PSV Eindhoven are sitting pretty at the top on 53 points, last seasons champions FC Twente on 51 and after a change of manager, Ajax are 3rd on 48. In the Europa League spots site FC Gronigen, over-achieving ADO Den Haag, AZ Alkmaar and Roda JC. A team you usually see at the top is missing. Feyenoord are currently 15th, 3 points clear of the relegation play-off places.
This season has been one to forget for De club aan de Maas. After a good start, winning 2 and drawing 1 of their opening 4 games, September and October are months to forget. in the 9 league games played they lost 7, including defeats to fierce rivals Ajax, and the embarrassing 10-0 defeat to PSV where they collapsed from being 2-0 down at half time. They bounced back from the defeat to beat VVV Venlo 3-0. They didn't win again until playing Den Haag. 5 games after beating VVV.
Since the Den Haag game on 28/11 Feyenoord have only managed to win another 2 games, losing 4 and drawing 3 in the process. There last game against ADO Den Haag (20/2) Feyenoord were 2-0 up only to concede twice in the last 10 minutes to draw 2-2.
The players have under performed this season. The main goalscoring threat is 18 year old Luc Castaignos, who has 9, the only attacker to score more than 1 goal this season. The serious injury suffered by Jon Dahl Tomasson at the 2010 World Cup has not helped matters. Roy Makaay retiring at the end of last season has also hindered more than helped.
The continued financial troubles at the club have also hampered progression, developing a 'selling club' mentality in the past. Most notably in 2006 they sold Dirk Kuyt and Soloman Kalou, replacing them with Ajax reserve striker Angelos Charisteas. The Greek striker was sold on the next summer.
The imminent return of Tomasson is a timely boost for boss Mario Been, with tough games at home to Groningen, AZ and PSV coming up. This season looks like it will end in disaster. The fans may think they are too big to go down. But we know that is not the case.
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