Football Season Guide

RKC Waalwijk

In


Lennerd Daneels (att)(PSV U21); Nando Nöstlinger (att)( Antwerpen Reserves); Teun van Grunsven (def)( SV Oss '20); Dean van der Sluys (def)(Top Oss); Hannes Delcroix (def)(Anderlecht on loan)

Out


Roland Bergkamp (att)( Katwijk); Gigli Ndefe (r)(def)( MFK Karvina); Jordy Zielschot (gk)( SteDoCo)

After 5 years in Eerste Divisie Waalwijk returned to the top division. An unexpected promotion not being among the favorites at the beginning, and having finished the regular season in 8th position. In the playoffs, however, they managed to bring out their best, first they eliminated N.E.C., then, surprisingly Excelsior (16th in Eredivisie) and in the final the favourites Go Ahead Eagles thanks to a goal at the last minute. During the summer transfer market the club did not make many changes. First and foremost they kept coach Fred Grim who was the main architect of promotion, trusting him despite his lack of experience as a first coach in Eredivisie. The former Ajax goalkeeper has shown a certain malleability from a tactical point of view, often changing the system of play, from 4-4-2 to 4-2-3-1 up to 4-3-3.

Target


The goal is obviously to avoid an immediate relegation as has happened in their last two appearances in Eredivisie (2009-10 and 2013-14). On the one hand they have the advantage of having the same coach who knows his players well, on the other, however, also a certain lack of experience at this level, both by the players and the coach himself.