Chapter 64
Progress On All Fronts
2nd February 2031
Our final Eredivisie game before the Winter break was against 17th placed N.E.C and they weren't expected to pose us much of a problem...and they didn't!
Our very last game of 2030 was in the Dutch Cup. It's Ajax for us in the Second Round of the KNVB Beker this season and although it isn't ideal to be drawing them so early in the competition, it is at least a massive opportunity for both clubs to get rid of one of our main rivals. So far in the cup, we've met twice before and it's 1-1.
Just as we did in the league game last month, we dominated the game and created multiple chances. Just as we did before, we took a 1-0 lead! But not as before, we didn't concede this time and hold on for a massive result to knock Ajax out of the competition!
Heracles were up next for us in the Eredivisie...a team we have won 15 straight matches against!
Make that 16 wins in a row!
It was a quick return to the Dutch Cup and we cruise past lower league Top OSS. The game was over inside 27 minutes with us already 5-0 up and I found myself subbing key players after just half an hour to rest them.
After us knocking Ajax out, Feyenoord have now been dumped out by NAC at an early stage. With our two biggest rivals out of the competition already, we have to be targeting the trophy this season now!
Being able to rest key players proved vital as we took on Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and a solid defensive performance ensured that Rodiney's 19th minute strike was enough for a massive win!
Our final game of the league phase will be against Inter Milan in 8 days time and a draw will be enough for us to secure a top 8 finish and a place in the last 16.
Incoming: The January window has been very quiet for us so far, but I was approached by the agent for Brazilian forward, Kaio Jorge, to see if we would be interested in signing him. He has been without a club since being released by ATM at the end of his contract and I was more than happy to snap up the ex Juventus player on a free transfer.
Before the showdown with Inter Milan, we had a league game with AZ to play and I put new striker, Kaio Jorge, into the starting lineup for this one. The new man made his contribution as he got the assist for our equalizer as we come from behind to win.
Our Champions League encounter with Inter looked like it was getting off to the perfect start when we were awarded a penalty as early as the 5th minute. However, Miguel Reisinho missed the spot kick and that set the tone for one of our worst performances of the season as we are well beaten at home. The only positive I can really take it seeing Kaio Jorge come off the bench to get his first goal for the club.
Despite the defeat, we do still finish 6th in the league phase and secure safe passage through to the last 16. It's a fantastic achievement to go through and avoid having to play in the knockout playoff where we were eliminated from the competition on our only other appearance in it.
Incoming: On transfer deadline day, I forked out £10 million (all up front) to sign former Spanish U21 International centre back, Andres Cuenca. He comes in from Bodo/Glimt and at just 23 years of age, he should spend his prime years at the club.
Outgoing: Bob Monaghan leaves the club before the Dutch window closes. He has only featured in 23 league games over the past 2 seasons, scoring 12 times, but with the recent arrival of Kaio Jorge and some decent striker prospects coming through the youth I just didn't see much of a future for the Scot at the club. He returns to the UK where he'll play for Derby County after they paid us £18.5 million to sign him. It's a good return on a player I only paid £4.8 million to sign.
Back to the action on the pitch and we resumed winning ways against NAC, despite not being at our best.
With 12 games of the season remaining, we are 9 points clear at the top. Surely it's ours to lose from here!