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A season defining match

Discussion in 'Norwich City' started by Cove, Apr 12, 2013.

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Which team will win?

Poll closed Apr 14, 2013.
  1. PSV Eindhoven

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  2. Ajax Amsterdam

    100.0%
  3. Draw

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. Cove

    Cove Well-Known Member

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    The Premier League winner is almost certainly heading to Manchester United this season, 6,5 rounds before the end of the season. But on the other side of the North Sea there is a completely different situation in the Eredivisie. This weekend Ajax Amsterdam and PSV Eindhoven will fight for the title for 90 minutes.
    22 players will be on the pitch in the Philips Stadium in Eindhoven and most players are selected for their national teams and a lot of names will sound familiar to your English ears because half of the squads are linked to several English Premier League clubs.

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    15:30 UK time


    But this game is not a normal top match, this match might just decide which club will win the Eredivisie Title. If Ajax win the away game in Eindhoven they are almost certain of the Eredivisie title. If PSV win... well then this season is heading towards an epic finale. And here is why:

    Ajax currently hold the first position in the Eredivisie, with 63 points out of 29 games. PSV is in second place with 60 points. A win for Ajax will give them a lead of 6 points with 4 games to go. A loss means that PSV will level with Ajax, but because PSV are at the moment one of the most goal productive teams in Europe, 88 goals in 29 games means an average of 3 goals per game rounded upwards. And if that's not enough excitement for you, there is a third party aiming for the title: Vitesse Arnhem. The club, bought in 2011 by Merab Jordania who is a close friend of a certain Abramovich, went from near relegation in the 2010-2011 to a top side in the 2011-2012 season and they are now the third team still in the race for the Eredivisie title with 60 points. The table currently looks like this:

    1. Ajax, 29 games, 63 points +43 goals
    2. PSV, 29 games, 60 points +56 goals
    3. Vitesse, 29 games, 60 points +28 goals
    4. Feyenoord 29 games, 59 points +19 goals

    So if Ajax and PSV draw, it is Vitesse who will be the laughing third party this weekend. Two years ago the whole nation said Merab Jordania wasn't right in the head when he said to the camera's that Vitesse would win the Eredivisie within three seasons. A bold statement, but three seasons on, he wasn't far off his prediction as Vitesse are still in the race for the title after 29 rounds. A very impressive feat for a club that was near relegation just three seasons ago.

    Now in the table I added Feyenoord to the list, and that is for a very specific reason. Although they trail four points to Ajax, they are still one point behind PSV and Vitesse and if PSV win on Sunday, then they still have a chance to claim the title in May. The reason I put them in the table is because Feyenoord have the easiest program compared to the top three. Feyenoord and Rotterdam are eager to bring the title to the Coolsingel, which is a main street in Rotterdam where the club in the past showed the newly won title to the fans. The Coolsingel has been 'devoid' of Feyenoord fans since 1998. So after 15 years the port city are praying for a PSV win in Eindhoven.

    Now lets take a look of the programs for all four clubs:

    Ajax: PSV(A), SC Heerenveen(H), NAC Breda(A), Willem II(H) and FC Groningen(A)
    PSV: Ajax(H), AZ(A), FC Groningen(H), NEC(A) and FC Twente(H)
    Vitesse: Roda JC(A), Feyenoord(A), Willem II(H), RKC Waalwijk(A) , VVV Venlo(H)
    Feyenoord: RKC Waalwijk(A), Vitesse(H), Heracles Almelo(H), ADO The Hague(A), NAC Breda(H)

    Now back to the game on Sunday. All the star players are fit and present, the only absentee of the game will be Kenneth Vermeer because he was sent off last week with a red card and got a two match ban. Dries Mertens, Kevin Strootman, Christian Eriksen, Erik Pieters, Siem de Jong, Toby Alderweireld, Mark van Bommel, Ryan Babel and Jeremain Lens will all play on this season defining game on Sunday.
     
    #1
  2. Northamptonncfc

    Northamptonncfc Well-Known Member

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    Would love to see Feyenoord nick it, anyone but Ajax. The goal difference Ajax & PSV have over the Feyenoord & Vitesse is big they look more stable defensively, also they seem to score a lot too and judging by the top scorers they score using a lot of different players, whilst half of Feyenoord's & Vitesse's goals are scored by one player.
     
    #2
  3. GozoCanary

    GozoCanary Well-Known Member

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    Just shows how insular I am. I saw the heading and thought it was going to be about the Reading game.

    Personally I like Ajax, but then maybe that is true of many people my age. We associate them with everything that is good about football.
     
    #3
  4. I_Clean_holtys_boots

    I_Clean_holtys_boots Active Member

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    A draw between the 2 and a vitesse win this weekend could make things very interesting.

    As Vietnam says, I'm heading for Ajax as they were the might of dutch and European football when I was growing up. Some of my all time favourite players were in the 90's Ajax side and so that's why I favour them.
     
    #4
  5. Cruyff's Turn

    Cruyff's Turn Well-Known Member

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    Do I need to state a preference?
     
    #5
  6. canary-dave

    canary-dave Well-Known Member

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    Are you shy CT?

    <laugh>
     
    #6

  7. Cove

    Cove Well-Known Member

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    Your name includes Cruyff, you already have :grin:
     
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  8. Cove

    Cove Well-Known Member

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    #8
  9. Cove

    Cove Well-Known Member

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    Vitesse screwed up, they give up a 0-3 lead in the 94th minute to a 3-3 score against Roda JC, they are almost certainly out of the title race now.
     
    #9
  10. Cove

    Cove Well-Known Member

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