Football Season Guide

Feyenoord started off last season with an unexpected win over PSV in the Johan Cruijff Schaal, in occasion of coach Brian Priske’s debut, but it was just a flash in the pan. In fact, the Dane’s approach to football, with his rigidity and his back 3 tactics, ill adapted to the Rotterdam outfit. He tried to adjust to a hostile context but it was not enough. Once it became evident that Feyenoord would not have fought for the title, as they fell off the top 3, Priske was sacked. After a decent stint under caretaker Pascal Bosschart, the team was handed to Robin Van Persie, coming from a forgettable experience at Heerenveen. He debuted with a double defeat to Inter in the Champions League but eventually straightened the ship and led them to the third place, with the Eredivisie third-best attack and defence. At his first season fully in charge, Van Persie will be expected to bring Feyenoord back where they belong, among the title contenders. First thing, the management let go a few players who left no mark in the previous campaign, like back-up centre-back Gonzalez or left-back Bueno and wingers Ivanusec and Osman. With starting left-back Hartman sold, they signed Australian Bos, who should provide cover for Smal, now acquiring a starting status. Experienced centre-back Watanabe, also coming from Belgian football, could be given plenty of playing time, considering that projected starters Beelen and Trauner are both recovering from injuries while starting Hancko left for pastures new. At right-back, 18-year-old Read might have to play a major role again, considering that Lotomba is just back from injury and experienced Nieuwkoop is also injury-prone. Attacking midfielder Milambo, who played more than expected last season, left for Brentford and was replaced by their main signing thus far, Steijn, top scorer of the past season with Twente. Feyenoord saw their strikers Ueda and Carranza under-performing last season and so Tengstedt arrived from Benfica to provide an alternative. Then, with winger Paixao, 18 goals and 19 assists last season, attracting interest from bigger clubs, Borges could also become a protagonist.