Anderlecht may try to play away the previous season, which went disastrous, with a home game against Ostend. With less than a victory, nobody can be satisfied in the capital. Can Ostende rise above itself without worries?
Anderlecht:
The arrival of Vincent Kompany makes everyone dream at RSCA. The Purple & White can’t go any deeper than last season’s sixth place. Only it would be pretentious to say that this Anderlecht is already a full title candidate. Kompany wants the team to play nicely again according to the philosophy of Pep Guardiola. A lot of ball possession, careful structure, position changes, etc. It only takes time to master that complex game concept. RSCA does not have the same world football players as Man City.
Until now, Anderlecht could hardly play with a type team. So many (unnecessary) players are still walking around, that some just get in the way. The people of Brussels are not aiming for a new, strong defensive midfielder and new backs don’t seem to be a priority either. They are, however, vulnerable at those positions. Andy Najar is injured on the right and only Elias Cobbaut on the left. Kompany does have tons of credit. If it does not succeed immediately, the board will be targeted sooner. As Anderlecht don’t play European football, there is a bit less pressure and a bit more time to work tactically. Who knows, maybe the machine is running at full speed against Play-off 1.
Simon Davies, official coach of Anderlecht, alongside player-manager Vincent Kompany, believes in the RSCA project. “We want Anderlecht to be the top club it was again. We should not aim for fourth, third or second place. We owe it to our status to become the number one again in Belgium. If that does not work this season, it will be next year. Many boys lost their confidence a little after the difficult last season, but we’re going to boost that confidence again. ”
Oostende:
No living soul who can currently predict how KVO will appear this season. A new chairman came in early 2019 and later also a new coach and a battery of new players. But mainly a new wind came. That was necessary after the collective depression in which Ostende had struggled last season. The dressing room was a minefield in which every vibration could cause an explosion and on the field we didn’t see five decent matches. Chairman Frank Dierckens intervened and again promised parties and smiling faces at KVO. Nice words, but it is doubtful whether a jet-black season like the above can be put right in a few months.
Some nice transfers were realized. Top fit are Ronald Vargas (once king at Club Brugge) and Renato Neto (champion with Ghent) acquisitions for a mid-engine like Ostend, while an experienced soldier was brought in with Ari Skulason. Ante Palaversa, rented from City, is said to be a great talent. But if those three transfers are not so bad, they are soon back with the team that didn’t make any sense last season. Add that to the extremely difficult competition start and you know that a team can quickly struggle in the swamp. Furthermore, no new striker has been hired, although it is expected in the short term.
We do not anticipate relegation problems immediately, a calm season seems plausible. Or is Kare Ingebrigtsen surprised, invariably in a 4-3-3, immediately during his first season in Belgium? Ingebrigtsen is sure that his team will finish higher than last season. “The soccer ability was boosted and another attacking player is on the way. I am convinced that we will do better than last season. ”
PREDICTION: Anderlecht to win @ 1,37
