Europa 2nd/3rd Quali Rounds: Progres/Willem II v Lincoln Red Imps/Rangers

[the gunslinger 3,366]

If we are at a level where we can take out the 5th best dutch team in a one leg away tie then that's pretty impressive. 

 

Let's focus for now on the Imps. 

[Gonzo79 13,579]

4 minutes ago, craig said:

But rather than be glass half empty why not reminisce over the positives and be glass half full ?

Expect the worst and you're less likely to be disappointed.  ?

[craig 5,195]

7 minutes ago, Gonzo79 said:

Expect the worst and you're less likely to be disappointed.  ?

That’s usually my mantra ?

 

But to be fair we’ve gone from Pedro and Progres to Gerrard and Braga, Feyenoord, Porto etc.

 

We have more reason to be positive than negative in Europe these days.

[Whosthedado 1,487]

I dont understand the fear! OK its the hardest draw that we could have got but we beat better teams last year. Bring it on. 

 

Better still if Progres progress and we can give them another skelping for Pedro  

[Frankie 8,145]

Could have been better over the course of the two round draws but could easily have been worse.

 

We're more than capable of beating any of the three teams in our way.  At home would have been preferable but, in some ways, we look more comfortable in away matches in Europe.

[Malangsob 1,195]

Progres Niederkorn III...even kornier.

It's on y'all!

[DMAA 3,603]

For anyone who cares, I've wasted 20 minutes of my life "scouting" Willem II.

 

They are a club who are on the up. Promoted in 2014, they had a good first season in the Erevidisie before, as often happens, reverting to survival in their second season up and finishing 16th. From there they had two consecutive 13th place finishes. They improved on this again with a 10th place finish before finishing 5th last season, within touching distance of heavyweights PSV and Feyenoord.

 

I don't know the story behind their gradual rise to the top table in Dutch football, but what is striking about their squad is how young it is. It seems as though they have perhaps adopted a Red Bull type transfer strategy. Last season, the ages of their front five (if you include the two more attacking centre mids) were 23, 21, 20, 20, 21. This season is largely the same although they have brought in a 26 year old striker who was prolific for Bayern Munich II in the 3rd tier in Germany. 

 

They play classic attacking Dutch football, they are quick and technically very decent and play a 4-3-3. From a quick look at their highlights, I think they will be a lot like Midtjylland. They move the ball well and all their goals come from playing the ball on the deck. Kohlert is a left footed attacking midfielder who can score from distance and will need to be watched.

 

All in all though, I expect a similar result to Midtjylland. They are young, inexperienced and soft touch. They will not be used to the physical side of the game. Having said that, we will need to take our chances. This is a side with very fast forwards who will pose far more danger on the counter attack than we are used to in Scotland.

 

 

[Frankie 8,145]

That's really useful, thanks mate...

[Whosthedado 1,487]

first attempt at embedding a tweet failed! Basically the new Willem striker has a broken metatarsal and is out for a few weeks!

Edited September 1, 2020 by Whosthedado

[DMAA 3,603]

12 minutes ago, Whosthedado said:

first attempt at embedding a tweet failed! Basically the new Willem striker has a broken metatarsal and is out for a few weeks!

 

Shouldn't affect them too much though, he'll be replaced by Pavlidis who did well for them last season.