Well we are 8 rounds far in the regular competition of the Jupiler Pro League and as it looks now, this could become a historical season.
Anderlecht!
Well Anderlecht is drifting for quite some years now, but after another defeat at Club Brugge last weekend, the club has to take into account that they may miss Play Off for the first time ever!
At the moment Anderlecht can be found on place 13 in the ranking, with only 5 points. That is only 2 top above the 3 clubs which are sharing the last place. They are now trailing a PO I place with already 9 points. While 9 points isn’t much with 22 more round to play, it is 9 points which they do have to catch up! In the last 3 season 49, 44 and 49 points were needed to secure a spot in Play Off I. So in the next 22 games, they should gather at least 40 more points. This is easier than is sounds!
And a goal difference of -5 does explain parts of it! Only 6 goals scored in 8 games and this for a record champion! In the past 2 games, the goalkeeper of Anderlecht twice was the best man of the team. Not a situation you want to be in as a club.
In stead of looking up, they have to start looking at their back! Next week a win against Waasland-Beveren is a must! I guess it has never happened that Anderlecht did place a game after 8 rounds, which should/could be called a relegation battle!
If Kompany wasn’t the head coach, the fans would have torn down the house already! Now with Kompany as manager they keep on keeping their patience. But this will not last forever!
Luckily for Anderlecht Eupen and Waasland-Beveren are also in the competition! But it will be a very interesting game against Waasland-Beveren next week!
Genk
Well my team did win against Oostende with 3-1, with it was an awful game. I was also surprised to see the rating of the players in the local newspaper. No way Bergen did deserve a 7 out of 10. He is just avoiding all duels! Also he is used as playmaker which he isn’t!
It looks like game, again, will have a bad year after being crowned Champion. The difference between the last 3 times that this happened, is that this time Genk really did invest into new players.
Okay they did loose some key players and the coach decided to move on! But at the moment it looks like the players are missing the inspiration to play decent football! To many players aren’t moving without the ball, so the one who does have the ball doesn’t have a lot of options!
Only 3 players are putting a decent performance week after week. Those are Ito, Coucke and Samata!
The question has to be asked if Mazzu can improve the level or maybe we will have to decided that he was a mismatched for this group. We, as sups, do believe that the squad should be able to play better football. Game after game, the start of the game is weak and uninspired!
This week Mazzu changed his strategy into a game with 2 strikers. Captain Dewaest and midfielder Heynen did pay the prize. Both were placed on the bench! While the for Dewaest it was justified, the sups didn’t understand the degradation of Heynen!
I do hope that he has the guts to replace Bergen with Wouters. This would add some aggressivity to the team, which is very much needed!
Gent
After 3 wins, Gent again did loose points away from home. It is a unrecognizable team on the road. They do have a perfect home record with 4 wins out of 4 games, but away they haven’t won a single game.
Play Off I
Also Mouscron does deserve a mention. After 8 rounds there are still standing on a PO I spot. Nobody would have predicted this before the season did start! They are 5 top teams in Belgium with Club Brugge, Anderlecht, Gent, Genk and Standard and the other teams are more or less fighting for the remaining 6th spot in PO I. This year maybe 2 sports will be available, with a good chance that Anderlecht will miss out!
For the moment we do have Antwerp ( a future giant again in Belgian football), KV Mechelen and Mouscron in the top 6. With Anderlecht and Genk missing out for the moment! Antwerp will probably secure a PO I spot, so the it will go between KV Mechelen and Mouscron. Or will Zulte be the one who steals it away! After starting with 2 looses, they haven’t lost a game in the next 6 rounds and won at home against Antwerp and Charleroi!
Round 9
The most interesting games of the next round are:
- Anderlecht vs Waasland-Beveren: For both teams a win is crucial but more for Anderlecht than for Waasland.
- St Truiden vs Genk: The only derby in Limburg. Genk needs a 3 pointer to not loose the connection with the top 6. Sint Truiden is improving week after week but their goal is to be as soon as possible secured for a prolonged stay in the Jupiler Pro League!
- KV Mechelen vs Club Brugge: This is also an interesting one. Playing away at KV Mechelen isn’t an easy task. So everything is possible.
- Mouscron vs Waregem: A win for Mouscron could increase the gap between the two teams to 6 points, which could be crucial at the end of the season for a spot in Play Off I!
Cheers,
Peter