retired_rover2clover

The Press Conference

The day has gone by very fast, after tidying the office up a bit, getting things organised in the way I like to work, I got a knock on the door, it was Jaap and Henk gathering me for the press conference.

We made our way to the conference room and instantly camera’s were flashing as we walked through the door and to our places.

Jaap started things off

Jaap: Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m sure you all know why you are here, but incase you don’t, then I am proud to announce that in this press conference we will be unveiling the new FC Groningen manager.

Jaap: He may be unknown to everyone in this room, and even in Holland but I am pleased to announce that Steve Gold is the new manager to charge at FC Groningen

As the people in the room went to a complete silent, it wasn’t to last for long as the questions started.

Journalist: Do you really think you can help FC Groningen avoid relegation?

Me: If I didn’t think I could do it, then do you think I would be sitting in this chair?

Journalist: can we expect any new faces playing at Euroborg for the coming season?

Me: That all depends if we really need any players, do you think we need new players?

And with that, Jaap declared that the press conference is over.

Myself, Henk and Jaap leave the conference room knowing that they will have plenty to say in the papers about this one!

retired_rover2clover

About time! The formalities appear to be done and I can start getting on with managing this football club!

It was time to do some scouting of the free transfer market, I looked through the list of players without a contract and there seemed to be just what I was after, players with plenty of experience to help some of these youngsters in my squad develop.

Well, I tried to lure the likes of Djorkaeff, Hadji, Victor Lopez, Cruyff, Clint Mathis and Faber. However, as good as these players were, they felt it would be a bit of a step down with joining FC Groningen and playing in the Dutch League.

It disappointed me, especially as this league has seen some great talents over the years and they all could have added a lot of experience to the team.

So I had to change direction, get some more young guys in who could potentially be the next big thing to play in the Eredivisie and help this club to some kind of greatness in years to come, or just help it avoid relegation, something I’d settle for!

A break through came, I got a tip off about a couple of American youngsters who’s contracts are actually running, I got right on it.

Eddie Johnson and Justin Mapp were the names given to me, so I checked them out and wow! Johnson looks to be on the verge of stardom, already 4 caps for his country and 5 goals to his name, that’s not bad at all, especially for a 20 year old.

Justin Mapp looked very good too, not yet a call up but he’s only 19 years old but looks like a very good winger as he has some blistering pace.

So I got my people to talk with their people and bingo, things went so smooth, we had both signed up in hours and for absolute nothing, only down fall is they wont be joining us till next year in January.

retired_rover2clover

I was really happy having signed both players, it really adds something for us in those position, all I feel I need now is a defender, possibly just for back up.

Despite my searching and bidding for some potential stars, I was getting no where, players were turning us down left right and centre, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy.

So I gave up, I thought I’d get the pre-season friendlies out of the way and then see if we need to improve in defence and also see if anything decent becomes available on the market and of course in our price range.

retired_rover2clover

So the first of five friendly games begins, we’re up against Belgian side Charleroi, should be a decent game and we’ll see how my tactics works but more importantly, how the players adapt to it.

The formation I’ve decided to use is a 5-3-2 with the full backs entering the opponents half when we have the ball and will hopefully put some deep crosses in.

Anyway, off to the game, its infront of the home fans too!


FC Groningen – Charleroi
Date: Monday 19th July 2004
@ Euroborg : 1104

Things started off slow but in our favour, a couple of shots already on target within the first ten minutes and an exciting long ranger by De Witte made it look like we’ll be on top in this game.

But that changed drastically after just 20th minutes, a lob into our area from about 35 yards left our defenders standing for some reason, so Mertens got behind the defenders, received the ball in the six yard box before slotting the ball home.

Half time approached and I have to say, I was a little unhappy to be 1-0 down as we had more chances, but I think the players need some match practice too.

----------------------------------------------Half Time----------------------------------------------------------------

The second half began similarly to the first, we came out all guns blazing and chances were starting to develop all the time, it seemed to be just a matter of time before we would score.

On the 73rd minute with still no goal, it was time for some subs as players were starting to look tired.

The fresh legs seemed to have kept the momentum going as on the 83rd minute we got the equaliser, Buijs received the ball on the halfway line after a poor defensive clearance from Charleroi, he advanced forward down the right wing before cutting the ball inside to van Gessel who was about 40 yards out, he chippped the ball over to edge of the area where Hugo was running in from the left wing, he controllled it beautifully before unleashing a shot across goal and into the bottom right hand corner.

FC Groningen: Roorda, Buijs, Floren, Kruiswijk, Luirink, Westerveld, De Witte, Nevland, Krstev, Seedorf, Tuyp

Subs: Hugo, Drent, Pinas, Ribeiro, Van Gessel, Matthijs, van der Linden.

Booked: Buijs, Nevland, Seedorf, Tuyp.

Goals: Hugo

Motm: Jorg Stiel (Charleroi)

Ref: Rene Temmink

FT : FC Groningen : 1 (0) – (1) 1 : Charleroi

Manager Comments

*With the amount of chances we had today we should have buried them.

*Their keeper kept them in it but it sure does look promising that things could work out well at this club.

*Once the fitness levels improve so should the clinical finishing.

Raptor

\o/ Boeren!!!

What a terrible detour to take... Zwolle

Beat Hoerenveen and you become Groningen's second favourite German hero after Count von Rabenhaupt.

retired_rover2clover

Well, just four days after our first pre-season friendly, we go onto our next game, this time we face Cambuur.

The players still seem to be lacking some match fitness but hopefully that won’t effect them too much.

Cambuur – FC Groningen
Date: Friday 23rd July 2004
@ Cambuur Stadion: 2402

Well the game started off very promising as within the first ten minutes we managed to drop a couple of balls behind their defence only for Nevland to miss two superb one on one chances.

Both sides also had a couple of dangerous corners but the shots went just wide.

We have the better of the chances so far though and should be ahead especially as Nevland missed another great one on one chance after had got past two defenders.

Very frustrating first half, no goals but plenty of chances for us and we should have had at least one goal.

------------------------------------Half Time--------------------------------------------------

Immediately after the break we almost let them snatch one, our defenders froze and let them get a shot in from the edge of the area but Roorda stood tall and pushed it over.

It was very much one way traffic after that with chances and plenty of corners all heading towards the Cambuur goal but each time being kept out.

But we got another scare in the 78th minute when Westerveld tried running it out of defence but got caught in possession, thankfully, Roorda did enough to put the striker off as he belted it over the bar.

But that, was as it exciting as it got in this game, plenty of missed chances which, if they had gone in, would have really brought this game to life.

FC Groningen: Roorda, Buijs, Floren, Kruiswijk, Luirink, Westerveld, De Witte, Nevland, Krstev, Seedorf, Tuyp

Subs: Hugo, Drent, Pinas Matthijs, Lambers, Salmon, Matthijs, Etemadi.

Booked: Luirink, Tuyp.

Goals: None

Motm: Peter van der Vlag (GK) (Cambuur)

Ref: Peter van Dongen

Cambuur : 0 (0) – (0) 0 : FC Groningen

Manager Comments

*We should have scored a hatful of goals today, some excellent chances were missed.

*If it wasn’t for Peter van der Vlag, this game would have been a rout, he kept them in the game.

*The players are still lacking match fitness but hopefully, with the training regime in place, we will a lot stronger for our next game.

retired_rover2clover

With a much needed rest over the weekend, the players looked much sharper in training on Monday morning.

I split the group for some individual training sessions for defenders, midfielders and strikers, along with my coaches, which I also need to asses as we have a few too many in my opinion, we got the players concentrating more for their positions.

We need more clinical finishing from the front men and the defenders have to stop freezing so often and just clear the ball.

So with some intensive training over, we headed to Germany to play Ulm, I have a bit more confidence for this game after the good training sessions.

Ulm – FC Groningen
Date: Wednesday 28th July 2004
@ Donaustadion: 408

An explosive start by the men in green, and Nevland once again missed a great chance just after 3 minutes after kick off.

But then, on the 12th minute, breakthrough, an Ulm attack was intercepted by Floren on the edge of our area, he played a short ball to Nevland who ran it to the half way line before passing it out wide to De Witte, he immediately cut it inside to Seedorf in the middle of the Ulm half, Seedorf then played a cracking through ball to Tuyp who lost his marker, he received the ball just inside the area and then slotted it passed the right hand side of the keeper.

It was starting to be complete domination and it was surprising that we hadn’t doubled the scoreline leading upto half time.

Until the 42nd minute that was, a cross field ball by the Ulm left back was intercepted by Seedorf, he passed a simple ball to Tuyp who turned his man and managed to get to the middle of the Ulm half before he released the ball back to Seedorf who was making a great run down the right wing,
he got all the way to the edge of the area before unleashing a fabulous cross which was received by the on-running Hugo who then smashed it into the back of the net.

------------------------------------Half Time--------------------------------------------------

There should have definitely been more goals in the first half but I was very happy to have a two goal lead nevertheless.

Just minutes after the break, Tuyp wasted a great chance from a free kick which was about 35 yards out.

Plenty of great chances were wasted again, especially a great one by Nevland, once he has his scoring boots on, it should be tremendous.

Finally, in the 82nd minute, things were rounded up after some excellent defending, a throwing near our corner flag was headed away by Buijs to the edge of the area to Hugo, he lobbed the ball just over the half way line to the Ulm defence, a poor defensive header led to the ball being given straight back to us, Drent picked up the ball and played it to Salmon just inside the Ulm half, he took the ball about 20 yards before putting a through ball to Pinas down the left wing, he cut inside and ran towards the six yard box before playing a simple cross into the six yard box where it was met by the on-coming Matthijs who volleyed it straight past the keeper.

An exciting last few minutes should have seen us score another couple of goals, but it wasn’t to be.

FC Groningen: Roorda, Buijs, Floren, Kruiswijk, Luirink, Westerveld, De Witte, Nevland, Krstev, Seedorf, Tuyp

Subs: Hugo, Drent, Pinas Matthijs, Salmon

Booked: none.

Goals: Tuyp, Hugo, Matthijs

Motm: Stefano Seedorf (FC Groningen)

Ref: Torsten Koop

Ulm : 0 (0) – (2) 3 : FC Groningen

Manager Comments

*A very good win, our defence was absolutely solid but I would say there is still room for improvement.

*Three goals and it probably should have been double that, a good strike partnership which can get even better once Nevland finds his scoring boots.

*The lads looked a lot sharper, match fitness is almost there and they are adjusting to the formation more and more.

retired_rover2clover

Well so far pre-season has been good, I can see an improvement in the players despite us not playing the best teams in the world but a record of three games unbeaten, scoring four and conceding one certainly puts a smile on my face, seems like this management business is not as difficult as they make it out to be!

Anyway, we returned to Holland and face another game away from home, the fans are also turning out in force for this one, looks like their starting to be very interested in my management of the team.

ACV – FC Groningen
Date: Wednesday 4th August 2004
@ Het Stadsbroek: 5408

Despite numerous shots at the ACV goal, it took almost half an hour before we got a breakthrough and it was by the ever present Hugo, it started off with an interception by Floren down the left hand side, he played the ball forward where Nevland was running too, he beat the left back and advanced to the penalty area where he cut it inside to De Witte, he put a looping cross deep into the area where Hugo nodded it above the keeper to put himself on the score sheet once more, his third in four games.

But that was to be the only goal in this half, despite our best efforts we just couldn’t get the ball past the keeper, he was having a great game.
------------------------------------Half Time--------------------------------------------------

An unbelievable second half one has to say, the shots were starting to completely bombard the ACV goal but somehow they managed to keep them out.

It took until two minutes from time for us to double our lead, a corner by Matthijs ended at the feet of Tuyp in the six yard box and he naturally smashed it home.

Even more joy at the end of the game as we got a third in stoppage time, a cross from right back Etimade was received by Drent at the far post and he put a powerful header past the keeper.

FC Groningen: Roorda, Buijs, Floren, Kruiswijk, Luirink, Westerveld, De Witte, Nevland, Hugo, Seedorf, Tuyp

Subs: Krstev, Drent, Pinas Matthijs, Etemadi

Booked: Nevland.

Goals: Tuyp, Hugo, Drent

Motm: Jack Tuyp (FC Groningen)

Ref: Fred Sterk

ACV : 0 (0) – (1) 3 : FC Groningen

Manager Comments

*Should have had more goals but a victory is a victory, the players seem to be enjoying their football.

*Their keeper was outstanding today but quality quite easily won in the end once they started to tire.

retired_rover2clover

The lads really looked impressive in their last game and that’s four games unbeaten, another clean sheet and best of all, our second victory in a row.

We have one more pre-season friendly to play which will be against Belgian side Beringen, on our current form I can only see victory, it would round up a good pre-season if that is to be the case.

Having assessed the squad so far, I would say I am still looking at bringing in a reasonable young centre back, just as cover for the current centre backs incase of an injury or suspension.

The team bus sets off from Groningen with a set of players who are full of confidence.

Beringen – FC Groningen
Date: Saturday 7th August 2004
@ Mijn Stadion: 10395

What a disaster! It took just five minutes for it to happen, nope it wasn’t them scoring, but Hugo managing to get not one but two yellow cards and sent off within that period of time!

With down to ten men I thought it was going to be difficult, but just a minute later the strikers combined brilliantly with Nevland sending a piledriver into the net.

It didn’t even seem like we were a player down, the next goal came just before the half our mark, this time it was Tuyp who scored after getting in between two defenders and finishing it off by slotting it just underneath the keeper.

------------------------------------Half Time--------------------------------------------------

Well a tremendous first half and the dominance remained in the second half aswell.

Although Beringen managed to get a couple of shots on goal and more adventures in going forward, it was to be their downfall.

Just after the hour mark the game was rounded up by an impressive finish from Tuyp, with four players on the counter attack, Tuyp received the ball about 20 yards out and then curled it leaving the keeper standing.


FC Groningen: Roorda, Buijs, Floren, Kruiswijk, Luirink, Westerveld, De Witte, Nevland, Hugo, Seedorf, Tuyp

Subs: Krstev

Booked: Hugo (Red Card)(2 Yellows)

Goals: Tuyp(2), Nevland

Motm: Erik Nevland (FC Groningen)

Ref: Martin Atkinson

Beringen : 0 (0) – (2) 3 : FC Groningen

Manager Comments

*A couple of silly mistakes by Hugo today which got him sent off, the ref was a little harsh

*The front two are really getting to know each others game and the goals are starting to come, its good to see Erik on the score sheet too

*Another clean sheet which puts confidence in the defenders for the first game of the season.

Raptor

We keep beating Ulm?


Good stuff so far