A New Era in Dutch Football - Vitesse

Transfers Out



So we'll start with the end of the transfer window as everything got a bit mental as offers came in and turned peoples heads so they had no place in the squad. First was Lovro Majer who had his head turned by Manchester United and he handed a transfer request in after the first bid was rejected but we made a £21 million profit so that's not too bad. Next on deadline day our main man Buitink left for Arsenal for 73 million. It was the 2nd time he'd thrown his toys out the pram so was happy to let him go as he under performed last season and for £73 million it was too much to turn down. We then saw Toni Lato leave for PSV where we made £17 million profit. Perez left for Az where we made a £13.5 million profit. The last piece of business was Tarin leaving for Az as well where we make another £5 million profit. It was a much busier end to the window than I expected and wanted for outgoings but if players don't want to be part of the clubs journey then off they go.

Transfers In



I decided that this season that if one of our players leaves then if we can replace them with a dutch player of similar or better capability then we will go after the,. First in we snapped up Mohamed Ihttaren from PSV for £20 million to replace Majer. We then returned to PSV to sign Donyell Malen for a whopping £47 million to replace Buitink as we have also lost Cohen for 6 months thanks to a broken leg. We then went to Az to bring in Kenzo Goudmijn who will play backup in central midfield. With Lato leaving we revinvested the cash plus a bit more to bring in Alphonso Davies who should do well in theis league. We also went to Nantes to sign Thomas Basila who will be form a strong partnership with Bella-Kotchap over the next few seasons. Finally with Perez leaving we needed another RW and we sign young Portuguese winger Rogerio Oliveira from Basel. £10.5 million is a lot for an 18 year old but hopefully we will reap the rewards.



August



Now down to the league action and we have a great month with going unbeaten and only conceding 1 goal as while scoring 12. First up against Willem II we fell 1-0 behind before Unuvar, Bella-Kotchap, Majer and Buitink get the goals. Against VVV-Venlo Bella-Kotchap gets another 2 goals to make it 3 from the opening 2 games. Ajax were not match for us at all in the first meeting as Majer and Buitink sweep them aside with a goal each. Against De Graafshap we has already accepted the offer on Buitink so Cohen was given his chance and took it with getting the opening goal before Cakirefe got the second but late in the game thanks to a terrible tackle Cohen came away with a broken leg and will be out for 6 months. In the final game Ihattaren opens his account for the club in only the 2nd minute before Buitink gets the 2nd in the 16th minute.

League



Champions League



Its probably one of the easier groups of the Champions League this year and I believe if we perform then we should hopefully get into the top 2 this year.

September

Injuries



So to show how hard this month is going to be we are missing a number of key players for a number of weeks if not months. We even start the month with no fit strikers. We even recalled Arezo from his loan to cover and he even managed to get injured in training as well

September



Against Az it was a ping pong battle with us taking the lead 3 times. Schiappacasse is having to play as striker and he has stepped into the role well with 2 goals before Ihattaren got the winner. Against Benfica they just proved too strong as we fell 2-0 behind before Schiappacasse grabs a consolation goal but 2-1 was respectable with the players we are missing. We nearly throw away a 3-0 lead against Cambuur but the goals from Schiappacasse, Unuvar and a debut goal from Oliveira were enough to see us get the 3 points. The defence came together against Feyenoord as we kept a clean sheet and the goals came from Araujo before Alena got a brace. We round the month off with getting our first win of the Champions League as we put 3 goals past Lokomotiv Moscow thanks to a quick opening goal from Davies in the 2nd minute before Alena and Arezo got the next 2.

League



October

October



We get off to a strong start this month now we can put out a full strength team and FC Groningen couldn't handle us as Cakirefe, Gravenberch and Alena got the goals. Against Fortuna Sittard Malen got his first goal for the club which gives him a bit of confidence after his injury. Alena and Bella-Kotchap got the other two goals.For a change of pace we welcomed Lyon in the Champions League and we took the lead in through Gravenberch in the 29th minute before Lyon equalised in the 56th minute.

Back to league action at home against our fierce rivals and its our first Gelderse Derby since I took over at the club and we give our fans the bragging rights through Unuvar, Basila and Davies. In the 1st round of the cup we were able to rotate the squad with only Malen and Velazquez keeping their places in the startig XI and Malen repays that by getting the opening goal before Cakirefe scored and excellent brace before Mirada rounded off the scoring. With us facing a game against Lyon at the start of November so the same squad went out and they destroyed NAC Breda with Malen getting a brace before Basila, Cakirefe and Goudmin get the other 3.

League



November