Bos during his career. Current Vitesse manager John van den Brom was moved to tears.