Beerschot link up

[Champagneblade]

Compared to Zulte Waregem we are a propper club with propper fans. They are not in our league although our results are shit now, we will always be a bigger club then those farmers.

Any idea why the move from Suzuki fell through?

To me he seems to run around a fair bit but has no end product.

I'm sure I read like Holzhauser, he has a clause in his contract that if Beerschot go down he can leave for free.

Why would you not have sold him for something at least?

 

[Hagansbootlaces]

what on earth gave them the idea to visit Woodhouse ?

Couldn't get served in Handsworth, didn't meet the dress code

 

[ISZA ⚔️]

Generally, that's not the way it works mate - just like if the new breed of BBC types wanted some pre-game fun then why not go the Howard Hotel area?

Lots of plod everywhere, the Wall (as you call them) would be seen as the aggressors looking for trouble (which would of course be true) and be targetted/arrested by the plod.

" pre-game fun" occurs when other teams are really up for it - like when Everton went down there in the cup a couple of years ago and rather than do London Bridge/train/cowards alley, they did the scenic route on their tod to Surrey Quays tube. Then there was "pre-game fun".

This. Nobody who heads to London Bridge is looking for trouble - quite the opposite.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Compared to Zulte Waregem we are a propper club with propper fans. They are not in our league although our results are shit now, we will always be a bigger club then those farmers.

Aren’t they a combination of 2 teams? He tried to explain that he only likes the Weregem element of their club.

 

[Keen Blade]

This. Nobody who heads to London Bridge is looking for trouble - quite the opposite.

Useful stuff from Snake & you.
I used to go down Cold Blow Lane to the old Den but have never been to the new Den.
And being in my sixties , I'd like to remain unmolested ... at least by naughty Wall blokes.
Naughty wimmen is another matter.

 

[PurpleRain]

Aren’t they a combination of 2 teams? He tried to explain that he only likes the Weregem element of their club.

Yes it’s a merger between two clubs. Not a club that gets respected, nor are their fans. Traditional clubs with a real fan base are Club Brugge, Standard, FC Liege, Antwerp, Beerschot and Union. Charleroi is just below those clubs. Anderlecht is obviously a top club but too many glory hunting fans to be taken seriously.

 

[MightyBlades]

Very exaggerated

Not really.

Parked the car a good distance from The Den back in the mid-80's. On returning to the car after the game, every single window had been bricked and put through. The only way of identifying the vehicle as belonging to away supporters, was from the small writing on the bottom of the registration plate, advertising the garage in Sheffield. I remember it being a New Years Day game and probably around 1986.

Another incident a few years later and my mate got set upon by some Millwall hooligans on one of the Tube platforms after a game. If I’m exaggerating the Millwall problem, or they’ve all recently turned into cuddly teddy bears, possibly?

 

[RecordBreakers]

Not really.

Parked the car a good distance from The Den back in the mid-80's. On returning to the car after the game, every single window had been bricked and put through. The only way of identifying the vehicle as belonging to away supporters, was from the small writing on the bottom of the registration plate, advertising the garage in Sheffield. I remember it being a New Years Day game and probably around 1986.

Another incident a few years later and my mate got set upon by some Millwall hooligans on one of the Tube platforms after a game. If I’m exaggerating the Millwall problem, or they’ve all recently turned into cuddly teddy bears,

80's you say we're now in 2022.

 

[Snake]

Not really.

Parked the car a good distance from The Den back in the mid-80's. On returning to the car after the game, every single window had been bricked and put through. The only way of identifying the vehicle as belonging to away supporters, was from the small writing on the bottom of the registration plate, advertising the garage in Sheffield. I remember it being a New Years Day game and probably around 1986.

Another incident a few years later and my mate got set upon by some Millwall hooligans on one of the Tube platforms after a game. If I’m exaggerating the Millwall problem, or they’ve all recently turned into cuddly teddy bears, possibly?

Very different days the 80s though mate. Kin ell, I've filled and been filled in on a good few occasions back then. Nowadays it's generally just pockets of incidents here and there. PurpleRain is a Belgian tourist going with his wife and kids. As long as he doesn't don his Blades shirt and stand hands aloft singing the Greasy Chip Butty song, followed by 'come and have a go if you think you're hard enough' he/they will be fine. Oh yeah and don't cheer our 5 goals

 

[Carlton Blade]

Must have been a different group of Millwall fans lobbing coins everywhere on their way to the ground on 'Flag Day' in 2018. I'm not sure that much has changed other than CCTV meaning you can't get away with it

It might not be as bad as the 80's but Millwall is in the top 3 of places where, if you're unlucky something will ruin your day

 

[BadgersBigToe]

80's you say we're now in 2022.

He’s still got the same car though

 

[MightyBlades]

Must have been a different group of Millwall fans lobbing coins everywhere on their way to the ground on 'Flag Day' in 2018. I'm not sure that much has changed other than CCTV meaning you can't get away with it

It might not be as bad as the 80's but Millwall is in the top 3 of places where, if you're unlucky something will ruin your day

Exactly!

I was involved in my fair share of scuffles back in the day and was no angel, but one ground I've banned my son from attending is The Den. It only takes meeting one idiot, who's having a bad day, to change your life forever.

Unfortunately, Millwall do still have too many Neanderthals who follow them.

Am I being over-cautious? Probably! But my family is too precious to me, to take that risk.

 

[MightyBlades]

He’s still got the same car though

Unfortunately not! They stopped producing parts for the Robin Reliant a few years ago. Cracking motor!

I still remember my tumbles with Tracy on the back seat of the RR with great fondness.

 

[metalblade]

The first time I came across Millwall was when my cousin decided to take me along with her to Charlton with her to see them play Millwall pre season. On the way home by the time our train got to Woolwich Dockyard there was a running battle up and down the train, they were still going at it at Woolwich Arsenal and Plumstead glad we got off at the next stop Abbeywood. Terrified me as a young 14yr old.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

7 million training and academy set up is it?!

7 miljoen euro voor nieuw trainingscomplex van Beerschot

Beerschot wil tegen het begin van seizoen 2023-2024 een nieuw trainings- en jeugdcomplex bouwen op het Universiteitsplein in Wilrijk. Dat maakt de club bekend op zijn website. In totaal zou het nieuwe complex zeven miljoen euro kosten, gefinancierd door de aandeelhouders en Sport Vlaanderen.

www.hln.be

 

[Champagneblade]

7 million training and academy set up is it?!

7 miljoen euro voor nieuw trainingscomplex van Beerschot

Beerschot wil tegen het begin van seizoen 2023-2024 een nieuw trainings- en jeugdcomplex bouwen op het Universiteitsplein in Wilrijk. Dat maakt de club bekend op zijn website. In totaal zou het nieuwe complex zeven miljoen euro kosten, gefinancierd door de aandeelhouders en Sport Vlaanderen.

www.hln.be

Seems there is a grant for half of the 7m Euros to be provided by the Sporting arm of the Flemish government.

If I'm not mistaken there is a similar initiative with Chateauroux also.

It does seem to support the United World mission of developing young players.

I find it a bit sad if the conclusion is "that could be 3.5m spent on United". This is a bit small minded in my view if the two get immediately linked. It reminds me when someone rang Praise or Grumble complaining about John Dennis, the Greengrocer, who used to own Barnsley "I see John Dennis has a new fleet of vans. How can he be getting those when Barnsley still need a new striker?"

There's got to be an expectation that if the plan of United World is to share info, scouting and development of young players, then the facilities must be there to support that.

It's unrealistic if people are thinking that one club will have 100% spent on its development before any others get considered. There has been no link that money gets taken from one club to prop up another despite what some might convince themselves.

But I do think Bettis owes the fans some update. He spoke about discussion with the Council on a number of sights. It's high time he gave an update on this.

 

[247Blade]

7 million training and academy set up is it?!

7 miljoen euro voor nieuw trainingscomplex van Beerschot

Beerschot wil tegen het begin van seizoen 2023-2024 een nieuw trainings- en jeugdcomplex bouwen op het Universiteitsplein in Wilrijk. Dat maakt de club bekend op zijn website. In totaal zou het nieuwe complex zeven miljoen euro kosten, gefinancierd door de aandeelhouders en Sport Vlaanderen.

www.hln.be

Yeah ... Where's ours? That disUnited World funding it? Or is it the Blades?

 

[Scarebus]

Yeah ... Where's ours? That disUnited World funding it? Or is it the Blades?

Ours is sat on the back of a lorry near Dover on its way to Belgium.

 

[Yogi]

Seems there is a grant for half of the 7m Euros to be provided by the Sporting arm of the Flemish government.

If I'm not mistaken there is a similar initiative with Chateauroux also.

It does seem to support the United World mission of developing young players.

I find it a bit sad if the conclusion is "that could be 3.5m spent on United". This is a bit small minded in my view if the two get immediately linked. It reminds me when someone rang Praise or Grumble complaining about John Dennis, the Greengrocer, who used to own Barnsley "I see John Dennis has a new fleet of vans. How can he be getting those when Barnsley still need a new striker?"

There's got to be an expectation that if the plan of United World is to share info, scouting and development of young players, then the facilities must be there to support that.

It's unrealistic if people are thinking that one club will have 100% spent on its development before any others get considered. There has been no link that money gets taken from one club to prop up another despite what some might convince themselves.

But I do think Bettis owes the fans some update. He spoke about discussion with the Council on a number of sights. It's high time he gave an update on this.

I’d like an in depth update on the planned facilities as well. Last we time we heard anything properly there was going to be a new modular building at shirecliffe and a site was being sought for the new facility. Now obviously the pandemic has happened so it’s understandable things haven’t progressed at pace however the last thing we had was a passing mention of it by Bettis saying we were in discussion with the council but that doesn’t tell anyone very much.

 

[Panini]

Yeah ... Where's ours? That disUnited World funding it? Or is it the Blades?

Yeah we told Arsenal to make the Ramsdale cheque out to Beerschot

 

[bromtom]

Seems there is a grant for half of the 7m Euros to be provided by the Sporting arm of the Flemish government.

If I'm not mistaken there is a similar initiative with Chateauroux also.

It does seem to support the United World mission of developing young players.

I find it a bit sad if the conclusion is "that could be 3.5m spent on United". This is a bit small minded in my view if the two get immediately linked. It reminds me when someone rang Praise or Grumble complaining about John Dennis, the Greengrocer, who used to own Barnsley "I see John Dennis has a new fleet of vans. How can he be getting those when Barnsley still need a new striker?"

There's got to be an expectation that if the plan of United World is to share info, scouting and development of young players, then the facilities must be there to support that.

It's unrealistic if people are thinking that one club will have 100% spent on its development before any others get considered. There has been no link that money gets taken from one club to prop up another despite what some might convince themselves.

But I do think Bettis owes the fans some update. He spoke about discussion with the Council on a number of sights. It's high time he gave an update on this.

So €3.5m to be spent on a training ground smaller than Shirecliffe? What percentage is the Prince liable for, he's only joint owner?

Wasn't Swansea's new training ground £20m+? That's the kind of cash we'll need to find.

 

[Wincobank S9 Blade]

That looks a nice training centre we need investment in ours asap. Hope that’s Beerschots own coffers and our plans come out very soon.

 

[Blade58]

I have no issue with Beerschott investing in their own modern training facility

The only thing that I question, is that as a co owner it appears from the article that he has put some money into this investment. Which is fine because he is after all an owner

My concern is, despite numerous statements both positive, regarding a new training facility and also criticisms from key staff regarding the state of our existing facilities, nothing has/is happened/happening, or indeed as others say, no updates

It’s all gone rather hush, hush these days regarding communication with the fan base. If I remember in Hal/Nicks interview with PA, did he say he was to take a back seat? I thought he did? Again, that’s fine, but someone else needs to step up and start communicating. It appears these days we are using Chansiri’s PR team …………. No one!

 

[Yogi]

So €3.5m to be spent on a training ground smaller than Shirecliffe? What percentage is the Prince liable for, he's only joint owner?

Wasn't Swansea's new training ground £20m+? That's the kind of cash we'll need to find.

6 million to building in cooperation with the uni 3 million to run per annum

 

[bromtom]

6 million to building in cooperation with the uni 3 million to run per annum

This says £10.5m, and Burnley's was built around the same time for £12m.

They're what we need. ASAP.

 

[Yogi]

This says £10.5m, and Burnley's was built around the same time for £12m.

They're what we need. ASAP.

I saw a report for 6 but I’d guess with it being a joint venture working out the exact amount paid by the club is tricky.

I agree we do need a new set up really badly it’s the most pressing need for the club in terms of infrastructure and would see us right for decades to come. Even if it isn’t Cat One the facility at Shirecliffe is clearly coming towards the end of its working life

 

[Champagneblade]

So €3.5m to be spent on a training ground smaller than Shirecliffe? What percentage is the Prince liable for, he's only joint owner?

Wasn't Swansea's new training ground £20m+? That's the kind of cash we'll need to find.

As far as the website states:
€7m Total
€3.5m contributed by Flemish Sports Council
€3.5m contributed by The ownership of the club. So as co-owner I'd expect his investment would be a circa €1.75m. So, less than £1.5m.

 

[Scarebus]

As far as the website states:
€7m Total
€3.5m contributed by Flemish Sports Council
€3.5m contributed by The ownership of the club. So as co-owner I'd expect his investment would be a circa €1.75m. So, less than £1.5m.

£1.5m?? Spent the Ndiaye & Jebbison joint fee before we've sold them. Tin pot united.

 

[Bladey_blade]

As far as the website states:
€7m Total
€3.5m contributed by Flemish Sports Council
€3.5m contributed by The ownership of the club. So as co-owner I'd expect his investment would be a circa €1.75m. So, less than £1.5m.

You'd be mad to pass up half of your training ground fee being basically gifted

 

[Champagneblade]

Killed a bit of time at the end of my Sunday taking in the Beerschot game. First time I'd managed to see a game uninterrupted so I penned a few thoughts.

They went down 3-2 in a game of two halves really which was made closer due to the sending off of one of the major players in the game.

To be fair to Mechelen, they aren't a bad team. They are 7th and pushing for the European spots. They have the lad Shved, who used to be at Celtic out wide and another decent forward called Storm. More on him later. But they looked assured early on.

Not sure if the coach decided they will just go for the win and accept the consequences but the team selection was very optimistic with very little thought given to defensive discipline and they really unravelled very quickly.

They set up 3-4-3. Three outright strikers in Avenatti, the target man they have on loan, Suzuki; think Oliver Burke, runs about a lot but such a rare goal threat, he makes McBurnie's Blades record look prolific, and Shankland on the left.

In midfield Sanusi, who is the current captain and probably best defensive midfielder I've seen with them. His partner was Holzhauser who is a nice ball player, decent set piece taker but isn't known for his defensive work at all. Out wide they had de Smet on loan from Reims who isn't up to much and Halaïmia, who is quick, lacks a final ball and isn't great defensively but can carry the ball forward well. Dom who is a better defensive right back was out injured I believe, as was Lemos, the Uruguayan centre back. The young lad Sebaoui was on the bench. Pietermaat usually plays on central midfield but he was injured.

In defence they welcomed back Van den Bergh who I thought was poor at left wing back when I saw him previously but who looked a lot more assured at left centre half. Bourdain who had been playing there was suspended. Alongside him were Radic who is a pretty aggressive, sometimes rash young centre half and Konstantopoulos, who is a young Greek centre back, very much learning his trade and behind Radic in his development, but is the same height at 6'3".

In goal the 37 year old Biebauw retained his place ahead of Vanhammel who was not in the squad, not sure if due to COVID or not, but he'd been the scape goat for the 7-0, even though I thought he looked a serviceable keeper.

Mechelen were on the front foot early on and Beerschot struggled to get any foothold in the game. They also have a habit of playing themselves into trouble which doesn't help their cause with a bit of messing around with a throw on the right almost coughing up a chance.

They fell behind on around 11 minutes. A through ball split the three man defence and Storm raced through. Unlike last week Biebauw chose not to narrow the angle but to no avail as a good finish in the corner goalie's right corner gave him little chance.

Beerschot continued to chase shadows and we're cut open once more on 18 minutes. A clever back heal wrong footed the defence and Shved was in acres of space on the right and put a nice ball into the middle for Cuypers to head in unmarked. Pretty poor defensively as the central defence got dragged towards the near post and nobody picked up the scorer.

The 3-4-3 kamikaze approach having floundered was abandoned on 28 minutes with a double substitution (you can make 5 subs in Belgium). Rigo came on for Konstantopoulos and Sebaoui on for Suzuki, reverting to a 4-2-2-2 or 4-2-3-1 with Rigo partnering Sinisi at the base of the midfield and the others supporting Avenatti and sometimes Shankland pairing with him.

That failed to stem the flow as a shot across the keeper by Storm ended up in the far corner. Not sure if the keeper was unsighted but it was another poor goal to concede. Prior to this Biebauw did make a terrific save to tip over the bar from Shved.

It was almost 35 minutes in that Shankland forced a corner and Rigo had a shot wide whilst Holzhauser got booked for a clumsy challenge but otherwise it was one way traffic. Storm was unlucky not to provide with a decent ball across the box which the onrushing player failed to connect.

Then the 4th flew in. A corner was only partly cleared and Vanlerberghe rifled in a shot to the keeper's bottom left corner. After a delay and check of the screen it was ruled out for an offside interfering with the keeper's view.

But 3-0 at half time it looked like another demoralizing score was incoming. For the first 15 minutes of the second half Mechelen continued in the ascendency. At that point, Storm miscontrolled the ball and lunged at Sanisi catching him above the ankle. Red card and an unexpected lifeline which Beerschot cashed in on almost immediately.

With new found belief, Beerschot gained scored a bizarre opener. A ball into the box from the left was nicely controlled on his chest by Avenatti who volleyed towards goal. The ball crashed against the post only to ricochet off the diving keeper and into the goal. Worth a look when the goals hit YouTube!

So on 62 minutes it was 3-1 with time left to take advantage of the additional man. Then the coach made two changes in the space of 5 minutes which I felt lost them the impetus.

Holzhauser was replaced by Noubissi, the Cameroonian striker and Avenatti made way for Mukuna-Trouet, a young forward.

Unless they were injured I felt as a neutral that these were the wrong changes. Holzhauser is Beerschot's best player. He was top scorer last season and their most creative presence. If ever they needed someone to conduct the tempo of the game it was then. They didn't need another forward, unless they were going to revert back to 3-4-3 and perhaps remove De Smet. Why you'd remove your most creative player when you're now playing against 10 men is anyone's guess. Likewise Avenatti is 6'5" and had just created the first goal. Surely such a presence would be helpful instead of sending on a young kid. The game didn't need pace because Mechelen would just sit in more, it needed direction and presence.

So unfortunately Beerschot then just didn't manage to create anything meaningful until the 85th minute with Rigo hit a howitzer which hammered against the keeper's left hand post flew back across the 6 yard box and to safety.

There was then an awful collision where the keeper came for a through ball and took out Mukuna-Trouet. VAR I thought could have had a closer look if it should have been another red though he may have got a bit of the ball first however I thought it was still dangerous play.

In injury time a cleared ball fell to Sanusi who hit a sumptuous volley into the far corner. A very nice strike and VAR didn't manage to find reason to disallow.

Unfortunately not enough time was left and the game ended in a 3-2 defeat.

In truth they paid for a very poor start after setting the team up completely wrongly and at half time you'd struggle to argue they deserved anything after such a poor first 45. They also lost momentum at a key time in the second half and we're unlucky with hitting the upright.

The young lad who did well last week Sebaoui had a relatively quiet game this week I thought, still time though, he's only 20 and signed his first pro contract until 2025 this week. Handy as it emerged both Holzhauser and Suzuki, who almost joined Mechelen this week, can both walk for free in the summer if/when Beerschot go down.

They play Kortrijk who are 9th next Sunday. Though Seraing also lost, there remains only 9 games of the regular season and Beerschot lag by 10 still, so the time for taking advantage of key moments is almost mathematically up.

I also don't feel the current coach makes the most logical decisions either so I'm not clear whether he will last. It might make sense to go back to Will Still, the young guy who was assistant to Losada. If they do go down then there genuinely would be a number of the U23s who could make an impact there, work permits and player openness permitting.