Chelsea vs F.C. Porto

[jetje]

Well if tonight AZ beats Newcastle they will know how big the dutch competition actually is

4-2 and a dodgy penalty at that.

Just the result we dutchies wanted, 2 away goals scored, it will be an easy match in Alkmaar to go through

[Peerzy]

peerzy is a huge chelsea fan


go bayern

/me was there

[MCHeshPants420]

4-2 and a dodgy penalty at that.

Just the result we dutchies wanted, 2 away goals scored, it will be an easy match in Alkmaar to go through

Just the result you wanted? Surely "you dutchies" would have rather had a win or a draw? I don't think Alkmaar are that good in defence to be quite so confident, their keeper is shite.

[manker]

4-2 and a dodgy penalty at that.

Just the result we dutchies wanted

Of course it was and I like your thinking.

If Man United go out against Roma in the Champions League, I'm gonna say it's fantastic cos now we can concentrate on the Premiership.

[MCHeshPants420]

That result shows the quality of the Dutch league to be honest. They came 2nd last season in Holland whilst NUFC are mid-table no hopers.

[manker]

That result shows the quality of the Dutch league to be honest. They came 2nd last season in Holland whilst NUFC are mid-table no hopers.

They came second last year? They have the defence of a pub team.

===

In other sporting news, Wales getting pwned by Ireland, Scotchland and France - and probably by Italy this time tomorrow - is just what we Welshies wanted.

Lulling England into a false sense of security was so the aim of our Six Nations campaign this season.

[jetje]

That result shows the quality of the Dutch league to be honest. They came 2nd last season in Holland whilst NUFC are mid-table no hopers.

In holland we finish with play offs... Ajax amsterdam won the play offs, and by doing that they came in 2nd (forced by UEFA btw) and started in de pre Champions cup games.

AZ is a very easy scoring team. They will score at least 2 times in th return.
And yes their defence was weak this game, the keeper is actually their 4th goalie. They have a hugh injury problem. The first three goallies are out because of that.

But you guys keep saying your competition is the best, how in the hell is it possible that Arsenal lost from PSV. Arsenal has a budget wich is 4 or 5 times that from PSV.

Newcastle has players that earn in a year as much as the whole budget they have in Alkmaar You have to see everything in a perspective.
The Dutch league isn't that weak as you all think. Players from here can easily addept the level of play in the UK, see for example Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool) and Salamon Kalou (Chelsea) wich are both from Feyenoord that were 5th in the dutch league. But hey, you have the most expensive league for sure, so i guess it must be the strongest

[thewizeard]

you are all lucky that Ajax had a poor start...

[Barbarossa]

Do Ajax and PSV dominate the Dutch league in the same way that Rangers and Celtic dominate the Scotch league

[jetje]

nope they don't, however PSV is the strongest the last couple of years.
A bit like you had man united, then a few seasons arsenal and now chelsea.
It kinda come and goes.

But Ajax ended 4th in the regular season, but they were the luckiest in the play offs. Every season there are four or five teams competing for the top places. The traditional topteams are PSV, Ajax and Feyenoord and since a couple of years AZ (they have a rich chairman/sugar oncle!). And always there are one or two teams that make a great season like now FC Twente. The thing is that after one great season those teams can't keep their teams together and (need to) sell their biggest players and best talent to the traditional top teams or they're going abroad.

At the momen play 383 dutch players abroad and i won't say much about the players that started in the dutch league to play professional like Henke Larsson, salamon Kalou and lot of others:

VAN PERSIE, Robin Arsenal FC
BOUMA, Wilfred Aston Villa
OOIJER, André Blackburn Rovers
KUIPERS, Michel Brighton & Hove Albion
LOOVENS, Glenn Cardiff City
REDAN, Iwan Cardiff City
HASSELBAINK, Jimmy-Floyd Charlton Athletic
BOULAHROUZ, Khalid Chelsea FC
ROBBEN, Arjen Chelsea FC
VAN DER MEYDE, Andy Everton
JOHN, Collins Fulham FC
UHLENBEEK, Gustaaf Halifax Town
WILNIS, Fabian Ipswich Town
BROUWER, Jordy Liverpool FC
KUIJT, Dirk Liverpool FC
ZENDEN, Boudewijn Liverpool FC
VAN DER SAR, Edwin Manchester United
BOATENG, George Middlesbrough
KRUL, Tim Newcastle United
COLIN, Jürgen Norwich City
STAM, Stefan Oldham Athletic
SEIP, Marcel Plymouth Argyle
ACHTERBERG, John Tranmere Rovers
MACDONALD, Sherjill West Bromwich Albion
LANDZAAT, Denny Wigan Athletic
DE ZEEUW, Arjan Wigan Athletic

From the current national team there play 9 players in the dutch league.
It ain't that bad as people might think. There is just not so much money involved in football as in other countries.
BTW i do think it is a blessing in disguise to not posses the greatest domestic league because it forces you to look for new talent within your coutry and gives you own lads a chance to prove yourself… in england how many english players play in the big four???…9? what concerns me is that the talent holland is exporting is not going to the elite clubs in europe at the same rate it did in the 90’s…landzaat to wigan… ooijer to blackburn… van der vaart to hamburg… these are mediocore clubs at best… But well Kuyt to Liverpool and van Persie to Arsenal levels that a bit.