the hunter and the hunted

By: Tucker | December 27th, 2008

In the final match of 2008, Twente travels to Eindhoven to face PSV with the defending Eredivisie champions in desperate need of points. While it might be too early for some to call it a “crucial match”, without a doubt a loss would shake up as PSV as they could possibly fall twelve points off league leader AZ and of-course maintain the course of Twente’s title aspirations.

While Twente is only four points above PSV, it can easily be said that the clubs are following two separate paths this year in which their new managers are definitely enjoying decidedly different experiences. Since coming over from Hamburger SV Hubb Stevens has had a rough time with PSV and dealing with not only uninspired performance but a series of internal squabbles that has caused rifts in the club. Whether it is poor fitness levels or the “lack of heart” that Hubb Stevens has said of his players, the defending champions are wobbling and look primed for a knockout punch at any stage. However after falling to successive losses to NEC Nijmegen and Ajax in November they have rattled off a streak of five unbeaten matches in a row while dropping only one match at home this year.

On the other-hand Steve McClaren’s first year in charge of the “Tukkers” has seen the club fly into some rare air to the point that talk of a title chance is being hushed. While the club suffered a modest swoon early, those days are over and shot they have lights out of the Eredivisie of late. With Kenneth Perez and Blaise Kufo having renaissance seasons, Eljero Elia and Marko Arnautović have emerged as two of the leagues emerging young talents had have become highly sought-after in the transfer market. In their last five match Twente has tallied six goals against Heerenveen and Sparta each and four against FC Groningen in a offensive juggernaut that flies straight at PSV’s defensive weaknesses.

Both sides are fully fit for the match with the only absences PSV’s Reimond Manco and Edison Méndez. The critical nature of the match is not lost to both leaders as Hubb Stevens said “We need them urgently to stay in touch with our nearest rivals” while Steve McClaren, per the club’s web-site commented:

“We are hunting, but will also be hunted. Now everyone wants to win against FC Twente. We will have to deal with that.”

Time to go on the hunt!