ADO Den Haag - On The Rise

ADO Den Haag are pleased to announce that former Ajax B team manager Alfons Groenendijk has signed a one year deal with the dutch side. Alfons has moved up a division into the top flight, the dutch Eredivisie and has expressed his excitement about being able to test his skills at the highest level in dutch football and looks forward to coming up against the big hitters in the league, he has had the following to say about his recent appointment:

"I'm very excited that I have the chance to manage this fantastic club, Den Haag used to be one of the big hitters in the dutch league, you've only to look at the past of this club when it did the double back in the 40's. But of course that is the past and this is the present."

"I intend to do my very best by this club and am hopeful that I can eventually lead this club to becoming title contenders and challenge in Europe, of course it will be difficult and will take a while but I have complete confidence in myself as a manager and I am looking forward to this challenge."

"It is an overwhelming feeling that I'm going to be able to manage in the Eredivisie and come up against some of the countries elite clubs, the likes of Ajax, Twente, Feyenoord and PSV along with the others are bound to make for a very interesting season indeeed."

"I've already spoken to the chairman here and like me he shares the same ambition and wants to return this club to the glory days of the 40's, he has bought into my plans and hopefully together we can go on to accomplish great things. Hopefully the players will buy into what we're trying to do here and everything will go well, I'm very much looking forward to meeting them and also cracking on with preseason."


Hello everyone and welcome to my latest story, I had a couple of attempts at some stories a while ago but since have been on a long break from all things football manager and have cracked on with my personal life. I've got a lot of spare time on my hands as of late and I thought I'd come back and play some FM and document it for you to follow.

I have set myself some goals for the team and also on a personal level that I'd like to achieve in this story and that is the following:

• Win the Eredivisie
• Win the Dutch Cup
• Win the Dutch Super Cup
• Qualify for Continental Football
• Become a force in Europe
• Produce Quality Youngsters for the Senior Team

I hope you enjoy this story and join me for the journey, it's bound to have it's ups and downs, twists and turns. It's also good to be back!

Good luck Bantams!

YOU'RE BACK!

I've been at the club a couple of days now and I have had time to look at the club in much greater detail. I now know the areas that need improvement in both the playing team and also the faculties, we could do with bringing in a couple of new faces to implement the system I intend to enforce:


The main tactic that we will be using is the 5-3-2, this is because it can offer us both strength going forward and also stability at the back. It is a tactic that I have tried at my previous club Ajax B and it worked for the youngsters so I have no doubts it is the style I want to use here at Den Haag.


Having the three central defenders will benefit us when it comes to defending and also from set pieces, we will have three powerful presences in both boxes so it works well with both attack and defence, all of the centre backs will be traditional and have the role of defending, nothing to fancy just simple go out there and do the job.

The wing backs have the job of bombing forward but also have the responsibility of getting back the help the three others in defence when the opposition is on the attack, the left wing back has the duty of attack, this is because of the defensive role of the left centre midfielder as he will fill in when the wing back bombs forward. The right wing back is just automatic, he does his defensive duties and also offers himself in the attack

The two in the deeper midfield positions' job is to simply piece together defence and attack, they offer stability in the team and always should work to be available for a pass and then be able to play the ball forward, the player on the left of the two's job is to defend and cover for when the wingback bombs forward, but the job of the one on the right is to act as a deeper play maker, looking to play some through balls for the attacking midfielder and also the strikers to run onto and hopefully score, he has the freedom to get forward also to aid in attack.

The more advanced of the midfield three's job is to aid in attack and almost work as a third forward. he has the freedom to do whatever he likes, as long as it is within reason, he has the freedom to roam down to either wing and also stay central, he is the heart of this team and will add flair to the side.

And the two forwards, obviously are there to score the goals. Of course I want the rest of the team to chip in when needed but it is mainly down to the forward two to get them.

Hopefully once the team has adjusted to the tactic and I bring some fresh faces in then we can have a real good go of things this season, and will be able to compete in every match thrown at us, whether it be against the leagues strongest players of the weaker sides.


Walter - Thanks Walt

Josh - Indeed I am bro, its been too long!

Nice tactic and great writeup! Be interesting to see how his does!

Good job you're not playing in the BPL with that 3-5-2

Just days after becoming in charge at ADO Den Haag, new manager Alfons Groenendijk has wasted no time in bolstering his squad for the new campaign. He has signed no less than three new players so far and they all look to fit in with the new managers philosophy.


First to join is young Italian wing back, Chistiano Biraghi. He joins from Inter Milan on a free transfer, a fee of around £67,900 was agreed in compensation for the young starlet to be signed. He has penned a three year deal, rumoured to be on around £8,500-a-week

The second signing is that of Yuki Otsu, he joines from VVV Venlo of the Jupiler league, Otsu joins for a fee of around £850,000 and can operate anywhere along the advanced positions in midfield. He has a number of international caps to his name and has also played at the highest level with former employers VVV Venlo before they were relegated.

And the final signing of the three is that of Stefan Strandberg, he joins from Norwegian side Rosenborg for a fee of around £300,000. He is a commanding centre half with a bright future ahead of him and has already been tipped to be the next big star for Norway once he wins his first cap.

Den Haag manager Groenendijk has had the followqing to say:

"I'm delighted to have signed these three players, they are very talented, young players with a huge future ahead of them. I believe they can help this team reach new heights. I wouldn't have bought them had I not thought this, the fans are going to love to watch them. I've already spoken to the new arrivals and they are as excited to be here as I am, and they can't wait to put on that famous yellow and green jersey!"

When quizzed about the possibility of new arrivals Groenendijk had this to say:

"We never stop looking for ways to improve our team, but if there was to be any more additions, it would have to be the right kind of player. Somebody who will fit in with the tactic, and what we are trying to acheive here. I need players that are willing to go out there and give everything they have to get a result week in week out. I want a dressing room full of strong personalities and winners, so it would have to be a player that has the right make-up as well. I wont rule anything in or out at this stage."


Walter - Thanks Walt, I'll be sure to catch up on the Oriental Story, have a lot to read by the looks of things!

Josh - I know right, I'd be winless like United

Solid signings and an interesting little story brewing here mate!

This looks like it's going to be a good story! I will be following

Great start here buddy, well written and nicely presented!
Best of luck with the story

Good luck mate, nice transfers

Den Haag have continued to add to their squad ahead of the new Eredivisie season, they have managed to bring in a further three recruits in time for pre-season.

Left to Right: Alex Grimaldo, Mikel Arruabarrena & Paulao

Young wing-back Alex Grimaldo joins Den Haag from Catalan club Barcelona on a free transfer, with a compensation fee of around £475,000 being agreed with the Spanish side, he has a bright future ahead of him and the Sky Sports scout report has him down for one for the future, he is widely tipped to be the next Jordi Alba.

Mikel Arruabarrena joins from newly promoted side Eibar in the Liga BBVA, Mikel joins for a fee of £170,000. He has spent four seasons with the Spanish side and has managed to notch up 48 goals in the process.

The last of the three to sign was defender Paulao, the experienced Brazillian centre-half has had a relatively successful career and has played for top teams in Brazil as well as established teams in Europe. Paulao joins on a free transfer after he was recently released from Betis.

Manager Groenendijk has had this to say about the clubs transfer dealings:

"I'm very pleased at where we are at now, with these three additions we have a team capable of having a real good go of things this season. I'm also very impressed with the chairman and the director of football, I went to them with a list of names and they have duly delivered. I'm looking forward to the new signings being able to meet up with the squad for pre-season and hopefully they can give us something extra going forward."


A huge thank you to everyone that has shown an interest in this story so far, and for all the great comments I have received. It means a lot coming from some of the best story writers on the site, and keeps me motivated to keep the updates coming!

My first preseason in charge at ADO Den Haag, and if truth be told it couldn't have gone any more smoothly. We competed at a level that I was satisfied with in every game, we left nothing down to luck and we made sure in each and every game that we made a good account of ourselves.

Four wins out of the four games was a great return, and it's full credit to the lads for what they've gone and done there. Yes there was some relatively easy opposition, but there also was the two fixtures at the end which were more challenging. I was particularly pleased with the performance against Swansea, we held our own against one of the top sides in England, they play superb football and we managed to get a well fought out win against them.

Everything seems to be going swimmingly heading into the new season, the lads have adapted to the new system well and they also seem to be enjoying their training. They're a committed set of lads here with great personalities, they're fully prepared and are raring to go against Zwolle on the 4th of August.

Haha yes Grimaldo! He develops so quickly! Great pre-season by the way!

Great preseason! Only one goal conceded in it, too, which is promising