The Club of the People: Feyenoord Rotterdam

2017-05-29 21:12#243132 Justice : Top of the league by a very strong margin! If you can manage to expand this gap by a few points by the turn of the year, the title will certainly be yours to lose!

We're looking good and really starting to gather some momentum, especially in our performances! Some more good results and we'll be well set for a big run at the title come the turn of the year!

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08 December 2016

Jorgensen Double Seals Win

A brace from Nicolai Jorgensen was enough to secure a win for Feyenoord on the final game of their Group Stage campaign. With top spot having already been secured Giovanni van Bronckhorst knew that the pressure was off but his side still were the better team and enjoyed the better of the game and ultimately picked up the three points that meant BATE ended their campaign with nothing to show for their efforts. The game served as a perfect way to bounce back from the weekends disappointing defeat against SC Heerenveen. Meanwhile, elsewhere in Group G, Shakhtar beat Astra Giurgiu by a single goal to secure their place in the knockout stage and their place in Mondays draw.

A lovely passing move from Feyenoord saw Eljero Elia slipped through on goal after only 7 minutes as the Dutch winger took his time before calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner of the goal. Again Feyenoord spread the ball around the pitch with pace and urgency in the 13th minute and Nicolai Jorgensen this time found himself one on one with the BATE goalkeeper before nestling the ball in the back of the net. Vladislav Svirkov though was able to pull one back just over a minute later with a cushioned header which should have been dealt with better by Brad Jones, meaning speculation over his place in the team is likely to only increase as the January window approaches. Nicolai Jorgensen scored his second goal of the game in the 33rd minute with a simple curled finish to seal a big 3-1 win for Feyenoord.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst, speaking to the media after the game was happy with his sides performance and their ability to keep their feet fully pressed on the accelerator despite having already sealed top spot in the Group. ”We were very pleasing tonight and put a good side to the sword with a good performance. To play as well as that with nothing to play for shows the professionalism in this squad and the sides ability to focus on matters on the pitch and that bodes well going into the games against whoever we draw on Monday.”

A great way to finish the group stage, only dropping two points in a difficult group at that. Hoping for an easier tie in the knockouts!

Shakhtar must have had a nervy game against Astra! Good to see you keep form and win the final game, a big boost to the club's European co-efficient for the following seasons!

2017-05-30 15:10#243146 ScottT : A great way to finish the group stage, only dropping two points in a difficult group at that. Hoping for an easier tie in the knockouts!

I realise this is FM but only dropping 2 points in a group that contains 3 trips to eastern europe is a very good return for us!

2017-05-30 21:02#243160 Justice : Shakhtar must have had a nervy game against Astra! Good to see you keep form and win the final game, a big boost to the club's European co-efficient for the following seasons!

Very tense affair indeed but like you said we've done ourselves a huge favour so onwards and upwards!

Feyenoord, AZ Alkmaar and Ajax all topped their groups in the UEFA Europa League.
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12 December 2016

Eredivisie Sides Handed Tough Draw In Europa League

The draw for the Round of 32 in the UEFA Europa League has not been very kind to the three remaining Eredivisie sides. With AZ Alkmaar, Ajax and Feyenoord all topping their respective groups, all three sides would have been hoping to receive kind draws with their first legs being played away from their various homes. However kind draws were not received, especially for AZ and Ajax with trips to Spain and France to come for the two sides, whilst Feyenoord will travel to Moscow in their attempts to reach the next round.

AZ Alkmaar will travel to Spain to meet Celta Vigo, who under Eduardo Berizzo’s guidance finished second in Group I behind Schalke and ahead of Rosenborg and APOEL. Celta currently sit 9th in La Liga having prioritised the Europa League during the first half of the season, but possess players of high quality including Iago Aspas and former Ajax midfielder Daniel Wass. Feyenoord will travel to Eastern Europe once again having beaten Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine, Astra Giurgiu of Romania and BATE Barysaw of Belarus to top spot in Group G, whilst Peter Bosz’s Ajax side will travel to Paris to face the current French Champions PSG over the two legged ties of the Round of 32.

Speaking to Eredivisie.nl, Feyenoord manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst said he was confident that his side could progress from their tie. ”Spartak are a good side but we’ve been to more difficult places so far in this campaign and come away with the win so I am confident we can go to Moscow and beat them. We have a good side in a good vein of form and are more than capable of reaching the next round.”

Full details of the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 can be found below:

You have a very winnable draw and so does Celtic haha.

Very tough draw for the Dutch teams indeed! Grind out some sort of result at Moscow, and then you should be able to take hold of the tie in the second leg. I don't think I can say the same for Ajax's chances, however....

2017-05-31 10:57#243172 MJK46 : You have a very winnable draw and so does Celtic haha.

Tbh I'm not too sure about it, they've got a lethal strike force that could prove to be our undoing!

2017-05-31 18:25#243180 Justice : Very tough draw for the Dutch teams indeed! Grind out some sort of result at Moscow, and then you should be able to take hold of the tie in the second leg. I don't think I can say the same for Ajax's chances, however....

I fear for both Ajax and AZ who've both got very tough draws! If we can take a draw in Moscow we can beat anyone on our day at De Kuip so it is possible!

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13 December 2016

Brad Jones’ Heroics Win Shoot Out For Feyenoord

Four saves from Feyenoord goalkeeper Brad Jones in a penalty shootout earnt Feyenoord a place in the Quarter Finals of the KNVB Beker after a 1-1 draw with FC Groningen. Feyenoord had dominated the tie but a lack of ability to finish off their chances meant that the game had descended into extra time, an unwanted consequence for both sides considering their league games the following weekend. In extra time both sides had chances to win the tie but goalkeepers Sergio Padt and Brad Jones again pulled off heroic saves to deny their opposition and send the game to a penalty shootout and ensure the game ended in nerves for both sides.

Some sloppy defending from Feyenoord had gifted Groningen the lead in only the 13th minute as Tim Freriks was able to tap home Bryan Linssen’s low driven cross to put Feyenoord fans on edge. However the visiting manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst soon switched things around forcing his side to go forward with more pace and in a more attacking manner and their approach caught Groningen off guard straight after half time as Bilal Basacikoglu slotted home after just 30 seconds of the second half to make it 1-1. Aforementioned chances went begging in the remaining period of the game before a stunning save from Sergio Padt late on in extra time denied Dirk Kuyt from scoring his first goal since the Johann Cruijff Schaal back in August. In the shootout, Brad Jones really turned on the style, making four saves from Bryan Linsson, Juninho Bacuna, Keziah Veendorp and Yoran Popovic to earn Feyenoord their place in the Quarter Finals.

Speaking to FOX Sports after the game, the goalkeeper praised the work undertaken with Feyenoord’s goalkeeping coach Bas van Noortwijk for sealing Feyenoord’s place in the Quarter Finals. ”We did a lot of work in the build up to this game on penalties just in case the tie did go all the way and fortunately that work paid off. We studied a lot of tapes and tried to figure out which way their most likely takers would go and thankfully it worked and now we’re in another huge quarter final and looking strong going into the rest of the competition.”

Firstly, a difficult tie against Spartak but certainly one you can overcome considering you've beaten similar sides like Shakhtar within the group stage. Congrats on overcoming Groningen on penalties, they're a tough side on their day but hopefully after this you can continue your run and go and win the whole competition.

A penalty shoot-out which finished 2-1 must have shattered your nerves! To come out on top in such a situation is remarkable, hats off to Super Brad for rising to the occasion!

2017-06-01 20:21#243206 ScottT : Firstly, a difficult tie against Spartak but certainly one you can overcome considering you've beaten similar sides like Shakhtar within the group stage. Congrats on overcoming Groningen on penalties, they're a tough side on their day but hopefully after this you can continue your run and go and win the whole competition.

Yeah Spartak wont be easy but if we can grab an away goal and take a draw from Moscow we're more than in with a chance!

We beat them the hard way but we beat them and now we're one step away from the final and a chance to defend the trophy!

2017-06-01 20:26#243208 Justice : A penalty shoot-out which finished 2-1 must have shattered your nerves! To come out on top in such a situation is remarkable, hats off to Super Brad for rising to the occasion!

Penalty shoot-outs are stressful enough without my takers being unable to hit the target! Thankfully Super Brad turned up, not his alter ego who can be error prone!

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15 December 2016

van Bronckhorst: “We Will Not Be Forced Into Selling Anyone”

Speaking to Feyenoord.com, manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst today reiterated his desire to strengthen his side once the January transfer window arrives. Whilst the playing squad will be in the middle of a mid-season break, van Bronckhorst and his scouting staff will be busy trying to work out whether or not their will be any new faces joining the side in the coming transfer window. However van Bronckhorst also stated that there would not be major outgoings at De Kuip over the course of January despite growing amounts of rumours regarding certain members of his first team squad.

Several first team players including Sven van Beek, Terence Kongolo, Jens Toornstra and Tonny Vilhena have all been linked with moves to various clubs around Europe such as AC Milan, Olympique de Marseille and SSC Napoli. However van Bronckhorst has denied that there has been any contact from any club rumoured to be interested in any of his players. ”There has been no contact from any club considered to be amongst Europes ‘top clubs.’ Nor do we fear losing any of our players and we will not be bullied into losing any of our players from clubs that feel they have the right to just poach them from us. All of our players are dedicated to what we’re trying to achieve here and hopefully we can achieve a lot of what other clubs can offer them next season.”

van Bronckhorst did add that a few players would be leaving the club on loan, including Wessel Dammers, who had personally approached the manager in desire of a move away from the club on loan. ”Wessel has approached me yes and asked for a loan move and it is likely that we will try and find him somewhere. We value him very highly here but he wants to play and if another club can offer him games in the short term then it is in our best interests to let him get that game time.” The Manager also added that there may be one or two players joining Feyenoord if he had his way. ”We are interested in a few players yes, and we will go about trying to get the best deal for them once the window is open and we’re in the mid-season break and don’t have to worry about preparing for an upcoming game for a little while.”

I love that!! Hopefully you can keep your players for a long time and if you have to make sure you have a very nice release clause to their contracts just in case as you want a payday lol.