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Gomez reeled back from the computer screen, peeling himself out of the sweaty leather office chair to contemplate tomorrow's first home match of the new season (against the mighty Ajax) at De Geusselt. This is what it's all about. Sitting back down he sets his coffee on the desk - leans across and presses send. As requested Boris was about to receive his detailed report on the playing squad for the new season.



MVV Maastricht Team Report - 2005/06

Goalkeepers

Gomes - GK - Brazilian - Age 24 - 2M euros
Coming in on loan from PSV in the summer I expect him to stamp his class on our defensive unit. Great reflexes and positioning, Gomes has been shut out at PSV who were looking to offload him however thankfully they were happy keep him in Holland for another year.

Danny Wintjens - GK - Dutch - 21 - 900K
Danny will have to revert to the backup position with the addition of Gomes this season. However I expect the Dutch under 21 keeper to really push for the number one spot as he matures. A local product at Maastricht I hope he remains faithful to us but I'd not be surprised if he wanted to further his career elsewhere.


Defenders

Raphael Supusepa - D/M L - Holland - 27 - 750K
The club captain and a rock in defence Raph is the first player picked each week and he certainly has the quality to play up at this level. Since arriving from Dortrecht two years ago he has made left back his own and can cameo in the midfield if required.

Alexandre Bryssinck - SW/D RC - Belgian - 24 - 400K
Alexandre is potentially the quality defender in this squad however I am still trying to find his best position. A central defender he tends to play more confidently in right back but due to a lack of real quality at centre half he will probably be the heart of the defense this season.

Fabian Peppinck - D RL - Holland - 27 - 325K
When I walked into the club twelve months ago Fabian did nothing to impress me and infact it took most of last season for me to realise that despite his attitude he is our best option at right back and is the sort of player who thrives on challenges like this one.

Michel Kruijer - D RC - Holland - 28 - 180K
I feel Michel may struggle in the premier division this season. For his age he plays much older more like a wily veteran and his fitness is a big concern, last season he anchored the defence but he will need to fight for his spot now aginst so many quality strikers.

Andriy Proshyn - SW/D C - Ukrainian - 20 - 220K
Andriy adds good depth to our defence for this season and he should challenge Kruijer in the centre as a solid option. Young, fast and athletic I hold great hopes for his future at the club.

Jan Wuytens - D C - Belgium - 20 - 250K
Coming in on loan for six months from PSV Jan adds depth to the centre back position. A dead ball specialist and a great team player he won’t take anything away from the playing group.

Sjoerd Winkens - D LC - Holland - 22 - 100K
After playing most of last season in the first team it will be a different story this season as he really played above himself last season. Winkens does not possess the athleticism or skills to be a good professional footballer but he does have the uncanny ability to get a job done. Valuable squad member.

Dwight Tiendalli D R - Holland - 21 - 180K
A quick right back that comes in from FC Utrecht for a season’s loan.

Gökhan Balci - D/DM RC - Holland - 21 - 95K
More or less a backup defender and defensive midfielder. Played well last season when the club's depth was in question he stood firm.

Damien Miceli - D/DM L - Belgium - 20 - 0K
Young left back. Will only be used if there are injury problems.


Midfielders

Houssain Ouhsaine Ouichou - AM/F LC - Morroco - 25 - 3.3M
Last season’s player of the year with good reason. A quality midfielder who will be relied on for his delivery into the box and exquisite through balls, speculation exists as to whether he will sign a new contract this season or start to look elsewhere.

Leonardo - F RC - Brazil - 28 - 1.9M
Will play a more central role this season after the addition of Kalou and should provide the attacking surges from deep. The former Flamengo winger’s contract also expires after this season and there is plenty of interest if he chooses not to stay on at Maastricht.

Salomon Kalou - AM R - Ivory Coast - 20 - 4.8M
Feyenoord’s young Ivorian winger will spend the next season running up and down the wing at De Geusselt after his loan move in the summer. A quick tricky winger Kalou adds class to the solid midfield at MVV.

Jos Hooiveld - DM C - Holland - 22 - 130K
The young defensive midfielder played a crucial role in the promotion campaign and should do the same this season. A smart hard working player who can run all day, Jos will start in the key holding midfield role.

Rogier Molhoek - M C - Holland - 24 - 190K
A superb performer last season Rogier will come off the bench this season sharing the central midfield role. A quality distributor of the ball his defensive capabilities do let him down so expect to see him used as an attacking option late in matches.

Ramon Luijten - DM C - Holland - 23 - 130K
Ramon joins MVV on loan from RBC for the entire season. A controlling midfielder he will share the central duties with Hooiveld and Molhoek.

Ibad Muhamudu - AM RL - Morroco - 23 - 230K
More or less a backup winger. Ibad doesn’t really possess the quality at this level however he will never give up and is a massively determined team contributor.

[iDrazen Brncic - M C - Belgium - 34 - 35K[/i]
The veteran midfielder will contribute off the bench this season adding depth to the first team squad. What he lacks in fitness and flair he makes up for with class and experience.

Angelo Martha - D/DM C - Netherlands Antilles - 23 - 50K
Reserve midfielder or defender coming back from a bad broken leg and is unlikely to figure much with the first team.

Tom van Bergen - M L - Holland - 23 - 110K
Silky young winger who also returns from a broken leg this season will play some first team games but is not expected to contend greatly at the higher level.

Joas Siahaya - M C - Holland - 20 - 75K
Young reserve midfielder adding depth.

Quincy van Ommeren - DM L - Holland - 31 - 26K
Veteran who despite the club’s better wishes refuses to terminate his contract and will go around for another year. Will not play.


Forwards

Park Joo-Young - F RC - South Korea - 20 - 1.3M
Park will lead the attacking line after turning just twenty in the summer. A flashy striker who is well suited to the dutch game he will look to add to the seven goals scored in half a season since signing from Korea University.

Lars Nilsson - F LC - Sweden - 23 - 425K
Lars once again joins MVV on loan from Herenveen with a view to sign if and when MVV have sufficient funds. After forming a formidable partnership with Park late last season the fans at De Geusselt will be hoping for more of the same from the quick Swede.

Eric Atuahene - S C - Ghana - 21 - 275K
Ghanaian striker Atuahene joins MVV for free from NAC Breda after scoring fourteen times for Helmond on loan in division one last season. The third man in Eric will take Park’s place when the Korean is absent with international duties or requires resting as he acclimatises to the Dutch conditions.

Fabio Caracciolo - S C - Belgium - 20 - 350K
The only remainder from last season’s starting strikeforce, Fabio offers solid form off the bench and has a knack of finding the back of the net.

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MVV Fixtures - August 2005

Following a confident succession of friendly matches including a good victory against their only quality opposition away at Roda JC the season began for MVV with a trip to fellow relegation favourites Volendam. In an even encounter which saw a goal-less first half the tension was broken as Nilsson hit the net for MVV to open the account however it was a lead held shortly as Smit found the equaliser for Volendam. In a dour spiteful close to the match no other goals could be found despite the best efforts of MVV's winger Kalou making his debut for the club. The first home game of the season saw last season's runners up Ajax travel to De Geusselt and it didn't take long for the quality to rise to the top - new signing Anelka put Ajax up on 11 minutes and it was 2-0 when Bonaventure Kalou found the net it was game over with half an hour gone. Hooiveld and Bryssinck were valiant all day however the efforts of Kruijer at centre half were deplorable and going by manager Gomez's post-match comments it may be a while before the big Dutchman finds himself back in the first team.

Volendam 1-1 MVV
MVV 0-2 Ajax

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MVV Fixtures - September 2005

September began for MVV with the visit of Herenveen and it was to be a one sided match which would give the Maastricht side their first victory of the premier division season. Second half goals from Molhoek and Atuahene ensured the result and it was a superior team effort with Park away on international duty for South Korea and Nilsson ineligible against his contracted club. An away draw followed at NEC despite best the efforts of Leonardo and Atuahene's second goal for the club in as many matches it was a worthy result as both sides had chances but couldn't claim the three points. The month closed with MVV hosting RBC and going behind on only 5 minutes, MVV equalised through the brilliant Leonardo just before the half and they piled on the pressure in the second only to fail to score the vital winner - impressive loan recruit Kalou was withdrawn late in the match with a suspected groin injury (4-6 weeks). After five matches PSV lead the league from Ajax and NAC Breda, last seasons promoted sides MVV, Volendam and TOP all sit comfortably in mid-table after confident starts to the new season.

MVV 2-0 Herenveen
NEC 1-1 MVV
MVV 1-1 RJC

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The summer winds had all but passed at De Geusselt and the mood at this moment was just as chilling. The word from MVV physio Marco Steijn was not good Soloman Kalou would not ne available until at the earliest November. Gomez contemplated his midfield options in his cosy office - downhearted that the star recruit would miss some crucial matches he would be forced to reshuffle the deck. Deep down he knew that Leonardo would be forced to play on Kalou's wing, robbing Peter to pay Paul was not Gomez's style but there were no other quality wingers who he could risk at this level. Were there?

Ibad Muhamudu had all but given up hope of playing regular first team football since the temporary acquisition of Kalou and was seriously considering other options. He was not a squad player - first team or nothing - if he wanted to kick a ball aroung in a reserves competition he certainly wouldn't be doing it in Maastricht! The tastes of Morocco never left him and sometimes he just felt so far from himself here in Holland.

Gomez was pleasantly surprised with the recent form of former NAC Breda striker Eric Atuahene and was afforded the luxury of bringing Park off the bench with regularity so far (which was more to the liking of the young Korean) however it looked like Park may have to slot in and play a little midfield to cover Kalou's loss.

The door closed and the decision had been made Muhamudu would get his chance against AZ off the bench with Park slotting into centre midfield and Leonardo on the right. Assistant manager Delahaye would pass on the news at training tomorrow morning.

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MVV Fixtures - October 2005

Six matches for four losses in October and MVV were stung by the criticism which had started flowing through the doors after such an encouraging start to the season. It could all be summed up by one match. Away to Willem II and Nilsson made the mistake of giving MVV a surprise early lead as all it did was to waken the slumbering Tilburg outfit. At the half it was 2-1 to Willem II and when the whistle blew for full-time the scoreline read 5-1. MVV manager Gomez stated his embarassment at this performance as a group the effort was poor and he refused to blame loan keeper Gomes who conceded five goals from only eight shots on target. A tough home draw with NAC Breda followed with Nilsson once more finding the target however this slight return to form was soon amended by the 3-1 defeat at AZ where Nilsson scored after only four minutes only for the home side to score three goals without reply. Desperate for a win against TOP at home MVV threw attack after attack at the promoted side but to no avail as the sides went in to the break on equal terms, late in the second half Atuahene and the unlikely Bryssinck finally broke the deadlock for MVV and sent the 9740 Maastricht fans into raptures as they celebrated just the secong win of the season. A trip to Eindhoven followed for MVV and PSV were ready and waiting, a valiant MVV display saw the score 1-1 at half time through the clinical counter-attacking skills of Atuahene however it seemed it was only a matter of time before PSV took the points - and so it was a double salvo with only ten minutes left ended the match as a competition. MVV's shining light being Wintjens first performance for the season in goals replacing the ineligible Gomes and holding his up admirably. The Dutch Cup 3rd round draw saw MVV travelling to AZ for the second time in three weeks and despite Park's first goal of the season they couldn't proceed to the fourth round - knocked out on penalties after unfortunately losing Atuahene and Kalou (on his return from injury) to minor injuries during the match.

Willem II 5-1 MVV
MVV 1-1 NAC Breda
AZ 3-1 MVV
MVV 2-0 TOP
PSV 3-1 MVV
AZ 1-1 MVV (Dutch Cup Third Round, 1-1 AET, 3-1 penalties)

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MVV Fixtures - November 2005

De Graafschap (sitting bottom of the league with just one win and 4 draws from 10 matches) headed down to Maastricht and they would have been happy with the point gained against an MVV side which rued missed chances and the brilliant form of veteran keeper Ed de Goey. MVV's away trip to FC Utrecht was more fruitful however, after Utrecht took the lead early in the second half MVV fought back bravely - first with Nilsson cancelling out the lead and then with Leonardo claiming the three points for MVV's first away win of the season. Unfortunately MVV couldn't translate their away form back to De Geusselt were they succeeded in only playing out a second successive insipid home 0-0 draw. Much to the fans contempt.

MVV 0-0 De Graafschap
FC Utrecht 1-2 MVV
MVV 0-0 FC Groningen

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3.12.05

MVV Stars Sign on for Bright Future

Earlier today MVV manager Benny Gomez was pleased to announce to a packed press room that high profile midfielders Leonardo and Ouichou have agreed to terms on freshly inked contracts that will see both players committed to playing at De Geusselt until the summer of 2008 at the earliest. Gomez stated that if MVV were to compete with the big boys of Dutch football they'd have to hang on to their true talent at any cost and that is what they have done. Speculation exists as to what sort of wages the two are on. The club's press statement stated that 25 year old Ouichou's weekly wages have not increased however his performance based contract has greater incentives factored into it.

Leonardo commented to the press that this may well be his last contract in Holland and that he was very happy with life in Maastricht and with the future direction of the club under the guidance of Gomez and that this was the significant factor in his re-signing at this time.

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MVV Fixtures - December 2005

December started brightly for MVV with a 1-0 away win against FC Twente, Nilsson hitting the target for the sixth time this season in a MVV's best match of the season despite Proshin's sending off with ten minutes remaining. A tough visit by Feyenoord followed and they took the lead through Ono after only 5 minutes - despite having a man sent off after just 25 minutes Feyenoord managed to hold on for a vital three points in the race for the title. Definately a match MVV may rue missing out on considering they dominated the ten men of Feyenoord however couldn't beat the supurb Hungarian Babos in goals. The boxing day round saw MVV visit Vitesse and it was arguably the worst performance of the season for the men from Maastricht. A dominant Vitesse were in front via a Knopper penalty after just 9 minutes and only the brilliant reflexes of Wintjens kept the scoreline down only for Allee to ice the result in injury time. Two early goals conceded in the last two matches - problems brewing at MVV.

FC Twente 0-1 MVV
MVV 0-1 Feyenoord
Vitesse 2-0 MVV

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Gomez... Coming in to the Winter break our form has been inconsistant to say the least, many pundits have been surprised by our competitiveness to date however we are not here to make up the numbers and we need to pick up the game. It is good to be sitting just below mid-table but I am dissapointed to see Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord well clear of the pack and fighting it out at the top. I will definately be looking at the talent available in the transfer market even with our limited resources.

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1.1.06

Ere Divisie Table
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | PSV | | 17 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 41 | 12 | +29 | 44 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Ajax | | 17 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 39 | 8 | +31 | 41 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Vitesse | | 17 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 23 | 10 | +13 | 35 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Feyenoord | | 17 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 30 | 13 | +17 | 34 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | AZ | | 17 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 34 | 20 | +14 | 31 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | NEC | | 17 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 29 | 21 | +8 | 29 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Heerenveen | | 17 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 26 | 26 | 0 | 27 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | NAC Breda | | 17 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 23 | 17 | +6 | 26 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | FC Groningen | | 17 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 22 | 18 | +4 | 25 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | FC Utrecht | | 17 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 19 | 23 | -4 | 21 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Willem II | | 17 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 21 | 27 | -6 | 18 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | **MVV** | | 17 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 15 | 25 | -10 | 18 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Volendam | | 17 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 25 | -11 | 18 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | FC Twente | | 17 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 17 | 29 | -12 | 13 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Roda JC | | 17 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 34 | -20 | 12 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | TOP | | 17 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 28 | -17 | 11 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | De Graafschap | | 17 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 32 | -20 | 9 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | RBC | | 17 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 16 | 38 | -22 | 9 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>