This just in

My humble opinion is making a return in style! In this item, we check on how Club's top management is going through the season, with contributions by president Pol Jonckheere, coach Adrie Koster, our new captain Carl Hoefkens, team manager Stefan Vereycken and operational manager Patrick Orlans. Sports manager Luc Devroe takes the stage today: "Still swallowing that bitter pill from last season, Luc?"

Text by: Hans NOYELLE

It's show time, Luc. Could you offer us your personal evaluation on the preparations for the new seson.
"It has gone according to expectations. We have not lost so far, and produced some fine football at times. You can see that the group is finding one another better and better. The only downside was Jeroen Simaeys' injury."

Last season's opposition in the preparations for the new season may have been a bit tougher, though. This season only Westerlo, GBe and Valenciennes proved valuable sparring partners.
"That's right. Last season, we also took on 2 other first division teams: Zulte and Roeselare, but we also played Westerlo and GBe. We played the Brugse Metten against AZ, which could be compared to Valenciennes. Don't forget that last season we were forced to play Zulte after only four days, and that we really played with a reserve team (and went down 5-0, edit). That was hardly a good game to see where we were."

How well are the three newbies integrated by now?
"Neatly. Marcos and Dalmat know our league, and even played together. Marcos was here first. Thanks to him, Dalmat had no trouble getting integrated in the group. You know, our coach is very happy with the Brazilian's signing. Both on and off the pitch, Marcos is a true professional: he oozes calm and trust, and above all he's an intelligent guy to whom the youngsters look up to. Then there's Scepovic, our third new recruit. Thanks to Perisic, he has also found his place in the group easily. As to fitness, Dalmat and Scepo are still lagging a bit compared to the others. But bit by bit they are getting up to speed."

To what extent can the solid blow received at the end of last season still be felt by players and the technical staff?
"I really do hope that it's still in the back of our minds. Not only that last game at Gent, but also the 2-0 PO loss at Kortrijk has a foul aftertaste. If we would have grabbed just the one point at Kortrijk, we would now have played in the CL preliminaries. We will have to be focused from the very first minute tomorrow." 

Starting with an away game at KVK is not really a blessing: a full house, and for them the home game against Club is thé game of the season.
"Last season's start was also hard: we had to make the trip to Charleroi straight away. Are there any easy opening games, really? If we were to start against Eupen or Lierse, would that have been easier? Last season, Kortrijk started against Anderlecht, which earned an easy 0-2 win. Club will have to be raisor sharp from the onset."

Despite the drought in the league, the disastrous POs, and the fan-unfriendly reform of the league, forcnig fans to pay twice for season tickets, Club succeeded in finding 20,000 fans buying season tickets. How loyal are they!
"Yes, it's something we notice in every friendly: Club is always followed en masse. Even in Valenciennes, a solid delegation of FCB fans was present. Club has an important and very loyal fanbase, coming from all areas in Belgium. How this can be explained? Well, until the end of February last season, there was still a lot to be seen at Club. Maybe the football produced at that time was the best in years at Club. If we can reach the group stages of the Europa League again, just like last season, I am convinced that our audience will dig a third time to find money to come and cheer us on. The fans have made a clear statement: we believe in this group of Club players. It is now up to the players to show that they deserve that confidence. Starting tomorrow at 20h."