'Ajax could thank the referee that they did not lose 3-2'

Valentijn Driessen is not happy with the standard of the VriendenLoterij Eredivisie this season. In his column in De Telegraaf he is far from impressed by the way the Dutch clubs are performing, including in Europe.

"There is little to be happy about so far. You get confirmation that the quality is declining rapidly when the Dutch clubs take to the European stage." Driessen points to the results of the Dutch clubs. PSV drew against Shakhtar Donetsk, Feyenoord lost to FC Barcelona, NEC and AZ are playing in the Europa League, and Ajax and FC Twente are competing in the Conference League.

"What makes all these results extra painful is that most of these clubs are involved at the top end of the Eredivisie. An Eredivisie in which, roughly speaking, a split is taking place. Behind AZ, Feyenoord, PSV, FC Twente and Ajax, anything can happen," writes the columnist.

"The standard regularly hurts the eyes. Anyone who sits through ninety minutes of ADO Den Haag v Cambuur or watches a match involving Sparta or PEC Zwolle or Telstar sometimes deserves a medal. Only those clubs often cannot do any better. But even in AZ v Telstar, Feyenoord v ADO Den Haag, PSV v Fortuna Sittard, FC Twente v Telstar or Ajax v Heerenveen, you are not exactly being treated by the top five."

Driessen, 63 and from Westland, believes PSV have lost their 'invincible status' after the defeat to FC Twente (3-2), while Ajax should have beaten Excelsior by at least 6-2 but drew 2-2. "They could thank referee Jannick van der Laan - like the VAR, he missed a Rotterdam penalty - that they did not lose 3-2."

Meanwhile, AZ sit top of the Eredivisie, but Driessen wonders what things will look like after the Alkmaar side have played in the Europa League and faced Feyenoord, FC Twente and Ajax after the international break. "It will then become clear whether Jordy Clasie and his cousins are actually going to play a meaningful role in the battle for the league title."

Then there is Feyenoord, who thrashed FC Utrecht 5-0 again. Even so, Driessen does not think the Rotterdam side should get carried away just yet. "With Go Ahead Eagles, Giovanni van Bronckhorst has so far faced only one opponent from the top half of the table. His team do, however, appear to have found a certain flow, which is being irritatingly interrupted by the international break," he concludes.