zipman

What is green and stinks like fish?

WERDER BREMEN

retired_puly1364

Well. They better not stink when we play them. Otherwise they have another advantage.

5th of January 2012

This team was raged with injuries as we prepared to face off Feyenoord. With Willem Janssen, Jaime Valdes, Pablo Gallardo, Petr Molinek, Tarik Zitouni and Leroy Fer out for that game, win was hard to get. Though we had our home support behind us. I had to bring several youngsters to first team to cover up since I sold few players in winter transfer window.

Dutch Premier Division, Week 18
Willem II 2:2 Feyenoord (16. Cengizhan Topal, 72. Paul Peters)

Our little star Paul Peters goal was not enough to win us the tie. It was sure to be heading for our win until Feyenoord finally created 2 chances in injury-time. They scored from the first, but it was ruled off due to offside, but just a minute later it was 2:2. Peters was just seconds away from becoming a club hero for a day after another stunning sub-performance.

7th of February 2011

Frustration was hard to hold back, when I recieved a call from Estonia's training camp with news that someone had broke Artur Kotenkos ribs in the trainig. It was the biggest hit yet. He will surely be out of the first match againist Werder and not sure for the second leg too.

12th of February 2012

In next league game we faced off a hard away game with AZ Alkmaar away from home. Some players like Petr Molinek returned from injury so I was hoping for a better display. Youngsters, except Paul Peters, were sent back to youth team.

Dutch Premier Division, Week 19
AZ Alkmaar 2:4 Willem II (12. Jonas van Hooydonck, 37. pen. Gaetano D'Agostino, 62., 83. Paul Peters)

What a great victory! Paul Peters became the hero this time! When he came off the bench for Cengizhan Topal the scoreline was 2:2, but then he made two awesome finishes and 18-year old striker is surely asking for a place in Dutch U19 team, if not the U21. But D'Agostino scored his 9th goal of the season already and Hibas scored his 20th goal already!

19th of February 2012

Most of the injured players returned for a match againist third placed Utrecht at home. Only Artur Kotenko, Pablo Gallardo & Jaime Valdes were missing from very important players "list". I was hoping for a win to make sure Utrecht is out of the title race for sure and wouldn't even be a danger for us when we'd fell 2nd.

Dutch Premier Division, Week 20
Willem II 2:1 FC Utrecht (2. pen. Gaetano D'Agostino, 36. Jonas van Hooydonck)

It was hillarious and heartbreaking match for Utrecht. They had 3 players sent off and atleast one of them too easily as the referee had some hate towards them. But atleast we scored our first goal when there were 11 vs 11. But scorers are no suprise ofcourse. Gaetano scored another penalty to take his seasonal tally to 10 goals already. Great for a guy who plays in the middle of the pitch. Paul Peters came on in second half and was close to score a goal once again, but his shot was blocked on goalline by Utrecths defender.

retired_puly1364

22nd of February 2012

Finally we were playing Champions League games. Our first match was in home and the situation was very critical. Rick Kluijskens, Artur Kotenko, Jaime Valdes, Petr Molinek - all very important players, were out of this match. This made the situation very though and we really had to play at 100% to win the match.

Champions League First Knock-Out Stage, Leg 1
Willem II 3:2 Werder Bremen (3., 25. Jonas van Hooydonck, 52. Mitchell Schet)

Nice win, though I really wish that the scoreline would have been 3:1. I conceeded another late goal and this may have cost me the place in next round. Hopefully we can do well in return leg though. Our goals were really nice though Verhoeff didn't have the best of the games as I was afraid.

26th of February 2012

I had busy weeks ahead now as in next 3 weeks I have games with 3/4 day difference just between them. So as I prepared to face Ajax I hoped no other injuries will pop up. It was set to be a very though away game and I was prepared to face them despite being with our the three first guys mentioned in pre-match of Werder Bremen.

Dutch Premier Division, Week 21
Ajax 1:1 Willem II (22. Cengizhan Topal)

I was happy with the draw. Verhoeff made up for his howler in last minute againist Werder with some great saves so the title race still has a same point difference. Topal scored a very nice goal in first half and we were often close to score a second one and hit the post once.

29th of February 2012

On a rare day in calendar, the 29th of February, we could've celebrate it with a win againist PSV who were far from their best this season weren't even UEFA Cup place and the situation kept getting worse and worse. Still I was aware of their talent and didn't go fo the game with a "can't lose" spirit.

Dutch Premier Division, Week 22
Willem II 2:0 PSV (81. Paul Peters, 85. Leroy Fer)

It was confirmed once again. Paul Peters is a star for future, if not already. He just turned 19 six days ago, but he's goalscoring record is getting very high. He came off the bench in half-time for Topal and he scored a great goal. Something like Zidane did in final of Champions League of 2001/2002. Later on Leroy Fer added a hillarious goal as PSV's goalkeeper cleared the ball from the edge of the area into the path of Fer. Fer then sent on a ball towards the empty goal and it went in from 35 yards. PSV hopes were gone...

4th of March 2012

Soon after PSV's game, we had another though game before the trip to Bremen. Away from home, we were the visitors in Euroborg as Groningen wanted to end our amazing unbeatten run in the league. They weren't doing pretty good this season, but just like PSV, they've got loads of talent and I had to be aware of that. Espescially when the duo of Kotenko and Kluijskens were still out and got an extra man to hang out with them as Molinek had recieved a game ban.

FC Groningen 4:5 Willem II (3., 32. Paul Peters, 25., 68. Cengizhan Topal, 63. Mitchell Schet)

Attacking wise it was a great game, but we got a hit that is depressingly damaging to the club. Koen Verhoeff got injuried in 9th minute and is out for 4 weeks. That leaves us with just young 18-year old goalkeeper Jeffrey van der Laak to play between the posts in match againist Werder. And he certainly didn't impress againist Groningen. The situation isn't easy, but one player that once again managed to impress was Peters ofcourse. I decided to give him his 2nd ever start and he thanked me with 2 goals. And with just total of 10 league performances he's made this season (8 from bench), he's scored 8 goals and is already in Top 25 of the leagues top scorers chart. This guy is on the verge of great future. Now he just has to develope like he's doing at the moment. He's got the pace and good jumping skill and the ball seems to fall onto his foot all the time. He's scoring is improving very fast. (With special training schedule, he's gained 3 more points into finishing level. Which is just 9 though!)

retired_puly1364

I needed a short rest from story-writing yesterday.

5th of March 2011

Immediately we set our steps towards Bremen like it's the style of my teams. We hoped to reach Bremen by night as we set off after lunch. Before we did a training, ate and took our needed stuff from homes. We could've use an airplane, but we decided to go by team bus, since the distance between Tilburg and our home-city wasn't that long. Maria and little Thomas game with us also. So did few other wives and childs. It was one of our most important games of the season.

6th of March 2011

We did our first training in Bremen. I looked at players fitness in first training and all guys looked good enough to start. From those who I bringed with me. Few one's not travelling were Koen Verhoeff and Pablo Jose Gallardo, who both had injuries. Kotenko was back and looked nice in goal, so youngster Jeffrey van der Laak may not be in the goal for Werder Bremen game. In the second training we tried some attacking/defensive moves and ended the day with 2x30 training match. After that match I said guys to take a shower and then it's up to them what to do, but since rules are strict at the moment, they had to be home at 9 PM. All the players were back in hotel at the right time. We had a dinner after that and at the same time we were watching movie from the big screen. By 12 PM everyone was sleeping.

7th of March 2011

We had a midday training that day. It was pretty nice weather and the training pitch was in good condition so I got a very good picture who to play in the game. I told the starting line-up after the training and it was the usual pre-injury period one. Rick Kluijskens and Artur Kotenko returned from injuries right at time, though the later one could've been much better in match condition.

Kotenko
Verghaegh - Canini - Molinek - Fer
Kluijskens - D'Agostino - Zitouni
Valdes
van Hooydonck - Topal

After I announced that, we headed off for a 2 hour city tour where we saw some medievel and modern buildings. It was supposed to relax players down before very important match we had ahead of us.

Champions League First Knock-Out Stage, Leg 2
Werder Bremen 1:1 Willem II (62. pen. Paul Verghaegh)

Awesome! We're through. Our savior wasn't Verghaegh, but it was no-one else than the come-back goalkeeper Artur Kotenko. He saved a penaly in last minute, to get us through with 4:3 aggregate. Otherwise Werder would've gone in. We played a nice game overall, though the team of Messi and Klasnic was very big task to handle and we were not far from getting beatten up like 5:1 or something like that. But in the end, this team is through and my mission in CL was to get to quarterfinals and that's completed now. From now on, we have 0 pressure on us.

retired_angelaev05

I only read and do not post any messages, but I'm enjoying this story so far! One question: your DR is called Verghaegh, but I think you mean Paul Verhaegh? He played for the youths of PSV before moving to AGOVV Apeldoorn, FC Den Bosch. Currently he plays for Vitesse in Holland.

retired_puly1364

It's Paul Verhaegh, yes. He's name is too complicated for me to remember. The gh part I like to add. I'll try to remember that.

retired_puly1364

*Authors Note: Wrong date's in last update. I'm still in 2011 in my mind, but it should be 2012...

9th of March 2012

I didn't have the luck to be in the drawing of Champions League's quarterfinals, but me and team watched the ceremony from TV at the training ground. There weren't any weak teams left, except us, every other team was from big leagues. So I just wanted to avoid one team - FC Bayern. That I managed to do. Our luck bringes us Valencia with my country-mate Taijo Teniste playing important part in their midfield. They've got some great players and one of the most shining stars is young Brazilian striker Fernando Genro.

11th of March 2012

I needed to keep on winning in league too and I met Cambuur at home. It was supposed to be an easy task, as they were sitting next from the bottom just like they do every year and later escape with play-offs. I had almost every player avaible except Michele Canini who got injuried in training and Koen Verhoeff who was still recovering from wrist injury.

Dutch Premier Division, Week 24
Willem II 2:0 Cambuur (61. Patrick de Groot, 79. Cengizhan Topal)

We played a great match and were unlucky not to win by a bigger margin and secure the match before. But luckily our strikers finally waked up in the middle of the second half and we got a comfortable win with a clean sheet.

17th of March 2012

After a 6 day recover time from previous match, I sent my squad to the pitch at Helmond. Koen Verhoeff was back in bench, but Canini will remain off for weeks to come. Despite de Groot scoring in last match, I decided to leave him on bench once again.

Dutch Premier Division, Week 25
Helmond 0:1 Willem II (39. Cengizhan Topal)

It was great defensive performance from our team as Helmond didn't get any shots at all! So Kotenko didn't have much job. We could've win 3:0, but win is a win and it's another stip closer towards the Willem II's 5th ever Dutch Premier Division title.

25th of March 2012

Before Valencia's game in home, we had a hard test ahead of us. We had to beat Heerenveen at home, who were completely underachieveing this season in that tight middle of the table. Canini was our only player out.

Dutch Premier Division, Week 26
Willem II 3:1 Heerenveen (36., 90. Jonas van Hooydonck, 50. Tarik Zitouni)

It was greatest much in a long time. We had Heerenveen under our control for all 90 minutes and they're goal was a lucky one. Jonas van Hooydonck finally got over his goal drought and it was surely a good sign before the Valencia game if we wanted to achieve anything.

retired_puly1364

Authors Note: Another author's note because I couldn't update it yesterday because of my net being lost.

28th of March 2012

Our Champions League adventure continued in front of home fans. Our quarterfinal opponent was Valencia and if we wanted to have any chance of progressing, we had to win them at home. I played without Michele Canini.

Champions League Quarterfinals, Leg 1
Willem II 1:2 Valencia (3. Cengizhan Topal)

We managed to grab an early lead, but it was no use of it since we conceeded two bad goals. Otherwise this team was even better than Valencia and had a 52% of total posession and 10 shots on goal. Their goalkeeper was brilliant for the whole match and made our strikers look like amateurs.

1st of April 2012

In next league game, we had a thuogh job away from home as we met NAC Breda. Though they weren't at good position they had beatten big teams very often at home. Canini was still out, though otherwise we had no big problems.

Dutch Premier Division, Week 27
NAC Breda 1:4 Willem II (15. og. Francesco Pellizzon, 23. Petr Molinek, 52. Vartan Mazalov, 85. pen. Gaetano D'Agostino)

Great away win for us. Finally Mazalov scored in his 15th apperance of the season. He has really been awful upfront and I hope this goal will do something to his confidence. After last season he was knocking at Russia's door, but now he will surely won't make an apperance at European Championship.

4th of April 2012

I had a Champions League quarterfinals 2nd leg match againist Valencia after less than 6 days of break from CL. Despite losing hope I decided to opt for first team squad and go out of the tie with heads held high. Canini was off and so was Verghaegh as he reached yellow cards limit in last game.

Champions League Quarterfinals, Leg 2
Valencia 3:4 Willem II (10. Jonas van Hooydonck, 45. Willem Janssen, 81., 86 Gaetano D'Agostino)

Amazing! Willem II is through thanks to the golden foot of Gaetano D'Agostino. Italian scored 2 wonderful freekicks with just ten minutes remaining from the clock. He has scored so many goals this season that he makes some strikers look like defenders. Fantastico! D'Agostino would certainly deserve a call-up for Euro 2012, but I somehow doubt Italy's manager will take him. In the next round, we'll meet no-one else than defending champions FC Bayern, who's looking for their 4th or 5th title in 6 years.

8th of April 2012

In our next league game, our opponent was easy. Excelsior were fighting for relegation while we are moving away from the rest of the table with bizarre pace. Canini wasn't still with us, but he will be back for the next game.

Dutch Premier Division, Week 28
Willem II 2:0 Excelsior (18. Jonas van Hooydonck, 36. Cengizhan Topal)

Excelsior only dominated first 10 minutes of the game, but then we took it over and got a nice clean-sheet and a win that puts us just 2 wins away from winning title in a case when Ajax would win all their remaining games. Though their form lately is very bad.

retired_puly1364

12th of April 2012

From Uefa.com

15th of April 2012

Devasted Willem II fans and team went off to Arnhem to meet with local top league outfit Vitesse. The feelings before game weren't good and I was confusde about who to play. Espescially in defence since all the time I had one guy underachieving. In the end I opted for Canini - Promes.

Dutch Premier Division, Week 29
Vitesse 7:3 Willem II (34. Tarik Zitouni, 59. Leroy Fer, 65. Gaetano D'Agostino)

In a match that was obviously worst ever match for me we got embarassingly beatten. It made sure we will have no hope for the home match againist Bayern. Though we had a control for the end of the first half and few minutes in the middle of the second one, we had some really bad periods where we conceeded like 2-3 goals in a very short space of time.

18th of April 2012

So we welcomed Bayern at Willem II-Stadium. Bayern are at the moment the best club in the world and we could've bringed down the moon and the stars from the sky, but still didn't stand no chance. I changed my defensive partnership completely including some midfielders.

Champions League Semi-Final, Leg 1
Willem II 0:4 FC Bayern

This match was better than the one againist Vitesse, but we were awful upfront and could've turned the game round when it still was 0:2, but it didn't happen and later on we got even more embarassement. Now we just have to hold ourselves from same kind of performance in München.

simonp

a great story mate a good read :thup: