Arjen Robben - Emperor In Eindhoven

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Basel 2-2 PSV | Champions League 2nd Qualifier | Dumfries, Malen
Ajax 5-0 PSV | Johan Cruijff Schaal | N/A
PSV 3-0 Basel | Champions League 2nd Qualifier | Rosario, Lammers, Hendrix
Groningen 0-1 PSV | Eredivisie | Lammers
PSV 1-2 Basaksehir | Champions League 3rd Qualifier | Lammers
PSV 1-0 Utrecht | Eredivisie | Dumfries
Basaksehir 2-3a PSV | Champions League 3rd Qualifier | Lammers, Silva x2
PSV 3-0 PEC Zwolle | Eredivisie | Kutucu, Lammers, Silva
PSV 2-0 Club Brugge | Champions League Best Placed Playoff | Rodriguez, Dumfries
PSV 4-0 AZ Alkmaar | Eredivisie | Malen x2, lammers, Rodriguez
Club Brugge 4-1 PSV | Champions League Best Placed Playoff | Kutucu
Willem II 0-2 PSV | Eredivisie | Silva x2, Lammers, Viergever

It's been a rough and tumble start for Arjen Robben and the lads at PSV. After jumping straight into a Champions league qualifier in which they drew 2-2, it was onto a cup final against biggest rivals Ajax only 3 days later. Talk about pressure.

Ajax hadn't won the shield since 2013, a 6 year barren spell in the competition. Though PSV were last years runner ups to Feyenoord meaning both sides had a score settle. Ajax were clear favourites and they held nothing back in showing why, ruthlessly destroying Eindhoven 5-0.

It took 45 minutes for Quincy Promes to score the opener and at half time PSV were by no means out of the game having had a lot of the ball in the first half and creating some good chances. It seemed though that the one goal would be enough for the flood gates to open completely.

Within 15 minutes Ajax had scored 4 more goals, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar rounding a superb performance off with a fantastic header from inside the 6 yard box. De Godenzonen had won it in their own back yard.

Back to the Champions League, it was all to play for with the tie level. PSV did however have an away goal advantage but after the last game they'll be taking nothing for granted. It was a performance that of which we were expecting from a team managed by an attacking player as good as Robben was.

Jorrit Hendrix scored his first goal of the season before Rosario followed it up a few minutes later with a close range shot at the keepers bottom left corner. Sam Lammers headed in the third goal, perfecting what would be Arjen's first win with PSV, and what a win too.

The season opener proved to be very much less exciting than the last 3 game with just the one goal between the two sides. It didn't take long for Sam Lammers to break the dead lock for PSV, just 25 minutes and all. Wheeling away in celebration Sam shared a hug with his new manager and a solid second half defensive performance gave Boeren their first 3 for the league season.

Going into the Champions League 3rd Qualifying round on a high it would be a shock to many to see PSV go down to a hard working Basaksehir side at the Phillip Stadion. It was Martin Skrtel of all people who headed in the Turkish sides winner. Donyell Marlen missed a late penalty which would have the clubs level going into the second game.

A second game in which we watched PSV run out as winners! We expected nothing less in the last game and somehow they fell short of the mark. It was by no means the best performance in the second leg but a 3-2 win would have them in the Best Placed Playoffs against Brugge in a weeks time. Fabio Silva was the hero in this one scoring 2 very late goals to put the Dutchmen through.

From here on, it was to be a FOUR match win streak. It looks like there's already no stopping Robben's men in the league. With wins against Utrecht and Zwolle, they had all the foundations ready to put in another sublime performance against Belgian outfit Club Brugge, and that they did. It was both the full backs who got the goals in this one as Brugge struggled to even get off a shot at goal. A thoroughly brilliant result here had them all but into the group stage.

AZ Almaar are often a Dutch side nearer the top of the league than anywhere else so it may come as a surprise to hear of their pasting to PSV. A whopping 4-0 away from home left Arne Slot's men feeling blue, and now Eindhoven were beginning to snow ball the results.

Then came pain and despair for the team. Playing against Brugge in the second leg, it was expected they'd win. Especially after keeping them from barely entering their final third in the last game. Brugge took the lead a little time before new signing Kutucu equalised and with that, it would be 3-1 on aggregate with the away goal.

Straight after, 2-1 Brugge. Disaster had struck, just one more goal would be enough to get Brugge back into the tie and go for the all important winner which they did. Bonaventure doubled his tally on the chime of 68 minutes and suddenly things had gone from bad to worse for PSV.

Mats Rits right at the end of the game left the away end in total shock scoring what would be the final game of a thrilling 4-3 tie. The home fans erupted, Club Brugge were in the Champions League again! PSV, would be on the way to Thursday night football.

In the wake of a busy and somewhat disheartening month - Eindhoven were able to end the month on a high beating Willem 4-0 which made for 8 goals in 2 games in the league. Funnily enough despite their considerable effort to be awful at defending in Europe, PSV hadn't conceded a single goal in the league after 5 games.

So one positive to take from all this, they go into September top of the league. Albeit on Goal Difference.


Now since we're well underway this year, it wouldn't be right to not take a look at who PSV have decided to bring in this Summer. Firstly, you've all guessed it already. Fabio Silva for a club record of around 16M. 7.5M paid up front with addons to be decided in the future dependant on appearances and goals.

Fabio has put in a brilliant effort to begin with scoring a couple of important Champions League goals, and netting 3 in his first 2 Eredivisie matches. Having only just turned 17 this month it's likely we'll see this young striker blossom into something special in the future.


The second signing, another striker. Ahmed Kutucu from Schalke 04. Another brilliant young striker to add to the list, PSV are absolutely stacked in this area now with lammers, Malen and Silva already competing for places. It's look like this team will be heavily attack minded. No surprise either.


Last but most certainly not least, David Vinhas. A young 16 year old centre back also from Porto just like Silva. Looks like he'll be coming in to help out with the slim numbers at centre back. Keep an eye on this one, could be very special in a few years time.


PSV have been looking fantastic in the league so far but falling short in the Champions League will certainly knock the confidence of fans in Robben. It's too early to tell really if things will be a success under the former Bayern Munich winger but we think so far things are looking relatively good.

It's likely that PSV will do much better in the Europa League than the Champions League so I think that's something for fans to look forward to. Other than that, I think you can expect to see a very competitive season at the top this year for Eindhoven.

One player imparticular that will be very important along the way is Donyell Marlen. He's been brilliant so far.

Some good signings there and a good start to the league season in spite of a battering in the Schaal. Disappointment against Brugge, but European football is still alive in the form of the Europa League. Good luck.

Scott: Was an awful way to fall out of the Champions League and miss out on a trophy. Here's hoping to better luck in future months

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SC Heerenveen 1-4 PSV | Eredivisie | Silva x2, Lammers, Rodriguez
PSV 5-0 Qarabag | Europa League Group G | Lammers x4, Veirgever
PSV 2-0 Sparta Rotterdam | Eredivisie | Silva, Lammers
RKC 0-3 PSV | Eredivisie | Malen x2, Lammers

After crashing out of the Champions League, PSV were entered into Group G of the Europa League where they would face Qarabag, Guimaraese, and Spartak Moscow. First up, were the Azerbaijani champions but not before suiting up away from home in the Eredivisie against SC Heerenveen.

Heerenveen had a roughly slow start to the season in August, of course they only played 4 games which was nothing compared to the 12 PSV had laid out for them between July and August. Then again, that's the price you have to pay when on the biggest stage in football.

Their opponents had just 6 points from 4 games and with the kind of form PSV were in, it was no surprise to see them run out 4-1 winners on the night putting in a fantastic display for their fans to watch. It was brilliant to see Fabio Silva getting another brace this season. The Portuguese striker has been ever present in the first team lately due to his performances, it's clear to say why. Lammers got his first of 7 goals this month, and Rodriguez rounded things off nicely with a wonderful free kick from distance.

Qarabag were unsurprisingly no match for PSV in a 5-0 romping. Lammers was on absolute fire in this one scoring 4 of the 5, there was nothing the opposition could do to contain the striker. Eindhoven's Europa League campaign was now underway and what a start it was.

There were 2 more games to be played in September against Sparta and RKC. Neither side were having any kind of luck so far with both of them losing most of their 6 games played. These are the types of games PSV will have to win in order to fight against the big boys in Amsterdam and they cleared them aside with overwhelming consistency.

All strikers have been on fire this month, but none more so than Lammers. a goal in every league game, and 4 in the Europa League. True brilliance. Fabio Silva was on form notching 3 in total and Malen got in amongst the competition putting 2 away against RKC in what would be PSV's 7th clean sheet of the season.

The defence in all parts are pulling their weight despite having very little quality/experience at centre back. The full backs department is well rounded but the middle men leave something to be desired despite recent performances.

Clinical stuff!

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3 months into life at PSV, Arjen Robben is enjoying all the benefits of football management stating he comes into training everyday with a keen eye to improve and bestow a sense of togetherness withing the team. With 8 wins from 8 league games and only 1 goal conceded it's clear for all to see that this team has what it takes to win games, and do so emphatically.

The main problem Robben reckons the club face though, is in the depth department. We caught up with Robben for the first time since his first game against Basel to see how he was enjoying his time with his new players.

It's a very different setting to come in to a club and suddenly you're in charge of all these players. Some young, some older. Some are nearly as old as me! I have enjoyed things so far though I think our performances in the league have been something good we can look back on and improve upon.

I love coming into training, I used to love it as a player but I can come in now and I can get involved with the ball but also to see the players every day developing in front of your eyes it's something that I've recently come to value a lot. I think maybe a lot of managers take this part for granted.

It's true I was never sure about coming in as a manager but now...I don't think I'll ever look back. Myself and the club has a lot of business left to be done and I'm determined to be successful here. Resilience is key.

PSV's latest win came against RKC in a 3-0 battering thanks to goals from new boy Silva and Sam Lammers. It was an entertaining game with Eindhoven completely in control from start to finish with leaves us with questions about a title challenge.

You know, I can't say too much. Ajax are a good team, there's a reason they're expected to win it and we have to give them respect, but not too much. I don't expect this team to go and win the league straight away, we've got a lot of building up to do.

Our time will come, for now let's just take it game by game and see where that takes us.

All of us PSV fans are looking forward to seeing how this season pans out for the team and the with the way Robben talks about the club, it's hard not to be excited.

Robben's PSV are bound to push Ajax all the way if they maintain this form. A clinical attack and a rock-solid defence. It sounds like a match made in heaven.

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Spartak Moscow 2-2 PSV | Europa League Group G | Lammers, Silva
Vitesse 0-0 PSV | Eredivisie | N/A
PSV 1-0 Heracles Almelo | Eredivisie | Malen
PSV 3-0 Vitoria De Guimaraese | Europa League Group G | Malen x3
PSV 3-0 HHC | KNVB Beker 1st Round | Manuhutu OG, Kutucu, Ihattaren

It never seems to get any easier standing on the sidelines and watching the game from the technical area. I only ever want to just jump on the pitch and attack with the ball myself. I've been tempted enough times. Still, part and parcel of getting used to a managerial role I suppose.

The progress we've been making on and off the pitch I've been really pleased with and I think our progress has shown on the field in our results. We've continued to go unbeaten this month drawing our second Europa League match to Spartak Moscow which was a shame, but to nick a point at the depth is nothing to be scoffed at.

Our clean sheet run in the league continues too. I'm by no means a defensive manager. I think that much is obvious. So our solid back four really needs a lot of praise for the work they've put in with the new defensive coaches I've brought in. All of these results can be credited to them, a brilliant effort but we mustn't take anything away from our 3 fantastic strikers - Lammers, Malen, Silva.

Each of them scored goals this month, Malen cropping up with a hattrick too. He's been coming into his own purple patch lately and I'm keen to see how far he takes it this year.

I have to be thankful for such creative full backs though too, and of course Ihattaren. Without them all our strikers would be feeding off scraps and none of this would be possible. Ihattaren reminds me a little of myself when I was younger, only a touch shorter and much more agile.

A victory against Guimaraes was a must and very important to getting us out of our group. We hit 7 points thanks to Malen's hattrick and with one more win from the next 3 games I feel we should be making our way into the round of 32 fairly soon.

The next round of the cup beckons as well, it will be Go Ahead Eagles and we'll play them at the end of December just before the winter break begins.

Next months a big one. We've Guimaraes and Spartak both in November and I'm hoping we put in a concerted effort to get out of the group in 1st place. Spartak are currently dominating the group so far. It would be very nice to beat them at the Phillip Stadion.



We've a game in hand on Ajax but even if we win we'll still be two points behind. They look a class above this year having not dropped points once yet. Pretty unbelievable run of form from them but with players like Ziyech, Neres and Tedic, are we surprised?

Wanted to point out guys in case it wasn't clear. I'm obviously updating between the perspectives of the media, robben, but as for the monthly updates ill be switching perspectives as I go just to keep things fresh! So I'm not changing the monthly update style with that last update, it's just something I intend to swap around with another point of view!

PSV will certainly push Ajax all the way with this form.

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PSV 5-1 ADO Den Haag | Eredivisie | Rodriguez, Malen x4
Vitoria De Guimaraes 2-2 PSV | Europa League Group G | Silva x2
FC Twente 1-3 PSV | Eredivisie | Malen, Silva x2
Fortuna Sittard 3-3 PSV | Eredivisie | Ninaj OG, Malen x2
Qarabag 1-0 PSV | Europa League Group G | N/A

In the first few months of the 2019/20 season PSV Eindhoven were showing great promise for a proper title challenge against big club Ajax, but in the month of November the side seem to have come slightly undone in the top division, and also in Europe.

They kicked off a busy month of football with a superb win over ADO Den Haag who were powerless in defence to stop the 2nd placed Rood-Witten. It was to be Donyell Malen as the man in form once again netting 4 goals, adding to his already fairly large tally. Riccardo Rodriguez buried home a free kick from 30 yards to open the scoring after 3 minutes - From there onwards it was no coming back.

Aaron Meijers was able to score a consolation despite PSV's clear defensive strengths this year. That would make it only 2 goals conceded in 9 games.

Europe is never an easy ride but you'd be forgiven for thinking this next result was by all means poor. 2-2 at FT to Vitoria De Guimaraes who at one point were actually 2 goals to the good. It was left to inform striker Fabio Silva to get Robben's side back in it which he did on 85 minutes.

On the 90th minute, elation for the PSV fans. Silva headed home securing a brace of his own and saving a his team from dropping out of the top 2.

Twente were next in the league and it was to be those two men up top again. Malen and Silva. Despite conceding first, Boeren proved to be un-phased getting back into the game with a lovely strike from Marlen on 15 minutes.

It took for Silva to come off the bench but it doesn't matter how you get them, as long as you do. A 72nd minute would see them in front of yet another league game. As the game drew on the Portuguese poacher was on hand to latch onto a Hendrix corner ball, thumping into the top corner with his head.

Dropped points again to Fortuna Sittard and oh how it will hurt them. From 3-1 up in the 78th minute to 3-3 at full time. You wouldn't have expected it from this side and how they've been at the back this year, maybe it was just one of those days. A 92nd minute equaliser is sure to takeaway from the confidence they've been building in domestic football.

Ending the month on a massive low. A win in this next game would mean qualification to the next round of the Europa league but a second string team against a resilient Qarabag would be unable to get the job done despite how much faith Arjen may have in them.

1-0 the final score in the direction of the Azerbaijan title holders. A very shocking result indeed, and one that could prove to be detrimental in their such for European Success. A win against Spartak Moscow before Christmas is a must win now.


Second in the league with a game in hand is nothing to be scoffed at, and they've 2 games on Feyenoord just behind them already being a point clear of 3rd. PSV find themselves in a commanding position, seeing out December in the same form they've been all season will surely secure a good position in those Champions League spots.

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PSV 2-3 VVV Venlo | Eredivisie | Malen
Feyenoord 3-1 PSV | Eredivisie | Silva
PSV 2-0 RKC | Eredivisie | Hendrix, Malen
PSV 1-2 Spartak Moscow | Europa League Group G | Baumgartl
FC Emmen 1-1 PSV | Eredivisie | Malen
Go Ahead Eagles 1-1p PSV | KNVB Beker 2nd Round | Silva
Heracles Almelo 2-3 PSV | Eredivisie | Lammers, Gutierrez

When I first heard the news break of Robben joining PSV I have to say I felt a mixed state of emotions. Signing former players and legends as manager purely off the basis off their playing career never usually sits right with me but everyone has to start somewhere I guess, I just didn't think that for Robben it would be with us.

Recently he's changed my opinion. We've been playing some really good football winning lots in the league as expected but the most notable part has got to be the defence. It was iffy last month but before that what a run!

I've been really impressed with Fabio Silva and Donyell Malen. we know how good Malen is already but Silva has come in and it seems as though their partnership is propelling them to become even better. Lammers has also featured quite a lot, and he's impressed too.

December was rough for all of us though. One win in the league, 2 wins from 8 in total. I don't know what happened but it seemed that after we very disappointingly fell out of Europe to Spartak - We experienced what can only be described as a European hangover. It was a rubbish performance, it hasn't been good enough in Europe. Hopefully if Arjen stays he can rectify things next season.

Due to a bad run in the league around the Christmas period we've dropped out of the top 2. We've not got much to focus on so we need to give it our all and get back into second place. It's so important we make the Champions League next year.

It wasn't such a surprise to lose to Feyenoord although I know we can beat them on our day. But Venlo, Emmen, Heracles?? 1 point out of 9 is disgustingly bad especially against such poor sides. The only saving grace really has been our strike force somewhat making us look a lot less terrible than we've been.

The defence needs to buck their ideas up. It's gone from one extreme to the next, we should really find that middle ground before it becomes to big of an issue. We're still in contention for Champions League but...For how long?

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There's been no kind of business for players coming in this window. The short and simple reason is that we spent our money in the summer and we couldn't afford anyone. This didn't stop us from breaking even and in the end earning a small profit.

I hadn't intended to sell anyone other than Bruma as he wasn't featuring at all for us and wanted to leave. I granted his request to move to Newcastle and he left the club on deadline day for a 6M Euro fee. (4.2M upfront)

The minute he left it seemed his value shot right up and I was left feeling maybe I could've gotten more. We were paying 55K a week for him which was the most of any player and it was good to get him off the bill, especially as he never performed, or played.


The second player to leave was Viergever shortly after the window opened actually but I felt it necessary to put in here. He's off to the Chinese Super League to play with HB China Fortune. A 30 year old left back playing mostly from the bench and we've some how gotten 18M for him. Not bad all things considered, it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up - but it means we're left shorter at the back.


Last...And least on the financial front. Ibrahim Afellay. Many considered him to be front runner for captaincy at the start of the season but me? Not a chance. Technically he's gifted but I can't be having players always sidelined to injury.

His physicality is really not good enough and I think he knows that too. Standard Liege were happy to part with a small fee of 425K for him and I was more than happy to take it.


We've got issues at the back, I know. But for half a season I can put up with the faith I have in our younger players. David Vinhas has come in recently and as a 16 year old starting at the back for PSV, has been brilliant.

Looking forward to a summer window.

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Utrecht 2-1 PSV | Eredivisie | Silva
VVV Venlo 1-3 PSV | KNVB Beker 3rd Round | Malen, Madueke, Ihattaren
PSV 4-0 FC Groningen | Eredivisie | Malen x2, Gakpo, Madueke

Last month was far too short of the mark from us. We dropped out of the Europa League in a quite awful fashion. There are silver linings to every cloud though and I think this will allow us to focus on getting back into the Champions League where we should be.

We continued to disappoint from the get go in February putting in bad performances in our friendlies against Mainz and Craiova.

The next competitive game we played was against Utrecht - Another loss would send us packing into 4th place. Utrecht took the lead before Fabio Silva equalised scoring yet another goal for us. I felt we could go on to win the game as they ended up with a red card in only the 30th minute.

I was wrong. A well placed free kick found the head of Kerk in our box, 2-1. We were dismembered by 10 men and embarrassed ourselves in front of the nation. I made my feelings clear to the team. Utrecht are 1 place below us.

We made it through to the cup quarter finals smashing Venlo 3-1 away from home. We really stepped up our game here after a slight tactical change. I thought maybe we were being found out too easily on the wings so I packed the flanks with Madueke and Gakpo - Madueke got himself his first goal for the club whilst assisting both Ihattaren and Malen.

We kept going with the new tactic against Groningen. Madueke and Gakpo stepped back onto the field after some good performances. I was right to have faith in them as Madueke scored the first goal of the game before notching another 2 assists for Malen just ahead of him.

Gakpo rounded off the scoring, and suddenly things were starting to look much much better.


We find ourselves 7 points behind the top 2 with a game in hand. Big performances are needed in the next few games to see us back into where we belong. Sadly I think Ajax are out of reach, as we've known for a while.

This is great so far, really enjoying it and PSV is a intriguing team