Totalfootballnl.com : it is new!

Last week I purchased a domainname and a server, then downloaded Wordpress to start the new Totalfootballnl.com. It won't change much from the old Blogspot Totalfootballnl, except it will be easier to find stuff under tags and in categories. Many of the published items will move to the new site over the next months. This blogspot will die a slow death.

PSV leave the title race

More on this, check my new blog.

Coutinho not sentenced at all

A strange 'The Sun'-like story in the Guardian today as the reporter apparently does not understand the Dutch judicial system. In the case against ADO-goalkeeper Gino Coutinho the prosecutor has asked for a sentence of twelve months imprisonment, but the verdict is not out yet. In Holland we tend to believe people are innocent until the contrary is proven in court. Coutinho is not currently 'wallowing in his prison cell', in fact he could well play tonight against FC Twente. 

Knighthood for Clarence Seedorf

One of the first names to leak from the annual spray of the Queens' s decorations this month is Clarence Seedorf. He'll be a Knight in the Order of Oranje-Nassau. Seedorf is not only the Dutchman with the most trophys while holding all kinds of football records, but he is also very active for charity. He financed a stadium in Paramaribo, while his fund Champions for Childen works all over the world.
A Dutch knighthood does not come with a title, but Seedorf would not need that anyway. His style on the pitch looks quite royal already.

Other Knights from the football world:

• Players: Moulijn, Cruyff, Pieters Graafland, van der Sar, van Bronckhorst
• Trainers: Michels, de Haan, van Marwijk
• Referee: Corver
• Linesman: Dolstra 

In search of lost time : April 19

In 1964 Feyenoord were in a mad pursuit on leaders DWS with 16 goals in the last two games, then lost the derby at home to Sparta, who were at the bottom. Some big scores on this day, while Ajax twice won their ticket to the final. In 1988 Feyenoord suffered its lowest attendance in the league ever.

Who is Andries Jonker?

Some weeks ago the Bayern board hesitated to fire Louis van Gaal as they could not find a decent immediate successor. Last week they changed their mind. Louis out, Andries Jonker in. Who? Jonker was the assistent of Van Gaal at Bayern and in 2002 also at Barcelona. Once an amateurplayer in the Amsterdam-region he took all the training courses available and became assistent-coach and later head-coach of Volendam, leading the club from the Eredivisie to the bottom of the First. After his season at Barcelona he returned home to take on MVV (14th and 13th in the First div) than became technical director at Willem II, where he would fire manager Dennis van Wijk halfway the season to take over himself. Jonker left Tilburg in chaos to join Van Gaal in Bavaria last year, confirming his image as Louis' sidekick. 

Thomas Kraft

His nomination as Bayern's saviour for the next month therefore came as a big surprise in his home nation, but so far Jonker has silenced his critics. 'Glanzvorstellung' states kicker.de about the sensational 5-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen, the current team of next season's Bayern-coach Jupp Heynckes. It is typical for Jonker, that he did not have the spine to leave Kraft in goal. The young keeper's position in the first team was the cornerstone in Van Gaal's resistance to submit to the board. Jonker sacrificed him immediately.

It becomes really exciting!

Björn Vleminckx

Another weekend of near escapes and dramatic equalizers in the top. While Ajax and PSV both embezzled victories from Nijmegen and Almelo respectively, a tired FC Twente was caught out near the end when Rogier Meijer headed home for De Graafschap. Topscorer Björn Vleminckx missed a sitter for NEC to score the 2-0, while Andreas Isaksson stopped a Willy Overtoom-penalty. PSV leads on goal difference with Ajax only one point behind.

Easter weekend

• Fri 22 ADO Den Haag v FC Twente
• Su 24 Ajax v Excelsior
• Su 24 Feyenoord v PSV

May 1st

• PSV v Vitesse
• Heerenveen v Ajax
• FC Twente v Willem II

May 8th

Cupfinal FC Twente v Ajax

Final matchday May 15th

• FC Groningen v PSV
• Ajax v FC Twente

Don't forget:

First place = champions + Champions League for sure

Second = Champions League qualifiers starting early August

Third = In the last round of the Europa League qualifiers