Football Season Guide

Willem II endured an absolutely epic collapse in the second half of last season and turned from a comfortably mid-table side into one that fell like a stone down the standings an ended up in the relegation play-offs. They survived the first test against Dordrecht by the skin of their teeth via penalties but were found out by Telstar in the next round and were deservedly beaten 3:1 at home to suffer a shameful and hurtful relegation just a year after being promoted. The damage from that terrible run since January will be difficult to overcome right away with the start of a new season but the summer months and the excitement of the anticipation ahead is certainly helping at the moment. There is determination in Tilburg go right the wrongs of last season and they have made an impressive hire in John Stegeman as a new coach. He was an assistant in the last few years but prior to that excelled at both Heracles, Zwolle and Go Ahead and is very much an Eredivisie-level coach. He is quite a proactive coach that wants his side play high up the field with 4-3-3 and will certainly come as a much-needed fresh voice after Peter Maes really outstayed his welcome last season and stayed on amidst the team falling apart. He will be ready for the expectations of the fans to be a leading side that is sitting near the top of the table and they are indeed justified given the size of the club and the amount of support they have in every home game. The two big signings of the summer both played for Dordrecht last season in Davin Haen and Jari Schuurman and they will be expected to be a driving force in the final third. Nathan Tjoe-A-On is another interesting addition that could become a regular at left-back. Players like Ringo Meerveld, Emilio Kherer, Jesse Bosch and Nick Doodeman also stick around for the campaign ahead and at the moment the feeling that Willem II are the team to beat in this division is inescapable.