Monday, 4 July 2011

Zondag Eerstklasse 2011-12

ZON 1A

Here we have to tip a rebound for JOS-Watergraafsmeer, although EDO, DEM and De Meern could overtake them. The Sunday team of Roda’46 are better placed to challenge than their Saturday team, so expect to see them close to the top too.
Of the promoted teams De Dijk and Hoogland should be safe in the middle of the table, but Hercules and ZAP could struggle to stay in the EerstKlasse – De Kennemers are hot favourites to go down unless they improve on last season’s form, and Blauw Wit need to be careful too.

153 JOS-Watergraafsmeer Amsterdam (R) 678.6
164 EDO hfc Haarlem 672.3
167 Roda '46 Leusden (zon) 670.8
195 DEM Beverwijk 662.7
197 De Meern Vleuten 661.9
220 Stormvogels VV Ijmuiden 656.9
225 VVIJ Ijsselstein 655.5
236 DWV Amsterdam 653.0
259 De Dijk ASV Amsterdam (P) 648.5
265 Hoogland (P) 647.6
322 Blauw Wit Amsterdam 637.5
363 Hercules Utrecht (zon) (P) 630.2
366 ZAP Breezand (P) 629.6
464 De Kennemers Beverwijk 615.2


ZON 1B

The points for Papendrecht and SJC show they have a slight gap to Neptunus, so those two could well fight it out for the title. VUC and VELO might mount a bid for promotion too.
Although don’t discount Excelsior’20 and Pancratius, they could do well.
At the bottom three promoted sides look in danger, UVS, Nieuwerkerk and ADO amateurs all need to adjust to the higher division quickly to keep clear of GDA and Boshuizen who both look destined for a season of struggle.

128 SJC Noordwijk 688.8
134 Papendrecht (R) 684.8
158 SC Neptunus Rotterdam 675.2
178 VUC Den Haag 667.4
186 VELO Wateringen (P) 664.4
190 Excelsior '20 Schiedam 663.5
196 Pancratius Sloten-Badhoevedorp 662.3
207 Quick H's-Gravenhage 659.7
212 HVV's-Gravenhage 658.7
230 UVS Leiden (P) 654.3
240 fc Boshuizen Leiden 651.5
250 Nieuwerkerk a/d IJssel (P) 650.6
255 ADO Den Haag's-Gravenhage (P) 649.4
269 GDA's-Gravenhage 646.9


ZON 1C

Vlissingen, Geldrop, WSC and playoff loser JEKA all look title contenders, Nemelar finished quite well and could be up there if they take that form into 2011/2 – Terneuzen look like the best promoted side so they could be the dark horses in this league. Despite finishing as runners-up we think Brabantia won’t repeat this after some heavy defeats at the end of last season.
IFC look as if they could go straight to the Derde Klasse if they can’t improve, but three of the promoted sides don’t look very secure in this division either, so GOES, PSV amateurs could go down quickly – but Rood Wit’s rankings is low and after being promoted in the playoffs this year might be tough for them.

159 Vlissingen 674.1
172 Geldrop-AEK 669.1
205 WSC Waalwijk 659.8
206 JEKA Breda 659.7
210 Nemelaer Haaren 658.8
214 Terneuzen (P) 658.1
224 RKVV Best Vooruit 655.8
235 Brabantia Eindhoven 653.1
237 EFC Eersel 652.6
270 TSV Longa 646.5
281 IFC Hendrik Ido Ambacht (R) 644.6
285 GOES Goes (P) 643.4
293 PSV Eindhoven (am) (P) 642.7
373 Rood Wit Veldhoven (P) 628.6


ZON 1D

Playoff losers Bekkerveld and relegated RKSV look like title challengers, but they could face competition from HVCH and Oss’20 – Someren are the best of the sides coming up from the Derde Klasse but they might not have enough to break into the top teams in this league.
HVV and SVN/Vossenberg look as if they will be involved in the relegation struggle, but down there with them it looks like LHC, NWC and Heidebloem will all be trying to avoid the drop.

144 Bekkerveld Heerlen 682.1
162 RKSV Schijndel (R) 673.1
163 HVCH Heesch 672.8
184 OSS'20 Verbruggen 665.7
194 GSV '28 Beek 662.8
216 Sparta '25 Beek en Donk 657.8
229 Schaesberg VV Landgraaf 655.0
231 SV Someren (P) 654.2
239 TOP Oss Amateurs 651.8
272 SVN/Vossenberg Landgraaf (P) 645.6
284 Laura-Hopel Combinatie Eygelshoven 643.5
294 NWC Asten 642.6
301 Heidebloem Geleen 642.1
414 HVV Helmond (P) 622.4


ZON 1E

Germania and De Bataven, both left here after other sides were promoted look like front-runners this season, along with promoted Glanerbrug and Voorwaarts and SDOUC.
Rheden were poor in Hoofdklasse C so look like potential relegation fodder again – they along with Achilles’12, Tubantia and the promoted pair of Alverna and De Zweef could be in trouble.

142 Germania Groesbeek 682.9
150 De Bataven Gendt 680.3
173 Glanerbrug (P) 668.1
182 Voorwaarts Twello 666.2
198 SDOUC Ulft 661.7
200 PH Almelo 660.8
201 Jonge Kracht Huissen 660.6
211 SC Enschede 658.8
223 AWC Wijchen 656.2
244 Alverna Wijchen (P) 651.2
251 Tubantia Hengelo 650.3
262 Achilles '12 Hengelo 648.0
360 Rheden (R) 631.0
389 De Zweef Nijverdal (P) 625.1


ZON 1F

FVC could bounce back immediately, but they’ll face tough competition from Achilles 1894, Erica and the Groningen pair of GVAV and Gronitas – Dalen looked like relegation certainties for much of last season, but finished incredibly well before failing in the promotion playoffs – they could be dangerous this season if they can start well.
None of the promoted sides stand out in 1F, so it could be a season of toil for Velocitas, Emmen, DIO Oosterwolde and Wolvega. All four of those sides will hope for a poor season from STEVO, Joure or Bergum to save them.

165 Achilles 1894 Assen 672.1
166 Erica SC 670.9
203 Gronitas Groningen 660.2
217 GVAV-Rapiditas Groningen 657.6
219 FVC Leeuwarden (R) 657.2
221 Dalen 656.8
228 Nieuw Buinen 655.0
247 Bergum 650.9
249 SC Joure 650.7
252 Velocitas 1897 Groningen (P) 650.0
277 Emmen VV (P) 644.9
282 DIO Oosterwolde (P) 644.5
289 STEVO Geesteren 642.9
297 Wolvega FC (P) 642.5

Saturday, 2 July 2011

Zaterdag Eerstklasse 2011-2012

ZAT 1A
Lelystad could go straight up again, although their ranking might be artificially high after last season’s performances. Ajax amateurs, VVZ’49, Zuigvogels and Swift are also tipped.
Down at the bottom, DVVA, Marken, De Merino’s and SVL could struggle

169 Lelystad '67 (P) 670.3
176 Ajax Amsterdam (am) 667.8
179 VVZ '49 Soest 666.6
183 Zuidvogels Huizen 666.2
209 Swift Amsterdam (R) 658.8
234 HBOK Amsterdam 653.7
238 Roda '46 Leusden (zat) (P) 652.0
246 VVA '71 Rhenen 651.0
258 Eemdijk Bunschoten 648.6
264 CSW Wilnis 647.9
267 SVL Langbroek 647.3
298 De Merino's Veenendaal 642.4
314 Marken 639.4
335 DVVA Amsterdam (P) 634.7


ZAT 1B
Smitshoek could go one better this year after narrowly missing out this time, Vitesse Delft might be too good for this level, Spijkenisse and the moved Breukelen could impress, with GHC tipped as outsiders.
It could be a long season for Leonides, Nootdoorp, RCL and Alexandria’66 – BCVB improved greatly as last season developed so could be safe in mid-table.

152 Smitshoek Barendrecht 679.5
174 Vitesse Delft (R) 668.0
180 Spijkenisse 666.5
188 Breukelen fc 663.6
199 Deltasport Vlaardingen 660.8
208 GHC Leiden (P) 659.4
213 DSO Zoetermeer 658.2
232 fc Rijnvogels Katwijk 654.0
242 Gravenzandse SV's 651.3
263 Alexandria '66 Rotterdam 647.9
273 BVCB Bergschenhoek 645.6
288 RCL Leiderdorp (P) 643.0
340 Nootdorp 634.0
412 Leonidas Rotterdam (P) 622.5


ZAT 1C
Alblasserdam, VVGZ and Oranje With could all avoid the playoffs this time by winning the league, Stedoco ended last season well and Almkerk might achieve promotion again.
Sliedrecht and VVC’68 could go straight back down again, but De Zwervers, GPC and Heinenoord will have to improve or else they could find themselves down in Tweede Klasse sooner rather than later.

177 Alblasserdam 667.5
185 VVGZ Zwijndrecht 665.0
187 Oranje Wit Dordrecht 664.0
204 Almkerk (P) 660.1
218 Stedoco Hoornaar 657.5
222 Zaamslag 656.4
227 Rijsoord Ridderkerk (R) 655.1
256 Roda Boys-Bommelerwaard Aalst 649.1
257 SC Everstein Everdingen (P) 648.8
268 Sliedrecht (P) 647.2
274 VVC '68 Halsteren (P) 645.5
280 De Zwerver Kinderdijk 644.6
309 GPC Vlissingen 640.9
315 Heinenoord 639.3


ZAT 1D
Barneveld and Be Quick’28 could do well, but they might have to elbow aside Olde Veste’54, promoted AZSV and relegated NSC.
At the bottom it looks tight with anyone from DZC’68, Zwart Wit, DOS’37, ESC and WVF all looking possible candidates for the drop.

106 SDV Barneveld 697.4
171 Be Quick 28 Zwolle 669.7
175 d'Olde Veste '54 Steenwijk 667.9
189 AZSV Aalten (P) 663.6
191 NSC Nijkerk (R) 663.2
193 fc Zutphen 663.0
241 Go Ahead Kampen 651.4
248 DOS Kampen 650.9
254 DTS '35 Ede (R) 649.6
266 DZC '68 Doetinchem 647.5
286 Zwart Wit '63 Harderwijk 643.3
299 DOS '37 Vriezenveen 642.4
307 ESC Elburg (P) 641.2
317 WVF Zwolle 638.7


ZAT 1E
Relegated PKC’83 and HZVV look able to mount a challenge for a swift return to the Hoofdklasse, but Leeuwarder Zwaluwen, LTC and Blauw-Wit might all have a say in the promotion battle.
Holwierde, CVV Viboa, Drenthina all finished last season poorly (although Drenthina were in the playoffs) and they could be in danger – promoted sides Trynwalden and Buitenpost could also struggle to adapt to life in the Eerste Klasse.

143 PKC 83 Groningen (R) 682.2
192 Leeuwarder Zwaluwen Leeuwarden 663.1
202 HZVV Hoogeveen (R) 660.3
226 LTC Assen 655.2
243 Blauw Wit '34 Leeuwarden 651.2
245 Oeverzwaluwen Koudum 651.0
253 fc Meppel (P) 649.9
271 Grijpskerk 646.1
279 CVVB Bedum 644.7
283 Trynwalden VC Oenkerk (zat) (P) 643.6
292 Holwierde 642.8
310 CVV Viboa Winsum 640.7
311 Drenthina Emmen 640.5
328 Buitenpost (P) 636.4

Zondag Eerste Klasse to come (tomorrow)...

Friday, 1 July 2011

Hoofdklasse 2011-2012

ZAT A
Now that WKE and HSC’21 aren’t in Zondag C this is the Hoofdklasse with the highest average ranking points.
But interestingly it’s also the Hoofdklasse with the biggest gap between the top team (Quick Boys) and the worst team (Voorschoten '97), so there could still be a few mismatches this season.

The rankings suggest that the big four in Zaterdag A will be Quick Boys, Young Boys, the relegated Sparta Nijkerk and DOVO (who beasted everyone else in 1A last season).
While the bottom four fighting relegation will be Voorschoten’97, Zwaluwen ’30 and the Ter Leede who ended last year in freefall – add in there Sportlust’46 (but Huizen’s three point penalty might save the team from Woerden).

rank / team / points
52 Quick Boys Katwijk 738.5
56 Young Boys Haarlem 736.1
67 Sparta Nijkerk (R) 720.4
83 DOVO Veenendaal (P) 708.9
85 ODIN '59 Heemskerk 708.6
97 Bennekom (P) 702.5
109 CVV de Jodan Boys Gouda 697.2
113 SDC Putten 693.5
121 RKAV Volendam (am) 691.2
127 SV Huizen 689.4
132 Sportlust '46 Woerden (P) 686.4
135 Zwaluwen 1930 Hoorn 684.6
147 Ter Leede Sassenheim 681.4
157 Voorschoten '97 Voorschoten 676.2

ZAT B
This is the weakest Zaterdag Hoofdklasse, but it should be among the most competitive, as only Zat C has a lesser spread of rankings.
As for the four teams I expect to fight it out for promotion, ASWH, a fast improving Excelsior M, the relegated Hoek and Scheveningen look good, but don’t count out Kozakken Boys who finished last term in good shape – and what about Xerxes who did so well but fell away so badly once they’d lost the title to GVVV last time around.
Promoted Nivo Sparta could struggle along with Nieuw Lekkerland, RVVH and Zwaluwen Vlaardingen who were all fortunate that there were three worse teams in this league last season.

Rank / team / points
77 ASWH Hendrik Ido Ambacht 712.8
82 Excelsior Maassluis 709.7
93 Hoek HSV (R) 704.7
95 SVV Scheveningen 703.4
99 Kozakken Boys Werkendam 700.7
108 Xerxes DZB Rotterdam 697.3
112 Achilles Veen (P) 693.7
129 LRC Leerdam 688.7
133 Kloetinge 685.4
136 VV Heerjansdam 684.4
137 Zwaluwen Vlaardingen 684.4
156 RVVH Ridderkerk 676.9
160 Nivo Sparta Zaltbommel (P) 673.7
161 Nieuw Lekkerland 673.1

ZAT C
This is going to be really tough to call next season, with a miniscule gap between top and bottom any one of these sides could in theory break from the pack and find themselves in the Topklasse in 2012/3.
I’m not fooled by Flevo Boys being so low in the rankings, they were competitive in the latter half of last season, but had left themselves too much to avoid relegation – they should challenge – along with WHC, ONS Sneek and promoted Urk. Also CSV will be up there after losing in the playoffs. Staphorst finished well last season, so might set the pace early on.
DVS’33 and Oranje Nassau might were in the relegation playoffs this summer and might be down there again, with DETO and Drachster Boys also looking shaky.
But as I said, this one is so tight that anything could happen!

rank / team / points
68 WHC Wezep 718.9
73 CSV Apeldoorn (R) 714.6
80 ONS Sneek 712.1
89 SV Urk (P) 707.3
100 VV Berkum Zwolle 700.5
102 Staphorst 699.4
104 ACV Assen 698.7
107 Flevo Boys Emmeloord (R) 697.3
116 VVOG Harderwijk (P) 693.0
119 Nunspeet 691.5
130 Drachtster Boys Drachten 688.1

131 DVS '33 Ermelo 687.0
138 Oranje Nassau Groningen 683.8
139 DETO Vriezenveen 683.8

ZON A
My second Dutch team Chabab choked right at the end of the season and didn’t make it through the playoffs but they should be good enough to be near the top again, Feyenoord Sport Club could be one to watch this season, along with promoted RKAVV – RKVV and ADO’20 might also mount a challenge too.
At the bottom Purmersteijn, Koninklijke HFC Nieuwenhoorn could all suffer, with AFC’34 and Leonides possibly getting sucked into a relegation battle too.

rank / teams / points
76 Feyenoord SC (am) 713.3
84 fc Chabab Amsterdam 708.8
98 RKVV Westlandia Naaldwijk 700.8
110 ADO 20 Heemskerk 696.8
114 RKAVV Leidschendam (P) 693.1
117 Alphense Boys Alphen aan de Rijn 692.2
123 USV Elinkwijk Utrecht 690.7
125 De Zouaven Grootebroek 690.3
140 DHC Delft 683.7
145 RKSV Leonidas Rotterdam 681.6
148 AFC '34 Alkmaar 681.2
154 Nieuwenhoorn Hellevoetsluis 678.1
170 Koninklijke HFC Haarlem (P) 670.2
181 Purmersteijn Purmerend 666.3

ZON B
Do three sides relegated from the Topklasse make this the “Hoofdklasse of Death”?
Both Baronie and Gemert are probably better than their ranking suggests and both should start to add to their points by beating these easier teams. Venray and Blauw Geel could both challenge and Groene Star’s results in the Eerst Klasse last season mark them out as potential dark horses too.
Dijkse Boys lost plenty of ranking points after pulling out midway through last season, but they should have enough to steer clear of the bottom, so we’d have to tip promoted Nuenen, DESK, OJC and Meersen as teams that might struggle.

rank / teams / points
71 Venray SV 716.9
72 Blauw Geel '38-Otter-Westela Veghel 715.5
74 Gemert (R) 714.1
78 Groene Ster Heerlerheide (P) 712.3
87 Dongen 707.7
90 SV Deurne 707.1
101 Baronie Breda (R) 700.2
103 EHC Hoensbroek 698.9
111 De Valk Valkenswaard 694.3
115 SV Meersen 693.1
141 OJC Rosmalen 683.4
151 DESK Kaatsheuvel 679.9
155 RKSV Nuenen (P) 678.1
168 Dijkse Boys Helmond (R) 670.8

ZON C
Two of the best teams at this level managed to get promoted, so this has left Zondag C a little lighter on quality – but it’s still the second best Hoofdklasse, and it has the second largest gap from top to bottom.
Despite being in the relegation playoffs Sneek Wit Zwart were in great form at the end and should challenge, ROHDA and the Nijmegen amateurs should all do well, but it’s Be Quick 1887 that look big favourites here.
MSC-Antaris, Hoogeveen, RKHVV and newly promoted DIO might be struggling to stay up, but Rigtersbleek’s escape in the playoffs might help them to mid-table obscurity


rank / teams / points
60 Be Quick 1887 Haren 732.1
79 ROHDA Raalte 712.2
91 Sneek Wit Zwart 707.0
92 NEC Nijmegen II 706.6
94 UDI '19-Beter Bed Uden 704.4
96 Alcides Meppel 703.4
105 Juliana '31 Malden 698.6
118 LONGA '30 Lichtenvoorde (P) 691.7
120 RKSV Babberich 691.2
122 Rigtersbleek Enschede 690.9
124 RKHVV Huissen 690.7
126 DIO Groningen (P) 690.2
146 Hoogeveen 681.4
149 MSC-Antaris Meppel 680.8


EERSTE KLASSE tips for top and bottom to follow sometime soon…

Wednesday, 29 June 2011

Topklasse 2011-2012

ZAT TOPKLASSE
We really can’t tip anyone else for the title can we? This looks like Ijsselmeervogels’s to lose – local rivals Spakenburg kept pace for much of last season and look best equipped to challenge this season too. One their day Rijnsburgse Boys, Barendrecht and Capelle are capable of beating anyone, but perhaps are not consistent enough to keep up the pace at the top. GVVV and Noordwijk look like comfortable mid table sides but SVZW and play off winners Montfoort might be set for a quick return to the Hoofdklasse unless they can overhaul, SV ARC, Genemuiden or Harkemase Boys

26 Ijsselmeervogels Spackenburg 792.8
33 SV Spakenburg 771.8
41 Rijnsburgse Boys 755.8
44 BVV Barendrecht 749.2
45 Capelle 748.8
46 GVVV Veenendaal (P) 746.5
48 Noordwijk (P) 743.8
54 fc Lisse 737.9
55 Katwijk 737.3
58 Excelsior '31 Rijssen 733.4
59 HHC Hardenberg 732.1
63 Harkemase Boys Harkema 728.7
64 SC Genemuiden 724.2
66 SVZW Wierden (P) 722.9
81 SV ARC Alphen aan de Rijn 710.0
88 Montfoort (P) 707.6

ZON TOPKLASSE
With the probable Saturday champions not interested in promotion to the Jupiler League most of the interest might be focused on the Zondag Topklasse this season, especially with no relegated professional team this season.
The Groesbeek twins Achilles’29 and De Treffers should be close to the top (although De Treffers’ form suffered really badly at the end of 2010/11). AFC and the promoted sides HSC’21 and WKE could challenge too, but might have to beat solid Topklasse sides Argon and Quick’20.
Looking at the bottom half, playoff losers Hilversum (spared relegation by RBC’s demise) will stuggle again, along with VVSB, and we suspect that promoted HBS will need to put some points on the board early if they are to survive in the higher league.
Hoorn, JVC’31 and EVV all look as if they will have just too much to get dragged into a relegation fight, but they will be looking over their shoulders if their form suffers.

31 Achilles '29 Groesbeek 778.9
42 De Treffers Groesbeek 753.9
43 AFC Amsterdam 750.5
47 HSC 21 Haaksbergen (P) 745.2
49 Quick '20 Oldenzaal 742.8
50 Argon Mijdrecht 741.9
51 WKE Emmen (P) 740.1
53 Haaglandia Winston Rijswijk 738.2
57 fc Lienden 735.7
61 UNA Veldhoven (P) 731.4
62 EVV Echt 729.3
65 JVC 31 Cuijk 722.9
69 HVV Hollandia Hoorn 717.9
70 fc Hilversum 717.6
75 HBS Craeyenhout Den Haag (P) 713.5
86 VVSB Noordwijkerhout 707.8

Jupiler League 2011-2012

Zwolle and Cambuur were the top two sides at the start of 2010/11 and they remain so. Solid campaigns (although in Zwolle’s case, one that promised so much more) see them among the favourites for promotion again.
But Den Bosch, Helmond and Veendam all improved their rankings over the season and they could be the side to spring out of the pack to lead the way.
But there are two big sides that don’t even feature in the ranking leaders who might be the real promotion candidates. Willem II are so far down the list due to getting beaten almost every Sunday in the Eredivisie last season, they probably aren’t the tenth best side in the Eerst Divisie and could be set for a quick promotion .
Sparta are the other side we can expect to challenge, but a vast improvement on last year will be needed if they are not to become further entrenched in Holland’s second tier.
The race to avoid the red lantern is wide open – anyone of seven sides show the potential to become embroiled in the relegation scrap and transfer acquisitions will be crucial to make progress here. Emmen and Eindhoven both tailed away badly at the end of last season, whereas Almere and Fortuna both picked up important points in games where you might have expected them to get nothing. And it remains to be seen how a year winning regularly in the Topklasse has boosted the morale at Oss, they might actually be comfortable in mid-table rather than relegation fodder.

18 fc Zwolle 832.9
19 Cambuur Leeuwarden 823.9
21 fc Den Bosch 814.0
22 Helmond Sport 809.9
23 Go Ahead Eagles 806.8
24 BV Veendam 805.1
25 fc Volendam 799.1
27 fc Dordrecht 792.2
28 Sparta Rotterdam 789.1
29 Willem II Tilburg (R) 789.1
30 MVV Maastricht 788.8
32 AGOVV Apeldoorn 774.3
34 Telstar 771.6
35 fc Eindhoven 770.2
36 fc Oss (P) 768.5
37 fc Almere City 765.2
38 Emmen 765.0
39 Fortuna Sittard 764.2

Eredivisie Ranking review/preview

The top five at the start of this season are in the exact same position they were twelve months ago, although all three lost ranking points compared to where they stood after 2009/10 – perhaps showing that the gap between the toppers and the rest is gradually closing. Good seasons for Groningen, Heracles and ADO all see them occupying the next best positions, while Utrecht’s ranking points and position suffered – probably due to the distraction of a successful campaign in Europe.
At the bottom this year RKC, Excelsior and De Graafschap all look like a season of struggle awaits, VVV’s transfer activity might see them safe, but NAC have the potential to get dragged towards the bottom if they can’t improve on last seasons poor finish. And who knows which Vitesse side we will see this season, a new manager, promises of new players – but they failed to impress last year – almost having a last day disaster against Excelsior - and another season of rebuilding could leave them vulnerable to sides below them again.

1 Ajax Amsterdam 940.0
2 Twente Enschede 928.3
3 PSV Eindhoven 921.6
4 AZ Alkmaar 887.7
5 Feyenoord 878.8
6 fc Groningen 877.6
7 Heracles Almelo 875.9
8 ADO Den Haag 869.7
9 fc Utrecht 863.8
10 Roda JC Kerkerade 859.6
11 NEC Nijmegen 858.4
12 Heerenveen 854.1
13 de Graafschap 848.6
14 Excelsior Rotterdam 848.1
15 NAC Breda 847.1
16 RKC Waalwijk (P) 836.2
17 Vitesse Arnhem 835.1
20 VVV Venlo 816.4

Saturday, 7 May 2011

Who am I and why do I rank Dutch football teams?

I've always been interested in Holland and the Dutch, my grandfather was Dutch (and despite the fact I never knew him and never met him) I've always felt an affinity with that country.
I'm also interested in football, so it seemed natural to follow the Eredivisie, I soon became interested in what goes on beneath the top tier.

I work in Cambridge, for the University.  And part of my job is concerned with the validity, reliability and integrity of the examination we send out to candidates in the UK and around the world.  So I wanted to use this statistical background for a busman's holiday, and so I hit upon the idea of ranking the teams in the Dutch League.

I started with just the top two divisions, but soon wandered down the the next level, which was then the brilliantly named Hoofdklasse, then the Eerst Klasse.
Then, for the 2010/2011 season, along came the Topklasse - allowing lots of teams to be promoted to fill the gaps lower down the amateur structure, and so I allowed myself the indulgence of ranking and rating the Tweedeklasse too.

So, all in all, I have 614 teams in my database.  And as this is a labour of love I don't intend to venture much further, so the Derde Klasse will have to wait.
Although if anyone wanted to pay me to do this full time, then I think I could manage to rank more teams.

I'll blog more on the statistical models behind the rankings I produce later, as I know that might come under heavy scrutiny.  I reserve the right to keep my exact algorithms secret, but I will broadly tell you how I come up with my listings at a later date.

I know that the amazingly indepth website voetbalnederland.nl also had their own system of ranking Dutch football teams, what they call "CIX" - and I do notice some similarities between my numbers and theirs.
And so, whilst not wanting to denigrate their work in any way, I do stand by the validity of my work.

Just as a quick aside, the Dutch team I follow is De Graafschap Doetinchem, and being a foreigner looking in I also have a soft spot for the Zondag Hoofdklasse side fc Chabab Amsterdam too.

Oh, just to remind you that I tweet too, @dutchrankings.
But there is only so much you can say in 140 characters, so I hope this blog will allow me expand on some of the stories (the ups and the downs) behind the rankings.

Thanks for reading, see you soon.
KEVIN