‘Paper and keep wet’ for improvising Andries Jonker: “No idea who can play”

Last week against De Graafschap (0-3 loss) Telstar missed no less than fifteen players. “That was when the list was completed, but Roman Tugarinov dropped out just before the game and Jip Molenaar dropped out during the game. So we haven’t made much progress,” Jonker said, looking ahead to Friday’s game. In addition, captain Glynor Plet has been suspended.

“I hope that a single player will be back on the bench tomorrow”, but Jonker has no more than hope. “It is also exciting for us, because the medical staff does not know how everyone is doing. So I really have no idea who can play.”

To adjust

During training sessions, this also leads to unpleasant situations for the coach. Due to the large number of absentees, a can of youth players is opened to increase the number of attendees. “It’s all goofing up. Improvising. We can’t train the way we want to.”

Due to all the absences, Jonker is forced to puzzle in matches. The example of this is Rashaan Fernandes, who is put in a different position by Jonker. “Fernandes prefers not to play on the side, but we don’t have the guys who are provided there now,” Jonker refers to other players who also occupy a different place.

Telstar has many injuries, but after the winter break the team is playing quite well. Despite the losses against Volendam and PSV (both 2-1), the group feels strengthened. “Then the number of injuries was under ten and then we could afford it. That’s why guys had to play so often that everyone has experience. I can really put two teams together. If I let them play against each other, I don’t even know who there is winning. So the advantage is now that a number of players have been able to develop.”

Telstar will visit Helmond Sport tomorrow evening, the number penultimate in the first division. The Velsenaren are the number thirteen with 27 points from 25 games.