Football Season Guide

The Canaries lost their successful coach Ivan Leko in the summer as he couldn't refuse taking charge of giants Club Brugge and this was why Sint-Truiden had to look for a new manager. The Spaniard, Tintin Marquez, was appointed eventually but, by the time this happened, it was obvious that many more changes were on the go at the club. With 18 players departing, that includes the two best midfielders from the team, Pieter Gerkens and Stef Peeters, plus the entire starting backline. Marquez was left with no choice but to start a hard and long rebuilding job. Even with the money from some of the transfers, Sint-Truiden remained pressed financially. Still, some progress has been made with the strengthening of the squad but many see the Canaries much weaker compared to last season. None of the newcomers are hugely famous names and it is a major worry who will be organising things in the middle of the park with Peeters and Gerkens no longer there. Roman Bezus was the obvious choice but he also had to be released because of his high wage. Sint-Truiden are definitely short on central midfielders but they also lack numbers in defence where the newcomer Jorge Teixeira and Sascha Kotysch are the only typical centre-backs apart from two inexperienced members of the Under-21 squad. All these gaps need to be filled before the transfer window is over and it is pointless making predictions about the starting line-up of the Canaries as they are expected to see some more players leaving and at least six new ones joining. How good the quality of those that will sign with the club will be remains questionable. One thing that is certain is that Igor Vetokele will continue leading the attack whilst the only experienced holding midfielder and team’s captain, Steven De Petter, will have to be injury-free and at his best.