A New Era in Dutch Football - Vitesse

[leckuno]

Club Information

Year Founded: 1892
Stadium: GelreDome Arnhrm
Capacity: 21,248
Rivals: N.E.C Nijmegen, De Graafschap
Training Facilities: Superb
Youth Facilities: Excellent

Honours

TOTO KNVB Beker: 2017
Keuken Kampioen Divisie: 1977, 1989

History

Vitesse have a very small history despite having being founded 127 years ago. They have never won the top division and have only lifted the TOTO KNVB Beker once that was only 2 years ago. They have also lifted the 2nd division title twice. So to have only won 3 trophies in that length of time isn't great. The club has produced a number of dutch internationals such as Roy Makaay, Ricky van Wolfswinkel and Davy Propper. The latest off the production line is young Thomas Buitink who is a 19 year old Advanced Forward who can go on to lead the line for the national team and he will be who I am building the team around for the future.

​

 

[leckuno]

[li][li][/li][/li]

Staff Changes

As usual with any new start we needed to evaluate the current staff at the club and some of them just didn't cut it so I went out and had a lot of conversations with perspective new members off staff and offered a few of them contracts.

Transfers Out

We ship out 2 players in Matus Bero who was never going to be a first team player so the money can be reinvested into the squad. Tim Matavz's contract was up at the end of the season and at 30 didn't have a long term future at the club so thought best it was to cash in on him. We also let Roy Beerens leave the club on loan as we couldn't get a deal done that the board was happy with to let him go permanently.

We have also ended the loans of Nouha Dicko and Jay-Roy Grot who return to their respective clubs to free up their wages.

Transfers In

We have only made one permanent transfer so far in the transfer window and we managed to snap up Naci Unuvar up on a pre-contract. He is a great youth prospect coming through the famed academy so to be able to ****** him away is a real coup for the club if we can continue to develop him toe realise his potential.

We have also brought in two players on loan in the form of Billy Gilmour coming over from Chelsea with them paying his wages and Joshua Zrikzee coming back to Holland from Bayern.

We still have plenty of cash to spend and have a few deals in the pipeline.

Preseason

Expectations

The expectation for the league is pretty low and we should be able to make the top half comfortably. On the cup though it will all depend on the draw and hopefully avoiding the big teams/

​

 

[Michael Onwuegbu]

Yes! Glad to see you back after what happened on the last save.

 

[leckuno]

August

We have a tough set of fixtures to start off with with us facing AZ, PSV and Ajax all in the opening month. We start off with a home game against AZ and the lads really impress me as we run out well deserved winners. PSV away was always going to be tough but Buitink got us off to a quick start with his first goal of the season after only 10 minutes but it was pegged back quickly before Linssen gets the second on the stroke of the half hour. PSV then race to a 4-2 lead through the opening half hour of the 2nd half before Buitink grabbed a 2nd just before the final whistle.

We then had a bit of an easier game against PEC Zwolle but it didn't all go to plan as Araujo was sent off for a terrible challenge in the 11th minute which lead to the opening goal for Zwolle. Buitink grabbed a quick equaliser though just 4 minutes later. Zwolle then got their 2nd with 4 minutes left of the match but we keep fighting as Buitink comes to the rescue in the 92nd minute but it wasn't over yet as Unuvar scores on his debut in the 95th minute to become the youngest ever scorer in league history. Next up was Ajax and what can I say but I got the tactics totally wrong here as they were 4-1 up at half time with Buitink getting our only goal.

We were lucky to have an easy game afterwards to get the confidence back up as Bazoer and Buitink get the two goals.

League

Transfers In

We returned to the transfer market to sign 4 players this month with 3 of them being permanent. We bring in Ronald Araujo on loan from Barcelona to add a bit more depth to our defence.

The first player through the door is youngster Yusuf Barasi who we paoched from AZ since he was on a youth contract.

Next is Lovro Majer who joins from Dinamo and he will be going straight into the starting XI and should develop nicely here.

The final piece of business for the month we do what all good Dutch clubs do and raid South America for Julian Alvarez who Joins from River Plate for the RW.

Overall I feel we have done well in the transfer window with signing a number of young players who will add a lot over the next few seasons.

September

​

 

[leckuno]

September

You've got to love the international breaks to have a nice quick month and we have the 2 week break at the start with a lot of our players away with the respective nations. We get started against Fortuna Sittard and we struggle to make the break through before bringing on Zirkzee and Musonda with the 2 of them getting the 3 goals. Next is RKC Waalwijk where Buitink and Linssen get a brace each for a nice big win. We round the month off against Utrecht where we take the lead in the 2nd minute and then fall 2-1 behind before we round off with an excellent final 15 minutes where we get 2 goals to get the 3 points.

League

October

​

 

[leckuno]

October

We have a great month as we managee to go unbeaten over the month but it was more difficult than it looks. Against Heerenveen Gilmour gets the only goal of the game in the 11th minute. We had a much better game against Groningen where we raced to a 3-0 lead with Buitink getting another brace with Clark getting the final all within the opening half hour before Groningen pull one back in the 90th minute.

The final league game of the month we welcome VVV-Venlo where we labour to a 1-0 win with the goal coming in the 73rd minute through Linssen. We round the month off against NAC Breda where all 3 goals are scored int he first half. We have a nervy 2nd half as we wen't down to 10 men in the 55th minute but we manage to hold on for the 3 points.

Buitink has been on fire so far and has 12 goals in 12 games so he's definitely stepped up this season.

League

November

​

 

[leckuno]

November

We are performing well above our expectations as our defence is a big part of how well we're doing as we concede only 1 goal across our 4 games. Against Heracles Buitink gets another brace as he just keeps adding to his total. Sparta Rotterdam he puts in another repeat performance with his first goal coming after only 2 minutes and his second was 91 minutes later. Feyenoord Unuvar had his game of his career as they just couldn't cope with the talented youngster as he scored in the opening minute of the game before finishing it off in the 88th minute. We round the month off with Tannane getting a 2nd half brace against Ado Den Haag.

League

December

​

 

[leckuno]

December

We get off to a rough start as Willem II just prove too strong as Nunnely gets the only goal of the game. With our confidence knocked we labour to a draw against Twente to drop another point. We were due a reaction and sadly for Utrecht they were on the end of it as we raced to a 3 goal lead bu half time with goals from Clark, Buitink and Hajek before Tannane rounds it off in the 2nd half before being sent off.

Next is the first round of the cup against part timers Kozakken Boys and it allows us to give a lot of players a chance to see how they do but it was young Unuvar who stood out down the left wing with an excellent brace with goals in the 89th and 92nd minute. In the final game of the month Buitink was on fire as he scored his first senior hat-trick for the club as he demolished Grongingen to show just how good he is in this league at only 19.

League

Januay

Youth

Not the intake we were hoping for but it looks like we have a decent striker coming through which could be good backup to Buitink.

​

 

[leckuno]

January

The winter break is over and we get back to work with AZ up first for the month and we race to a 2-0 lead in the opening 4 minutes through Hajek and Buitink. Hatzidiakos pulls one back in the 7th minutes and then Evjen gets the equaliser in the 21st minute. We looked good value for a draw but Stengs gets the winner in the final minute of the game. We should of done a lot better here as we dominated the game.

In the cup we took the lead through Hajek in the 36th minute before Amiot pulled the goal back with 12 minutes remaining. The game went to penalties which we won securing us a quarter final spot where we will come up against Twente. Against PSV Buitink got the only goal of the game in the 9th minute with an excellent solo goal to give us a big win.

League

February

Transfers Out

We shipped out a lot of players who's contracts were expiring at the end of the season that we had no interest in keeping. The big transfer was Roy Beerens who left the club for Cardiff. He was originally loaned out at the start but wasn't getting game time so we recalled him to cash in on him.

Transfers In

We only bring in one player in the transfer window and we needed to add another defender for the seasons ahead and we bring in Bella-Kotchap for £4 million up front and £3 million over the next 3 seasons. He will be a key player going forward. With him signing he becomes our record signing.

​

 

[leckuno]

February

It an excellent start to the month as Buitink tears Heracles to pieces as he scores all 4 goals to get an excellent result for us. Away to Feyenoord was always going to be a tough result and it was made all the hearder as Billy Gilmour was sent off just before half time. Feyenoord then went 2-0 up before we pulled it back to 2-2 through Alvarez and Majer but Toornstra then gets a 2nd to win the game. In the cup Twente just proved to be too strong as Zekhnini gets the only goal of the game to knock us out.

We really needed a result to bounce back and Waalwijk gave us that chance as we raced to a 3-0 lead in the opening 26 minutes with goals through Bazoer and then a brace from Majer. Unuvar rounds off the scoring for us before they pull back in the final 10 minutes of the game. Against Ado Den Haag we somehow manage to fall behind twice but Buitink is manage to rescue us with an excellent brace. We round the month off with a needed win against Heerenveen where Alvaez, Buitink and Bella-Kotchap give us a commanding 3-0 lead before Odgaard gets a consolation.

League

March

​

 

[leckuno]

March

We get back to an undefeated month and it helped that we only had 3 games. Against Fortuna Sittard we went 1-0 up in the 16th minute through Majer before they pulled one back 4 minutes later. Buitink then tucked one away from the penalty spot to put us back ahead but sadly they got a 2nd in the 75th minute which was probably a fair result in the end. Against Zwolle they went ahead in the 9th minute before our main man got on the score sheet with a brace to put us ahead. Alvarez then got in on the action in the 72nd minute as well before they pulled another one back in the 77th minute.

The final game of the match Hajek got us off to an quick start with a headed goal after only 4 minute and then you guessed it Buitink scored the rest with another excellent hat-trick. Sparta Rotterdam did manage a consolation goal though to cost us a clean sheet.

Buitink has been on fire over the course of the season and has scored 33 goals in 32 games which earned him a call up to the national team where he made a goal scoring debut. He is on his way to great things and hopefully we can hold onto him

League

April

​

 

[Hampus Silverholt]

Great first season so far, what does finishing in 2nd mean for you in terms of Europe next year? I'm guessing Champions League qualifying rounds?

 

[leckuno]

April

WE are finishing the league strongly to ensure that Ajax don't win the league to early and we start off with a good result against VVV-Venlo as Unuvar scores a quick fire double in the 12th and then 14th minute before Buitink gets the final goal. Next again FC Emmen Buitink is at it again with another hat-trick this boy is why we have been doing so well. Bella-Kotchap gets the 4th for us before Emmen get a consolation goal late on. The month is rounded off with a big win for us against Twente as we get revenge on them for knocking us out the cup. The 2 goals come from Buitink and Alvarez and they prove vital as this win confirms that we will have Europa League football at a minimum next month.

League

May

Youth

We have one stand out player in the intake in Tom Cohen

He looks like he could have a promising future ahead of him and could one day take over from Buitink if he leaved the club.

​

 

[leckuno]

Great first season so far, what does finishing in 2nd mean for you in terms of Europe next year? I'm guessing Champions League qualifying rounds?

yeah if we get second we go into the 2nd round of qualifying for the Champions League

 

[leckuno]

May

We have two big games this month to finish the season off and first was against Ajax who in my opinion had just given up after already winning the league. Gilmour opens the scoring in the 1st minute to show how important he has been to us this season. Buitink and Linssen then get quick fire goals in the 76th and 79th minutes to give us our first win over Ajax. We round the season off with a game against Willem II who race to a 2-0 lead in the opening 20 minutes but luckily we keep going and the heads of the players don't drop as Buitink pulls a goal back in the 32nd minute before Bella-Kotchap for us to go in at half time all square. Alvarez then gets the winner in the 55th minute to round off an excellent finish to the season to see Vitesse finish with their best ever position in the league.

League

Budget

Its not a great budget to be honest and we will probably now look to offload a player or two to enable us to sign some new players to replace the loans we have in just now.

Season Review

Awards

Its safe to say why Buitink was the fans player and the young player of the season as without him we wouldn't have performed so well. Bella-Kotchap did remarkably well since coming in in January and cement his place in our defence.

The big talking point of the season was Buitink managing a massive 40 goals in 34 games and this wins him the big award in Europe claiming to Golden Boot at only 19. We now have a number of European Giants declaring interest to try and sway his attention.

​

 

[Schnauzer]

Great season to get champions league in 1st year!

How has Lovro Majer been for you? I've been nearly signed him on a couple of saves but both times didn't quite happen

 

[leckuno]

Great season to get champions league in 1st year!

How has Lovro Majer been for you? I've been nearly signed him on a couple of saves but both times didn't quite happen

He's been great. He's really good for linking play between the midfield and strikers

 

[leckuno]

Transfers out

Well its been a busy transfer window with players leaving the club as we looked to bring in cash to stregnthen the squad so we can challenge Ajax in the league. We have done this but it may have also stregnthened Ajax in the process with Bazoer leaving. For £30 million £20 million of it will be paid upfront and we also got a 30% of next transfer in there as well. With most of the players leaving the club we have a similar sort of deal with us getting a % of their next transfer to help keep money coming in even it is us selling the clause. So far we have managed to hold onto Buitink but he has had his head turned by PSG after they maid an offer that I rejected so he has submitted a transfer request but has 3 years left on his contract so looking for at least £80 million for me to consider selling.

Transfers In

With the players leaving the club it was important to spend the money wisely as I really feel we have down with bringing in a number of young and exciting players such as Gomes from Dortmund and Perez from Barcelona. Another great piece of business in my eyes is bringing back Marco van Ginkel back to the club and if we can keep him fit he can lead the team from the middle of the park. We still have money to spend and there are still 1 or 2 positions such as RB if we want to get a squad capable of challenging and qualifing for the Champions League or Europa League.

Expectations

The league should be easy enough to get hopefully but the Champions League and Cup will all depend on the draws that we get as we have the potential to get some tough draws.

Preseason

We got off to a good start against the smaller teams but Inter really hammered us and I like to blame us missing players for the Olympics and others being on holiday after featuring in the Euro's.

We also played Ajax in the Dutch curtain raiser the Johan Cruijff Schaal and they just proved too strong as were still missing a number of first team players so hopefully it isn't a sign of things to come over this season.

August

​

 

[leckuno]

August

I don't think I've ever had a busier month before where we're needing to squeeze 9 games into a month but we managed it and we've come out the other side of it as a much closer team.

We start our season off with travelling to face PSV. The only way this could of been more difficult would of been if it was Ajax. Things didn't go to plan at all as Ronald Araujo got his marching orders in the 10th minute and after that we were chasing our tails as PSV were able to make the extra man count and got the deserved win. Of course with the league we had the added trouble of having to face Benfica in the champions League Qualifiers and what a game it was. It had a bit of everything in it as we took the lead in the 2nd minute through Perez and Urzi doubled it a minute later. Urzi then added a 2nd to his tally in the 49th minute before our Rb Bouah put us 4-0 ahead in the 62nd minute and we thought that was us through with 4 away goals but Benfica weren't done as they managed to pull 3 goals back in the final 10 minutes to try and resuce the tie.

In the league we then narrowly passed Fortuna Sittard as Schiappacasse got the only goal of the game as we rested players for Benfica. It was another game for the neutrals as we wen't ahead in the 26th minute through Buitink before Benfica equalized on the stroke of half time. Gilmour got our second in the 64th minute before Benfica pegged us back 6 minutes later. Buitink and Tarin then got a quick fire double to leave us looking good for the win but Benfica score 2 goals in the final 2 minutes to rescue a draw but luckily it was enough to see us through. We rested some players for the next round and a final minute goal from Bella-Kotchap was enough to see us pass Heracles.

CSKA Moscow were all who stood in our path between us getting place in the Champions League and our defence were able to cope this time as 4 2nd half goals from Majer, Van Grinkel x2 and Buitink should see us make the group stages now. The game before the next tie deemed to be too much as Willem II were able to ****** a 1-0 win against us. Against CSKA we were able to rescue a very late goal thanks to a darting run off the wing by Unuvar to make sure we didn't lose at home. The final game of the month saw Gomez get his first goal for the club to see us past VVV-Venlo.

League

Champions League

Safe to saw its going to be difficult to progress from this group and 3rd spot will be probably be the best we can do here.

September

Transfers

August saw Eli Dasa leave to joining US Sassuolo for £3.6 million leaving us really short in the Rb position so we looked to the transfer list and snapped up French international Djibril Sidibe from Monaco for £6 million and they will be paying £15,000 of his wages as well. We also finally signed Mustafa Kapi who we had signed on a pre-contract deal in January.

​

 

[leckuno]

September

A much shorter month which means our players might actually manage to get a break inbetween games. We start with a much more convincing win against Heerenveen. Urzi gets us off to a quick start with the opening goal in the 8th minute. We hold on until Heerenveen pull a goal back in the 55th minute. WE leave it very late as Araujo gets us back in front with just 6 minutes remaining but Majer decides to add another from the penalty spot with the last kick of the ball. Our first game in the Champions League and Hermoso puts Athletico ahead in only the 2nd minute which means I need to tear up my match plans and Urzi scores a cracker in the 24th minute and we look good value for taking a point from the game but Joao Felix pops up in the 89th minute to win the game.

Back to league action and we bounce back with a good win Schappacasse gets the opening goal before young Tom Cohen comes on as a sub to score his first goal for the club and hopefully it will be the first of many. Pinas pulls a goal back with just a couple of minutes to go as its too little too late. Utrecht has always made us work for results in the league and it was no different here. Van Ginkel scored the opener after 11 minutes and Majer doubled the lead in the 32nd minute but Utrecht kept coming at us for the rest of the game and finally got the goal they deserved in the 88th minute luckily for us there wasn't much time left.

we round the month off with a trip to Munich in what will be one of our hardest games all season. We have a first half to remember as Urzi and Buitink get a goal each to put us in the lead going into half time. Bayern come out fighting and Lewandwski gets a goal in the 50th minute to make us very nervous. Things got worse as Araujo get his second yellow in the 74th minute. We went really defensive and it paid off as we pulled off a massive upset to claim our first win in the group stages.

League

October

​