Football Season Guide

After missing out on promotion in the previous campaign, they were eliminated from the playoffs following a 3rd-place finish in the regular season, last spring Cambuur offered themselves a second place and a direct promotion back to the Eredivisie, at the third time of asking. Even though they started the season with a defeat, Cambuur were extraordinary between August and mid-March, losing only twice and momentarily reaching the top of the table in week 30. Afterwards, they slowed their march down and ended up 11 points below title-winning ADO Den Haag. If nothing else, they were capable of beating the champions twice. Cambuur main strength lied in their explosive attack, they scored 75 goals, only worse than ADO and Almere City, and their home form, while they conceded too many goals, 48, despite holding the 3rd-best defence of the league. Coach De Jong, the architect of their promotion, decided to take a break from football for personal reasons and the management picked Johan Plat up as his replacement. 40-year-old Plat is coming off a negative experience at Castellon last season, where he was sacked after only a few weeks in charge. Cambuur live on a very limited budget and, in the attempt of rejuvenating the squad and reducing wages, they had to let go most of their stars during the summer. In fact, they literally dismantled their attack, with Starting wingers Balk and Ferrah, Starting striker Van der Sande and Starting attacking midfielder Rolke all leaving. So far, only a winger arrived in Hamache, who had a disastrous season at Amiens, and a striker in young Vink, also relegated with Jong Ajax. Moreover, they lost starting left-back Galvez, returned to his parent club, who should be replaced by one between Costarelli, last season at Lille, and Jetten, also coming from Jong Ajax. In the midfield, they lost starting Diemers, 10 goals and 14 assists, and he has not been properly replaced yet.