Central European League 2013/2014 Preview - Division One
Club: De Graafschap
Location: Doetchinem, Holland
Stadium: Stadion De Vijverberg (17,500)
Last Season
League Position: 10th
Cup: First Round
De Graafschap's third season in Division One was a similar relegation battle to the previous two, but once again late salvation was gained thanks to three wins and two draws in their final five fixtures. The Dutch team seem to have a knack of digging out those important results in the nick of time.
Who is OUT?
The most high profile departure is that of Herita Ilunga, who fell out with the club midway through the season and refused to play over the remaining six months of his contract. Other players leaving due to contract expiry were veteran squad members Dave Bus, Yuri Rose and Mamadou Zongo.
Who is IN?
De Graafschap have been linked heavily with Johan Vonlanthen of Grasshoppers Zurich, a transfer saga that lasted all summer long and was ultimately unsuccessful. The club are expected to continue their pursuit of the 26 year old former-PSV forward when the transfer window opens again in January.
Instead, the sole addition comes from within the club, as 18 year old Henrik Wieghorst steps up into the first team from the youth academy. The tall midfielder will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow Danish Under-21 teammate Morten Henriksen.
How will they line up?
Following a long period of unsettling experimentation, De Graafschap appear to have finally settled on their chosen system. A back five with attacking fullbacks and a free libero, two hard-working midfielders, a deep-lying creative forward and two wide attackers.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's 11 goals re-established him as the club's primary striker and top goalscorer last season. With Vonlanthen's rumoured arrival at best postponed, he will partner either Anouar Diba or Yasser Al-Qahtani in attack. Loránd Miriuta will play just behind and will be looking to provide the ammunition.
Alexander Farnerud and Cihan Yalcin continue to be the first choice midfield pairing, with Yalcin in particular becoming a cult figure and fans' favourite in Doetchinem for his willingness to fight for the cause. Bas Sibum and youth protégé Henrik Wieghorst are ready to step in when needed.
At the back, the experience of captain Anatoliy Tymoschuk in the free libero role remains crucially important alongside inexperienced centre-backs Morten Henriksen (22) and Tommy Van Burik (18). Jory ten Brinke and former Ajax product Randy Rustenburg fill the fullback slots reliably, with the much improved Joos Zoetebier behind them in goal.
Player to watch:
Stepping into the shoes of Ricardo Sousa is no easy task, but Loránd Miriuta's role in the team is invaluable. De Graafschap feed the ball to the feet of their 22 year old Hungarian playmaker as regularly as possible, as he often drops into midfield and beyond to conduct play from deep positions. On a team that struggles to score goals, Miriuta is also the one most capable of playing the killer pass to open up the opposing defence.
Prediction: 9th-12th.
De Graafschap are showing signs of a club in transition. A new stand has been constructed at the Stadion de Vijverberg, edging the capacity a little closer to that expected of a club at this level, while a number of the older squad members have moved on to make room for a fresh influx of younger players. Change like this will be necessary to avoid another relegation scrap this season. If Huntelaar can continue to score the goals, and if they can finally manage to find a partner for him in January, the changes should be reflected in a move into midtable security.
. I've never been relegated before.
lol
