FC Emmen has no chance in De Koel, Drenten back to square one with 2-0 loss against VVV-Venlo

‘Never change a winning team’ , seems like a sacred thought for FC Emmen coach Fred Grim. Against VVV-Venlo on Friday evening in the characteristic stadium De Koel, he sent the same eleven players onto the field as in the past two home games against SC Cambuur and leader Willem II.

This meant that Julius Dirksen, one of FC Emmen’s standouts this season, had to sit on the bench again. However, it is justifiable that Grim chose Dennis Vos in the heart of the defense. Vos did more than excellent during Dirksen’s absence and the Drenthe did not concede a single goal in the two matches in which he played next to Mike te Wierik.

Disappointment

It is less understandable that Desley Ubbink still has Grim’s trust. The Brabant left winger has been struggling with his form for weeks and again did not make much of it on Friday evening in De Koel. There was no threat from the attacker.

Ubbink was not the only Emmen resident who disappointed against VVV-Venlo. Not much went right for Grim’s team in the first half. Sloppy construction meant that the Drenthe could hardly become dangerous. A dribble by Vicente Besuijen and two hopeless long-range shots by Maikel Kieftenbeld and Mike te Wierik were the only achievements of the visitors.

FC Emmen had little to fear from the Limburgers at the back. Goalkeeper Eric Oelschlägel only had to dive for the ball once. The German closing post turned away the home team’s long shot without any major problems.

Soporific game

It didn’t seem to bother FC Emmen that little happened on the field. The Drenthe people quickly looked satisfied with a point. Oelschlägel took plenty of time on set pieces several times in the first half. It did not improve the viewing pleasure. The supporters were slowly lulled to sleep in the fresh De Koel.

Shortly after the start of the second half they woke up when Michalis Kosidis made VVV-Venlo 1-0. The striker headed from a corner – and after Hoekstra-esque missteps by Oelschlägel – against the crossbar and then rammed the ball hard into the roof of the goal on the rebound.

After the opening goal, the match took on a slightly more bearable appearance, but FC Emmen did not get any further than a weak shot from Besuijen. After just over an hour of play, Grim intervened. The unfortunate Ubbink was replaced by Bradly van Hoeven and striker Joey Konings was also brought into the side. It was striking that Grim did not opt ​​for Piotr Parzyszek, but placed the tall Maarten Pouwels at the point of the attack.

Pouwels brings back the threat a bit

With the introduction of Pouwels, FC Emmen became a little more threatening. In the half hour that he was in action, the striker showed that he is more than a giant who can head and drag a bit. A plan B striker, yes, but one who also has the ball as a friend. It was that his fellow players did not make enough use of his qualities.

It was Pouwels who, eight minutes before the end, stumbling past some Limburgers, got the ball to Besuijen with some fortune. The attacker went down and referee Laurens Gerrets pointed to the spot amid heavy Limburg protest. On the advice of the linesman, Gerrets reversed his decision moments later. Apart from an effort with Pouwels’ shoulder, it was the only excitement that the Drenthes caused in the final phase of the miserable match. With a nice marker deep into injury time, substitute Pepijn Doesburg made the final score 2-0.