The Club of the People: Feyenoord Rotterdam

2017-06-16 21:32#243805 Justice : Will he flourish on his return, or will Super Brad prove to be the undisputed No.1?

For the remainder of this season, my heart is telling me to go with Super Brad, because he has done so well for us, however pre-season will give Vermeer the chance to reclaim number 1 well and truly so next season could be different!

Sucks about getting booted from the cup but you have a very exciting final two months upon you

Not the best of months by any stretch of the imagination, but I would imagine that six wins from six would secure the title!

Absolutely gutting month that mate, hopefully it's just a blip and you can regain top spot. The cup is certainly not the main priority at the moment, so I'm sure that's in the back of your mind. A few decent players in your intake, whether they play in the future is something else, but they could be sold for some profit, definitely.

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13 April 2017

van Bronckhorst: ”We Need To Get The Job Done”

Speaking to Eredivisie.nl ahead of his sides big game against Vitesse in the Eredivisie title race, Feyenoord manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has issued a simple message to his team ahead of the game at Gelredome. That message is ‘get the job done!’ The manager declared his intentions to see out the remainder of the Eredivisie campaign and secure the amount of wins that Feyenoord need to make sure that they take their first Eredivisie title since 1999. Feyenoord have 4 games remaining in this Eredivisie campaign and know that if they win all four games they will be crowned Champions of Holland after Ajax could only draw at home to SC Heerenveen whilst Feyenoord thumped AZ 3-1.

”We’ve been given another lucky break,” said the manager who is close to finishing his second full season in charge of the Rotterdam club, ”Ajax slipped up and now it is in our hands to make sure we lift that shield come the end of the season. If we blow it now, we only have ourselves to blame, but the message I have for the team is to just get the job done. We’ve been doing extremely well all season but we don’t deserve anything yet, because there is still four games to go and if we don’t win them we can’t claim to have deserved the title.”

van Bronckhorst also called on the Feyenoord fans, known as the Legion, to help ensure that their team did the job in their remaining games. ”The fans have the chance to help us win the title here and I know that if they roar us through every game, the team will respond to that and will put in the performances to make sure we win it.” When quizzed about Feyenoord securing Champions League football for next year if they continue their fine run of form, van Bronckhorst also added, ”Playing in the Champions League would be great next season, but for now we just need to stay focused on making sure we are lifting the Eredivisie trophy come the end of the season.”

Comments

MJK: Yeah it was gutting to be knocked out and you’re right the next two months are going to be nail-biting and exciting at the same time.

Justice: Six wins from six should be enough! It is going to be a tough ask but we’re certainly capable of doing it!

ScottT: Not the best of months, you’re right but only we can make sure it is only a blip. The league is by far and a way the most important priority at the moment and like Justice said, six wins from six should be enough! As for the young players my intention is to give them at least a shot, whether they take it or not is another matter!

I hope you do get the job done

He has his priorities straight at least, need to land that trophy now!

Now is your chance! Take back the crown of Dutch football!

Comments

MJK: The pressure is on!

ScottT: Will be disappointed if we don’t go and land the trophy now, we’re in a very good situation!

Justice: You took the words right out of my mouth!

Two finals to play, in truth. A win in both will give you a great chance of succeeding in your hunt! Sometimes when all seems lost, you have to remember that even the greatest of football managers struggle to find a win ratio greater than 60%, so the odds of Ajax dropping points are actually quite high!

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12 May 2017

van Bronckhorst: ‘Confident Of Right Outcome’

Feyenoord have the chance to put their recent poor form on the road behind them on Sunday when they visit the MAC3PARK Stadion for the season’s final Eredivisie fixture. A win will guarantee Feyenoord the Eredivisie title, following last weekend's win against Heerenveen saw Feyenoord move top of the Eredivisie as Ajax lost their respective game. ”We are very confident that we’ll do that, with the support of our travelling legion,” says coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Part of that positive mindset is due to the fact that Feyenoord take on their mid-table opponents with the backing of over a thousand travelling supporters, with that number just being those have bought tickets to Sunday’s game. ”We might not have been the strongest on the road for a little while, but the circumstances are very different from a few weeks ago,” said van Bronckhorst. ”We have one match to play, which we need to win. They Feyenoord fans will cheer us on for the full ninety minutes as they do both home and away. That support makes us feel strong; Sunday will be no different.”

van Bronckhorst will be without Lucas Woudenberg on Sunday, who continues to recover form his sports hernia. ”He is a big loss but we will do it with the players who are available,” said van Bronckhorst. ”The most important thing is that we finish the match with a win.”

Comments

Justice: Definitely two finals! Ajax taking maximum points is no given at this stage of the season and all we can do is make it two wins from two and do all we can! It’s going to go down to the wire but one thing is for sure, it is going to be exciting as hell!

You're still only a point behind with two games left. It's not over until the fat lady sings!

Just a point separates Ajax in second from Feyenoord in first
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12 May 2017

”It’s In Our Hands”- Eredivisie Final Day Preview

The regular Eredivisie campaign reaches its climax on Sunday with one major issue that is still in need of solving; who will win the Eredivisie title and be crowned Champions of the Netherlands. Both 14 times champions Feyenoord and 33 times Ajax are still in with a chance at winning the famous trophy but who will be crowned champions will be decided on Sunday with Feyenoord knowing that a victory away at PEC Zwolle guarantees them their first title since the 1998/1999 season. Meanwhile Ajax are away at the Kyocera Stadion where they will meet ADO den Haag in a repeat of the KNVB Beker Final, knowing that they must win and hope that Feyenoord drop points to stand any chance of winning the title. Below Eredivisie.nl previews both games on this crucial weekend in the Eredivisie campaign.

PEC Zwolle Vs. Feyenoord

What do Feyenoord need to do?: It is simple for Feyenoord, win the game and they will be guaranteed to be crowned champions for the first time since 1999. A draw may be enough if Ajax also drop points, but Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men will know that if they win they will be lifting the trophy come the final whistle.

Are they the favourites for the game?: On paper yes, PEC Zwolle are 13th in the Eredivisie and despite a reasonably solid start have slipped off the pace in the second half of the campaign. However Feyenoord have struggled to beat sides away from home just recently and their last win on the road was back in February against Willem II.

What kind of form are the two sides in?: Feyenoord haven’t lost since the 5th March and are on a 7 match unbeaten run. They have won four of their five home games in that run but have drawn both away games, dropped points that cost them the chance of picking up the trophy earlier in the season. PEC Zwolle on the other hand are winless in 6, a run that includes a thrilling 5-5 draw with Ajax and thumping 6-0 defeat away at FC Utrecht. They are shipping goals and Feyenoord’s often brilliant attacking play should be rewarded.

What do Feyenoord need to do to win?: As has been the case so often on the road for Feyenoord this season, they need to convert their chances. Feyenoord often create a lot but fail to put their chances away when they’re away from De Kuip and against a defence that is shaky at the best of times, their strikers need to put the ball in the back of the net as there is likely to be a lot of chances.

What has the manager said?: Giovanni van Bronckhorst has said he is confident that his team can go on to win the title on Sunday. ”We know that our title chances rest on what we do on Sunday, and we know that we’ve not been so good away from home for a little while. However we are confident of going on to win this game on Sunday. It is like a final and we have been preparing for it like a final and know that if we play our natural game we will win the Eredivisie title on Sunday.”

What has the club captain said?: Dirk Kuyt, who has only scored two goals all season said even if he didn’t feature for the majority of the game against Zwolle, he was confident that the rest of the side would get the job done. ”It is in our hands! I don’t expect to start although I will work as hard as possible to try and feature in the game and help the team but I am confident that the team and my team mates can go on to secure this league title. Like I said, it is in our hands and we have to make sure that we go on to win the title.”

ADO den Haag Vs. Ajax

What do Ajax need to do?: It is a little more complicated for Ajax. Last weekend’s defeat to Groningen at the Amsterdam Arena has taken it out of Ajax’s hands and they need to rely on other results to help them win the league. If Ajax beat ADO den Haag and Feyenoord lose, Ajax will be Champions. If Feyenoord draw, Ajax would need to overturn a six goal difference in the two teams goal differences. If Ajax drop points the Eredivisie title goes to Feyenoord regardless of whether Feyenoord win/draw or lose against PEC Zwolle.

Are they the favourites for the game?: Yes, although ADO den Haag represent a much tougher opposition for Ajax than PEC Zwolle do for Feyenoord. Having met in the KNVB Beker Final two weeks ago, Ajax ran out 1-0 winners whilst Peter Bosz’s side have only lost once in their last six games although this was last weekend against FC Groningen. den Haag started the season very promisingly but have, like PEC Zwolle slipped off the pace and have only won 4 of their last 10 games putting the ball very much in Ajax’s court in terms of winning this game.

What kind of form are the two sides in?: Ajax are in good form on the whole, having only lost once in their last six as previously mentioned, as well as including the KNVB Beker against den Haag two weeks ago. den Haag have only scored once in their last three games meaning they’re not likely to cause Ajax’s defence too many problems.

What do Ajax need to do to win?: Ajax will need to break down a solid defence that has only conceded twice in their last five league games. Peter Bosz’s side struggled to break them down in the KNVB Beker Final when Kasper Dolberg’s strike was the only difference between the two sides. Getting the ball to the teenage sensation may be the key to winning the game again this weekend.

What has the manager said?: Peter Bosz has said that Ajax will go all out to win the game so that they can at least say that they tried. ”We have nothing left to do but give it our all in what is a must win game. We beat the same opposition in a big game in the KNVB Beker Final a few weeks ago, and it is important that we do it again this weekend. If we can score an early goal then we can go on to win this game quite easily I think, and it is something that we are more than capable of doing.”

What has the club captain said?: Davy Klaassen has said that the time is right for Ajax’s youngsters to pick up some silverware. ”We’ve got a tremendous young squad at this club at the minute and for those youngsters to be in with a chance at winning the title isn’t something that you wouldn’t see in many other leagues in the world. We’ve got to go and pick up the silverware and prove that this isn’t just a group of kids and we will go out onto that pitch to make sure we do everything we can to win the league title come Sunday.”

Comments

Joshleedsfan: Thanks for the comment man! It most certainly isn’t over just yet! We can do it

Well, I don't think there's much left to say at this point! You know what you have to do to secure the title, good luck in achieving it!