VOLENDAM VS JONG AZ PREVIEW & PREDICTION
FC Volendam still wants to reach the play-offs and will have to keep on peaking to make that mission a success. The match against Young AZ seems to come at a good time.
FC Volendam:
FC Volendam could still polish away the disastrous start of the season with placing for the playoffs. It is already pretty that the formation of trainer Misha Salden is still in the race for the aftercompetition as FC Volendam was in last place earlier this season. The game is a lot better after the turn of the year and because of that the Other Orange has now reached the thirteenth place. At first glance this is not a position that makes the average FC Volendam supporters happy, but it is a place that offers perspective. The gap with the top ten is only three points and that means that FC Volendam is close to placing for the playoffs. In order to qualify, FC Volendam, which still has a negative goal difference, will have to make progress again. Only one of the last five matches was won and that is a bit on the thin side. The encounter with Young AZ offers FC Volendam a nice opportunity to give self-confidence a boost.
The away match of Friday night against SC Cambuur was a difficult one. Both teams are currently in the same boat and that resulted in a six point match in Leeuwarden. The hosts succeeded twice to put a lead on the board, but twice FC Volendam succeeded to restore the balance again. The 2-2 of Anthony Berenstein was a special one. The attacker came just after rest for the first time this season within the lines and not much later he made his first goal for the club.
Joey Veerman got a tap last week against his lower leg and therefore he had to shoot the match against Cambuur. The midfielder could still meet with Jong AZ, but it seems impossible that he will play. Alex Plat replaced Veerman in the midfield and that could be the case again if Veerman fails to show his fitness. Rodney Antwi was forced to be replaced by Cambuur and behind his name there is also a question mark.
Young AZ:
The performance of Young AZ in the last weeks was more than good. Of the young Alkmaarders was actually nothing more expected, but a series of nine games with seven victories ensured that the left row actually came into view again. The team of coach Martin Haar went down on Friday night against Young FC Utrecht and made a pass at the place. Young AZ is now in fifteenth place, but the gap with the top ten is only four points and therefore still playable. In their first season in the Jupiler League, the Noord-Hollanders would therefore still be in the top ten for a ranking. As said before, the shape of the last few weeks can be called pretty good. The formation of Haar lost then of Jong FC Utrecht, but won from Jong Ajax and FC Emmen.
That Friday night was lost of Young FC Utrecht actually came as a big surprise. The visitors had not taken any players from the first team to Wijdewormer and that’s why Jong AZ was the favorite for the win. However, the defense of the Alkmaarders did not get a grip on FC Utrecht striker Nick Venema and that proved to be fatal. The attacker scored three times before half time and therefore the game was decided at an early stage. Tijani Reijnders scored after the tea, but that was not enough to prevent the loss.
Against FC Volendam Young AZ hopes to pick up the thread again and as always it is the question with which players that should happen. The game will be played on Monday and therefore some players of the first team could lend a hand. Recently Ron Vlaar played against Young Ajax and lately Rens van Eijden makes many minutes in the Jupiler League. The experienced defender does not currently appear in the plans of John van den Brom. Vincet Regulations will not come into action anyway. He was badly injured last week in Amsterdam.
PREDICTION: Volendam to win @ 1.80
