Eerste Divisie bets (06.08.21/07.08.21/08.08.21):
5 unitz on FC Emmen Draw-no-bet @ -162 away at Telstar;
FC Emmen were relegated last season from the Eredivisie but despite inevitably losing some of the best players such as Sergio Pena who has just signed for Malmo, key striker de Leeuw to Groningen, and Simon Tibbling to Randers, they have signed some very solid players for this level of football and expect them to be battling for top 4 place in league. In many positions they have two quality players battling for that position which is very much a novelty for this standard where some teams can barely have 15 man squad let alone 2 good options for each position! Two good goalkeepers have been signed in Indy Groothuizen from Danish side Veijle and Micahel Brouwer from Heracles; and in defence they have poached Jeroen Veldmate who was key central defender for Go Ahead Eagles who got promoted from this league last season and experienced centre back Mitch Apau has been signed from Slaven Belupo in Croatia. Two quality left backs for this level have been signed in Jeff Hardeveld from Heracles and Lorenzo Burnet. They have kept hold of Peru defender Araujo and right back Bijl who were two regulars last season and signed French right back Luzayadio former PSG youth player. They should be top 3 defensive side in league if not the best. In midfield they have captured former Ajax prospect Teun Bijleveld from Heracles who could be one of best midfielders in league, and four decent wingers in experienced player Van Ooijen who returns from spell in Germany, Rui Mendes from Hoffenheim II, another former PSG youngster Toufiqui who could be a diamond in the rough, & Finnish prospect Jasin Assehnoun who was one of the stars of Finnish League. Then up front to replace de Leeuw who scored 13 goals last season in Ereidivisie they have signed Jong Utrecht star Jeredy Hilterman who scored 19 goals last season and he should guarantee goals.
5 unitz on De Graafschap Draw-no-bet @ -130 at home to Roda;
De Graafschap known as one of the hardest places to travel to - only lost 3 games at home last season. Roda is getting action probably because they knocked De Graafschap out of the play-offs at De Graafschap but they also lost 4-0 to them in the regular league season! De Graaf have lost two key attacking players in Seuntjens to NAC and van Miegham to Volendam, but they have signed Giovanni Korte, Acheffay, and Denzell Gravenberch who should be solid replacements. Roda have lost their best attacking player Goppel (who scored 2 in the 3-2 win in playoffs at De Graafschap).
5 unitz on Volendam to Win @ -110 away at FC Eindhoven;
Seems a gift line on paper as Eindhoven were a very mediocre side last season and haven't really improved the team due to financial issues, they have only signed decent goalkeeper Bertrams and have a threadbare squad.
Volendam meanwhile have lost three key players in defender Marco Tol (35 games, 1 goal), playmaker Antonucci (31 apps, 4 goals, 12 assists), and striker Mulattieri (30 games, 18 goals). However, they have brought in solid replacements with Damon Mirani in defence from Almere who was a top 5 defender in the league last season; for creativity to replace Antonucci they've signed van Mieghem from de Graafschap, and most significantly they've pulled off a major coup by getting last seasons top scorer Robert Muhren from promoted Cambuur - he scored 38 goals and got 12 assists so pretty much guaranteed to score goals with Martijn Kaars as back up who has scored 11 goals in each of last two seasons. They have also potentially upgraded in GK department with Stankovic joining from Inter Milan on loan, so with him combined with Mirani and young prospect Micky van de Ven (who will end up at an Eredivisie side in year or two) as centre-backs and Derry Murkin attacking left wing back Volendam should have a top 3 defence in league as well as best attack. Although not as spectacular and not as good as last season, Volendam's midfield is also still reasonably solid with veterans Kevin Visser and Boy Deul accompanied by the younger Alex Plat. I expect Volendam to be a top 5 side again same as last season. They only lost 3 games away from home last season.
5 unitz on VVV Venlo Draw-no-bet @ -137 at home to NAC Breda;
VVV another side that were relegated from the Eredivisie however have somehow kept hold of their best player from last season Greek striker Giakoumakis who was the top scorer in the Eredivisie scoring 26 goals in 30 games.
NAC have lost four key players in striker Sidney Van Hooijdonk (15 goals last season), veteran midfielder and leader Lex Immers (28 games, 6 goals), young midfielder Fiorini (32 games, 5 goals), and arguably the league's second MVP after Robert Muhren in Mounir El Allouchi who scored 13 goals and had 14 assists. Danny Bakker, Velanas, and Seuntjens have been brought in but I don't see these being at same level as what has departed - they will certainly be a lot less creative without El Allouchi.
5 unitz on Utrecht Reserves vs MVV Under 3 goals @ -137;
This league is known for being high scoring partly because relegation doesn't exist so teams play with more freedom combined with natural inclination in Dutch football to play attacking style due to Johan Cruyff philosophy. However, some teams do still play a more disciplined style either due to lacking attacking talent or due to a Coach preferring more pragmatic approach and last season Top Oss were one of these sides, especially away from home. They only scored 11 goals on their travels in 19 games but also only conceded 26. Their manager last season is now manager of MVV and expect they will adopt similar style. They also lack attacking talent in general and Utrecht reserves have lost top scorer last season to FC Emmen so like the chances that this is a 3 goal max game but possible only 2. One potential banana-skin is that with the reserve sides in this league (Jong Ajax, Jong AZ, Jong PSV, & Jong Utrecht) they can bring in players from their first team so sometimes can have 3 or 4 players who are on complete different level to rest of players on pitch which can bring about erratic results - Jong Ajax for instance had one season were they dominated the league because they had so many first team players regularly featuring for them and it caused quite a fuss and is an ongoing criticism in Dutch football!
