| Promotion/relegation play-offs |
|
|
 |
4th June 2003, 05:45 AM |
|
 |
Promotion/relegation play-offs |
Post #1 |
|
AFCA 1900
User Banned
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: AMSTERDAM
|
So, will Excelsior and FC Zwolle survive, or will we have two new opponents to play against next season...? (I sure hope the latter will be the case).
The promotion/relegation play-offs started yesterday night. Here are the two groups.
Group A
FC Zwolle
FC Den Bosch
Helmond Sport
Go Ahead Eagles
Group B
Excelsior
FC Volendam
Emmen
Heracles Almelo
For starters, the two Eredivisie sides did not win their first games. The result on match day 1:
Group A
Helmond Sport vs FC Zwolle 0-0
FC Den Bosch vs Go Ahead Eagles 4-1
Group B
Emmen vs Excelsior 1-0
Heracles Almelo vs FC Volendam 1-2
Next matches are on Friday. I, for one, hope that the Eagles and Volendam will make it. Follow the play-offs on page 652 of NOT Teletekst.
Group A: http://teletekst.nos.nl/gif/652-01.html
Group B: http://teletekst.nos.nl/gif/652-02.html
|
Posts: 2,392  |
|
 |
|
10th June 2003, 05:08 PM |
|
|
Play-offs update |
Post #2 |
|
AFCA 1900
User Banned
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: AMSTERDAM
|
Time for an update...
We're halfway now in the promotion/relegation play-offs: three games played. Great news from Group B: Excelsior, a.k.a. F-Word Lite, is blowing it big time! They lost the first three games, are bottom with zero points and will almost certainly go down. 
Even better news: FC Volendam (the team the whole of Amsterdam is rooting for...) won its first three games straight and seems to be headed for the Eredivisie. Great away fixture (20 minutes by bus). Yes Sir: beers and herring on De Dijk ('The Dike') in the old Volendam harbour... It's been a while (not counting the sad little friendly in December; it was freezing back then). Can't wait!
Group B results
FC Volendam vs Excelsior 3-0
Heracles Almelo vs Emmen 1-2
Table
FC Volendam 3-9
Emmen 3-6
Heracles Almelo 3-3
Excelsior 3-0
Friday fixtures
Excelsior vs FC Volendam
Emmen vs Heracles Almelo
Group A is tighter. FC Zwolle, the team defending its Eredivisie slot, won the eastern regional 'grudge game' against regional rivals Go Ahead Eagles by 2-1, thanks to a very dubious (read: ridiculous) penalty in the 87th minute. Meanwhile, Helmond Sport beat FC Den Bosch by 3-0.
Table
FC Zwolle 3-7
Helmond Sport 3-4
Go Ahead Eagles 3-3
FC Den Bosch 3-3
Friday fixtures
Go Ahead Eagles vs FC Zwolle
FC Den Bosch - Helmond Sport
I still hope for Volendam and the Eagles to get promoted. In order to make my 'dream' come true the Eagles will have to win their 'return' game against FC Zwolle on Friday night at their great old Adelaarshorst stadium ('Eagles' Nest') in Deventer.
(Vak425: if the Eagles don't make it we have to go to one of their First Division home games next season. Next season is their last year in the old stadium. It's one of my favourites Dutch grounds... What do you say?  )
|
| Posts: 2,392 |
|
|
|
11th June 2003, 08:06 AM |
|
| Re: Play-offs update |
Post #3 |
|
Vak425
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Somewhere on This Map
|
Quote:
Originally posted by AFCA 1900
(Vak425: if the Eagles don't make it we have to go to one of their First Division home games next season. Next season is their last year in the old stadium. It's one of my favourites Dutch grounds... What do you say? )
Sounds a great trip and as such I will certainly vote for that one - and I am sure that Ray will know a good bar there. 
|
| Posts: 514 |
|
|
|
13th June 2003, 08:16 PM |
|
 |
|
Post #4 |
|
TattooQ
FootE & music Gormandizer
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Media,PA
|
Both Go Ahead Eagles and FC Volendam lost today. I must say this makes me sad as I too would love to see both sides promoted.Volendam,home of a player with one of the greatest names in footie...Fung a Wing, still look to have a great chance . Go Ahead Eagles seem almost certain to lose out this time round.
|
| Posts: 1,322 |
|
|
|
13th June 2003, 08:27 PM |
|
|
Jake
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2003
|
are you lot from Holland?
|
| Posts: 10 |
|
|
|
13th June 2003, 09:49 PM |
|
|
Vak425
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Somewhere on This Map
|
Quote:
Originally posted by Jake
are you lot from Holland?
From throughout the world brought together by our love for Ajax.
I take it Jake that as you are a Moan U fan that you are not from Manchester 
|
| Posts: 514 |
|
|
|
14th June 2003, 01:36 PM |
|
|
|
Post #7 |
|
TattooQ
FootE & music Gormandizer
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Media,PA
|
In answer to Jake,I am a subject of your former Colonies. The sweet siren songs of Ajax footie (and hot dutch women,cold dutch bier)have turned me into an Ajax fanatic. Though,I must confess that when hack outfits like ManU come to Philadelphia town(August 3 v. Barcelona).I do take in the festivities.
|
| Posts: 1,322 |
|
|
|
15th June 2003, 07:07 AM |
|
| Play-offs update after Matchday 4 |
Post #8 |
|
AFCA 1900
User Banned
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: AMSTERDAM
|
Quote:
Originally posted by TattooQ
Go Ahead Eagles seem almost certain to lose out this time round.
In fact, they have officially lost out this time around...
Group A
Results
Go Ahead Eagles vs FC Zwolle 2-3
FC Den Bosch vs Helmond Sport 1-3
Table
1. FC Zwolle 4-10
2. Helmond Sport 4-7
3. Go Ahead Eagles 4-3
4. FC Den Bosch 4-3
Which means the Eagles and Den Bosch are out. FC Zwolle will probably stay in the Eredivisie. They only team that might still push 'em back to the First Division is Helmond Sport. Interesting game coming up on Monday...
Remaining fixtures
Monday:
FC Den Bosch vs FC Zwolle
Helmond Sport vs Go Ahead Eagles
Thursday:
FC Zwolle vs Helmond Sport
Go Ahead Eagles vs FC Den Bosch
Assuming that both Zwolle and Helmond Sport will win their Monday home games (their respective opponents have nothing left to play for) Thursday's last game in Zwolle will be the 'big one': Zwolle will then require one point to stay in the Eredivisie, while Helmond Sport will need a win to finish with the same number of points as Zwolle (which would be 13). I am not sure what the rules are: if it's goal-difference that counts, FC Zwolle is almost sure to stay in and Helmond will need a hell of a lot of goals (right now, Zwolle has 7-3, Helmond has 6-6). If its head-to-head results Helmond will get promoted if they win in Zwolle as their first game in Helmond was a 0-0.
Group B
Group A is now a two-horse race. Group B, however, is much tighter...
Results
Excelsior vs FC Volendam 3-2
Emmen vs Heracles Almelo 0-1
Table
1. FC Volendam 4-9
2. Heracles Almelo 4-6
3. Emmen 4-6
4. Excelsior 4-3
Fixtures
Monday:
Heracles Almelo vs Excelsior
Emmen vs FC Volendam
Thursday:
FC Volendam vs Heracles Almelo
Excelsior vs Emmen
So, everything's still possible in this one. By beating Volendam even Excelsior held on to their last theoretical chance of finishing tops. That's of course a very small chance, but the chance of Heracles and/or Emmen leapfrogging Volendam has become a realistic one.
Next update: Monday.
|
| Posts: 2,392 |
|
|
|
17th June 2003, 06:01 AM |
|
|
Play-offs update after Matchday 5 |
Post #9 |
|
AFCA 1900
User Banned
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: AMSTERDAM
|
One more game to go for the participants in the promotion/relegation play-offs. Ninety minutes of football and it's over, but yet six out of the eight participants are still going for the two Eredivisie slots.
Let's start with the simple stuff:
Group A
Monday results
FC Den Bosch vs FC Zwolle 1-1
Helmond Sport vs Go Ahead Eagles 2-0
Table
1. FC Zwolle 5-11
2. Helmond Sport 5-10
3. FC Den Bosch 5-4
4. Go Ahead Eagles 5-3
Matchday 6 fixtures (Thursday, 20:00 CET)
Go Ahead Eagles vs FC Den Bosch
FC Zwolle vs Helmond Sport
Situation is plain simple: FC Zwolle vs Helmond Sport is the grande finale. If Helmond Sport wins they're in the Eredivisie. A draw will do for FC Zwolle to stay in. Goal-difference is not an issue. Simple as that.
Group B, however, has turned into a real thrilla...
Group B
Monday results
Heracles Almelo vs Excelsior 0-2
Emmen vs FC Volendam 2-0
Table
1. FC Volendam 5-9 (9-6)
2. Emmen 5-9 (5-4)
3. Excelsior 5-6 (6-8)
4. Heracles Almelo 5-6 (5-7)
Matchday 6 fixtures (Thursday, 20:00 CET)
FC Volendam vs Heracles Almelo
Excelsior vs Emmen
Right, so Volendam (sovereign leaders after three games) lost again. If you take a look at the last fixtures you'll notice that there is a possibility here that all four teams finish with nine points. In that case goal difference will be decisive. If the goal difference is the same, too, the number of goals scored will be looked at. If that's also the same there will be a head-to-head game on neutral territory.
In theory all teams (even Excelsior, who lost their first three games straight) can still play in the Eredivisie next season. However, Excelsior and Heracles will have to score a hatful of goals for that. For example: in order to get promoted Heracles (the bottom team) will have to win at Volendam by 0-5 and Emmen will have to lose to Excelsior, but not by a larger score than 4-0.
The best chances are (still) for FC Volendam, who play at home. The only other side with a positive goal-difference (Emmen) plays an away game. If Volendam beats Heracles by 1-0, Emmen will have to win in Rotterdam (at Excelsior) by 0-4.
So normally, a home win will do for FC Volendam.
My hopes
Most of you know that I - like every Amsterdammer - will be rooting for FC Volendam. I hope they'll make it.
In group A I'm not sure what to think. In a way I feel that it's good if three Eredivisie sides go down. I think it's 'healthier' for a football league if there's some fresh blood every year. I have nothing against FC Zwolle, neither would I really mind if they drop out. The last time Helmond Sport was in the Eredivisie was in the early 80s (the famous Cruyff-Olsen penalty was scored against them). I've never seen Ajax play them, so I kind of hope they'll make it. Also, I know a Helmond Sport supporters who's going crazy right now and will be a waste of space at work this week. I hope the best for him.
On the other hand... There are so many clubs from the province of Noord-Brabant in the Eredivisie (p$v, Willem II, NAC Breda, RKC Waalwijk, RBC Roosendaal) that I would say: it's enough. I want to go to some other areas too. Moreover, Helmond Sport's home-ground would be the smallest in the Eredivisie (4,000...). It would really feel as if Kidderminster Harriers or Braintree Town made it to the Premiership in England. Not sure whether they would belong there...
So I'll just wait and see what happens. I don't really care about what happens in group A. I will be a Volendam supporter this week...
|
| Posts: 2,392 |
|
|
|
17th June 2003, 10:00 AM |
|
| Re: Play-offs update after Matchday 5 |
Post #10 |
|
Vak425
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Somewhere on This Map
|
Quote:
Originally posted by AFCA 1900
It would really feel as if Kidderminster Harriers or Braintree Town made it to the Premiership in England. Not sure whether they would belong there...
I can already feel some bonding going on with Helmond Sports if they can be compared to the mighty Irons of Braintree Town.
|
| Posts: 514 |
|
|
|
19th June 2003, 06:52 PM |
|
 |
Half-time scores |
Post #11 |
|
AFCA 1900
User Banned
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: AMSTERDAM
|
We now know 15 out of 17 of our Eredivisie opponents for next season. In just over one hour from now we'll know the last two as well...
Promotion/relegation play-offs, Matchday 6
Half-time scores
Group A:
Go Ahead Eagles 0-1 FC Den Bosch
FC Zwolle 0-0 Helmond Sport
Currently staying in the Eredivisie: FC Zwolle
Group B:
Excelsior 0-0 Emmen
FC Volendam 2-1 Heracles Almelo
Currently promoting to the Eredivisie: FC Volendam
Wanna stay tuned?
http://teletekst.nos.nl/gif/652-01.html
I'll be back with the final scores at approximately 21:50 CET, exactly one hour from now...
|
| Posts: 2,392 |
|
|
|
19th June 2003, 07:05 PM |
|
|
TattooQ
FootE & music Gormandizer
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Media,PA
|
My heart has the red stripe down the middle but I must confess I would be cock-a-hoop to see ADO and especially Volendam back where they belong.
|
| Posts: 1,322 |
|
|
|
19th June 2003, 08:20 PM |
|
|
Welcome back, Volendam! |
Post #13 |
|
AFCA 1900
User Banned
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: AMSTERDAM
|
Yessir, Volendam did it!
Group A
Go Ahead Eagles 0-1 FC Den Bosch
FC Zwolle 4-1 Helmond Sport
Helmond Sport took a shock lead, but collapsed after Zwolle's equalizer. FC Zwolle stays in the Eredivisie.
Group B
Excelsior 2-1 Emmen
FC Volendam 3-1 Heracles Almelo
I can guarantee you one thing: the beer taps will be open 'til late at 'de Dijk'. Very, very well done, Volendam! 
|
| Posts: 2,392 |
|
|
|
19th June 2003, 09:38 PM |
|
|
Vak425
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Somewhere on This Map
|
Well now that the 18 teams are known when will the provisional fixtures be published ?
Also we (for we, read AFCA 1900) must remember to organise the trip to see Go Ahead Eagles when it coincides with an Ajax home weekend.
|
| Posts: 514 |
|
|
|
20th June 2003, 05:00 PM |
|
|
AFCA 1900
User Banned
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: AMSTERDAM
|
Quote:
Originally posted by Vak425
Well now that the 18 teams are known when will the provisional fixtures be published ?
No idea. Usually in early July. Putting the fixture list together is quite a puzzle in Holland, because all the clubs, mayors and police chiefs get to review the list and have the right to 'veto' certain fixtures on certain dates. Sometimes it's hardly possible (mathematically) to create a decent league schedule. And it won't be easier this year, with an extra 'high risk' side (ADO Den Haag) in the Eredivisie.Quote:
Also we (for we, read AFCA 1900) must remember to organise the trip to see Go Ahead Eagles when it coincides with an Ajax home weekend.
You betcha.
BTW: you guys should try to join us to Volendam! Great away fixture (20 mins by bus). Tickets won't be easy, but it's worth a try!
|
| Posts: 2,392 |
|
|
|
Forum Rules:
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
|
HTML code is Off
vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
|
|
|
All times are GMT. The time now is 07:29 PM.
|
|
