NH Sportforum: “AZ has the best vanguard, Ajax shows decisiveness”

Reporter Milton Pus immediately gives the ball a lift forward at the kick-off of the Sportforum: “My position is that AZ has the best vanguard of the Eredivisie with Odgaard, Pavlidis and Karlsson. Ajax may have more quality, but they don’t show it “I think that vanguard will be decisive in the battle for the title. Feyenoord – AZ is a benchmark for me on February 18. I think you can then say whether AZ is title candidate number one or not.”

For Thomas Brood, that is much too short-sighted. “There are still plenty of matches to go after that. We won’t have a clear picture until March or April. Ajax can also become champion, although that chance may not be great. The fact is that the clubs are close to each other in the rankings. ”

Achilles heel

Pus thinks a new title for Ajax is “unrealistic”. Reporter Frank van der Meijden agrees, but does not dare to put his money on AZ yet. “The rear guard is the Achilles’ heel with all the injuries. But because dIf the competition drops so many stitches, clubs such as AZ or Twente could just become champions this year.”

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Presenter Edward Dekker thinks that Ajax does not have the wrong vanguard with Kudus, Tadic and Bergwijn. “It just doesn’t work out.” According to Brood, Schreuder changed positions far too often. “At Ajax it was different every week.” Schreuder’s dismissal was inevitable. Although Pus was surprised that this happened immediately after the 1-1 against Volendam. “For the first time in a long time, Ajax showed decisiveness.”

Brood sees much more stability at AZ, although last Saturday against FC Utrecht (5-5) it turned out not to be enough not to fall through a lower limit. “It was fun to watch, but a lot of mistakes were made. Getting five goals is too much.”

Shock effect Heitinga

The reporters find it amazing that Ajax finally won another match in the Eredivisie under the new trainer John Heitinga. Brood eventually speaks of “a simple victory”, where Pus emphasizes that Excelsior had a lot of opportunities before half-time, but did not use them.

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Nevertheless, the road up under the leadership of the new coach in Rotterdam could just have started. Brood has looked at Ajax’s program for the month of February (Cambuur and Vitesse away, RKC and Sparta home) and states: “Union Berlin (Europa League, ed.) Will be difficult, but it may just be that Ajax with this easy program at the end of the month in the premier league.”

The third North Holland premier divisionist, FC Volendam, has been kissed to life after the winter break. “No one saw this coming, unbelievable,” says Van der Meijden, who is not at all bothered by the more conservative way of playing. “I also don’t think they play demolition football. It looked better offensively against RKC than before the winter break. The first half against Cambuur was also attractive. They don’t always play with their butts back.”

Positive energy

Van der Meijden praises the discipline of the players, but is curious whether the team will also score as many points in February. After AZ and Twente, Vitesse and NEC are also waiting. “But there is positive energy again. You should not underestimate that. Groningen does not have that. I think that if they had continued with the 4-3-3 system, Volendam would still have been on six points.”

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Dekker does have some comments. “Cambuur played really excruciatingly bad and RKC and Groningen still got the necessary chances. Against Ajax, the percentage of possession was 85 to 15.” Brood believes that Dekker should not complain about this and that it is about the result. “Volendam must first ensure that they also play in the premier league next season. I did not expect this, but Paris is still a long way off. It will take a while before you reach the finish line.”

Pus, on the other hand, sees sufficient clues in the adapted playing style that Volendam can survive. “The past five games have shown that. In November I already said that Jonk had to abandon his familiar game. This gives a lot of confidence.”

Snow remains

In the first division, Telstar is better than expected in eleventh place. It is therefore logical that trainer Mike Snoei recently extended his contract. “A good move,” says Brood. “The schwung is there now, but I still have to see if they make it to the playoffs. The football is better and there is more spectacle than under Andries Jonker. Pruning doesn’t move much either. He works with a solid defense and works from there further.”

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Pus and Van der Meijden also doubt whether Telstar is good enough for the play-offs. “If you really want to participate, you have to win matches against Dordrecht and TOP Oss. You may soon fall short of those points,” says Pus. Van der Meijden: “A match like that against Almere should stand out for you. That team has more claim to the play-offs.”

The NH Sportforum could be heard on Sunday, January 29 between 6 and 7 p.m. on NHRadio. The next episode is Sunday, February 26.