Verbeek seems to lose grip on matters at Feyenoord

Sunday 07 December 2008

If today's game at home against De Graafschap was an illustration of the extend to which the players of Feyenoord back their coach Gertjan Verbeek one must fear for his position as the team let Verbeek down in a way that leaves little room for discussion.

For the team from Doetinchem it was the first victory since 21 September as Feyenoord suffered their sixth defeat of the season.

And with a tough schedule ahead (at home to AZ, away to PSV and at home to NAC Breda) chances are that Verbeek will not make it until Christmas.

The atmosphere was tense even before the game in a well filled De Kuip stadium.

Amsterdam-based newspaper De Telegraaf had published a critical article in their Sunday-edition in which it said that 80% of the players have had it with their new coach.

It read that the players find his training methods too Spartan, his way of communicating too dominant and some of his tactical choices doubtful.

Before the game against De Graafschap no one at the club wanted to give an official reaction to the article that suggests there is a leak in the squad.

But General Director Eric Gudde again stated that Verbeek has been appointed that to start a process of change in De Kuip.

And chances never come without resistance, Gudde said.

But 80% of the team - as De Telegraaf suggested - is a bit much resistance for the ex-boxer Verbeek.

The big question then was how the players really feel about their coach and what better way to give the answer than on the pitch in a simple home game against lowly De Graafschap.

Feyenoord started well with an enormous chance for Luigi Bruins in the first five minutes.

But the home team then fell to a dubious level as they did against Vitesse (1-1) and Deportivo la Coruna (3-0) before.

Feyenoord played without pace, without any creativity and without any obvious plan against a very defensive De Graafschap.

Feyenoord's forward play was random, haphazard and the defensive again proved to be as shaky as a granny on cold winter's day.

De visitors even took the lead when Karim el Ahmadi clumsily lost the ball in midfield.

Makaay then missed free header from ten meters out and that was as far as Feyenoord's chances in the first half were concerned.

After the break Feyenoord came out a lot more aggressive but from their second chance the visitors scored their second goal.

Again the Feyenoord defense stood by and watched how Den Ouden tapped the ball behind Henk Timmer at the far post.

Feyenoord then picked up the pace and saw Wijnaldum hit the cross bar but from the next counter De Graafschap scored their third.

Again it was Den Ouden and again Feyenoord's defense were nowhere to be seen.

Center back Kevin Hofland pulled one back some ten minutes from the end but his goal could not disguise the fact that the defense led by him once more gave a very poor performance.

With a decent defense Feyenoord would probably have won a bad game by the slightest of margins and as the team have been giving away goals all season it seems clear where Verbeek's attention should be.