Dutch EreDivision
2009-02-01 - De Graafschap vs PSV Eindhoven
A Sports Betting Pick by Erik
Football: Netherlands, Eredivisie 2008/2009
Sunday 1st February 2009 - Kickoff 14.30 Doetinchem
De Graafschap (17th - Home Rec : 3-2-4 8:16)
De Graafschap is currently on the 16th place in the ranking and the team seriously has to start collecting points soon in order to avoid the relegation-offs or even direct relegation.
The team has scored only scored 13 goals so far this season and with two goals from their last six games, the goal drought seems persisting despite the arrival of Sahar (att) on loan from Chelsea. De Graafschap lost their last match 2-0 on the road to AZ after playing a more than decent but quite unlucky game.
Whether it was AZ lacking the power to push through after the opening goal or the strong field play of the visitors remains worth debating, but De Graafschap was denied a goal halfway the first half with the assistant referee unjustly flagging for off-side.
PSV Eindhoven (5th - Away Rec : 2-3-4 13:13)
PSV knew quite a turbulent week with team manager Stevens resigning following the poor results after the winter break. There was no magic between Stevens and the team selection according to PSV fans and to be quite frank, there was a lot more going on than that.
Most of the players simply couldn't stand Stevens and the 2-2 draw at home to NAC Breda last Saturday was the last straw for the majority of the players. Amrabat (att), Koevermans (att) and Lazovic (att) were all kept on the bench while Toivonen (att) made his debut with Stevens fielding a 4-5-1 formation completely against the will of the team that had been trying to convince Stevens to play in a 4-4-2 formation for the last few months.
PSV occupy a disappointing fifth place in the ranking being fifteen points down on the leaders AZ and the main target for this season is to reach a place within the top three of the ranking with the prolongation of the title being way out of reach.
The team also was eliminated in an early stage from both European and domestic Cup football and the game against De Graafschap will be considered a turn-around point with assistant manager Lodeweges most likely finishing the season as head coach.
Injuries and suspensions :
De Graafschap :
Volmer (def) (suspended)
PSV Eindhoven :
Kromkamp (def) (groin), Zonneveld (def) (hamstring), Wuytens (def) (doubtful, calf)
Previous meetings
04/10/2008 PSV Eindhoven - De Graafschap 3-0
24/02/2008 PSV Eindhoven - De Graafschap 4-1
01/12/2007 De Graafschap - PSV Eindhoven 0-1
08/05/2005 PSV Eindhoven - De Graafschap 4-1
04/12/2004 De Graafschap - PSV Eindhoven 0-4
The Verdict
Will PSV be able to turn things around on Sunday and collect their first win after the winter break after the departure of Stevens?
Things certainly will have calmed down in the team of the reigning Dutch champions and the resigning of Stevens is probably the best thing that could happen to PSV at this moment.
With Lodeweges most likely respecting the wishes of his players I expect to see a fully motivated PSV on Sunday against De Graafschap with ex-player Cocu assisting the technical staff with advice.
Especially the Spanish players will be relieved to see Stevens go with Mendez (mid) and Salcido (def) often colliding with their coach and looking for opportunities elsewhere. The deperture of Stevens may get them to realize they have to start showing what they are worth in order to get their desired transfer.
Although playing a decent game against AZ, the goal drought of De Graafschap is very worrying and I can not really see them outscoring PSV on Sunday because of this obvious reason.
Looking at the previous results we can see 5 straight and convincing wins for PSV including a 3-0 home win over De Graafschap back in October. De Graafschap has scored only twice in their last six games and grabbed only one win in those games, a 1-0 home win over Willem II two weeks ago.
PSV will be looking to get back on track and although the team hasn't been performing very well on the road this season I think the match against De Graafschap will show us an (at least temporary) revived PSV.
The Pick :
PSV Eindhoven to win
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take PSV Eindhoven to win
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
I will take the visitors to win this game and I am even prepared to take the AH -1.5 handicap on PSV Eindhoven at odds above evens.
