Alkmaar being only 23 miles from Amsterdam means that many have
decided to turn the UEFA Cup trip into an extended party.
What sort of game will we see?
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against Auxerre at home and away to Breda - and one thing is certain -
we ain’t walking over those guys!
The game against Auxerre was over by half-time - Auxerre only ever
threatened on the break, mainly through Kalou (although their left
winger Lionel Mathis is good too) and the two goals in the opening 17
minutes were enough.
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was poor. But they persevered and won 3-0 in the end. The Breda fans
were very impressive - showing that a home game need not mean no
atmosphere! Three stands took it in turn to sing songs or lead off
chants.
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they are doing so well and Breda isn’t too far from them. Alkmaar is
famous for it’s cheese market and the NAC fans welcomed them with a
banner which said (it is funny in DUtch!) “Alkmaar is a cheese city and
the cheese smells bad.” They also sang, in English, “Can you hear
Alkmaar sing.”
Although the only player in the AZ team to have been bought for a
transfer fee under coach Co Adriaanse is Denny Landzaat (around 400,000
quid) it is not a team without stars and several stand out.
Most impressive is Barry van Gallen - he scores, is the engine room of
the team, has been selected for the national side in his 30s and
normally only plays for around an hour in each game.
AZ play a very fast passing game - and in the true Dutch tradition of
Total Football the players are encouraged to attack even if it means
defenders coming into the forward line and midfielders having to drop
back to cover. Kenneth Perez is very mobile and will drop back in
support is needed for instance. It’s an all-action team to watch.
Against Auxerre the Belgian forward Stein Huysegems scored both goals -
the second a marvellous charge and mazy run through the defence and a
clattering shot.
The other stand out for me is the young defender Jan Kromkamp - very
accomplished and physically strong - and while he’s got a few other big
lads around him AZ play football rather than muscle their way through
games. You don’t end up second in the Dutch league by clogging your
way there.
The Dutch will press us to get the ball back - all the time - against
Breda they got their first goal when Tim De Cler pounced on a dropped
ball then the NAC keeper was pressured. The players are very hungry
to score - in the same game Perez and Huysegems had a major argument on
the field early on over who was right to go for a ball - after the
match Adriaanse publicly told Perez to get himself sorted out and think
more for the team than himself or he would be out.
Alkmaar’s a nice wee town. Depending on what train you get from
Amsterdam the trip to it can be between 30 and 45 minutes.
When I arrived for the Auxerre game I thought I had made a boo-boo and
got the date wrong. No-one on the train (I arrived at 7) had scarves,
there were no fans in the pubs or cafes at the station, no away fans.
In fact the centre for football fans visiting the town is Waagplein
which is a 10/15 minute walk from the station and it’s there you can
have a few beers and a chat.
The ground - the Alkmaarderhout - holds just over 8,000 and is a 10
minute bus ride from the station. It sits in a wee public park and is
very basic - the club is moving to a new ground soon. Don’t bother
trying to sneak in - I got searched three times and had my ticket
checked each time before I got to my seat.
Inside it’s actually very atmospheric - the fans appeared fairly late -
the kick-off was a t 9.15pm! - and I was expecting a fairly low-key
night as there was a huge percentage of women and kids. But actually
they all made a noise and were very supportive throughout - a good
crowd.
You can have a look for yourself - photos and video - of their fan
displays at this site - http://www.azsupporters.nl
MAKE IT A LONG WEEKEND
If you fancy a trip to Holland you can turn it into something of a
football fest if you check the fixtures and plan ahead.
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Friday - Sparta Rotterdam v Venlo
Saturday - Breda v Alkmaar
Sunday - Ajax v Feyenoord
All the 2nd Division games are played on the Friday night and the 1st
Division are usually played at 8pm on a Saturday or a Sunday afternoon.
Check out the fixtures on www.footballnl.com
I stayed with Lady Feyenoord that weekend and we started the ball
rolling with a trip to “The Castle” as Sparta’s ground is known.
Sparta are the oldest pro club in Holland but have fallen on hard times
in recent years since being relegated. Over the years their support
has fallen and are now well behind Feyenoord in terms of numbers. But
they are an enthusiastic bunch and a 3-0 win against Venlo took them
closer to the top of the league.
Sparta regard themselves as the ‘real’ team of Rotterdam - but they are
struggling to regain that status and the numbers over the years tell a
different story. Fascinating to find that the Sparta Youth group
actually like Ajax! Organised collections outside the ground to bring
in money for fans displays with banners and flags supported by the
club- something we could learn from?
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atmosphere in the Arena and a dull 1-1 draw was played out - Ajax
getting the upper hand in the second half but overall a fairly dismal
game as both teams seemed more desperate not to lose than to win.
The culture surrounding the various cities and clubs in Holland
fascinates me - in Rotterdam they regard themselves as hard workers and
Ajax as a pompous and self-important club. I have to say I find that
when you get to know them Feyenoord fans are a little envious of Ajax’s
tradition of having so many home-grown players in the team - and the
Ajax fans jealous of the more deep-rooted football culture in the port
city.
Get over there and find out for yourself!