Football Season Guide

In the 15 years spent in the league since their last promotion from the Tweede Divisie, Top Oss have rarely made the top 10 of the Eerste Divisie and the past season was no exception. In fact, inconsistency characterized them as they kept alternating positive to negative runs and avoided the bottom of the table only thanks to an unexpected finale: 4 wins in a row. 16th -placed, 9 points above relegated JONG Ajax, on their day Top Oss would beat any opponents, but they were also capable of losing to anyone, especially due to a fragile defence, they conceded 64 goals and lost 16 times. Offensively, they were slightly better, as they scored 54 times and were capable of creating tons of dangers. Top Oss saw no reason for changes at the helm during the summer and 39-year-old Sjors Ultee will thus be in charge for the third year straight, after reaching the 16th spot twice. Living on a very limited budget, they were not very active during the transfer campaign, at least in terms of new signings, while only few regulars and a wider number of bit-time players left. In goal, Milder left and Jansen arrived: Havekotte should not be threatened by the former Go Ahead Eagles youngster after doing well in the past campaign. On the other hand, the defence was the department mostly in need of strengthening after last season but it was not touched yet. Only back-up right-back Van Hove left but he will not be missed. In the midfield, starting Van Rooijen was let go after a mixed campaign and his place should be fully taken by Mol, whose loan from NAC Breda was extended. Starting attacking midfielder Remans also left and they signed aging Van der Venne as his like for like replacement. The attack lost two starters in striker Wildeboer, who will be replaced by Nsingi, coming off a great season in Tweede Divisie, and winger Slagveer, who should be replaced internally since new signing Pansa has not played for some time.