The first half of this decade saw the Eredivisie establish itself as one of the more competitive and unpredictable top divisions across Europe.
Can we say that now? With the 2018/19 season going into a winter slumber there’s a gulf between the leading two clubs – PSV Eindhoven and Ajax – and the rest.
Ajax, who currently lie second, are 10 points clear of third-place Feyenoord but that only begins to paint the picture.
Erik ten Hag’s men have notched up 60 goals, the same as league leaders PSV, and conceded eight, again same as the defending champions.
If there’s any positive to come from such relentlessness it’s that the second half of this season is promising to throw up a title race for the ages.
COMPARED: PSV vs. Ajax in the first half of the Eredivisie this season:
Wins: 16-15
Draws: 0-1
Defeats: 1-1
Goals: 60-60
Conceded: 8-8
Points: 48-46The title race is well and truly on.
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— Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 24, 2018
So, if we are to select a ‘best XI’ after the opening 17 matches, then – naturally – it will exclusively feature both those clubs.
To avoid a combined lineup of Dutch football’s dominant duo we’ve decided to have no more than three players from the same team.
Goalkeeper: André Onana
Club: Ajax
Games played (starts): 17 (17)
An ever-presence in Ajax’s backline this season, Onana recently surpassed 100 appearances for the record 33-time Dutch champions. His stock, following a string of commendable performances, has only risen.
The former La Masia graduate’s goal has been only breached seven times – with three of those coming away to PSV – across 17 league outings so far this season.
In fact, although current Barcelona No.2 Jasper Cillessen was also signed from Ajax yet struggles to be awarded meaningful gamtime, Onana has admitted that it his “dream” to return to the Catalan club.
With his performances so far this season, it would not come as a surprise if he did return to Camp Nou.
Key stat: Onana kept more clean sheets (12) than any other goalkeeper in the first half of the 2018/19 Eredivisie season.
Honourable mentions: Jeroen Zoet (PSV), Lars Unnerstall (VVV-Venlo), Marco Bizot (AZ), Kjell Scherpen (FC Emmen)
Right-back: Denzel Dumfries
Club: PSV Eindhoven
Games played (starts): 17 (17)
Eyebrows were raised when Dumfries made the switch from Heerenveen to PSV this summer but he’s not looked back since.
In less than six months, the Rotterdammer has gone from establishing himself as Mark van Bommel’s undisputed number one choice at right-back to becoming a Dutch international.
Key stat: Denzel Dumfries has a 94.1% winning percentage as a PSV player in the Eredivisie.
Honourable mentions: Noussair Mazraoui (Ajax), Sean Klaiber (FC Utrecht), Deyovaisio Zeefuik (FC Groningen), Moreno Rutten (VVV-Venlo)
Centre-back: Matthijs de Ligt
The first defender to be named Golden Boy in the award’s 15-year history.
Matthijs de Ligt.
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— Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 17, 2018
Club: Ajax
Games played (starts): 16 (16)
What more is there to say about Matthijs de Ligt? Captain of his boyhood club before turning 20, a fully-fledged international and wanted by many of Europe’s ‘super clubs’.
Chances are this season will be De Ligt’s last in the Eredivisie as, sad as this may sound, he’s outgrown the Dutch top division. The next phase of his development must take place in a more demanding environment.
Key stat: Matthijs de Ligt averaged 1.7 shots on goal per 90 minutes, more than any Eredivisie central defender in the first half of the season.
Honourable mentions: Timo Letschert (FC Utrecht), Daniel Schwaab (PSV), Wessel Dammers (Fortuna Sittard)
Centre-back: Jeffrey Chabot
Club: FC Groningen
Games played (starts): 14 (13)
A shining light for FC Groningen in what has been a difficult season. Chabot, a former RB Leipzig youth player, arrived from Sparta Rotterdam before the season and if he continues to stand out there’s a strong likelihood he’ll move on after May 2019.
Key stat: Jeffrey Chabot blocked an average of 0.9 passes per 90 minutes before the Eredivisie winter break, more than any other player.
Honourable mentions: Daley Blind (Ajax), Jake Clarke-Salter (Vitesse), Nick Viergever (PSV)
Left-back: Thomas Ouwejan
Club: AZ
Games played: 17
AZ is a club that never stands still. Like many in their economic situation, they are constantly evolving. Having a top-notch youth academy helps.
One of their recent graduates catching the eye is Thomas Ouwejan. A credible provider from left-back he’s already created no fewer than five goals.
Key stat: No full-back averaged more assists per 90 (0.3) than Thomas Ouwejan before the winter break.
Honourable mentions: Angeliño (PSV), Nicolás Tagliafico (Ajax), Caner Cavlan (FC Emmen), Bart van Hintum (Heracles)
Defensive midfielder: Jorrit Hendrix
Club: PSV Eindhoven
Games played (starts): 17 (17)
Hendrix can count himself unlucky that he’s only been capped once at senior international level. There’s no question the Panningen-born footballer is enjoying a fine season.
Appreciated by his manager Van Bommel, who sees a part of himself in his pupil, Hendrix has unexpectedly marshalled in front of PSV’s defence as they seek to secure back-to-back championships.
Key stat: Hendrix made more tackles (51) than any other PSV player in the first half of the Eredivisie season.
Honourable mentions: Lasse Schöne (Ajax)
Centre-midfielder: Hakim Ziyech
Club: Ajax
Games played (starts): 14 (14)
Hakim Ziyech remaining in Amsterdam was one of the biggest surprises going into this season. He’s been long due a big move abroad but it seemed no one fancied him, which is bizarre.
Their loss has been Ajax’s gain and the mercurial playmaker, often fielded on the right flank with licence to drift inside, continues to show why he’s the best footballer outside Europe’s ‘top five’ leagues.
Key stat: No player created more chances per 90 minutes (4) than Hakim Ziyech in the first half of the season.
Honourable mentions: Gastón Pereiro (PSV)
Centre-midfielder: Abdenasser El Khayati
Club: ADO Den Haag
Games played (starts): 16 (14)
El Khayati missed one game for ADO Den Haag this season – and his side were duly humbled 5-1 away to Ajax, no shame considering how this season is panning out.
His importance to manager Alfons Groenendijk cannot be put into words. If there’s a footballer performing beyond his capabilities outside the big three then the multifunctional midfielder is a prime candidate.
Key stat: Abdenasser El Khayati scored 52% of ADO Den Haag’s league goals after 17 games, a higher percentage than any other player.
Honourable mentions: Frenkie de Jong (Ajax)
Right-winger: Steven Berghuis
Club: Feyenoord
Games played: 17
It never quite worked out for Berghuis at Watford but those days are now firmly behind him.
Feyenoord might be somewhat off the pace but from a personal performance standpoint, he’s matching his opposite numbers at Ajax and PSV. If anyone in this current team led by Giovanni van Bronckhorst is going to produce something out of nothing then it’s Berghuis whose wing-play has been mesmerising at times.
Key stat: Steven Berghuis created the most number of chances (67) in the first half of the Eredivisie season.
Honourable mentions: Hirving Lozano (PSV), Younes Namli (PEC Zwolle)
Left-winger: Arbër Zeneli
Club: Heerenveen
Games played (starts): 16 (16)
You won’t feel short-changed watching Heerenveen this season. A game involving them so far this season averages 4.4 goals. Partly responsible for this chaos is the club’s new creator-in-chief Arbër Zeneli. As things stand he’s neck and neck with Steven Berghuis in the race to become this season’s ‘assist king’.
Key stat: Arbër Zeneli provided eight assists in the first 17 games of the 2018/19 Eredivisie season; no other player created more.
Honourable mentions: Dusan Tadic (Ajax), Steven Bergwijn (PSV)
Centre-forward: Luuk de Jong
Club: PSV Eindhoven
Games played (starts): 17 (17)
Having a dependable number nine goes a long way. Luuk de Jong might have struggled in the Bundesliga and Premier League but he’s a beast at Eredivisie level.
That is not to say he can’t succeed abroad. For now, Van Bommel must hope nothing untoward happens to his leading marksman.
Key stat: Luuk de Jong scored more goals (14) than any other player after 17 Eredivisie games.
Honourable mentions: Sam Lammers (Heerenveen), Fran Sol (Willem II), Mitchell te Vrede (NAC Breda)
The post Combined XI: the best players from the first half of the 2018/19 Eredivisie season appeared first on Squawka News.
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