How sad… the “poor” people get to play in a friendly.

By: Firezen | November 15th, 2009

For the players who were (un)fortunate to stay behind in Eindhoven, they invited Valenciennes over to De Herdgang training facilities to play a game of footy. For all of those who are wondering, Valenciennes are a French club currently 7th in Ligue, and finished 12th last season. Not bad for a club who only came back to the Ligue 1 scene in 2006 after a promotion.

It was a great opportunity for PSV to try out different players against a proper first team opposition, as Valenciennes have not suffered from losing players to international duty.

Rymenants and Labyad from the youth squad showed up to play, while youngsters from senior squad Stef Nijland and Cassio Ramos played too.

Cassio Ramos finally had another go at playing keepy for the club. Despite Isaksson’s hot form prior to Copenhagen, I still find it amusing how the coach just wouldn’t let the Brazilian have a go at beating Isaksson out of the no.1 spot. Rumours behind the decision of still hanging onto the Sweded after his debut season was so that PSV could sell the goalkeeper for a higher price after 2010 if Sweden qualified for World Cup. I guess the betting/investing went wrong, as Sweden have failed to qualify.

Despite the non-concrete substance behind that, it’s sad how the management isn’t giving the Brazilian enough chances. Didn’t Gomes start when he was 22/23 years old? Cassio Ramos is turning 22, and my goalkeeper coach who regular visits the PSV team training reckons Cassio is around the same level as Gomes in terms of technical abilties. But I guess it’s an universal thing for goalkeepers around the world, as clubs are reluctant to hand the duties to youngsters due to their vulnerability and uncertainty. Just think Rob van Dijk from Feyenoord, who’s over Erwin Mulder and Darley Torres despite his ancient age.

For Stef Nijland though… it’s just a matter of too much competition in the forward position, and his abilities still needing to be honed. Nothing he can really do about, although he really needs to get loaned out soon, or else he’ll have to get transferred. He was playing games for FC Groningen prior to coming to the South Side.

Oh, and for being stripped of first team appearanes, our captain in theory Timmy Simons finally played in PSV colours today just to remind the fans.

You are… You don’t know me? I’m the PSV captain Timmy Simons! I thought Afellay was the captain…

But the biggest surprise for me was the addition of Steve Olfers into the starting line up. For all of those who don’t know (me neither until I saw him showing up), he is a 27 year old Dutch defender who lost his job recently after not having his contract renewed after his stint with Danish football club Aab Fodbold. Apparently he’s been training with PSV, so I suppose that’s why Fred Rutten (or maybe Rekers) gave him a chance.

<— Steve Olfers