The Belgian League has 16 teams. The Top 6 go to play for the Championship, the direct Champions tickets (Champ to group stage, second to the last qualifying round), the direct Europa tickets (#3 to group, #4 to third QR) and #5 to the Europa playoff final for a right to go to the second QR of the Europa League. The other 10 teams, the very last one is relegated, the other 9 are mixed with the Top 3 from the second division, split in two groups of six, and the winners of those groups play each other (Europa playoff semifinal) for the right to play the #5 from the top group. Right now, Kortrijk is second in the bottom group A, and looks unlikely to catch the leaders, Waregem, and even if they managed that, they'd still need to beat the winner of the bottom group B, then the #5 from the top group. Don't see it happening.
He must be performing really well in training. They have no incentive to play a loanee, especially one that joined late, in the midst of a EL slot pursuit There could also be an informal agreement to continue the loan next season
Video's of the last match. Dunno if the link will work: https://www.hln.be/sport/voetbal/be...tussen-zulte-waregem-en-kv-kortrijk~ae4194df/
Turns 21 today: 🎉 Congrats @ErikBrown14 ! 🎉🕯️ Hij blaast vandaag 21 kaarsjes uit 🕯️Wens Erik hieronder proficiat! 👇 pic.twitter.com/h0bgPJrpMd— KV Kortrijk (@kvkofficieel) April 24, 2018
2-1 win. Unsure how EPB performed. In their starting xi graphic it's a 4 man backline but post game comment from the coach he says "in the end we are going to play with 3 defenders". Wondering if this means there was a formation change mid-match or if I'm misinterpreting
KV KortrijkVerified account @kvkofficieel 29m29 minutes ago Opstelling van de Kerels @ESSEVEELIVE ! #KVKzwa #COYR Bank: Bruzzese, Kovacevic, Perbet, Papazoglou, Lentz, Ivanof, Verboom, Hoxha, Stojanovic, Ajagun 0 replies2 retweets9 likes
It says great things about him and terrible things about Peter Vermes and the management structure at SKC that he's finally getting consistent playing time.
Does it? I've heard this sentiment over and over and I don't get it. SKC employed 2017 MLS Defender of the Year in Ike Opara and Mr. Consistency and USMNTer Matt Besler. They form arguably the best partnership in MLS. It seems to have worked out well for SKC and Vermes. What was Vermes suppose to do.....drop one of those guys for a unproven, still developing youngster? No. Vermes did what he had to do for the success of his club. It irks me, too, that EPB couldn't ge matches but at the end of the day Vermes made the right call. The proof is in the success. It's working at well for EPB now and that's the important thing. The kid is super talented and let's hope this is the beginning of continued success and development.
EPB not to blame for the goal though. And it's 1-1 now. Still, Opara-Besler is a better CB pair than this EPB-Kagelmacher pair. I'm not impressed with the level of play in this Europa League Group. And Zulte just scored again, missed it while typing here...
It doesn't say great things about MLS and SKC right now, indeed. SKC faded yet again so Vermes should have rotated more, Opara and Besler were unavailable at times when someone else got a start, and EPB could have played destroyer 6. Actually I think that's his best position because he can use his range to allow to cm's in front of him to stay forward, his size for a CB is mediocre, and he can have a mental lapse here or there. I think he's a regular good CB prospect and outstanding CDM prospect. Upper Middle Class Geoff Cameron.
Let's keep in mind these Europa League groups are basically a playoff for mid-table teams, with all the big guns (Anderlecht, Brugge, Genk, Standard, Gent) missing. So the level of play is, at best, MLS-caliber.
I don't think it says anything for or against the league, IMO. I think it says Vermes didn't think EPB fit into his mix. Nothing more. Nothing less. That happens ALL over the world and then said player goes to dfferent team and/or league thrives, developes, rediscovers -- whatever. Now more than ever teens and young players are getting a shot in MLS. It will never be to our liking, though. But that could be said about many leagues around Europe. That I can agree on 100% I think he's best suited for a #6 and I have often made the Cameron comparison. I just hope for EPB's sake he never gets shoved to a RB position which is a total waste. I am excited about his potential and where he's headed. I just quite haven't figured out his ceiling. We have a good pipeline of players coming up and kids of EPB's talent are going to have to prove it. Competition is good and it will be fierce.
Anyone who says that a particular roster move or lineup choice by a team reflects poorly on the league is living in a bygone era.
Never. If he succeeds in Belgium or wherever he goes on loan next season, it'll be "how could Vermes not see EPB's qualities; MLS sucks. Ya boo." If he fails, it'll be "he never succeeded because Vermes wouldn't break up his trophy-winning CB parnership to fulfill his real role of developing MNT prospects. Who gives a flying fiddler's f*%k about shit like winning trophies!" The whole argument is Agudelo all over again, except that only a handfull of Bronies lost their critical faculties over Agudelo. A lot of people have lost theirs in this whole EPB saga. Many young players have broken through from worse situations than EPB; many have washed out completely from better situations. It's a crapshoot. Let's see where things take the lad and let's root for him while doing so. Vermes and SKC are ancient history in footballing terms