Preview of the Dutch season

Back when I was a nipper, I remember doing an essay for history homework on the subject of World War One. I remember the smug look I must have had as I finished it three days early, counted the words to ensure I`d covered that base and then laughed as two of my mates told me they hadn`t started yet. I remember handing it in and knowing it was a decent bit of work as I loved to study the subject matter. I remember the teacher shouting me up to the front of the class and getting me to read it out, I was delighted as it must have been that good. I remember getting to the end and the teacher asking the class what they thought of it. My best friend put his hand up and told the teacher. " It's excellent, but were we not writing about World War 2?"

That feeling has been with me all this week since being asked at the weekend to write a little something about the upcoming Eredivision season . A 1000 words all kicked in the crotch on Sunday night when Wesley Sneijder left Ajax in a 27 Million Euro move to Real Madrid and effectively ruined my article and as a side effect, Ajax`s season.

And with that I started again.

Last season couldn`t have been any closer if it had been three fat blokes squeezed into the back of a mini, PSV had it won, then they had it lost, AZ had it won and could actually taste the trophy and then threw it away on the last day at Excelsior, Ajax had it almost by default, despite being over the hill and far away at the winterstop, before dropping two points at RKC.In the end PSV won it by virtue of scoring one more goal than Ajax with AZ shooting themselves in the face in Rotterdam.

So to this season and what was always a three team race in Holland has become four. This is due to Feyenoord strengthening their team again, the last couple of seasons having been a nightmare for the Rotterdam team.

Lets look at the top 4 and see where the challenge will come form.

Ajax :- Losing two major players in the midfield was almost a disaster, Babel moving to Liverpool for 17 Million Euro`s was bad enough but on the eve of the visit to Ibrox Edgar Davids broke his shin in a warm up game against Go Ahead Eagles and will be ruled out until December at the earliest. The transfer of Sneijder from Real Madrid only compound the problems that Ajax will have in midfield next season. As I understand it, Motta of Barcelona is perhaps being lined up as a replacement for Davids. Other minor positions have been filled including taking Kennedy Bakircioglu from FC Twente and Ismael Urzaiz on a free from Bilbao. Hardly inspiring signings at the ArenA.

PSV :- Lost Alex to Chelsea, this might turn into a major loss for them as when he was out of the team last year they fell apart. Signed Lazovic from Vitesse, but in the main appear to have strengthened squad numbers rather than sign any superstars. Koeman must surely realise that the terrible run of form that almost saw them throw the league away last year won`t be tolerated this year in Eindhoven.

AZ :- Have signed some promising strikers: A Brazilian guy named Ari and italian youth international Pelle .They have signed some more young players, but their only experienced player, a hero at both Ajax and Rangers by the name of Arveladze, has left for Spain. I think the lack of experience will cost them.

Feyenoord :- The Rotterdammers had to do something in the close season, so far away in the league in the last two years, thrown out of Europe for the behaviour of their fans, and failure to qualify this year for Europe would normally be a source of much merriment from myself but they decided to strengthen, and boy did they. Gio Van Brockhurst, Roy Makaay, Tim De Cler, Hofland and a number of promising youngsters will surely make them feel as if they are in with a chance this year. Grudingly I`d be forced to agree.

I won`t go in for predicting where the title will end up as I just jinx Ajax whenever I pick them and the Mrs gets upset if I pick one of the others: so, a season as close as the last one would be nice, but not good for the heart.

RED WHITE AND AJAX

With thanks to Afca for his insider knowledge