Travelling across Europe - proving I'm better than Dan!

Congratulations on winning the title, it's a great achievement.

Good luck for next season.

I'm not sure mate if I am completely honest, I will remain at the club until a good job offer comes up and then we'll see I suppose. I'm currently happy at Namur and I'm sure we can have a successful campaign in the Pro League.


We overachieved last season mate, something I'm getting use too. As you said, a great achievement.

It's time for the seasonal expectations to come out and what is sure to be a tough season as we embark on Pro League football along with some Belgian giants such as Standard, Anderlecht and Genk to name three and It's hard to say how we will fare this season - but, I will sure give it a shot.


The board aren't expecting much this season as they're only expecting me to consolidate the club in the Pro League and for us to learn from the experience of playing at the highest level of Belgian football. They haven't given me a transfer budget but they've given me a good wage budget so I can wheel and deal.

With several players departing the club due to their contracts not being renewed or loans expiring it's left me with a tiny squad of around sixteen players so I need to get straight into the transfer market and bring in players - I would love to attempt to stay away from loan signings as they always bitch when they don't get played and it's annoying.


Our assistant manager has arranged six matches with four of them being away from home and us hosting Czech side Teplice and fellow Belgian Pro League side Gent, that game was already arranged when they were our parent club and I couldn't cancel.

We have away games against Tournai, Seraing, Zwarte Leeuw and Hamoir and it could turn out to be a promising preseason, or the other side, it could be a dreadful preseason but I'm sure I can sign players before our first preseason game to make the squad bigger.

I think our league season starts with a game against Kortrijk.

That budget won't go far, whats happening with Falcao? keep hold of him?

Oh but it will depending on who I bring in, I haven't been spending that much on wages when I was in the Second League.

Yeah, Falcao agreed to sign a new deal, £1.4k a week but he's signed a five-year deal.

We've had a busy time in the transfer market as I've been forced to bring in quite a few new players again without spending a penny as we didn't have a transfer kitty. We also played five preseason friendly contests that saw us slip up just the once.


Nine new faces have arrived, all on free transfers bar one that was a season long loan deal.

I've decided to bring in two new central midfielders, both twenty-two-year-olds and they're former Mouscron-Peruwels player Parmentier who has played one hundred and thirty seven career games and scored fifteen times, that's including other clubs too. The other one is former Standard player Henry who has made ninty five appearances for clubs out on-loan.

With last seasons AMC heading back to his parent club I have brought in two new ones who are both eighteen. Lenoir who has arrived following his released by Tournai and Six who was previously on the books of Club Brugge but didn't make a single appearance for them. Bessems who is an attacking midfielder who plays on the left hand side has arrived following his release by Pro League side Lierse.

Following players who I had on-loan last season departing back to their parent clubs and Dildick retiring I have had to bring in two new central defenders as Ladiad has joined on a season long from Second League side Antwerp while Osmani has arrived on a free, despite playing five times for Circle Brugge last season he was released come the end of his contract. Yilmaz who is a striker has arrived following his release by Zulte in the summer, he's arrived to strengthen my striking options.

Our last signing was Lovric who is a Croatian right back who was released by Croatian giants Hajduk Split, the twenty-year-old Croatian is expected to be rotated with Borges - twenty six appearances was made during his time at Hajduk but didn't score - they decided not to renew his contract.

Dildick departed the club as he has retired. De Coninck and Boulanger are rubbish and wouldn't have made an appearance for me.


We played five games in preseason, four ones and one defeat to Czech side Teplice.

Preseason started with three five goals to nil victories on the spin and it started away to Tournai as Aguirre, Koep, Falcao, Kostyukevic and Labiad found the net before Falcao and Koep both hit doubles and Henry also scored in another five nil win over Seraing.

A third five goal win came as Aguirre and Bessems both scored twice in between a Fernando goal away to Zwarte Leeuw.

We then played Teplice at home and crashed to our first and only defeat, four goals to one as Six scored our consolation goal a minute into the second half.

Our final game in preseason saw us return to winning ways away to Hamoir as Falcao and Aguirre both struck inside the opening twenty minutes.

Very good pre season with a good defensive record from it too! Lets hope you can take that into the season

Cheers pal. Preseason was good but bar that one game against Tublice, their wasn't much challenge but you got to beat what's in front of you and I did except against the Czech's.

When I first arrived in Belgium and took the managerial reigns of Namur I had a goal to get UR Namur straight to the top of Belgian football but unfortunately that's been cut short due to circumstances changing and a certain big club's managerial vacancy becoming available. Who is it? Read the remainder of the post.


Anderlecht's previous manager departed for the sunny shores of Portuguese side Porto so that meant that the most successful side in Belgian football's managerial post had become vacant and I waste no time in expressing interest in it, even though I was very unlikely to get it as I'm sure more experienced managers would be interest.

Or not.

As you can see, I'm being considered by many as the leading candidate for the job.

Sadly though me declaring interest in the post left the Namur board seething and left me with two options - apologise or resign.


I took the riskiness of resigning from my post after a few years in charge at the club. During my reign at the club I guided the side to the Belgian Third Division A league title in 2020, had a new stadium built called the UR Namur Stadium and then guided the club to the Second League title in 2022 but unfortunately the time had to come to an end.

I'd feel like an idiot for not apologising to the Namur board if Anderlecht didn't approach me to become their new manager, thankfully though I didn't need to worry about "signing on the dole" again.


The sides chairman Mr. Degryse offered me a four year contract to take the reigns at the Stade Constant Vanden Stock stadium and it was simply an offer I couldn't turn down regardless of the situation.

They have offered me a wage packet of eight thousand pounds a week, which I believe is the biggest wage I've had on this career and it's no doubt the biggest club that have offered me a contract and I'm absolutely chuffed that they approached me when they could've went for someone with a lot more experience.

Should I take the job, I will have a lovely kitty of eleven million pounds.


Of course I've decided to take the job and I would've been stupid not to take the post as they're the biggest and most successful club in Belgium and are expected to win the Pro League so the pressure is indeed on and I'm relishing the prospect to manage the side and can't wait to get started.

Wherever I have been, I have been successful. I've won leagues at Altach, Torpedo and recently Namur and I'm sure I can lead Anderlecht to Pro League glory as well as winning the Belgian Cup. Sadly, I can't win the Super Cup as I've taken over after the Super Cup clash with Standard and the opening league game so my first clash will be at home to Lierse.

Seen that coming! Best of luck at Anderlecht! Playing catch up now, I left when the 2021/22 season came to an end, make it a good successful season pal!

Did you really? I didn't think they would have approached me but pleased they did as it could ensure that I wrap up Belgium at the beginning of next season all being well and then I could be finally Bulgaria bound.

In August I managed Anderlecht for the first time as I was unveiled to the supporters before my first game in charge, which was a home clash against Lierse. I managed four league games (would have been five and a Belgian Super Cup game but I didn't take over until after the opening game) and it would have been a successful month but Standard ruined it in our final game of the month.


My first game in charge of Anderlecht was at home to Lierse and I got off to the perfect of starts following a four nil success as winger Sivan opened the scoring after just eight minutes before Clayton doubled the advantage on twenty eight. Second half goals from Sivan for his second of the game and Poletti wrapped up a top start.

We then travelled to Waasland-Beveren and picked up my second straight four goal success with again Sivan finding the net this time after six minutes before second half goals from Palero, Poletti and Clayton secured my second straight win in charge of the champions.

I then faced my old club Namur at home in the third game and picked up a hard fought two nil win with Monteiro scoring twice to seal the points. He opened the scoring five minutes into the second half from the penalty spot before sealing the points in second half stoppage time from close range.

And the month concluded with a disappointing defeat away to Standard Liege who moved top of the table at our expense. Standard took the lead on the quarter hour through Kontsevay but Flavio equalised with his first goal on fifty one minutes but Gordana regained the lead for Standard three minutes later and Raynaud sealed the points.


It's been a promising start to my first season at the club as we're in second place and only lost top spot because of our 3-1 away defeat at the hands of Standard who have piped us in top spot but their is still a long way to go and I'm confident we can win the league.

Not a bad opener mate, wouldn't worry as i GUARANTEE you wrap up the league and cup double this year! Mark those words

Congratulations on getting the Anderlecht job. I can see a league title on the horizon...

No pressure then? Definitely hope I can wrap up the league and cup double then or you'll call me a failure, I'm sure.


Argh! First Dan and now yourself. I hate pressure!

Getting the Anderlecht job is a great achievement as they could have went for someone with a lot more experience but they didn't thankfully and decided to employ me and my job is to make sure they don't regret the appointment. I would love to win the league title this season but unfortunately their is still too much football to be played to get too confident but I will try.

A good move and a good start. Good luck with Anderlecht!

Thanks pal. It's a massive step up but one I'm relishing.

We approached September with six competitive matches, five in the Pro League and two Champions League group games as we were drawn in the "group of death" alongside Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen and Inter Milan. I'm not expecting much in Europe this season but we've remain unbeaten throughout the month in the league with four wins from four.


Our opening game saw us bounce back from the defeat to Standard with a four one home victory over Circle Brugge as Clayton and Salvador both struck to give us a two goal lead inside the opening half hour and then left winger De Clercq added a third early in the second half before Clayton's second goal on the hour made it four. Circle Brugge scored a consolation goal through Nys two minutes later.

We then played my first game in the Champions League group stages against Spanish giants Barcelona who beat us 6-1. Early goals from Thiago and Song put Barca two goals up inside twelve minutes and that's how it remained until Flavio pulled a goal back but then our tiredness and Barcelona's quality saw them strike four more times inside the final half hour through Mensah, a double from former Manchester United striker Welbeck and a penalty from Huet.

We returned to league action with a three goals to nil away victory against Vise with deadline day signing Falcao scoring his first goal for the club on thirty two minutes and that lead was doubled six minutes later through attacking midfielder Clayton before Nunes headed home a third with a few minutes left.

Kortrijk then arrived to the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium in Brussels and we picked up a four one victory as we scored all our goals in the opening twenty one minutes. Winger De Clercq opened the scoring after only eight minutes before Salvador headed home a second five minutes later, De Clercq added his second and our third after seventeen minutes with Flavio adding a fourth just after twenty minutes. We then switched off and let Brandoli pulled a goal back and they could have scored more. Nunes was dismissed on eighty two minutes for two yellow cards, he will miss the STVV game.

Our final league game of the month was away to STVV and we edged to a two one success on the road and we took the lead on the quarter hour as we were awarded a controversial penalty that Praet converted to give us the lead but Hagerstrand equalised after twenty eight minutes. The home side were then reduced to ten men on seventy nine minutes when van Boekel was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge before Praet's second goal of the game won us the points in second half stoppage time.

And the month ended with a trip to Germany to face Bayer Leverkusen and they turned us over four one, a first half double from Buttner had Leverkusen in control and Doumbia netted a double in the second half. We scored a consolation goal through Oliver who had to play left back because of injuries.


We have ended the month top of the table and we're four points clear of Standard Liege who have a game in hand. Despite deadline day Falcao only scoring the once throughout the month we are still scoring goals for fun as we've netted twenty seven times in nine games, conceding just the six so far and I'm sure that will continue as we're the best club in Belgium.


After two group games we are bottom of the group with two defeats from our two games with ourselves conceding ten times from the two games and scoring just twice.

A great month domestically, but that is a ridiculously tough Champions League group!!

Great month in the league. Also a great group to play in CL, if you like to watch a lot of goals. Luckely its not a goal to win the CL with Anderlecht so you can focus on the competition and cup.

Couldn't believe it when we were drawn out in that group, awful group for us but I'm glad it's not important.


It's just a shame that we're conceding the goals instead of scoring them, isn't it? Dan and myself are allowed to win the Champions League/Europa League but as you have said it's not an immediate goal to be a success but it's more a "luxury" rather than something that we must win.

Anderlecht should win you everything in Belgium! Hurry and catch up to Dan!!

Unfortunately unless something bad happens to Dan's save, I don't think I can ever catch him.

Mine is on a three file rolling save, every two weeks and backed up! So the only thing that could be wrong is if an 89 year old peadophile came to my house and burnt the computer, so you basically :L

On the back of an unbeaten league record in September we faced four league games in October and it wasn't the best of months as we crashed to our second league defeat of the season after receiving a hiding at the hands of Genk.


We started the month with a home encounter against Lokeren and eased to a four nil victory despite losing a man to a red card during the second half. Former Namur striker Falcao opened the scoring on just eight minutes with Praet doubling the lead on the quarter hour but then we were reduced to ten men after sixty five minutes when Jadson was shown his second yellow card but it didn't make a difference as an own goal and a goal from Monteiro inside the final ten minutes wrapped up an emphatic win.

Our next game saw us come out on top of a five goal thriller at home to KV Mechelen with all the goals coming in the first half. Winger De Clercq fired us into a dream start with just three minutes on the clock but the visitors levelled after ten minutes before Falcao restored the lead on thirty four but Mechelen equalised for the second time through Clayton but we won the game in first half stoppage time courtesy of De Clercq's second.

In Champions League action we made the trip to Milan to face Italian giants Inter but they overturned us three one. Inter took the lead on the quarter hour through Gabbiadini but we equalised fifteen minutes mate through a De Clercq goal but second half goals from Vadillo and Franz sealed the win for the Italian side.

Back to league action and we made the trip to Beerschot but could only play out a scoreless draw.

We then faced a Belgian Cup sixth round tie against Kapellen and eased to a comprehensive five goal victory as we wasted no time taking the lead as Falcao opened the scoring on five minutes before two goals in five minutes from Falcao for his second and Salvador had us in control. We scored a fourth goal before the break through Sivan and the same man scored his second and our fifth late on.

And our final game was away to Genk and it was a trip and game to forget as they beat us five one with the home side scoring three times in the first half as Thomas netted a hat trick and the home side added a fourth from a Souza free kick before Thomas netted his fifth on fifty five minutes - Falcao scored our consolation goal on sixty eight minutes but it was definitely a game to forget.


Despite that shocking result away from home we have ended the month top of the table and a point clear of the team who had just humped us five one but we could still lose top spot if Standard when their game in hand but I just don't know when that's being played, could be soon but then again it could not.


Our Champions League "group of death" hasn't got any better as we're bottom of the group following this months only game and it was a defeat away to Inter Milan.

You suck in Europe

However you laegue form is good, not running away with it yet though, however we all know you will be double champions come the end

You obviously haven't seen the group as I have the small matter of Barcelona, Inter and Leverkusen.

I would rather be running away with the league title truth be told as the sooner I can wrap it up then the better.

With ourselves crashing to a forgettable five one defeat away to Genk it was important we bounced back in the next month as we faced four league game throughout the month as well as a Belgian Cup seventh round tie and two Champions League games.


A home Champions League clash with Inter Milan started the month and we picked up our first points in the group following a one all draw in what Falcao fired us into an excellent start after just five minutes and despite the Italian side dominating I thought we could have held on but it wasn't to be as Franz equalised with ten minutes left.

We returned to league action for the first time following the five one Genk defeat with a tough home encounter against Gent and thankfully we bounced back to winning ways immediately with a two one victory at home. Clayton opened the scoring after only eleven minutes before Sivan doubled the lead with ten first half minutes remaining but the visiting side scored a consolation when Eduardo headed home with a minute left.

Our next game was a tricky Belgian Cup seventh round tie away from home as we played Eupen and progressed to the quarter finals following a three two win and we took the lead inside the opening five minutes courtesy of Van der Bossche before Clayton doubled the lead but the home side halved the deficit on the stroke of half time. Striker Falcao made it three one early in the second but we were made to sweat when Meyers scored a second goal for the underdogs with six minutes left but we held on.

Next up was a home league game against Westerlo and they were defeated 2-0 as Falcao scored both of the goals inside the opening twenty seven minutes.

We then made the trip to Lierse and eased to a three nil away win with Falcao opening the scoring on twenty three minutes and then Sivan doubled the lead late in the first half, the points were sealed with three minutes left as De Clercq side footed the ball home.

A daunting trip to Barcelona was next and in front of almost ninety three thousand fans they beat us 3-0 in a game that didn't even see us muster a chance on target in the ninety minutes. The Spanish side took the lead on the stroke of half time through Serrano before second half goals from Huet sealed the very much deserved win.

The month ended with a scoreless draw against Waasland-Beveren. I was very disappointed with our performance.


We are still top of the table heading into the final month of 2022. We are three points clear of second place Genk.


We are out of the Champions League after defeat to Barcelona but truth be told I ruled us out of the competition after match day three. One of Barcelona, Leverkusen and Inter Milan are going to have to miss out on qualification and play in the Europa League for the remainder of the season.

Only four goals were scored from ourselves, which I'm very disappointed with. Conceded seventeen times so far.

We reached the final month of the year top of the table and looking good for the Pro League title while we remained in the Belgian Cup but faced a tough quarter final against Standard that is played over two legs. In December we played five league matches winning three and drawing two.


We started the final month of 2022 with a trip to my former club Namur as we started with an excellent three goal away success with two goals in the opening twenty minutes from De Clercq and Sivan getting us off to the perfect start before winger De Clercq added his second and our third before half time.

Our final European game was at home to Leverkusen and unfortunately we crashed to our fifth defeat from the six games. We missed a penalty before the German Bundesliga side won the game in the sixty eighth minute through Doumbia, a point would have been a fair result.

When we returned to domestic action we faced an extremely tough game against Standard Liege and the game got off to a blistering start when Clayton smashed home a free kick after only five minutes but six minutes later saw us give away a penalty that Sjogren converted and that's how it ended.

Club Brugge arrived for our second straight home game and we edged a five goal thriller. We took the lead on eighteen minutes through Falcao but Club Brugge levelled proceedings before Sivan restored the lead just before half time, the points look sealed whenever De Clercq made it three one but Saad's late goal made it a nervy ending.

In our next time we made the trip to Brugge to face Circle Brugge and the points were shared as De Clercq cancelled out Decuninck's opener.

We then faced a quarter final first leg tie in the Belgian Cup against Standard and we've taken the edge going into the second leg in Liege with a single goal win as Sivan scored the only goal of the game after four minutes - visitors Standard were reduced to ten men when Matias was sent off after fifty nine minutes.

Our final game of the year was a home clash with Vise and we ended the year with maximum points as Sivan gave us the lead on forty three minutes before central defender Nunes guided home a second goal with just over twenty minutes remaining.


We will be approaching the New Year top of the table and with a five point lead over second place Genk, I'm still not overly confident I can wrap up the league title but I suppose it's how we do in the second half of the season - I would love Falcao to bang in more goals but it's still been a successful season, minus our Champions League form as we're still in the Belgian Cup and challenging for the league.


Our Champions League adventure was one to forget as we finished rock bottom of a terrible group that included Leverkusen, Inter Milan and Barcelona. Remember when I said one big team would need to miss out, that ended up being Barcelona who will be playing Europa League football after winter.

doing billiantly mate, just caught up with what I've missed