Feyenoord are back on their feet again

Monday 23 maart 2009

After his shot was caught by someone in the stands Mounir El Hamdaoui just stood there, hands on hips, for seconds.

The AZ striker had finally been able to get away from his marker, but again he was unable to score.

El Hamdaoui desperately watched the ball flying into the hands of the spectator behind the goal, his body language revealing the story of the game.

For ninety minutes AZ had battered the Feyenoord defense without causing so much as a dent in it.

"We have not been able to break though Feyenoord's defensive organization," AZ-coach Louis van Gaal concluded afterwards.

Van Gaal was in bad mood after the point loss and of course his Feyenoord colleague Leon Vlemmings was a lot more upbeat.

The result didn't only mean Feyenoord remained unbeaten for their fifth consecutive game, but the way Feyenoord performed looked stable and combatant again.

It's springtime and in the offices of Feyenoord serious cuts in office personnel were announced on Friday as the club is in financial trouble, but yesterday football was the only subject they talked about.

Without actually playing that great a clear idea an be seen in their performances.

The defense looks well organised, players are on logical positions and their passing looks decent.

And the fact that the absence of Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Kevin Hofland and Jon Dahl Tomasson was hardly visible said a lot.

"And much of that is thanks to Leon Vlemmings," midfielder Theo Lucius said.

Leroy Fer again played a crucial role, just like he did last week against PSV.

The young holding midfielder last week kept Ibrahim Afellay from being decisive and yesterday he minded El Hamdaoui when AZ were in possession.

In fact it meant that Feyenoord played with five at the back, but away to AZ that is nothing to be ashamed of these days.

"All teams play like that here," Van Gaal said.

Vlemmings tries to arrange his defense so that André Bahia has little else to do than mark his opponent.

The Brazilian did exceptionally well again against AZ, while Theo Lucius stayed upright in a free role.

"It's a matter of arrangement," says Vlemmings.

"When it's clear when you hand over an opponent to a team mate, you will not get surprised very often. Fer, but also Dwight Tiendalli and Kelvin Leerdam did that very well today among each other."

As AZ were defending very low Feyenoord didn't have a worry in the world in the first half.

The Rotterdammers even had the best chance when Georginio Wijnaldum put Roy Makaay through in front of goal.

The striker's shot went wide, as it's happened far too often in recent weeks.

Makaay only scored one in the last ten games and that is not enough for a forward of his stature.

"But I am quite certain that things will turn out well for Roy," said Vlemmings, who praised Makaay's industry and mentality.

AZ had their first chance when Kew Jaliens headed wide from a corner.

After the break the hosts picked up the pace a bit and although Feyenoord were pinned back in their own half they didn't get into any real trouble.

Stijn Schaars went closest with a diving header that required a magnificent save by Feyenoord keeper Henk Timmer.

After that chance AZ mainly threatened with distant shot and some half chances while Feyenoord looked dangerous on the counter.

The best chance fell to Luigi Bruins when he got the ball totally unmarked just inside the penalty area.

Yet Bruins reacted to hastily and his shut went over.

"We could have sneaked out of here with a victory," Vlemmings knew.

"But most important thing is that we still have good prospects of the playoffs with an international week coming up. That was our target and we have achieved it."

Key fact of the matter is that Feyenoord gained 4 points from the encounters with PSV and AZ and that hey now still have number 9 NEC Nijmegen in their sights.

The toughest part of the schedule is behind them now.

"We can be confident about the last part of the season," Vlemmings said.

AZ - Feyenoord

Score

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Lineups