Eredivisie round 4

Vitesse v Den Haag
Willem II v Heracles
VVV Venlo v Groningen
PSV v NAC
Heerenveen v AZ
Ajax v Sparta
Twente v Waalwijk
Feyenoord v Roda

Waalwijk have, it's safe to say, not had a happy time since promotion to the Eredivisie. Three games in, they've one goal to their credit and eleven against having shipped half a dozen against AZ last week. This week, they're at the league leaders FC Twente who are playing a more pragmatic brand of football. Gone are the wide men that made the 4-3-3 work so well last season - Marko Arnautovic is in Italy and Eljero Elia in Germany - and it's been a test of Steve McClaren to reorganise the system that he more or less inherited and didn't tinker with. He didn't have to, such was the foundation Fred Rutten left him with, but he's had to do something in the off-season. Brian Ruiz looks a quality addition and Kenneth Perez is relishing the additional responsibility. How they'll go should Blaise N'Kufo get injured remains to be seen, the club captain easily the main source of goals, but if last season wasn't one where McClaren's abilities were truly tested, then this one just might be. Either way, a tough afternoon in prospect for RKC.

Feyenoord have had a steady start and they should maintain it at home to Roda and the other two traditional big guns are both at home after knocking seven types of muesli out of each other a week ago. That PSV v Ajax game was a cracker and they unwind from that with winnable matches this weekend. Ajax had a 5-0 cruise midweek against Slovan Bratislava with Luis Suarez grabbing four and Sparta are not a good football side. PSV also won in midweek, away in Israel, and Breda are the visitors to the Philips Stadion this week. Little better demomstrates the problem that this league, and many others, suffer from, in that the week after an absolute belter between two of the top sides, they both have what look on paper at least easy games.

AZ go to Heerenveen who they beat 5-1 in the Super Cup last month and look good to win again. Heerenveen do not look a strong side this season while AZ have found their stride. They have lost players, but they still look very good. Vitesse are in for a long season on the basis of the first three games but can get their season of and running with a home win against Den Haag. Mind, ADO can be difficult opponents at any time. Willem II v Heracles has draw written all over it and VVV are a decent bet for a first win of the season at home to Groningen. Guaranteed spectaculars fro Keisuke Honda anyway. What a talent he is.