OH Leuven Thread 26/27

[Pelotas]

Ok so in short… a few nice matches and staying out of the relegation zone is the aim. Would be good, I really hope we don’t finish the season in January, but very afraid we will finish somewhere in boring middle (region 7-14). Cup semifinal would be nice, although quarter final is best we ever could reach.
 

Looking at the squad, we really need these transfers to be bullseyes… especially since Leysen, Nyakossi and Ikwuemesi will still leave… and maybe Opoku as well. Hoping Traoré & Kayo also fully come to surface.

 

On the other teams: always difficult to say, but I expect a lot of Lommel as the supporters will carry them imho. 
 

[KlaaZ]

Would be very happy with a boring middle position to be fair. Opoku isn't going anywhere unless Feyenoord come in with a ridiculous offer. He's having an excellent preseason, as is Traoré. Nobody is going to miss Ikwuemesi, Leysen has been well replaced by Van den Heuvel and the same goes for Nyakossi with Lawrence. So until they leave, we're actually a lot stronger than we were last year. 

We played Lommel off the pitch a few weeks ago by the way, and so did ADO last week. They're absolutely not ready for the competition start. Quality wise, it's exactly what it was last year, a high mid table second division team. Probably even worse than Beerschot two years ago. 

[Pelotas]

Ok, have not seen any team live so can’t judge.

 

by the way: Verlinden out for months… and ofc we also let go Maziz and Maertens. Respectively inconsistent and past his peak, but both still very useful. I mean not to be pessimistic, but from an outside pov you might as well ask questions as you see a typically mid table team depart with quite a few players, bring in relatively unknown players all for free or on loan…

 

but I also have a good feeling… about the squad that is, not the season, flat18 ruins a lot.

Edited 28 July by Pelotas

[KlaaZ]

20 minutes ago, Pelotas said:

Ok, have not seen any team live so can’t judge.

 

by the way: Verlinden out for months… and ofc we also let go Maziz and Maertens. Respectively inconsistent and past his peak, but both still very useful. I mean not to be pessimistic, but from an outside pov you might as well ask questions as you see a typically mid table team depart with quite a few players, bring in relatively unknown players all for free or on loan…

 

but I also have a good feeling… about the squad that is, not the season, flat18 ruins a lot.

Maertens and Maziz both had a terrible season. There's a reason that after being released Maziz moved to some mid table MLS team and Maertens can't seem to find a new club. Both one over 1M per year in salary, by the way. 

[Pelotas]

4 minutes ago, KlaaZ said:

Maertens and Maziz both had a terrible season. There's a reason that after being released Maziz moved to some mid table MLS team and Maertens can't seem to find a new club. Both one over 1M per year in salary, by the way. 

I agree… and still Maertens always came in strong and Maziz still stood out when he had his moments (fewer and fewer). Just to point out that it’s not like all the players that are staying were top notch last season

[KlaaZ]

Just now, Pelotas said:

I agree… and still Maertens always came in strong and Maziz still stood out when he had his moments (fewer and fewer). Just to point out that it’s not like all the players that are staying were top notch last season

There are others that you can say the same thing of, true. But in Maertens case, it's a combination of underperformance, ridiculous wage (which he didn't want to drop) and all of the injuries that really physically tore him down. Maziz was just not bringing enough to the table in general. And both were end of contract, off course. 

And let's be fair, they're cutting a lot of the other dead wood as well. Ominami, Terho, Prévot, normally Ikwuemesi as well.. And more importantly, the incoming signings look surprisingly solid on paper.

[Bonanza]

On 26/07/2026 at 00:57, KlaaZ said:

Goal bonanza against Heerenveen after our five day preseason camp. 3x45 minutes, 343 formation. Lost 6-4 in the end after being 0-2 and 2-4 up. Lots of good stuff, obviously heavy legs after five days of hard work which explains why we didn't hold onto the leads but some very good performances and lots more entertaining than last season. 

 

[sylofox]

Anyone know if KP are selling OHL?

 

 

I'd imagine Rudkin will move if they don't sell OHL.

 

God help OHL.

[KlaaZ]

19 hours ago, sylofox said:

Anyone know if KP are selling OHL?

 

 

I'd imagine Rudkin will move if they don't sell OHL.

 

God help OHL.

Rudkin was involved here and he's not anymore. Can't force him down our throats again, no worries there. 

[sylofox]

5 hours ago, KlaaZ said:

Rudkin was involved here and he's not anymore. Can't force him down our throats again, no worries there. 

Lucky you. 

 

 

Do you know if Top is selling you aswell?

Edited 30 July by sylofox

[Vlad the Fox]

16 hours ago, KlaaZ said:

Rudkin was involved here and he's not anymore. Can't force him down our throats again, no worries there. 

What were the fans thoughts on him? 

[shen]

On 29/07/2026 at 19:56, Bonanza said:

 

I know it's only a friendly, but from the camera angle shown, that challenge on 2 minutes is the most blatant penalty ever and the ref just nonchalantly tells the striker to get up 

[Bonanza]

New home kit 

 

 

 

Edited 31 July by Bonanza

[shen]

32 minutes ago, Bonanza said:

New home kit 

 

 

 

Cool with the motif (nod to the St Peter's Church). *Pedant mode* But the church distinctly has trefoil and not quatrefoil plastered all over */Pedant mode*

[Suzie the Fox]

38 minutes ago, Bonanza said:

New home kit 

 

 

 

Really like that kit

[KlaaZ]

On 30/07/2026 at 22:59, sylofox said:

Lucky you. 

 

 

Do you know if Top is selling you aswell?

If you want my honest opinion, he's not even selling Leicester. As far as I'm aware, that rumour of a Saudi takeoever for Leicester has been there in the past. Iirc, KP has never been opposed to selling, so it's not the first time this 'exploration of options' happens. The only difference is that someone at Citi couldn't keep his mouth shut this time. 

But to answer your question, there are no indications of KP actively trying to sell us. I do believe that if the right party comes along, anything is possible though. I also think that is the reason why we've been cleaning up our finances in the last few years.

 

On 31/07/2026 at 09:47, Vlad the Fox said:

What were the fans thoughts on him? 

That he wasn't the only one to blame for the lack of success on the pitch. That said, I'm very happy he's not involved in the decision making process (anymore). The people at the wheel now are far more competent than him or our previous management.

[Pelotas]

15 minutes ago, KlaaZ said:

If you want my honest opinion, he's not even selling Leicester. As far as I'm aware, that rumour of a Saudi takeoever for Leicester has been there in the past. Iirc, KP has never been opposed to selling, so it's not the first time this 'exploration of options' happens. The only difference is that someone at Citi couldn't keep his mouth shut this time. 

where there’s smoke… why involve Citi and look for possible buyers? Maybe the sale doesn’t happen soon, maybe the rumour of an interested buyer is just to spark interest from other candidates, but it adds up with the financial struggles KP is having in their core business so I personally do think Leicester is for sale and will be sold ultimately in one of the next few seasons. And when that happens… I see no use in KP then keeping OHL. It would be the only club in their portfolio and due to geographical proximity and easier (and relatively cheap) access to football for foreign footballers (visa) it would make sense to keep both clubs in the same portfolio.

 

So in short yes I believe OHL is/will be part of the sale.

[davieG]

43 minutes ago, KlaaZ said:

If you want my honest opinion, he's not even selling Leicester. As far as I'm aware, that rumour of a Saudi takeoever for Leicester has been there in the past. Iirc, KP has never been opposed to selling, so it's not the first time this 'exploration of options' happens. The only difference is that someone at Citi couldn't keep his mouth shut this time. 

But to answer your question, there are no indications of KP actively trying to sell us. I do believe that if the right party comes along, anything is possible though. I also think that is the reason why we've been cleaning up our finances in the last few years.

 

That he wasn't the only one to blame for the lack of success on the pitch. That said, I'm very happy he's not involved in the decision making process (anymore). The people at the wheel now are far more competent than him or our previous management.

Can we borrow them.

[KlaaZ]

1 hour ago, Pelotas said:

where there’s smoke… why involve Citi and look for possible buyers? Maybe the sale doesn’t happen soon, maybe the rumour of an interested buyer is just to spark interest from other candidates, but it adds up with the financial struggles KP is having in their core business so I personally do think Leicester is for sale and will be sold ultimately in one of the next few seasons. And when that happens… I see no use in KP then keeping OHL. It would be the only club in their portfolio and due to geographical proximity and easier (and relatively cheap) access to football for foreign footballers (visa) it would make sense to keep both clubs in the same portfolio.

 

So in short yes I believe OHL is/will be part of the sale.

Just wanted to point out that I've seen that Saudi story at least three times over the past six or seven years when it comes to Leicester. 

On the part of us being part of the sale, I'll answer more in depth later as I'm really pressed for time today but what I can already say is that a potential sale of Leicester is definitely not tied to what happens at Leicester. There's plenty of upside for KP in owning a Belgian top division team, and the cost is pretty small relative to that upside. Especially since we're working on being financially 'healthy' without outside intervention.

 

35 minutes ago, davieG said:

Can we borrow them.

Nein.

[sylofox]

8 hours ago, KlaaZ said:

If you want my honest opinion, he's not even selling Leicester. As far as I'm aware, that rumour of a Saudi takeoever for Leicester has been there in the past. Iirc, KP has never been opposed to selling, so it's not the first time this 'exploration of options' happens. The only difference is that someone at Citi couldn't keep his mouth shut this time. 

But to answer your question, there are no indications of KP actively trying to sell us. I do believe that if the right party comes along, anything is possible though. I also think that is the reason why we've been cleaning up our finances in the last few years.

 

That he wasn't the only one to blame for the lack of success on the pitch. That said, I'm very happy he's not involved in the decision making process (anymore). The people at the wheel now are far more competent than him or our previous management.

I dont believe it either. Loads of us are on his back. For me this has been released to take the heat off of him while they hope to sort out the shite theyve caused.

 

KP will want 550m to break even and they wont get that now.

[Chelmofox]

20 minutes ago, sylofox said:

I dont believe it either. Loads of us are on his back. For me this has been released to take the heat off of him while they hope to sort out the shite theyve caused.

 

KP will want 550m to break even and they wont get that now.

No evidence of that, and we get nowhere near that. 

[KlaaZ]

Lost 3-6 to Lille in our final outing. Stayed in the game for 70 minutes but then conceded 3-4 and 3-5 in quick succession and that was it. No shame in that as it's a team a few categories better than us, but some worries at the back as we keep experimenting with a right footed midfielder in the center back trio on the left, which has been horrendous for the second game in a row. 

[Ryy]

Just now, KlaaZ said:

Lost 3-6 to Lille in our final outing. Stayed in the game for 70 minutes but then conceded 3-4 and 3-5 in quick succession and that was it. No shame in that as it's a team a few categories better than us, but some worries at the back as we keep experimenting with a right footed midfielder in the center back trio on the left, which has been horrendous for the second game in a row. 

We have a Belgian international you can have if you have centre back issues 

[KlaaZ]

6 minutes ago, Ryy said:

We have a Belgian international you can have if you have centre back issues 

I already said we had issues, I don't want to make matters worse. 

[KlaaZ]

I take back what I said, it's apparently very much so that we're also in the shopping window. Which explains why we're apparently not allowed to spend on transfers even if we sell another 15-20M worth of players. Gotta be as attractive as possible for new ownership presumably.