Dutch EreDivision
2008-03-15 - Feyenoord vs VVV Venlo
A Sports Betting Pick by Billie
Netherlands: Eredivisie
Saturday 15th March 2008 : KO 19:00 GMT
Feyenoord
Feyenoord hasn’t been in great form lately, winning only 4 of their last 10 matches. Their supremacy at home also fell down, and what followed were some very average performances. At home they only won 2 of their last 6 matches. There were several reasons for this setback, with the most important being the many injuries.
The situation of some players were bettering, but after the match with AZ on Wednesday Feyenoord has been dealt a major blow. Topscorer and key-player Roy Makaay got injured and won’t play the coming weeks for sure. Besides that, defender Tim de Cler is suspended for the match against VVV.
Feyenoord has trouble when they have to make the game, and aren’t capable of dominating and creating many chances. They miss a targetman up front, but with Makaay out this will change.
Only the targetman will be 38-year old Mols, who hasn’t played a full match this season and has been used as pinchhitter whole season. Mols is the only other striker in the squad with Makaay, so this could turn out to be a decisive factor. Must be noted that Mols scored the 2-1 in the cup match against 1st divisionist FC Zwolle. Wingers Nicky Hofs and Chun-Soo Lee are still injured.
VVV Venlo
VVV is still in the play-out zone for relegation, but they can still survive. However direct relegation is almost just as close. They were winless in 8 until they managed to beat a weakened FC Utrecht 4 weeks ago.
Since then they lost 2 home games but won their last away game against Vitesse. Especially in that away game Nordin Amrabat seemed to have found some form again, scoring twice. He signed a contract with PSV this week, and his only goal now is to keep VVV in the Eredivisie.
VVV seem to play better away from home, when they are a little underestimated and they can use the speed of their forwards . For this match the tactic will be a very defensive one, leaning back on their own half and keep it tight at the back. They will think about attack when they can keep Feyenoord out of their rhythm.
Striker Calabro is injured, and he was getting important last matches with some goals, although I rate his replacement Oost not any weaker.
Verdict:
Feyenoord has trouble with creating chances, but this was covered by the goals scored by Roy Makaay. He has been Feyenoord’s main man all season long, and has scored 9 of his 13 goals at home. It will be the first time they play without him, and it will take time before they found a way to replace him. Mols won’t be the solution, as he is very slow and his condition is not good enough.
VVV knows that any point taken here is a bonus, but with 2 convincing away wins in a row, they seem to have picked up the right form when travelling. It won’t be too hard to defend Feyenoord’s static offence, and they’ll take enough with a point. Still, they have enough individual qualities to score.
That’s why I’ll take VVV on the asian handicap bet.
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Take VVV Venlo +1.5 goals @ 1.82.
