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Friday September 12th, 2003
League Roundup Charleroi are setting the pace in Belgium and they recorded their 5th straight win this week to take a 3-point lead over
Racing Genk. In Croatia,
Hajduk have 4 wins out of 4 and already have a 3-point gap at the top.
FC Midtjylland are the surprise leaders in Denmark and big boys
FC København continue to struggle and are second from bottom.
Middlesbrough are the early leaders in England and in Finland
HJK are still top but
MyPa are nibbling away at their lead.
Marseille are a perfect 5 and 0 in France whilst in Germany both
Nürnberg and
Schalke 04 have won their first 3 matches. In Northern Ireland
Glentoran have a narrow lead over
Portadown after the first 4 games. Things are very close in Norway with
Lyn,
Brann and
Rosenborg all on 43 points with
Molde 2 points behind, although
Molde and
Rosenborg both have a game in hand.
In Poland
Legia head Group A with
Groclin and
Wisla neck and neck in Group B. The group stages there will continue until the start of November. In the Republic of Ireland
Shamrock Rovers head the table with 4 straight wins but
St. Pat's Athletic also have a 100% record although they have only played 2 games due to their UEFA Cup commitments.
Krylja Sovetov are stretching their lead at the top in Russia and are now 7 points clear of
Lokomotiv Moscow having played a game more. It's no surprise to see
Celtic at the top of the SPL with
Rangers 3 points behind in second. It's tight at the top in Sweden with just 3 points separating the top 4.
Malmö head the table with
Elfsborg,
Halmstad and
AIK all challenging. In Turkey
Fenerbahçe,
Besiktas and
Kocaelispor all share 10 points after 4 games. Finally in Wales,
Welshpool and
Newtown battle it out, each with 3 wins out of 4.
Champions League
The Phase 1 group matches got underway this week. In Group A
Manchester United got off to a flying start with a fantastic 3-0 win over
FC Bayern in Munich. In Group B
Athletic Bilbao shocked
Roma with a 2-0 win in Spain.
Liverpool triumphed 2-1 at home to
Nantes in Group C and in Group D
PSV recorded a good 2-1 away win against
Kaiserslautern. Group E saw both
Celtic and
Arsenal off to a winning start. The Gunners beat
Parma 3-2 at Highbury and in Glasgow the home side beat
Spartak Moscow 2-0. In a hard fought Group F match
Hannover 96 pushed
Barcelona all the way before finally succumbing 2-1. In Group G
Milan played well to beat
Feyenoord 3-1 at home and in Group H
Fenerbahçe had a comfortable 4-0 win over the Swedes of
Elfsborg.
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Cup entered the 1st Round proper yesterday.
Atlético Madrid look to have secured their place in the 2nd Round with a comprehensive 4-0 away win over
MyPa of Finland.
Lazio had an equally good 3-0 win against
Kaunas in Lithuania and
Ajax won 2-0 against
Sartid in Yugoslavia.
Juventus had a narrow 1-0 away win over
Auxerre and
Deportivo were held 1-1 in Poland by
Zaglebie.
West Ham managed a narrow 2-1 home win over
Beira-Mar of Portugal and
Rangers achieved a good 2-0 away win in Macedonia against
Cementarnica.
Aberdeen beat their Slovakian visitors
Slovan Bratislava 2-0 and
Porto triumphed 2-0 in Croatia against
Zadar.
Bohemians will struggle to overcome a 3-0 deficit when
Wolfsburg visit Dublin but
St. Pat's Athletic will travel to
Toulouse with a 1-1 draw under their belts.
Newcastle will take a very comfortable 6-0 lead to Cyprus for the return leg against
AEK Larnaca and
Blackburn are looking good following their 3-0 triumph over
Zilina in Slovakia.
Shamrock Rovers managed a creditable 1-1 draw in Austria against
Tirol Innsbruck and
Inter will travel to Croatia with a 2-0 lead over
Dinamo.
Spotlight on ….. The Dutch Eredivisie
Between them the "Big Three",
PSV,
Ajax and
Feyenoord, have pretty much dominated domestic Dutch football recently, with
PSV winning the Eredivisie title for the past two seasons.
ADO Den Haag (ADO) 2001/2002 - 10th in First Division
2002/2003 - 5th in First Division
ADO achieved promotion last season via the playoffs and have spent the summer strengthening their squad in an attempt to avoid an immediate return. Manager
Rinus Israel has brought in a dozen players at a total cost of some £3.8M. The most expensive purchases have been
Remco Evers (28, DM C) for £875K from Fortuna and
Christian Opschoor (22, M C) from NAC fro £750K. With several of his squad unsettled and influential players such as
Roy Stroeve (26, S C) and
Daniel Rijaard (26, D/DM R) actively seeking a move, Israel will have a fight on his hands to avoid the drop.
AZ Alkmaar (AZ) 2001/2002 - 16th
2002/2003 - 9th
Having survived a relegation playoff in 2001/2002, Manager
Hendric Duut was sacked in September last year. His successor
Huub Stevens was somewhat more successful, gaining a mid-table finish. Key midfielder
Reinier Robbemond (31, AM R) is struggling with a calf injury and top defender
Peter Wijker (32, D C) has requested a move, causing some discontent in the squad. It is rumoured that striker
Robin Nelisse (25, S C) is at loggerheads with Stevens and this is also disrupting the team so the signs are not good for this season.
Ajax 2001/2002 - 3rd
2002/2003 - 3rd Ronald Koeman paid the price for his failure to obtain any silverware for the Ajax trophy cabinet when he was fired in April this year and replaced by
Ruud Gullit. Ruud has not dabbled in the transfer market so far, except for the recent sale of young South African midfielder
Steven Pienaar (21, AM C) to Hertha BSC for £6.25M. With what is generally regarded as one of the best youth development programmes in world football, the Ajax squad is packed with high-potential youngsters. Players such as
Rafael van der Vaart (20, AM LC),
Mido (20, F LC), last season's Player of the Year
Cristian Chivu (22, D LC) and
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (21, S C) were all highly talented. Most commentators agree that the team needs to blend some experienced pros in with the youngsters to bring out the best in them.
Cambuur 2001/2002 - 2nd in First Division
2002/2003 - 2nd in First Division
Cambuur triumphed in the playoffs at the second time of asking and make their debut in the top flight. Manager
Rob McDonald has done nothing to strengthen the squad for life in the Eredivisie and the bookies expect the newcomers to go straight back down again. Key players
Dominique van Dijk (24, AM LC) and
Dirk Jan Derksen (31, S C) will have to work wonders to defy the predictions.
Feyenoord 2001/2002 - 2nd
2002/2003 - 2nd
Eredivisie runners-up, Dutch Cup winners and Champions League Quarter Finalists, last season was a good one for Manager
Bert van Marwijk and it won him the Dutch Manager of the Year award. He obviously has great faith in his players, as there have been no additions to the playing strength for 2 years. The team features experienced players such as last season's top goalscorer
Pierre van Hooijdonk (33, S C), midfielder
Paul Bosveldt (33, M RC), and French forward
Sylvain Wiltord (29, F C). They also have a number of impressive young players, including
Johan Elmander (22, AM/F RLC),
Glenn Loovens (19, D C) and
Ebi Smolarek (22, AM/F L).
Groningen 2001/2002 - 15th
2002/2003 - 4th
After a poor 2001/2002, Manager
Dwight Lodeweges was replaced by
Aad de Mos who guided the team to an excellent 4th place finish last season. This was achieved without any significant changes in the playing staff. Top players
Glenn Salmon (25, S C),
Hugo (29, AM C) and
Ignacio Tuhuteru (30, AM/F L) will need to maintain their fine form if Groningen are to continue to challenge the Big Three.
Haarlem 2001/2002 - 15th in First Division
2002/2003 - First Division Champions
Manager
Heini Otto transformed Haarlem from no-hopers into First Division Champions in one season. However, it seems highly likely that this will be as good as it gets, with a quick return from whence they came seen as the most likely outcome this season. Their most influential players are
Antony Berghahn (26, M C) and
Ronald Molenaar (21, S C) but they will need to be at the top of their game to stay out of the relegation struggle.
Heerenveen 2001/2002 - 5th
2002/2003 - 6th
Manager
Foppe de Haan led his team to the Dutch Cup Final last season where they lost 2-1 to Feyenoord after extra time. Influential defender
Tieme Klompe (27, D C) was sold to PSV this summer for £4.5 and this will undoubtedly affect their defensive stability despite the presence of highly-respected club captain
Hans Vonk (33, GK). One of the club's brightest prospects is young Colombian
Johnnier Montano (20, F C).
MVV 2001/2002 - 4th in First Division
2002/2003 - 15th
Following their promotion through the playoffs a season ago, Manager
Roger Reijners defied the odds by keeping this small and unfashionable club in the Eredivisie. At the start of last season some 14 players were brought into the club with a further 7 joining this summer. The pick of this season's signings so far has been Belgian
Garry De Graef (28, AM L) who came from First Division RKC on a Bosman. Given his very unremarkable squad, it will be a major triumph if Reijners can repeat his performance of last season and keep MVV in the top flight.
NAC 2001/2002 - 10th
2002/2003 - 12th Frans Adelaar is the third Manager at NAC since September last year - will it be third time lucky for their long-suffering supporters? Forward
Niels Kokmeijer (23, F LC) has so far proved to be a very astute free signing from Heerenveen. Experienced Hungarian international
Gabor Babos (28, GK) is an important player (he was voted Goalkeeper of the Year last season), as is his compatriot, team captain
Tamás Petõ (29, AM RC).
NEC 2001/2002 - 12th
2002/2003 - 11th
NEC are another fairly comfortable mid-table team. There is a feeling amongst their supporters that Manager
Joahn Neeskens lacks ambition. He certainly has a reputation for selling off the club's most exciting young players. In August last year
Youssouf Hersi (21, AM/F LC) went to Aston Villa for £9.5M and this July
Mike Zonneveld (22, D/DM L) was sold to Schalke 04 for £6.75M. Some of the profits have been spent on
Karim Touzani (22, D C) who came from Utrecht for £3.4M. However, young defensive prospect
Peter Wisgerhof (23, D C) has been made available and there is some concern that the exciting
Frank Demouge (21, S C) may be the next to go.
PSV 2001/2002 - 1st
2002/2003 - 1st
When
Guus Hiddink left PSV after a league and cup double to take charge of Hertha BSC in October last year, his replacement
Frank Rijkaard had a hard act to follow. But follow it he did, retaining the championship and winning the UEFA Cup. PSV remain the team to beat in domestic football, and are firm favourites to make it a hat trick of league titles this season. The squad is packed full of talent, with players such as
Mateja Kezman (24, S C),
Dennis Rommedahl (25, AM/F R), captain
Marc van Bommel (26, DM C),
Kevin Hofland (24, D C) and
Arjen Robben (19, AM/F LC). They also have the most splendidly named player in Europe -
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (25, S C)!
Roda 2001/2002 - 8th
2002/2003 - 10th Georges Leekens has put together a solid, if unspectacular, squad and has established Roda as a safe mid-table team. An experienced defence is the basis of the team, with the keeper and 3 of the back 4 all in their 30's. Club captain
Ger Senden (32, D RC) is a well-respected leader on the pitch and his fellow full back
Tim de Cler (25, D L) is a steady performer. Their most exciting prospect is young striker
Jordy Reneerkens (19, S C).
Twente 2001/2002 - 9th
2002/2003 - 7th
Twente are yet another solid, if slightly dull mid-table team. Manager
Martin Jol is somewhat cash-strapped, so his forays into the transfer market are few and far between. Key players include club captain
Tom van der Leegte (26, DM LC) and in-form young striker
Thijs Houwing (22 S C) who won the Young Player of the Year award last season.
Utrecht 2001/2002 - 4th
2002/2003 - 5th
Manager
Foeke Booy has coaxed some impressive performances out of his team but he lacks the financial resources to seriously challenge for the title. His biggest addition to the squad has been the purchase of
Rui Monteiro (26, AM/F L) from First Division Sparta for £1.5M. Club insiders tell us that there is a great deal of disharmony in the squad at present with many players unhappy with their current contracts. If this situation isn't resolved soon then it will start to have a detrimental effect on the field. Utrecht's most influential players are captain
Pascal Bosschaart (23, D/DM LC), long-serving keeper
Harold Wapenaar (33, GK) and striker
Dirk Kuijt (23, S C).
Vitesse 2001/2002 - 14th
2002/2003 - 8th
Ex-Ajax manager
Ronald Koeman replaced
Wim Jansen in May of this year and the Vitesse supporters will be hoping for some success under his leadership. Considering the number of good players in the squad, their recent league positions can only be seen as a significant underachievement. With talent such as
Matthew Amoah (22, F C),
Bob Peeters (29, SC),
Emile Mbamba (20, F C) and
Dejan Stefanovic (28, D C) Koeman has some decent raw material to work with.
Willem II 2001/2002 - 13th
2002/2003 - 13th Hans Westerhof is in charge of another one of those teams that never looks like being relegated but, on the other hand, lacks the resources to compete for trophies. Moroccan
Yassine Abdellaoui (28, AM/F L) is probably their best player and youngster
Gwenn Van de Poel (20, D/DM L) is tipped for great things.
Zwolle 2001/2002 - 7th
2002/2003 - 14th
If last season's slump is repeated then coach
Peter Boeve will probably be seeking alternative employment before the end of the year. Young Slovakian midfielder
Marcel Majoros (22, AM RLC) has impressed since his Bosman move from PSV. On the downside, strike partnership
Ivan Cvetkov (24, F C) and
Bert Zuurman (30, S C) are both unsettled and looking to move to bigger clubs. Midfielder
Andre de Ridder (29, AM RC) continues to under-perform but thankfully
Ronald Dassen (28, D R) is as reliable as ever.
2002/2003 Table
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st C PSV 34 16 0 1 52 12 11 3 3 35 22 84 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Feyenoord 34 15 2 0 40 7 9 3 5 25 18 77 3rd Ajax 34 12 3 2 30 8 7 5 5 24 26 65 4th Groningen 34 10 5 2 32 16 7 4 6 26 28 60 5th Utrecht 34 9 5 3 29 19 8 2 7 26 26 58 6th Heerenveen 34 11 1 5 31 20 5 5 7 29 27 54 7th Twente 34 11 2 4 34 23 5 4 8 21 23 54 8th Vitesse 34 10 4 3 39 22 4 5 8 23 28 51 9th AZ 34 6 6 5 22 18 7 3 7 20 21 48 10th Roda 34 8 6 3 21 12 4 5 8 12 17 47 11th NEC 34 8 2 7 32 25 5 3 9 21 32 44 12th NAC 34 8 3 6 27 28 1 5 11 15 35 35 13th Willem II 34 3 3 11 17 28 6 3 8 26 32 33 14th Zwolle 34 3 5 9 19 28 4 4 9 25 31 30 15th MVV 34 5 4 8 20 28 2 4 11 16 38 29 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------16th R Helmond 34 4 5 8 28 37 3 3 11 20 43 29 17th R de Graafschap 34 3 7 7 24 35 3 2 12 15 39 27 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------18th R RKC 34 5 5 7 15 21 0 5 12 8 26 25</pre>
Game of the Week
Tuesday September 9th, 2003
Champions League Phase 1 Group A
FC Bayern 0 Manchester United 3
Bayern had slightly the better of the first 20 minutes, with
Santa Cruz and
Elber both having half-chances but failing to test
Barthez before
Ruud van Nistelrooy opened the scoring for United. There seemed to be no danger as he gathered the ball some 35 yards from goal. But spotting
Oliver Khan slightly off his line he floated the ball over the keeper's head and into the top corner - sheer brilliance! Bayern were looking a little rattled and their frustration showed when
Santa Cruz obstructed
David Beckham and gave a way an indirect freekick.
Beckham whipped in one of his trademark crosses and
van Nistelrooy was first to the ball to head powerfully home. 2-0 up after 24 minutes and a dream start for the visitors. For the remainder of the half United settled back to defend their lead.
Mehmet Scholl tested
Barthez with a well-struck freekick but the keeper was equal to it. Then
Santa Cruz picked up a knock down from
Ballack and sent a half volley goal wards, only to see
Barthez make a brilliant stop.
Sebastian Deisler was first to the rebound but he was denied a goal by a last ditch tackle from
Roy Keane.
Ten minutes after the restart Bayern made a double substitution, removing the ineffective
Santa Cruz and
Ballack, replacing them with the Peruvian striker
Claudio Pizarro and young English international
Owen Hargreaves. The home side had plenty of possession but United were defending well and denying them any clear chances on goal.
Keane almost gave United a third, but his header was brilliantly saved by
Khan. The resulting corner cause chaos and confusion in the Bayern defence with
Keane's header bouncing free off the keeper.
Scholes almost took advantage, but
Pizarro threw himself in front of the ball, saving a certain goal at the expense of a corner. The reprieve was short-lived, as
Beckham's in-swinger was badly defended and
Rio Ferdinand headed home for the third.
Both teams should still come through the first qualification phase, but this excellent result give United a big psychological advantage over their great rivals.
Teams
FC Bayern: Oliver Khan (captain), Willy Sagnol, Bixente Lizarazu, Thomas Linke, Martin Demichelis, Mehmet Scholl, Sebastian Deisler, Roque Santa Cruz (Owen Hargreaves 55), Elber, Hasan Salihamidzic (Alexander Zickler 68), Michael Ballack (Claudio Pizarro 55)
Subs not used: Markus Feulner, Stefan Wessels, Tobias Rau, Samuel Kuffour
Manchester United: Fabien Barthez, Gary Neville (Phil Neville 70), Mickaël Silvestre, Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown, Juan Sebastián Verón (Paul Scholes 51), David Beckham, Roy Keane (captain), Diego Forlan (Ole Gunnar Solskjær 70), Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ryan Giggs
Subs not used: Roy Carroll, Jimmy Davis, John O'Shea, Nicky Butt
Scorers
Manchester United: van Nistelrooy 21, 24, Ferdinand 70
Man of the Match: Ruud van Nistelrooy
Yellow Cards
FC Bayern: Owen Hargreaves
Manchester United: Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs
Attendance: 70,513 
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