NH Sportforum: “AZ is the winner of the transfer period”

The NH Sportforum kicks off with the leader of the Eredivisie. AZ is proudly in the lead after nine games. The Alkmaarders are still unbeaten in the national competition and they also lead in Group E of the Conference League in Europe. “Last season, AZ played below its level,” said reporter Milton Pus. “And this season they are playing above their level. I really think Pascal Jansen gets the most out of his players. Still, I don’t see AZ becoming champions.”

“Title Chances”

Colleague Stephan Brandhorst does give them a chance for the title. “This season I often have the feeling at AZ that it will be fine. Jansen’s team regularly destroys an opponent. I missed that last season and that is why I have a lot of confidence in AZ.” The praise for the Alkmaarders does not stop at Brandhorst, because the reporter is also lyrical about the technical policy. “Of all clubs in the Netherlands, AZ is the winner of the transfer period.”

Text continues below the photo.

“AZ plays with a decent core”, reporter Thomas Brood analyzes the Alkmaar selection. “Last summer the selection remained fairly intact. That seems to me to be an advantage. That is partly why I give AZ a serious chance for the title.” After nine rounds, leader AZ collected one point more than neighbor Ajax. “And AZ still has many injured players”, presenter Edward Dekker rightly notes. “So the Alkmaarders are only getting stronger.”

“Worthless selection”

“I want to break a lance for Alfred Schreuder”, Brood stands up for the Ajax coach. “He is under fire, but I think you should look more at the technical directors Gerry Hamstra and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. They have put together a worthless selection. Because which purchase is convincing in Amsterdam at the moment?”

Brandhorst throws some extra fuel on the fire. “The status that Ajax had in Europe in recent years, the team from Amsterdam threw away last month. They are no longer participating in European this season.” The outspoken NH Sport reporter does not see Ajax getting any further than third place in the group.

“But given the departures of Antony, Sebastian Haller, Lisandro Martinez, Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraoui this summer, it is not so strange that Ajax needs some time to focus again,” says Edward Dekker.

Text continues below the photo.

“It is striking that Schreuder changed very little after the 6-1 defeat against Napoli”, Brandhorst continues. Last weekend Ajax narrowly won a visit to last weekend FC Volendam (2-4). “All Schreuder does is position players slightly differently. I would argue in favor of giving a few other players a chance, such as Davy Klaassen and Owen Wijndal.”

“I don’t think Schreuder will make it to Christmas”, Dekker is quite firm. “It is messy in the dressing room and the situation of the coaching Tadic is not pleasant for the hierarchy.”

Substitute Wijndal

Owen Wijndal is almost not in Schreuder’s plans this season, while he was the most important player in Alkmaar last season. Brood: “That often happens with players from AZ who make the step to Ajax. It turns out things are different in Amsterdam.”

Brandhorst finds it striking that Daley Blind never sits on the couch. “All Ajax trainers are always a fan of his, but you can’t really lose him anywhere in your team. He is too vulnerable in the center of the defense, in midfield he is too slow and as a left back he is overrun. that position is best at the ball. Unfortunately, that is at the expense of Owen Wijndal.”

Text continues below the photo.

Then to the worst performing club in North Holland at the highest level. FC Volendam is at the bottom with five points. So far, the PhD student has won this competition once. “I think FC Volendam has not strengthened itself enough”, Dekker looks back on the last transfer period. “That is why they are last and I seriously fear for the Eredivisie. Something really has to happen during the winter break, otherwise you throw away everything you have built up in three years.”

“Fair-weather football players”

Brandhorst: “They now have to play relegation football. That means for every point through the fire, then they can still go far. Only the Volendam selection has too many ‘fair weather football players’.” Pus agrees with Brandhorst’s words. “Jonk is more of the creative footballers. Like the Antonucci’s and the Eitings. They don’t have destroyers in midfield for example. I do miss the inspiration at FC Volendam a bit.”

A step down from the Premier League. Telstar is doing quite well in the first division. The Velsenaren take place thirteen in the ranking. Brood: “I even think that Telstar is doing well beyond expectations. I think trainer Mike Snoei has a better network than Andries Jonker.”

Pus partly stands up for the previous trainer. “Last year things were not going well with Telstar either. Corona wave, injuries and also many flu cases in Jonker’s selection at the time. However, I partly share the opinion of colleague Brood, because they now have much more experience in the team. That makes them play a lot more mature.”

According to Brood, this quality injection is mainly due to the real estate agency ‘Grand Stand’. “They keep a lot of players at Telstar. I think that Telstar is playing with fire because of this, because where has your independence gone? And I don’t believe that you send a good signal to your youth academy. In addition, it is now a foreign legion, it is missing to club people.”

Glynor Plet

Only Glynor Plet seems to be less successful in Velsen-Zuid this season. The tall striker has only scored twice this football season. “Still, I’m not giving up on Plet,” said Brood. Dekker is less optimistic about the captain of the White Lions. “I give him fifteen goals, but it is going to be more difficult this year.”