PSV: Football 101

PSV Line Up Wijnaldum Replacement

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Prodigy: Liverpool's Spanish Midfielder Chirivella Is seen As a Long-Term Solution

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With the rumour mill churning continued reports that PSV Skipper Giorginio Wijnaldum is on his way out of Philips Stadion, manager Tony Young has moved to secure a long-term replacement for his skipper, and has identified Liverpool youngster Pedro Chirivella as the man to fill that role.

"Pedro is a great talent, and a player i've had my eye on for a long time now. He's technically very adept, and his tacking ability is something which we will value here. He has bags of talent, and hopefully we can nurture that at PSV: it's just a matter of getting sat down with him, and convincing him this club is right for him."

But just how easy will that convincing be? Several youngsters have already seen PSV as their first-choice destination this season, and if Chirivella does move, he will be joined by Norwegian starlet Martin Odegaard, in a midfield pairing which could stand together for a decade at PSV, if they work well together.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers was unavailable for comment on the future of his young star, but he is thought to see PSV as a good destination for young talent, although the likelihood is that he will not want to part with one of his brightest stars.

Can Tony Young pull off this deal?

PSV: The Season So Far

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November 2014: Keeping Up Appearances

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Maestro: Hiljemark (Right) Has been critical since his return from injury

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It was a busy month for PSV, as they played 6 matches, and extended their unbeaten run from the start of the season.

First up, was a relatively routine win against Cambuur. Stijn Schaars opened the scoring after 30 minutes, with a long-range shot which took a deflection on it's way into the goal. 4 Minutes later, Luuk De Jong doubled PSV's advantage, with a blistering header which left the goalkeeper with no chance. PSV's attacking play was sublime at times, and they should have been much further ahead by half-time. After the break, Dejan Meleg scored for Cambuur, and the travelling PSV support became tense: surely they weren't going to throw it away now? They shouldn't have worried: Memphis Depay, canditated for European Golden Boy, popped up on the edge of the area with a looping volley to seal the result at 3-1.

Next, the side travelled to Dnipro, knowing a win would see them qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa League. But their hosts had other ideas, with goals from Polivanov and Zhdanov seeing them race into a 2-0 lead after just 15 minutes. The PSV fans were almost silent, as they watched their dreams fall apart on the pitch. Just before half-time though, Santiago Arias drilled home a spectacular volley to put PSV back in contention, and the break was raucous, the PSV fans singing their hearts out, desperate to motivate their side. It wasn't until the 82nd minute that PSV drew level, with Brazillian winger Nathan slotting home from close-range to seal a point, and PSV went home, knowing a draw against Young Boys would see them qualify.

Against Ajax, the team once again fell to a 2-0 defecit inside the first 20 minutes, as goals from Fischer and Guiterrez found their way past Jeroen Zoet. Away from home against Ajax, many were writing PSV off, sensing the first defeat of the season, until Memphis Depay once again found a way through the defence, and lifted the ball over the goalkeeper to make it 2-1 at half time. An hour in, Stijn Schaars scored another of his trademark long-shots to level the scores, and PSV had another 2-2 draw to their name, and retained their place at the top of the league.

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Eccentric: Some were questioning Zoet's form, as his side fell to an early defecit

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Against Feyenoord, it was PSV who struck first - a towering header from on-loan defender Karim Rekik gave them the lead, and they looked comfortable, until Colin Kazim-Richards levelled for Feyenoord just before the break. Jeffrey Bruma broke free of the defence at a corner after 72 minutes, and his half-volley almost burst the net to give his side the win they had been craving.

Philps Stadion welcomed Young Boys with an air of expectation: A point would send PSV through to the knockout stages, but the fans wanted more. And they weren't to be disappointed. The first half was quiet, with neither team really threatening, but Luuk De Jong's 64th minute goal opened the floodgates, as goals from Depay and Schaars followed in quick succession, and PSV raced into a 3-0 lead. Just when Young Boys thought they had weathered the storm, Marcel Ritzmaier rifled a shot home from the edge of the area, and Depay's second goal sealed an impressive 5-0 victory, and a spot in the next round.

A narrow 1-0 victory over Zwolle closed the month, with wantaway star Wijnaldum scoring a deflected volley to seal all 3 points 10 minutes from time.

Player Of The Month: Memphis Depay

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An impressive month for the winger has seen him force his way into contention for the European Golden Boy award, and his 4 goals in 4 starts has seen him affirm has place as a PSV fan favourite.

Odegaard Makes Debut As PSV Defeat Falkirk

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Spotlight: Odegaard Meets The Media Ahead Of His Debut

January 2015: Starting The Year Right

Waiting: Nathan sat out injured before making his return in the Cup

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With only three matches in January, PSV Kept their unbeaten record in the league with victories over Groningen and ADO, before an emphatic win against Go Ahead in the cup - with right winger Nathan marking his return from injury with two goals in a scintilating performance to help his side progress.



Tony Young's side continued their unstoppable form this month.

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Boeren opened their month with an emphatic 4-2 victory over Groningen, but they were made to work hard. The hosts closed down every pass and chased every ball, disrupting PSV's flow, and making life difficult for the attacking trio of Depay, De Jong and Lukovic.

It was Groningen who made the breakthrough, Nick van der Velden escaping the PSV defence to slot the ball past Jeroen Zoet. But the lead didn't last - Luuk De Jong capitalised on a defensive error to prod the ball from from 5 yards, and PSV were level.

Groningen were back ahead less than 1 minute later, when Kasper Oldenburger hit a 30-yard screamer which swerved wickedly on it's way past Zoet. When the whistle blew for half-time, it was Groningen's fans who were the happier, and Tony Young stalked down the tunnel behind his players.

After the break, PSV were a different side, and after just 15 minutes, Jetro Willems bombed down the left wing, and cut inside the defence to score a brilliant individual goal to pull his side level. Luuk De Jong hit his second goal of the game from the edge of the box to give PSV the lead, before Jorrit Hendrix opened his account for the season with a great header to seal the result.

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PSV's Players Celebrate Their Emphatic Win

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Against ADO, PSV's high-scoring run of form continued, as Memphis Depay and Abel Tamata scored within two minutes of each other to fire the team to a 2-0 victory, and move 12 points clear at the top of the table, ahead of Feyenoord.

The final game of the month saw Brazillian starlet Nathan return from a 5-week injury layoff after sustaining fractured ribs in training. And he returned in style, running the show from the right wing, and scoring twice to set up a Semi-Final tie with Utrecht. The youngster has been something of a revelation since his £6.5m move from Atletico Paranaense, scoring 9 goals in 20 games, and endearing himself to the fans quickly.