Contents
- Results 2020/2021
- Finances 2019/2020
- Situation vs 2013/2014
- Players moving away
- Objectives 2021/2022
- Playing style
- Identifying squad and targets
- Academy players coming in + U21 team
- New players
- Goalkeepers
- Defenders
- Midfielders
- Attackers
- Prognosis
Results 2020/2021
VVV-Venlo didn’t have a successful season in 2020/2021. The whole season was spent in and around the relegation places, which was to expected, but after a few strong matched in January, VVV-Venlo didn’t manage to win any game anymore and relegation was a fact.
In the first season that there were two direct relegation spots, VVV-Venlo occupied one of them in finishing 17th and going down together with ADO Den Haag (18th place), and FC Emmen who were relegated in the play offs.
As you can in the image above, VVV-Venlo had a bad season on a lot of fronts, but the points per game, the goals scored and goals conceded – really paint a picture of a relegation that is to be expected. It would never been sustainable for a team with these stats, to stay up.
At the beginning of the season VVV-Venlo’s goal was to remain in the Eredivisie in order to build as a club, but also to become more stable and as result generate money for renovations in the stadium, and ultimately looking to build a new stadium further down the line. Those plans are put on hold or are altered now, because of the relegation and we have to see what the concrete impact is of the relegation on that.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom for VVV-Venlo, because remarkably enough, VVV-Venlo produced the topscorer of the Eredivisie with 26 goals. Georgios Giakoumakis had a fantastic season and without him, the season would have been even more bleak for everyone involved with the club. This achievement will have its effect as he will most likely move before the end of the transferdeadline and bring in some hard needed money, which I will talk about a bit further in this document.
Finances 2019/2020
How much does a financial result influence a club’s performances? And what is needed to get good financial numbers? In order to that we have a look at the financial numbers of 2019/2020 and see how things needed to progress in order to have positive numbers in 2020/2021 and prepare for the season 2021/2022 wherein relegation will be thrown into the mix.
2019/2020 was a weird season with the COVID pandemic and therefore not 34 matches, but 28 matches had been played in the Eredivisie. After that, the following information can be concluded:
| Revenue | € 8.251.000 |
| Media | € 2.192.000 |
| Sponsors | € 3.195.000 |
| Matchdays | € 963.000 |
| Food & beverage | € 387.000 |
| Costs | € 9.435.000 |
| Employee costs | € 6.386.000 |
| Sell costs and fees | € 1.024.000 |
| Housingcosts | € 462.000 |
| Match and training costs | € 672.000 |
| General costs | € 385.000 |
| Depreciation of tangible fixed assets | € 524.000 |
VVV-Venlo made a loss of € 1.200.000 before taxes. After that it was € 1.658.000 loss, because of taxes and negative transfersaldo. VVV-Venlo spent € 435.000 on transfers and only got € 101.000 on transfers.
This loss was also obviously a result of no fans allowed in some of the games, and this is something that will have an impact in the 2020/2021 numbers as well.
Situation 2013/2014 and present
It’s not the first time in the past decade that VVV-Venlo got relegated. At the end of the 2012/2013 season, the club was relegated as well after losing to Go Ahead Eagles in the play offs. Although the relegations are the same, the situations are completely different.
The idea in 2013 was that the club had to return to the Eredivisie immediately and the wage bill did reflect that. The club attracted players who potentially had the qualities to get VVV-Venlo back to the Eredivisie, but in doing so spent a lot of money on wages. Everything was based on a quick return to the Eredivisie and when this didn’t happen, it had a big effect on the club’s finances. VVV-Venlo went from playing in the Eredivisie to a situation where the club might have gone into administration. It took years to rebuild the financial situation.
Now in 2021, the situation is different. Many players have moved on, but the club hasn’t replaced all of them because of what has happened in the past. Players have stayed, academy has a bigger role into the squad and only real assets are brought in – looking at a promotion plan of a minimum of 2-3 years. Trying to get back immediately isn’t wise performance wise – many clubs are fighting for the promotion spots – and financially as well. It could well ruin the club trying to get back after one season and then failing.
Players moving away
After a relegation it’s evident that many players want to leave. The main reason is that they don’t want to play in a lower league or feel that their abilities aren’t reflected in financial compensation. Some players also feel that their image will be tainted by playing in a lower league, so they are looking for new opportunities.
| Jafar Arias | |
| Vito van Crooij | Sparta Rotterdam |
| Anastasios Donis* | Stade de Reims |
| Christos Donis* | Ascoli |
| Roy Gelmi | FC Winterthur |
| Leon Guwara* | Jahn Regensburg |
| Jessy Hendrikx | Helmond Sport |
| Torino Hunte | – |
| Joshua John | – |
| Thorsten Kirschbaum | Jahn Regensburg |
| Christian Kum | – |
| Zinedine Machach* | Napoli |
| Fin Pleunis | VVV-Venlo O21 |
| Steffen Schäfer | SC Verl |
| Lukas Schmitz | – |
| Meritan Shabani | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
| Nezar S’rifi | – |
| Arjan Swinkels | – |
| Georgios Giakoumakis | Celtic? |
As you can see many players have left VVV-Venlo. The player with a ‘*’ are players that were loaned out to VVV-Venlo and have returned to their parent club. VVV-Venlo has a big task of replacing them or looking at a different recruitment strategy compared with a different playing style.
Objectives 2021/2022
Although relegation is no fun matter for everyone involved, it gives the club the opportunity to reorganize and restructure the club. This is no different for VVV-Venlo for the 2020/2021 season.
- A top-8 spot in the Eerste Divisie 2021/2022. Going for direct promotion is not feasible for this squad as they have lost many players and have decided to move more academy players to the first team. This means less quality, but an ambition to get to the play offs for promotion is still very much on the table. It might be a very realistic option.
- Developing transition from academy to first team. Players from academy are more important so the transition from academy to first team is more important. The U21 needs to be of such quality that the players will have no difficulty coming to the first team in 1-2 years
- Selling talented players to gain profit
- Getting more people back in the stadium after COVID
- Playing attacking football. Transition from the defensive minded play in the Eredivisie to a more possession-based, passing style of attacking play
Playing style 2021/2022
As stated above, VVV-Venlo will change their style of playing from the 2020/2021 season to the 2021/2022 season. Relegation means that the club will change in status too, it is a club to be reckoned with and a club that can get a win against every club. This will also be reflected in the playing style.
In the Eredivisie, VVV-Venlo would have to play more deep and more defensive – as they will only have possession of the ball for 30-40% of the time. Therefore a system like 4-2-3-1 with a low block or a 5-3-2 without the ball, would be more effective. The transition from defence to attack is something that is the sole focus in attack, in that particular situation. It’s based on the fact that you don’t have the ball.
The idea is that when playing in a division lower with ambition to get to the play offs, the attack will be much more prevalent and more visible. The formation will switch into a more attacking 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 with classic movements of a striker with two wingers, and very progressive full backs. How well this will be come out is, is something we can only guess, but the intention to play a more attacking style of football will definitely happen.
Identifying squad and targets
So there is a difference between scouting and recruitment. One part of recruitment is that you need to identify what targets you need by analysing the squad you are working with. This is the same with VVV-Venlo.
Because of the change of playing style, the emphasis will also lie on attacking. This means that there will be more pressure, more intensity on the attack side of the game – and therefore your bench will be consisting of more attacking players than defensive players. This is needed as you will be on the ball a lot more and your defence will be less busy than for example playing in the Eredivisie.
In the case of VVV-Venlo this means the following:
- Signing or having multiple strikers
- Multiple wingers, where a part of the players can from the academy
- Defensive midfielders are less important in numbers, creative and attacking midfielders are more important to have multiple of – there should be more players that can create something with the ball
- Two full experienced goalkeepers with a third goalkeeper (eventually fourth goalkeeper) coming from the academy or playing for the U21
- Incorporating players coming back from loan in the first team, because they have more experience now
- Because of low budget, academy players need to be recruited and not only from the own academy.
Academy players coming in + U21 squad
As stated above, the U21 team will be of higher significance than before. The U21 will not only develop on its own, but also be part of the first team as some players will train with the first team – and make minutes with the first team. That’s why it is important to have that team on a good level. This will be guarded by their new head coach: Roger Reijners – a seasoned coach with plenty of experience.
| Jens Craenmehr | GK | 19 | First team: yes |
| Quint Janssen | GK | 18 | First team: no |
| Stijn Huntjes | GK | 18 | First team no |
| Tim Schrick | GK | 17 | First team: no |
| Ian Hussein Ngobi | DF | 19 | First team: no |
| Joep Munsters | CB | 19 | First team: yes |
| Stan Henderikx | CB | 18 | First team: no |
| Jur Theunissen | CB | 20 | First team: no |
| Fin Pleunis | CB | 19 | First team: no |
| Joël Roeffen | RB | 20 | First team: no |
| Joep Kluskens | MID | 18 | First team: no |
| Maxim van Peer | MID | 18 | First team: no |
| Ertan Hajdaraj | DM | 18 | First team: no |
| Lennart Mehler | DM | 18 | First team: no |
| Jonas Theuerzeit | CM | 19 | First team: no |
| Wassim Essanoussi | AM | 17 | First team: yes |
| Thijme Verheijen | AM | 18 | First team: yes |
| Niek Munsters | AM | 19 | First team: no |
| Levi Smans | AM | 17 | First team: yes |
| Jur Clabbers | ATT | 19 | First team: no |
| Melano Thier | LW | 19 | First team: no |
| Yahcuroo Roemer | RW | 20 | First team: yes |
From the players above, Craenmehr, J. Munsters, Essanoussi, Verheijen, Smans and Roemer have featured for the first team or are with the squad. They will be assessed in the next segment. Lars Nabben is not on the list above, but has fully been transferred to the first team.
New players
Many players have left the club, but also quite a few players have come in. In identifying the players I said that more attacking players were needed than defensive players, but the balance needs to be there too. Below you can see which players have come in until now.
| Player | Position | Age | From | Contract |
| Sven Braken | ST | 28 | Livorno | 30/06/2023 |
| Yannick Leliendal | LB/LWB | 19 | KRC Genk U21 | 30/06/2023 |
| Joeri Schroijen | LW | 30 | AO Xanthi | 30/06/2023 |
| Kees de Boer | CM | 21 | ADO Den Haag | 30/06/2023 |
| Lukas Zima | GK | 27 | Genoa CFC | 30/06/2023 |
| Brian Koglin | CB | 24 | FC Magdeburg | 30/06/2023 |
| Carl Johansson | RM | 23 | Östers IF | 30/06/2023 |
| Erik Sorga | ST | 22 | DC United* | 30/06/2022 |
| Mitchell van Rooijen | DM | 22 | FC Utrecht | 30/06/2023 |
| Lars Nabbe | CM | 19 | VVV-Venlo U21 | 30/06/2023 |
| Stan van Dijck | CB | 20 | Roda JC** | 30/06/2022 |
| Aaron Bastiaans | LW | 19 | Helmond Sport** | 30/06/2022 |
*On loan from DC United
** Coming back from loan last season
Goalkeepers
In the table below I will assess their abilities. This will be in relation to the level of the Eerste Divisie and the Eredivisie, so their potential will be measured to that too.
| Player | Age | Contract | Strengths | Weaknesses | Potential |
| Lukas Zima | 27 | 30/06/2023 | Long throwsReflexesCommand of six-yard box | First touchPunchingPassingRushing out | Midtable Eredivisie club |
| Delano van Crooij | 30 | 30/06/2022 | AccelerationReflexesBall handling | Command of six-yard boxLong throwsEffective communication | Top Eerste Divise club |
| Bram Verbong | 21 | 30/06/2023 | ReflexesKickingBall Handling | First touchRushing outPassing | Midtable Eerste Divisie |
| Jens Craenmehr | 19 | 30/06/2023 | Ball handlingBraveryCommunication | First touch1v1’sLong throws | Bottom table Eredivisie/top Eerste Divisie |
Defenders
In the table below you will see a short overview of the defenders employed by VVV-Venlo for the 2021/2022 season.
| Player | Age | Contract | Strengths | Weaknesses | Potential |
| Kristopher Da Graca | 23 | 30/06/2023 | Physically strongHeadingDefensive positioningMarking | VisionAgilityOff the ball movement | Eredivis midtable |
| Brian Koglin | 24 | 30/06/2023 | TacklingDecision makingBalanced player | Off the ball movementCrossingVision | Top Eerste Divisie/Low table Eredivisie |
| Stan van Dijck | 20 | 30/06/2022 | Man markingDefensive and attacking headingDecision makingPhysical strength | Off the ball movementTechnical abilityTactical intelligence | Top Eerste divisie |
| Yannick Leliendal | 19 | 30/06/2023 | Physical strengthDecision making | DribblingFirst touchVision | Top Eerste Divisie |
| Tristan Dekker | 23 | 30/06/2023 | AggressionOff the ball movementMarkingPassing | LeadershipFinishingHeading | Top Eerste Divisie/Low table Eredivisie |
| Tobias Pachonik | 26 | 30/06/2022 | First touchMarkingTacklingTechnical abilityPaceCrossing | Defensive positioningFinishing | Top half Eredivisie |
Midfielders
In the table below you will see a short overview of the defenders employed by VVV-Venlo for the 2021/2022 season.
| Player | Age | Contract | Strengths | Weaknesses | Potential |
| Danny Post | 32 | 30/06/2022 | TacklingLeadershippVision | Defensive positioningAggressionPassingStamina | Top Eerste Divise/low table Eredivisie |
| Mitchell van Rooijen | 22 | 30/06/2023 | First touchPassingCrossingPhysical appearance | MarkingPositioningTackling | Midtable Eredivisie |
| Kees de Boer | 21 | 30/06/2021 | Technical abilitiesPassingComposureFirst touch | Long shotsFinishingDetermination | Midtable Eredivisie |
| Simon Janssen | 20 | 30/06/2022 | First touchPassingWork rateDetermination | DribblingCrossingAttacking 1v1 | Low table Eredivisie |
| Lars Nabbe | 19 | 30/06/2023 | PassingFirst touchVision | DribblingCrossingFinishing1v1 | Top Eerste Divisie |
| Carl Johansson | 23 | 30/06/2023 | Technical abilitiesDribblingPassingFirst touch | HeadingStrengthMarking | Top Eerste Divisie |
| Wassim Essanoussi | 17 | 30/06/2023 | Technical abilitiesVisionPassingFinishing | Defensive positioningPhysical strength | Subtop Eredivisie |
Attackers
| Player | Age | Contract | Strengths | Weaknesses | Potential |
| Joeri Schroijen | 30 | 30/06/2023 | DribblingPaceCrossingFinishing | Defensive positioningHeading | Top Eerste divisie |
| Aaron Bastiaans | 19 | 30/06/2022 | Technical abilitiesFirst touchDribbling | Physical strengthFinishingComposure | Top Eerste Divisie |
| Guus Hupperts | 29 | 30/06/2022 | PassingDribblingFirst touchTechnical abilities | MarkingTacklingPositioningJumping | Low table Eredivisie |
| Yahcuroo Roemer | 20 | 30/06/2022 | PaceDribbling1v1 | CommunicationCrossingDefensive positioningFinishing | Top Eerste Divisie |
| Erik Sorga | 22 | 30/06/2022 | FinishingHeadingDribbling | AggressionVisionPositioning | Midtable Eredivisie |
| Sven Braken | 28 | 30/06/2022 | First touchDribblingFinishingTechnical abilities | MarkingPositioningDecision making | Low table Eredivisie |
*Giakoumakis has been removed from this short overview, as he is moving to a new club
