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Central European League 2011/2012 Preview
Continuing WEFA Weekly's team-by-team preview of the coming season in Division One, next up are Dutch hopefuls De Graafschap.
Club: De Graafschap
Location: Doetchinem, Holland
Stadium: Stadion De Vijverberg (10,900)
Last Season
League Position: 14th
Cup: Quarter Finals
The club's first venture into Division One was a struggle. The small, inexperienced squad found themselves rooted in the relegation zone for most of the season, only saved by a late surge during the last couple of months while Nantes slumped.
Who is OUT?
De Graafschap suffered a huge blow to their survival chances when the patience of star player Ricardo Sousa finally dissipated and he walked out of Doetchinem for nothing when his contract expired in June. The thirty year old playmaker has since been rumoured to be back home in Portugal holding talks with Benfica, while De Graafschap are left with a gaping hole in their midfield that will be difficult to fill.
Defender Michael van der Kruis and youth goalkeeper Frank Lodewijks were also released.
Who is IN?
Alexander Farnerud arrived from Strasbourg for €3.3 million, a 26 year old Swede who will hope to bring some much needed drive and creativity to the midfield. He will match up against older brother Pontus when De Graafschap face Monaco in September.
After negotiations with Vitesse winger Eldridge Rojer had broken down, De Graafschap instead turned their attention to Saudi Arabian international Yasser Al-Qahtani. The diminutive striker is a profficient penalty taker and can be lively off the ball, but lacks experience outside of the Saudi Arabian leagues.
How will they line up?
The departure of Sousa will more than likely signal a change in the coach's philosophy, now that the team is denied the fulcrum that last season's 5-3-2 and 4-5-1 formations were centered upon. A more unified 4-4-2 is expected with a heavy focus on catching opponents on the counter-attack.
It is difficult to see who will be left out in attack. Top goalscorer Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Division One assists leader Ruslan Valeev and new signing Yasser Al-Qahtani will all justify their place in the team, with Mamadou Zongo the one to see most bench time. Expect all three to start, with Huntelaar to the fore, Valeev operating behind and Al-Qahtani darting in from the right flank.
Farnerud is most comfortable in an inside-left position where he is able to work up and down the left channel. In the centre, De Graafschap are unlikely to sway from their preferred combination of one holding midfielder and one partner who bursts forward to support the attack. Last season this was most often Cihan Yalcin and Yuri Rose respectively, though don't be surprised to see Bas Sibum and Lioc Loval as frequent alternatives.
De Graafschap's defence actually boasted one of the best goals-against records in the division last season, despite their faltering attack letting the side down. The flat back four is unlikely to change too much, with adventurous captain Anatoliy Tymoschuk positioned alongside the much criticised Morten Henriksen; the young Dane had a less than stellar debut season and now is the time for him to show he belongs.
At left-back there is the option of Sander Duits or powerful Congo international Hérita Ilunga, while Jory ten Brinke and goalkeeper Raymon van Emmerik complete the eleven.
Player to watch:
Jory ten Brinke has quietly developed into one of the most reliable and consistent right-backs in Holland. Now 26 years old, the versatile defender has good height, strength, stamina and a burst of pace; his overlapping of Ruslan Valeev was one of the rare highlights of De Graafschap's poor season. Consecutive campaigns in the first team have improved his ability to add an end product, and overall the Doetchinem club will be happy to have secured him on a new four year deal this summer.
Prediction: 12th-14th.
Like an orchestra without a conductor. Sousa's absence will hit De Graafschap hard and they will require some time to adjust in his wake. Last season's squad was barely good enough to stay in this division and that was with Sousa. Whether 'de Superboeren' can avoid another prolonged relegation dogfight could be down to the inconsistencies of Huntelaar and Valeev and the unknown factor of Al-Qahtani to provide the firepower that they desperately need. If they can, and if the likes of Hertha Berlin and promoted Hamburg continue to struggle at this level, then another narrow escape could be on the cards.
Continuing WEFA Weekly's team-by-team preview of the coming season in Division One, next up are Dutch hopefuls De Graafschap.
Club: De Graafschap
Location: Doetchinem, Holland
Stadium: Stadion De Vijverberg (10,900)
Last Season
League Position: 14th
Cup: Quarter Finals
The club's first venture into Division One was a struggle. The small, inexperienced squad found themselves rooted in the relegation zone for most of the season, only saved by a late surge during the last couple of months while Nantes slumped.
Who is OUT?
De Graafschap suffered a huge blow to their survival chances when the patience of star player Ricardo Sousa finally dissipated and he walked out of Doetchinem for nothing when his contract expired in June. The thirty year old playmaker has since been rumoured to be back home in Portugal holding talks with Benfica, while De Graafschap are left with a gaping hole in their midfield that will be difficult to fill.
Defender Michael van der Kruis and youth goalkeeper Frank Lodewijks were also released.
Who is IN?
Alexander Farnerud arrived from Strasbourg for €3.3 million, a 26 year old Swede who will hope to bring some much needed drive and creativity to the midfield. He will match up against older brother Pontus when De Graafschap face Monaco in September.
After negotiations with Vitesse winger Eldridge Rojer had broken down, De Graafschap instead turned their attention to Saudi Arabian international Yasser Al-Qahtani. The diminutive striker is a profficient penalty taker and can be lively off the ball, but lacks experience outside of the Saudi Arabian leagues.
How will they line up?
The departure of Sousa will more than likely signal a change in the coach's philosophy, now that the team is denied the fulcrum that last season's 5-3-2 and 4-5-1 formations were centered upon. A more unified 4-4-2 is expected with a heavy focus on catching opponents on the counter-attack.
It is difficult to see who will be left out in attack. Top goalscorer Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Division One assists leader Ruslan Valeev and new signing Yasser Al-Qahtani will all justify their place in the team, with Mamadou Zongo the one to see most bench time. Expect all three to start, with Huntelaar to the fore, Valeev operating behind and Al-Qahtani darting in from the right flank.
Farnerud is most comfortable in an inside-left position where he is able to work up and down the left channel. In the centre, De Graafschap are unlikely to sway from their preferred combination of one holding midfielder and one partner who bursts forward to support the attack. Last season this was most often Cihan Yalcin and Yuri Rose respectively, though don't be surprised to see Bas Sibum and Lioc Loval as frequent alternatives.
De Graafschap's defence actually boasted one of the best goals-against records in the division last season, despite their faltering attack letting the side down. The flat back four is unlikely to change too much, with adventurous captain Anatoliy Tymoschuk positioned alongside the much criticised Morten Henriksen; the young Dane had a less than stellar debut season and now is the time for him to show he belongs.
At left-back there is the option of Sander Duits or powerful Congo international Hérita Ilunga, while Jory ten Brinke and goalkeeper Raymon van Emmerik complete the eleven.
Player to watch:
Jory ten Brinke has quietly developed into one of the most reliable and consistent right-backs in Holland. Now 26 years old, the versatile defender has good height, strength, stamina and a burst of pace; his overlapping of Ruslan Valeev was one of the rare highlights of De Graafschap's poor season. Consecutive campaigns in the first team have improved his ability to add an end product, and overall the Doetchinem club will be happy to have secured him on a new four year deal this summer.
Prediction: 12th-14th.
Like an orchestra without a conductor. Sousa's absence will hit De Graafschap hard and they will require some time to adjust in his wake. Last season's squad was barely good enough to stay in this division and that was with Sousa. Whether 'de Superboeren' can avoid another prolonged relegation dogfight could be down to the inconsistencies of Huntelaar and Valeev and the unknown factor of Al-Qahtani to provide the firepower that they desperately need. If they can, and if the likes of Hertha Berlin and promoted Hamburg continue to struggle at this level, then another narrow escape could be on the cards.
this will mean even if i do have enough to pay wages.... I won't have much left-over to spend at end of season 1 meaning my season 2 squad will pretty much be same as my first.
