KlaaZ

A bit of a half arsed article that regarding our current situation. Yes, we're only out of the woods on goal difference. We're also on a five game unbeaten streak in the league, three of which we won, and we have on paper the easiest schedule of the six or seven teams still qualifying for a bottom four position. On top of that, we were five points from a safe spot three or four games ago. But yes, there is something to be said about our financial (mis)management. Part of it is due to infrastructure investments but the wage structure is also not on par with the results on the pitch.

It's very relative. He started off very well at Montpellier with three goals in three games, but hasn't scored since. That said, he was also completely mismanaged at our club by Brys I think. But he still has his flaws.

It is, and it's true. To be fair, Westerlo are one of the more in form teams in the league at the moment (apart from us), playing really well under their new coach so we'd always need a bit of luck to grab the points. Another few great saves by Tobe Leysen, that boy has got a bright future (still only 21!).

Correct, and preferrably doing it by avoiding the playdowns (so not ending the regular competition as one of the final four). Standard will be important, but I think the next two (Charleroi home and RWDM away) will be even more so. Winning those and maybe the last game against KV Mechelen will all but guarantee us staying up.

Wasn't pretty, but a dream start by going 0-1 up after only 100 seconds of play and then doubling it after ten minutes. A very good Leysen to keep a clean sheet again and a very good defensive performance against one of the in form teams of the league. Three goals, clean sheet, and if Eupen doesn't win tomorrow we're finally away from the final four, which means no playdowns and no chance of relegation.

Absolutely this. Would also like to add that we not only concede less, we also give away very little ever since the winter break. Conceded twice, one deep cross that got carried by the wind and flew in and an own goal. Both in games where it looked like we could have played another ninety minutes without conceding. Wouldn't exactly call it more attacking, but it's very, very solid defensively and even in the event where we go behind (like our last game against Genk), we very clearly have a plan B where we can go from very defensive to more attacking in the blink of an eye. Completely agree that with Garcia at the helm from the beginning of the season, we would probably be in a way better position.

Royally effed last night apparently. Personal agreement with Raman and Anderlecht, but he last minute pulled out for Samsunspor and the money (despite saying two weeks ago that he didn't want to move abroad because of his kid). Also a personal agreement with Verona and Henry, but Verona pulled the plug at the very last moment, nobody knows why..

Bit embarassing that they didn't even include the best chance of the first half, that shot from Nsingi..

Transfer deadline has passed, and as feared it's been a hugely disappointing window. Osifo is an interesting addition, but in all honesty we've only replaced players that are leaving: Osifo for Holzhauser, Russo for Shlomo and Akimoto for Mendyl. Every transfer period the same issues.

No Raman, probably no Henry, haven't hear anything about Kyei anymore either. Akimoto to replace Mendyl, Russo to replace Shlomo, and that's probably it. Hugely disappointing transfer window, again.

Very deserved, unlucky to go 0-1 down with an owngoal but superb reaction and plenty of chances. Should have won by a bigger margin, if anything. Garcia doing an excellent job, looking more and more solid defensively by the game.

New striker in the pipeline according to Tivolieri.

Definitely. To be fair, I think Union runs pretty much separately from Brighton with the exception that they use the same data. Works like a charm though, ridiculous what they've doing there season after season.

Out of curiosity, are you guys left wanting for transfer as well? There's a rumour floating around that it's due to Top getting married and his festivities lasting three weeks, with him being pretty much unavailable and without his signature, nothing happens.

Awful game away at last placed Kortrijk, from both sides. Heavy pitch and ours clearly still with tired legs from the midweek game. Defensively solid, only one world class save from Leysen and a ball against the post, but one big blank on the attacking end today. If results go our way tonight and tomorrow, we might be a point closer to a safe spot though, with only three points left to bridge then in eight games.

Progress stalled and even regressed. Also feels like a severe lack of the right mindset on the pitch, really.

The pub Plaza at the Oude Markt is the bar that shows the most live football in the region I believe. But even then, it's unlikely they'll show a Championship game. Not per se because there's a lack of interest, but I don't think any of the Belgian TV stations own the rights to show the games.

Correct, on loan for a fee of 3M with a mandatory future fee for a total of about 7.5M and 15% on any future transfer according to various sources (nothing offical though). This would technically also mean that West Ham indeed can't sign him. From what I've read in the Belgian press, it's more for next season anyway, so the current construction wouldn't be an issue. Dude's destined for great things to be honest, the progress he's made in the last two years and the way he's presented himself in Europe was downright impressive.

There's a very slight rumour that we're interested in bringing in Kasey McAteer on loan. I'm assuming it's him at least, as the person who dropped it talked about McAllister who's never played at Leicester. I've noticed he had a few spells in your first team in September and November, but then got completely dropped. Can you shed some insight on him?

His appearance off the bench against Cercle ten days ago was downright awful, and it wasn't the first time. Nothing to do with fitness but everything with mentality in my opinion. I wouldn't be surprised if we send him back during the winter break as it's quite obvious that Brunes and Nsingi are ahead of him and that we're in the market for at least one more striker, which will be one of Garcia's guys.

Well deserved victory after a fantastic first half. A real belter from Thorstseinsson set us on our way after only one minute and some beautiful build up play, including a very subtle assist from Brunes, allowed Maziz to score the second. A bit of a disappointing second half though, something Garcia also mentioned after the game, where Eupen got several very good chances to get back into the game. My feeling is that it was the nerves getting to the players, which is understandable considering the rut we found ourselves in. Finally finished the game off a few minutes before the end after an excellent counter attack with our new Thai wonderboy scoring his first.

He obviously wasn't, but he's partly responsible for how the squad is set up and at least partly responsible for the injuries we have due to his ridiculous physical training regimen. That said, yesterday was probably one of our worst games of the season, day and night difference with the game against Cercle. The only good news is that according to Schrijvers, Garcia actually told the players after the game how it is and actually questioned their motivation and will to win. But that all means nothing if there's no reaction on Tuesday, in a must win game before the break. I also think that a lot comes down to a lack of leadership on the pitch. De Norre left in the summer, Maertens (our skipper) has been out for a long time and Ricca, another leader at the back, tore his hamstring a few months ago. These are the kinds of players that the rest can hang onto when things go bad.

Maertens could be faster than you think as he's probably conditionally ok considering his absence isn't muscle or joint injury related. But yeah, scoring is hard for us. I think that apart from that, there's enough quality in the team to stay up. And if we play like we did against Cercle every game from now on out, there's no way we'll go down.

Just to add to this, the one good news is that Kortrijk is in a far worse place than us. Not only are they also just not winning games, they're playing far worse and I don't think they have the financial muscle to do anything during the break.

I think that's a fair assessment, although there are some other factors at play. The squad isn't bad but there are some serious imbalances, which are not helped by all of those injuries. I'm fairly sure we'll see a very different team with Maertens, Ricca and Misao back after the winter break, if only because it actually gives us more options. Hopefully, they'll send Opoku back to Leicester, promote Idumbo to the first team as a replacement for Nsingi and go look for a similar profile to Brunes. Add another decent midfielder and maybe a winger and we're ok, I think.