The Jupiler Pro League is back after the winter break. With nine games of the classic season remaining, it would normally mean that Club Brugge – 11 points clear at the top – would be home and hosed. But this is Belgium and the league gets going in earnest in March. That’s when the top… Read More »
Some time ago, Robert Martinez said he was watching 54 players who could be considered to make the trip to Russia in the summer. We can now make that 33. Martinez selected a squad of 28 selected for the friendlies with Japan and Mexico. The other five, up for serious consideration, missed out through injury:… Read More »
There’s a good chance that Benfica’s Mile Svilar will become the youngest keeper to appear in the Champions League tonight at the age of 18 years and 1 month. Along with his dad, former Yugoslavia and Royal Antwerp keeper Ratko Svilar, he’ll be very happy about that. Less happy will be the Anderlecht management –… Read More »
Belgium face Cyprus tonight in their final World Cup qualifying match. With tickets for Russia guaranteed, all eyes will be on Jan Vertonghen – who will become the most-capped Belgian international (97 caps) – and on the number of goals that Belgium score. Belgium have scored 39 so far in these qualifying rounds, while the… Read More »
Gent have announced that they have ended their collaboration with coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck. All parties agreed that the time was right for a friendly divorce. The first thought on hearing the news is that Vanhaezebrouck’s agent, Mogi Bayat, is once more at the centre of affairs. Tonight, Anderlecht face Glasgow Celtic in the Champions League… Read More »
It’s a funny old game tonight at Parc Astrid. Anderlecht have to win to stand any chance of remaining in Europe. They play Glasgow Celtic who have only won six points out of 90 ‘on the road’. It should be easy, but Anderlecht are in a bit of a fix at the moment. They have… Read More »
Tomorrow, Roberto Martinez will announce his squad to play Gibraltar (h) and Greece (a). The focus is likely to be on whether he’ll call up Eden Hazard who is just returning to fitness after injury but has not yet played this season. My feeling is that Martinez will not be calling up that particular Hazard.… Read More »
When Silvio Proto left Anderlecht last year after 11 seasons and almost 400 games, the smart money was on Mile Svilar to be his successor and to eventually put ‘a lot’ of euros into the club’s coffers. It won’t happen now as he looks to be heading for Benfica. The son of former Yugoslavia and… Read More »
Royal Antwerp’s new Sporting Director Luciano D’Onofrio – who ran Standard Liege for years – is engineering a move for Jelle Van Damme, who was briefly his captain at Standard. Van Damme is currently with LA Galaxy and his contract ends in December. He’s said to be keen to return to Belgium for family reasons.… Read More »
It’s only July but the Jupiler Pro League is back. I think we can still talk about the ‘Big Five’ although Oostende are pushing hard to join that club. Anderlecht have the biggest budgets and the most valuable squad, as I write, and they will start favourites to regain the title. I have heard good… Read More »