Big squad changes for 2019/20

[WelshFan]

Greetings Feanfans,

With the season almost about to start I have to say that the squad looks almost unrecognisable compared to last year.

Thorsby, Kobayashi, Schaars, Lammers (back to PSV), Vlap, Van Amersfoort, Rojas, Pierie, Naess (although he didn't play so much last year), Hornkamp, Zeneli - all of these players have left.

How do people feel about the team's chances for 2019/20? I have to say that's a massive change in personnel to happen to any squad in just one summer. It's normal to lose 5 or 6 players but that's a huge number of players to lose. Are the club in financial difficulties and needed to reduce the number of players in the squad?

[Mackan68]

Greetings Feanfans,

With the season almost about to start I have to say that the squad looks almost unrecognisable compared to last year.

Thorsby, Kobayashi, Schaars, Lammers (back to PSV), Vlap, Van Amersfoort, Rojas, Pierie, Naess (although he didn't play so much last year), Hornkamp, Zeneli - all of these players have left.

How do people feel about the team's chances for 2019/20? I have to say that's a massive change in personnel to happen to any squad in just one summer. It's normal to lose 5 or 6 players but that's a huge number of players to lose. Are the club in financial difficulties and needed to reduce the number of players in the squad?

Hi WelshFan. There have been quite some outgoing transfers indeed. Due to a few reasons. There are financial difficulties for sure. But that's not only now, it's already for a little 10 years. One of the main reasons is our stadium. Once in our 'glory years' there were a couple of thousand people waiting to get a season ticket for the club. Because at that time the stadium was too small for the clubs popularity. So the stadium was expanded. To be able to get it financially done, the club participated in 'SportCity'. But this participation also expanded the rent of the stadium for the club. The club has been paying an extreme high price since. When successes for the club went away during the years, pretty much fans also disappeared. What makes the stadium too big for the situation these days.

Pity is that as far as players concern the manager(s) haven't put all the money on pure quality players. Too much average quality players have been contracted through the years. Some players were expected to gain lots of money in the transferwindows but for some it has been a disappointing situation to leave our club transfer free.

So the exodus of players is bad and sad at one point of view. But you can also say, it will get better now when there is good club policy. Wy would you need a 30 player squad if 22 or 23 is enough? You can spend your money only once right?

[Kaz_SCH]

There's been a hell of a lot going on. Years and years of trouble in the board room, declining attendance, sponsor income took a beating. So money's pretty tight. The club spends a lot more each year than it earns, and that has to stop. So a lot of expensive players left, and the money we got for them partially disappears in the huge hole in our budget.

But I strongly feel the worst part is behind us. We'll hopefully see a small increase in attendance for the first time in 8 years or so. The size of the squad has been reduced drastically, and we still have some very exciting players to watch.

All of this should lead to a dramatic decrease in the budget deficit, and eventually an increase in the budget for the squad.

Hope we'll be one of the suprises this Eredivisie season, but it's hard to tell. We at least need a decent right wing defender, and experienced midfielder to replace Schaars/Vlap and a talented striker who can grow in Odgaard's shadow (who is on loan from Sassuolo).

We'll see! Come On You Boys In White And Blue!