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From the Job Centre to the Boardroom - Story won't continue

Started on 6 December 2013 by k1rups
Latest Reply on 15 December 2013 by k1rups
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11 yearsEdited

The Search Is Over!


End of September. Edwin van der Sar has a new job as a manager. Wow this feels very strange and odd. After my interviews with the aforementioned teams, I faced another wide range of choices. The thing is, nothing excited me and I suddenly realised why. It’s because I wanted to stay in Holland and start my career here. I started my playing career here and I realised there was nothing I wanted more than to start managing here. There came two opportunities just as I was flying back home. FC Twente and De Graafschap both sacked their managers. I knew Twente was a step too far too early and immediately got an interview at De Graafschap.

Two days passed and I got a call back from the two chairman offering me the job. It was a basic salary of £1,200 per week for two years but I knew this was it. Guus Hiddink is one of the most famous names associated with the club. The club has won promotion from the Jupiler League 3 times, most recently in 2010 and I plan on bringing back some form of top league stability to this club.

The squad has a lot of young talent and I believe there are some great players here who can take us forward positively. However, finances aren’t in a good place right now and the club is over the wage limit. This will be a struggle to bring in players or to even resign the better players so I will have to be smart in how I deal with this.

I had a great feeling about the club and I accepted the offer. I sped off to the club to sign the contract and meet the rest of the staff.

I think De Graafschap was the right choice out of the two clubs, be good to see how you deal with the wages etc. Good luck!
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De Graafschap, always good when people join teams that I can't pronounce! :D
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De Graafschap


Having spent months figuring out where I was supposed to be, this felt right. I drove in the next day after signing my contract and popped in to see my new office. The training complex isn’t anything amazing but the club has good enough facilities to see us push for promotion and I believe anything is possible. I had a quick meeting with the chairman and he told me I would have exactly £47,540 to spend on transfers but we are already over the wage budget by £10,000. This wasn’t good especially as many of the players are on low wages. We set up a quick press conference and I could be formally introduced to the media and fans.

It is a very different experience sitting in front of the journalists as a manager instead of a player but I could feel myself handling it well. I felt assertive and I was able to show my passion for the club and the opportunity I had.

The press conference finished and I headed back to my office. Just as I took a moment for it all to sink in, I noticed something on my desk. It was a stack of papers with a note on the top with my name on it, with the top one being the team report. I called in my assistant; Jan Vreman who I wasn’t sure, would be at the club much longer and we had a long chat about the players there and how they are ranked against each other. We had some great players for this level and I felt that we could challenge comfortably but there were also many that could leave and I knew already who wouldn’t be here much longer.


It was obvious that we needed to strengthen in many positions but the summer transfer window was already done and dusted and I would have to wait until January to try and bring in some players. I felt loans would be much better for the short term in January and to try and secure our future in the next division.

One other issue was the fact we had 5 players out with long term injuries. It signified issues with the level of physios in the club and I had to address this asap, alongside other staffing deficiencies. This wasn’t a small challenge but I was ready to take it on and prove I can make the best of what I have around me and go even further than that.
Really nice update, it's really enjoyable to read! Hopefully you'll be able to cope with the injures in the squad.
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2013-12-10 21:43#148720 Nick : Really nice update, it's really enjoyable to read! Hopefully you'll be able to cope with the injures in the squad.

Thanks mate! Glad you're enjoying it

Tactics


We only have 4 days before my first game in charge against FC Utrect. They’re not the best team in the league by far and I know we have a good set of lads ready to go out and play but the issue is tactics. How do I get them playing the way I want with only 4 days to prepare?? This wasn’t going to happen but I needed to decide how to set the team up going forward. I decided I would chat with Jan and figure out what the best three tactics are so we can make a quick start.

With modern football where it’s at now, the traditional 4-4-2 just doesn’t really work and managers are expected to be inventive and different. I knew there would be two tactics I would try and implement because I have been a big fan of them but they also allow the team to break effectively on the counter.

The first is a 4-1-2-2-1 with an anchor man, two central midfielders, two wingers and a striker.


The second is a 4-2-2-2 with very wide attacking wingers. On the counter this is an excellent tactic with fast players so I hope this works out very well.


The third and final one I would like to bring in is a 4-4-2 diamond. The central attacking midfielder is expected to drop off and play in central midfield when defending but going forward should chip in with a few goals.

Some nice tactics, hopefully they can work in your favour.
Nice tactics, and a nice explanation for dem newbs haha!
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Good luck at De Graafschap, you have some nice tactics so hopefully you will do well :)
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Key Players


Having spent most of the first day in my office, I decided to step out and watch some of the players training. I will take full control of training once all the admin is out of the way and we can get playing some fantastic football.

The players were just doing a basic passing and shooting drill but even then I was able to see flashes of brilliance from a few players. I stepped in and decided we would play a few 7 on 7 games to see where the quality really lies and whom I can make the focal point of my team.

The current captain, Frank van Kouwen really stepped up and showed me why he was captain. Jan rates him very highly and I was able to see why. He’s a great presence in the middle of the park and does very well in marking his opponent. His set pieces are also quite strong.


We also have a strong young centre back who impressed me, especially in the air. He has a steely look of determination about him and works very hard. He will definitely be a key player this season.


The third player I believe will have a strong impact on our season and has just signed a new contract is Tim Vincken. He has a lot of pace about him and is also one of the better dribblers of the ball. He will hopefully be able to inject a bit of flair in to our play.

Pretty good signings. Hopefully the can contribute right away.
2013-12-11 16:18#148796 BayernAmerica : Pretty good signings. Hopefully the can contribute right away.

They aren't signings lol they're already at the club as I joined at the end of September the transfer window was already shut
2013-12-11 11:40#148799 k1rups :
2013-12-11 16:18#148796 BayernAmerica : Pretty good signings. Hopefully the can contribute right away.

They aren't signings lol they're already at the club as I joined at the end of September the transfer window was already shut

My bad man!! Anyways good luck.

Match Updates October




Thursday 26th September 2013 – KNVB Beker 2nd Round – de Vijverberg, Doetinchem – Att. 10,705

De Graafschap 3 – 5 FC Utrecht

Vincken
Velda
van der Meulen

Sunday 29th September 2013 – Jupiler League – de Vijverberg, Doetinchem – Att. 7,818

De Graafschap 1 – 0 FC Dordrecht

Veldmate

Friday 4th October 2013 – Jupiler League – de Vijverberg, Doetinchem – Att. 7,801

De Graafschap 5 – 2 Jong Ajax

Riedewald

Vincken

van de Pavert x2

Veerman

Friday 11th October 2013 – Jupiler League – Philips Stadion, Eindhoven – Att. 700

Jong PSV 0 – 1 De Graafschap

Groenendijk

Friday 18th October 2013 – Jupiler League – de Vijverberg, Doetinchem – Att. 7,806

De Graafschap 3 – 0 Jong FC Twente

Breinburg
van de Pavert
van Kouwen

Friday 25th October 2013 – Jupiler League – de Vijverberg, Doetinchem – Att. 9,917

De Graafschap 0 – 0 Helmond Sport


Friday 1st November 2013 – Jupiler League – Mitsubishi Forklift Stadion, Almere – Att. 2,009

Almere City 0 – 4 De Graafschap

van de Pavert
Parzyszek x2
van Kouwen


League Table


My first game in charge was absolutely insane. Losing 5-3 was not a good start and defensively we were all over the place. FC Utrecht were bottom of Eredivise at the time and we could have and should have won but there were some positives to take. After that we went on a solid run after starting in the league in 13th. We’re back in the hunt for promotion and the boys are positive they can go on and keep fighting!

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