1 - Will anyone be able to keep PSV from going three in a row?
The reigning champions did not hold back in their season opener, crushing Sparta 6-1 to get the hunt for their third-straight Eredivisie title off to a perfect start.
Joey Veerman - our Player of the Week - looked impeccable and already equalled last season's goal tally, Ivan Perisic matched Veerman's numbers with one goal and two assists, Alassane Plea looks to be the perfect addition to PSV's attack, and Sergino Dest was a constant threat on the right wing.
In addition, six different players scored their six goals against Sparta. This PSV team seems to check all the boxes yet again.
The only way for PSV is forward, and that's exactly what they showed against Sparta. The Eindhoven side completed 286 passes into the final third (at least 50 more than any other team), gave 210 forward passes (at least 39 more than any other team), and completed 65 per cent of their dribbles (second-most among teams with 20+ attempted dribbles).
It will be hard for anyone to beat this rampant PSV team. They have FC Twente up next, who lost their opening game 1-0 away at PEC Zwolle.
2 - Puzzled Ajax have big holes to fill
It was a nervous outing for Ajax, who managed to beat promoted side Telstar 2-0, but did not look like title contenders whatsoever.
First, Ajax were lucky not to concede in the opening five minutes after Milan Zonneveld and Patrick Brouwer failed to finish their chances. Then, Ajax showed the creative poverty we still know from last season. Telstar rocked up to the Johan Cruyff ArenA with barely enough players to fill their squad, with a team of mostly former amateur players, and still managed to become the first promoted team in Eredivisie history to record more attempts (18) than Ajax (15) in the Johan Cruyff ArenA.
Also read: Eredivisie Team of the Week: Veerman leads the way, Ajax heroes enter in tandem
Ajax were direly missing a controlling midfielder, a player in the role of former captain Jordan Henderson, who proved to be the perfect connection between the defence and midfield. Davy Klaassen was tasked with occupying the role of a number '6', but barely made an impact.
Up front, Ajax were puzzled and wasted too many big opportunities. Summer acquisition Raul Moro showed his promise, but also disappointed when he squandered a one-on-one situation he'll likely rarely ever see again this season. Bertrand Traore wasted a similar opportunity and recorded just two touches in the opposition's box.
Overall, Ajax completed just three(!) dribbles. Those three came from Aaron Bouwman, Youri Regeer, and Owen Wijndal , who are all defenders. John Heitinga has a lot of fixing to do in the early stages of his managerial career.
3 - Telstar aren't here for a participation trophy
A disappointing transfer summer with a player budget of just €2 million, a matchday squad that welcomed its mandatory 18th contracted player as late as Friday, hardly any expectations from the outside world, and still making Ajax look like they were lucky to beat you. Telstar did it, and all in their first Eredivisie game in 47 years.
Also read: Introducing Telstar: Who are the newest additions to the Dutch Eredivisie?
Managed by Anthony Correia, who took the job from Mike Snoei after the latter was fired in April 2024, Telstar showed guts and a sheer unwillingness to back down on the record champions' home turf. They showed attacking intent and made it count - last season, only NEC (22) recorded more goal attempts against Ajax than Telstar's 18 on Sunday.
Telstar, who formally introduce themselves as "the unconventional people's club in the Eredivisie," barely lost a challenge against Ajax, who had trouble facing Telstar's three-headed defence of Dewon Koswal, Guus Offerhaus, and Danny Bakker. A promising sight for Correia.
Telstar will now play two consecutive home games, first meeting PEC Zwolle and hosting FC Volendam after. Who knows where we'll find Telstar in the table in two weeks?
4 - Will Levi Smans' injury derail Heerenveen's season already?
It was all coming up Milhouse for Heerenveen in their season opener against FC Volendam. The Frisians were 1-0 up, their opponents were held at bay, but then disaster struck - Levi Smans, Heerenveen's midfield maestro, had to be carried off the pitch with a seemingly significant knee injury.
The 22-year-old Smans provided the assist for Heerenveen's opening goal, which came out of a deep cross from a free-kick. But after his injury, Heerenveen's attitude shifted completely. Whereas the Frisian outfit completed 67.3% of their forward passes before Smans was subbed off, Heerenveen only completed 60% afterwards.
And that wasn't the only decline. They completed just two of their 15 crosses after the injury, as opposed to five of 15 before. Smans created two chances, took three shots, recorded five touches in the opposition's box, and completed two dribbles - all numbers that ranked in the top three among all Heerenveen players. In 52 minutes.
The 1-1 draw against Volendam disappointed many in Heerenveen and will not serve as a great source of confidence.
A diagnosis has not been communicated yet, but Smans is feared to miss several months with a ligament injury. Let's hope for the best.
5 - FC Utrecht might be for real
Fourteen goals in four games, four wins, goal scorers among all three position groups... FC Utrecht might be the real deal this season.
Ron Jans' men have started the season in red-hot form. Moldovan giants Sheriff Tiraspol were brushed aside with an aggregate 7-2 win, Servette are on the brink of getting dumped out of the Europa League qualifiers after a 3-1 home loss, and now Heracles Almelo were punished 4-0 in the Galgenwaard.
Sebastien Haller is rumoured to join Utrecht, where Yoann Cathline provided three assists in the last two games, and Victor Jensen has scored three goals already. Souffian El Karouani is still at the club, Utrecht have depth up front, a well-rounded midfield, and an experienced duo in the heart of the defence, where captain Nick Viergever tied the record for the most Eredivisie seasons played (18).
Utrecht are set-piece threats, dangerous in attack (Utrecht have outscored opponents 91 to 58 in touches in the opponents' box), and solid in defence. And with three weeks of the transfer window still ahead of us, chances are they only get stronger.