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

Another solid month buddy, it certainly seems like the title is yours to lose now!

Cheers fella, I just hope you haven't scudded me and I can get this club over the finishing line.

The penultimate month of the season saw us entertain three teams as we returned to our "drawing roots" with two draws from the three games that were played.


It was a home game with Witgoor that started the month and we brushed them aside four nil in what was an impressive performance as the on loan Gerritsen put us into the lead on twenty two minutes before winger Adriaensen doubled the lead shortly after the half hour and with six first half minutes left Lodders headed home a third. Just one more goal followed in the second half and that was scored by Gerritsen who bagged his second of the game.

We then made the trip to Sint-Niklaas and could only return home with a point since Adriaensen had to rescue us a point with just four minutes on the clock after Schurmann had given Sint-Niklaas the lead with twelve minutes remaining.

Our final game of the month was a home clash against Hasselt and we could only manage a two all draw as both sides had to come from behind. The away side took the lead on fifteen minutes whenever Hulsmann headed home via the underside of the bar but Frederix capitalised on a keeper mistake to level proceedings and then Swinnen put through his own net to give us a half time lead - Garlisi levelled to make the scored two each with ten minutes left.


We are four points clear at the top with just two games remaining and yet we're still not guaranteed a playoff spot alongside Hoogstraten and RC Mechelen.

Berchem have waved goodbye to the lead as they've become the first club to be relegated. It's a toss-up now between Oosterzonen, Hamoir and Sprimont to see who joins them.


So with just two league games remaining of the 2019/2020 season has us currently sitting in second place in the third period but level on points with Turnhout who we face next.

With two league games remaining and us still in the title hunt we had to face two hard away trips as we visited Turnhout and Dessel as we picked up the league title in my first season at the club and my fifth league title in this career with three teams. We also beat Waluwe in the "Champions playoff" just for bragging rights but we shouldn't have.


We started the month with a potential "title winning" game as we made the trip to second placed Turnhout and we pinched the points with a goal nine minutes from time through Frederix and it was a day to celebrate as we secured the league title, against the odds.

And our season ended with a second straight game on the road as we visited Dessel and came out on top of a five goal thriller as Frederix gave us the lead with a well placed finish on twenty seven minutes but two goals in six second half minutes from Bessems and Vandenbergh turned the game around. We then did what they done to us and struck twice in the final seven wins to win the game as Gerritsen and then Adriaensen won us the game.


I'm pleased to announce that we've won the league against the odds and we have finished seven points clear of second place Turnhout who took our place in the playoffs after we won the third place but due to us winning the league our playoff spot wasn't needed.


Proof that we wrapped up the league title following a league victory at Turnhout as De Jonghe lifted the league title much to the delight of our travelling support. An attendance of one thousand five hundred and nineteen saw the league being won as Frederix scored the only goal on eighty one minutes. Our central defender Dildick secured man of the match.


We faced Third Division B winners Waluwe just for the sake of "bragging rights" and we were the ones who could "celebrate" bragging rights as we won on away goals. The first leg ended 1-1 as Gerritsen cancelled out Rodrigo de Oliveria's goal and in the return leg we managed to somehow win on away goals - Boulanger and Adrianesen scored our goals despite being second best throughout while Amoah and Rodrigo de Oliveira scored for the home side.


Following our promotion the board has decided to build us a new stadium after getting planning permission. The UR Namur Stadium is expected to be open to the public in just over a year time.

I'm unsure whether I'm going remain at this club or not even though I managed to achieve promotion to the Second League and the board have decided to build a new stadium but deep down I don't think this club is good enough to survive in the league next season so I may jump ship but only if the correct offer comes up!

The season expectations were announced for the forthcoming season as the board have given me three options to choose from:


They are "Avoid relegation", "Mid-table finish" or "Top half finish" and whatever option I choose, we won't be given any cash to spend due to poor financial status currently.

I've decided that I had to choose that I believe the club can avoid relegation even though deep down I don't think we can survive. We've currently got "insecure" finances so the big earners will need to depart the club this summer and whether they can be replaced or not, remains to be seen. Bad times.


Eight pre season friendly games have been arranged and they're sure to test us as we face French side Bordeaux and Italian's Fiorentina as well as the reserves of Roma. We will travel to Patro Eisden, Zottegem, Dendermonde and Poederlee in our first four games before hosting Bordeaux, Seraing, Fiorentina and Roma Reserves.

It's still unknown what kind of team I will have due to the financial problems.

Our league season starts with a home game against Mouscron-Peruwelz, it will be my first league game since turning professional.

I'm still looking to exit this club but it seems impossible at the moment...

Knew you'd win the league well done mate, heres to the next step!

I do hope you don't expect me to do much this season.. our financial situation is pretty bad that I need to offload players. One gone so far.

Very well done on your first belgian trophy mate

Very well, now just move on and speed it up to catch Dan.

Thanks mate, lets hope it won't be my last at this club.


Ha! I don't think I will ever catch Dan.

As soon as I got promoted I thought to myself that this squad wasn't good enough to survive in the Second Division so I have signed some quality players who should help me survive while we also played eight pre season friendly games - four at home and four away from home.


I'm pleased to announce that eleven players have arrived at the club ahead of the forthcoming season, I found it quite important that I had to resign Gerritsen on-loan and I'm pleased that he agreed to re-join from Westerlo. I've changed goalkeepers for the season as Villalba has joined and he used to be on the books of Real Madrid although he never played for the first time.

Two left backs arrived at the club as both De Coninck and Jacobs came on free transfers, Archambeau has arrived on a season loan from Pro League side Vise while Pucher, Fernando and Goethals are central midfielders. Vermeiren is a new striker who's "preferred role" is poacher so I hope he can bag goals for me and Koep is a left winger as I hope he will be a star for me.

Reindorf, Klee and Gopane didn't get their contracts renewed so they departed the club while Biyo'o Biyo'o joined Hamoir after agreeing a pre-contract with them, Lodders has departed to Kapellen while left back Konsdorff has headed to Eupen on a free.

As I signed new players I also had to get players and since no one wanted them I had to release them from their contracts as keeper De Jonghe, Henrot, Lesage, Cristantemo and Ufuk departed while Frederix joined Roeselare on a free.

We have also arranged eight pre season friendly matches:


It was quite a successful pre season programme as we only lost three out of the eight games and it was the games I expected to suffer defeat too as we went down at home to French side Bordeaux and Italian duo Fiorentina and Roma Reserves.

We started with a three all draw away to Patro Eisden in which Gerritsen bagged a hat trick and the same man opened the scoring in our three one win away to Zottegem as Perrier and the now released Henrot also found the net. Our third game saw us trounce Dendermonde four one as Perrier, Lesage, Wheeldon and Quere scored and we picked up the same result against Poederlee as Perrier and Quere both scored twice.

We then faced Bordeaux and went down two nil before Yilmaz scored the only goal against Seraing and then Fiorentina beat us three nil before we ended pre season with a five two home defeat at the hands of the Reserves of Roma as Aydemir and Afkir both scored.

Our competitive football season starts with a Belgian Cup game away to Maldegem while our league season starts at home against Mouscron-Peruweiz.

Our opening month of the new season started with a deserved victory in the Belgian Cup but our league form started disastrously as we lost our opening three league games - conceding nine in the process and scoring just the only goal in a defeat to Eupen.


The first match of August was in the Belgian Cup fourth round as we travelled to non-league Maldegem and we advanced thanks to a two one success as Vermeiren scored on his debut after just nineteen minutes but Vankrunkelsven then scored a fluke effort to level proceedings but Sias scored a wonderful goal to win us the tie.

Our league season started with a home game against Mouscron-Peruweiz and our fans were anticipating to see how our new squad would cope in the league but they were booed off as we suffered a humiliating five nil defeat in a defeat that only saw us create one chance (If I remember correctly) on target as Fori, Gundogan, Robert, Kasri and Vilano struck for the away side.

We then faced Hasselt at home in the Belgian Cup fourth round and a team with barely any confidence saw us crash out three one as Hulsmans opened the scoring for the away side on thirty five minutes but Koep levelled the scores on seventy four minutes with his first goal for the club. Late goals from Nabob and Neve caused the upset.

We returned to league action with a trip to Eupen and slipped up to our second league defeat out of two despite us taking the lead on the half hour through Vermeiren who struck his first league goal for the club but the home side equalised seven minutes later through Dumont and then Tenniche won the game for Eupen with four minutes left.

And the opening month ended with another league defeat on the bounce as we suffered a two nil defeat at home with Azevedo breaking the deadlock on twelve minutes and then Buysens secured the points for the away side in the first minute of second half stoppage time.


We are bottom of the league at the end of the first month as we have only managed to score one single goal in our opening three games and conceded nine, which isn't a good start at all but I'm sure we will become better once the side has gelled together. It's a contrast from the other side Woluwe who are in seventh place and have started the season better.

A downright awful start to the season. Things better pick up or your looking at getting the boot pal...

And we wouldn't want that!

would we?

To be fair mate, I have signed quite a few players to play in the first team so they probably haven’t gelled together yet but still, an awful first month and we’re already out of the cup.

I don’t think I will be under pressure this season, or at least I hope not as we’re predicted to only come fifteenth so anything higher than that and I will be delighted. Really hope I haven’t regretted letting Frederix depart but I am sure his replacement will become a decent player and score goals, if he scores anything between twelve and fifteen then I will be happy enough.

Well, who would enjoy getting sacked? I haven’t been sacked at a club yet during his adventure and I don’t want to start now. Being sacked isn’t an option but resignation is though.

Our second month of the season was much better as I managed the side to our first victory of the season away to Lommel United and we remained unbeaten throughout the month but September did conclude with back to back draws that I seriously need to cut down on.


With a severe lack of confidence after a four defeats on the bounce we headed to Lommel United looking for our first league win of the season and possibly against the odds we headed home with a two goal victory as summer signing Kevelaerts opened the scoring on eleven minutes before Archambeau doubled the lead in first half stoppage time.

Our first home game of the month saw us pick up another two nil victory against Dender with another summer signing Vermeiren opening the scoring after nineteen minutes and the score remained that way until nine minutes into the second half as Kevelaerts scored for the second game running,

We then travelled to Olympic Charleroi and could only head home with a point despite taking the lead in the thirteenth minute through Vermeiren's strike but the home side equalised a minute after the hour mark through Arikan.

The month ended with a home clash with league favourites Roeselare and could only secure a second straight draw as once again we squandered the lead. We took the lead much to the delight of our travelling support after just eight minutes as on-loan Gerritsen opened the scoring but Nollevaux squared the scored on sixty three minutes.


A much better month has seen us climb the league table and we're now sitting in twelfth place although if we had won those two games that we drew then we perhaps would be higher in the standings but still a long way to go.

A much better month mate, great to see you begin to climb the table now!

Great career story. Good results. Like to see how you do in Belgium (and further in Europe). Good luck !

At least it now looks like the squad has gelled together after that atrocious start but I hope it lasts and we can pick up more points.


Cheers. I would have loved to been able to check off Belgium in a couple of years but looks like I'm here for longer than I had planned, oh well.

With five league games played in October, draws continue to hinder our chances of a successful season, we only managed to pick up a single victory, suffered one defeat and drew the other three league games - I've tried to solve the draw issues but to no avail yet.


We started the month with a trip to Woluwe and just like the two "bragging rights" games at the end of last season this one also ended in a draw as we had to fight from two down to salvage a point. The home side took the lead on twenty eight minutes through Amoah before Dildick scored an own goal - Gerritsen and Kevelaerts both scored in the final fifteen minutes to earn a draw.

Our next game was at home to Tubize and a single goal from left winger Koep on thirty seven minutes separated the sides.

A trip to league leaders Oostende was next and we only managed to capture a point as Archambeau's goal with ten minutes left helped us gain a point after Vandewalle had put the hosts into a sixty ninth minute lead.

We stayed on the road for the second straight game as we made the trip to Zulte Waregem and they secured a well deserved two nil victory against us as two goals in as many minutes from Ghesquiere and Trajkovski inside seventeen minutes was enough.

And we ended with month was a home encounter against FC Brussels but we only secured a fifth draw in the opening twelve games despite being the better side for a change. Brussels broke the deadlock with sixty seven minutes on the clock whenever Da Silva struck but summer signing Koep salvaged a point with six minutes left.


Oostende have secured a playoff spot after winning the first period.

It's a contrast of how we have started the season as we're lying in fourteen place after the opening twelve games and have only secured three wins so far this season, scoring twelve goals from twelve games and conceded seventeen so far and I'm still hoping I can turn this around.


The second period hasn't started great but only two games have been played, we're in fifteenth place with just the one win from two games.

Your drawing a lot of games which means your picking up points but I don't think it will be enough this season, just about building for the next year surely? However your remaining with just one defeat in two months so it could be getting there!

At least two of those games we perhaps should've won so that's annoying and we definitely could have been higher in the league than we are currently. The last thing I want is to get relegated and them potentially getting sacked as that would damage my "reputation" slightly but at least we're not bottom of the table... yet.

November saw us face just four games as we had another poor month bar the final game against Louviere Centre as that was the only time we won in the month and kept a clean sheet. In the four games we only scored three times and conceded a staggering eleven times.


Our first game of the month saw us make the trip to bottom of the table Ronse and they shocked us as they picked up a well deserved two one victory in front of their home fans as Baras opened the scoring just before half time before Essikal doubled the lead - Kevelaerts scored a consolation goal for us with twenty minutes remaining.

We then faced Aalst in front of our home fans and we were booed off and not for the first time as we crashed to a four goal defeat as all the goals came in the final twenty eight minutes. Aalst opened the scoring on sixty two minutes through Van Damme before three goals in the final twelve minutes from De Munter, Van Damme and Parmentier completed the rout.

Next up was a trip to one of the league favourites Charleroi and they secured a very much deserved five nil win as Habtcmu scored twice in the first half and then Leandro, Rolland and Masson added three more goals in the second half to add to the hiding. After the game I seriously thought about resigning because this team was driving me nuts and I felt I couldn't take them further.

I decided to remain at the club and fight as we hosted Louviere Centre to complete the month as we picked up our first victory of November thanks to a two goal win as we struck early in each half to seal a much needed three points. We opened the scoring on just two minutes through Adriaensen and then doubled the lead on forty seven minutes courtesy of Vermeiren.


Our fourth win of the current season has seen us move to thirteenth position but it's still incredibly tight at the bottom so it's very important that we wrap up more victories and quickly so I can definitely avoid the drop. It's hard to believe that we're sixteen points from the top spot as the league is tight but more importantly is that we are only five points ahead of the second bottom side Lommel United.


That win has us second bottom of the second period and only Woluwe are stopping us from going bottom as their bubble seems to have burst as they've failed to win any of their opening six second period matches.

May have jinxed you a little. Sure it will come together or a more appealing job will come available!

Glad you didn't resign. Not under pressure are you?

I've applied for the vacant Gent job.. was offered the job but turned it down as I don't want to cowardly walk away.. at least until the end of the season.

Couldn't be bothered "walking away" as I need to show a bit of loyalty since they didn't have to appoint me manager but I don't think I'm under any kind of pressure and truth be told I haven't even thought about checking.

As we entered the final month of the year as faced three league games as we drew one, lost one and won our final game of the year as a lack of consistency continues to haunt me but at least we're not bottom of the table.. at the moment and I hope we don't go into the bottom two.


We started with a trip to Mons in a game were we "faced the impossible" but we didn't listen to people bad mouthing us as we earned a hard fought draw on the road and it could have been better. Striker Vermeiren opened the scoring on just ten minutes but they equalised after thirty one - we made a late penalty that could have won us the game.

Staying on the road and we travelled to Mouscron-Peruwelz, the team that humiliated us five nil on the opening day of the season and we suffered another defeat to them but this time it was only two one as two goals in eight second half minutes from Coulibaly and a penalty from Capon had the hosts in control before Adriaensen struck with fifteen minutes to go but the home side ran out deserved winners.

And the year ended with a well deserved victory over high flying Eupen as we picked up an excellent two nil victory in front of our home support. We took the lead after twenty nine minutes thanks to striker Vermeiren and the same man doubled the lead in the first minute of the second half to wrap up the points.


With the New Year approaching and the first half of the season completed as have ended twenty twenty in fourteenth place, which I suppose I should be pleased with. We have picked up five wins, five draws and nine defeats from the first nineteen games - scoring nineteen and conceding thirty one times as we are on twenty one points to date.


As the second period is close to finishing we are in sixteenth place and definitely can't secure a playoff spot but I am not fussed this season as it's all about survival. As for the team who could be winning it well that could be Charleroi but they face threats from Oostende (who have already secured a playoff spot), Eupen and Mons while Zulte Waregem and Roeselare can also finish top of the second period.


Lierse have approached me to become their new manager and I wasn't going to be judged on how I was going to do in the Pro League as I would've took over mid-season. However, I have decided to turn it down because I want to remain at Namur until at least the end of the season.

We played two friendlies during the winter break but we drew both games and didn't play great, hardly confidence boosting results as they finished one all and scoreless.

Fair play turning down the AA Gent job and now the Lierse job! Not as much as a whimp as I thought! Better month there mate!

To be fair mate the Gent job didn't look that appealing, even though they had a good transfer budget of a million pound the squad was awfully short and I wouldn't have been able to strengthen it for a few months so decided to stay put and as for the Lierse job, well I had no serious intention to take it. I chickened out of managing Zlhobin(sp?) after just about ten games, I need to stay loyal until at least the end of the current campaign.

Belgium is not an easy country to win. Only a few clubs are really good and a lot of teams are not really bad. You are most of the times part of the mid table. I never managed to win any silver in this country (yet).

seems like Belgium is bringing you to a hault a little. dont let it bother you!

I never thought this adventure was going to be an "easy ride" and this current season has proven that, however if I survive then I'd "celebrate" like it was a title victory as it would be a remarkable achievement. I'd love to take the Anderlecht job as they same to be the best club in Belgium even though they're not the current champions on my save, Standard are.

One trophy to my name currently but I can guarantee that will change... I just don't know when.


Belgium isn't bothering me mate, my clubs inconsistency is bothering me slightly.