After 15 days of the championship, the first leg is behind us. Here is our typical team from this first part of the championship.
Goalkeeper
Several goalkeepers could have applied for a place between the poles of our typical team. Colin Coosemans, who was under pressure at Anderlecht, impresses, but that’s good Senne Lammens who took on the biggest challenge by replacing Jean Butez at Antwerp and establishing himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the championship.
Defenders
Difficult, here too, to select two central defenders in particular. But two names seem unavoidable. If KRC Genk is well ahead, it is not only thanks to its defense (19 goals conceded, the highest total in the top 6), but Matt Smets nevertheless adapted very well, to the point of becoming Red Devil.
Brandon Mechelehe is evolving at a particularly solid level with Bruges. Without being spectacular or (quite) often cited at the time of Tedesco’s selections, the Blue & Black is a pillar of our championship. A Genk-Bruges duo which therefore takes precedence over Tsuyo Watanabe or Zeno Van den Bosch, other credible candidates.
As for full-backs, and this is quite rare, there is also plenty to do with numerous candidates: Bruges has two Red Devils on its flanks with De Cuyper and Seys, while Zakaria El Ouahdi impresses at Genk. But Killian Sardella, become international thanks to very solid performances, is our right back. On the left, we opt for Daam Foulon, superb surprise of this first part of the season with Mechelen, surprise guest of the top 6.
Midfielders
KRC Genk will naturally take the king’s share in this midfield with Bryan Heynen, once again boss in this championship, and his friend Patrik Hrosovsky4 goals and a level more consistent than ever. The Slovak is the first non-Belgian in this eleven!
To accompany this essential duo, several options. Hans Vanaken is still performing at an impressive level and we certainly shouldn’t take that for granted, after two Golden Boots, so many titles and at 32 years old. Rob Schoofs is also on fire with Mechelen. But the surprise of the season is Tjaronn Chery, author of 7 goals, often spectacular, and who paradoxically brings a fresh breath to the competition at 36 years old.
Attackers
On the flanks, we could have opted for a bias of decency and aligned Christos Tzolis, author of a quadruple against STVV. The Greek is gaining strength, but was not at this level from the start of the season. Jacob Ondrejka is also playing at a very high level with 7 goals scored and 4 assists.
But once again, we opt for a Genkois with Jarne Steuckersanother successful transfer to Limburg from STVV. Six goals and three assists, but above all good performances in the top matches with a goal and an assist against Bruges and a goal against Ghent.
On the other hand, you have to cheat a little: Mario Stroeykens especially shone in the center but is our left winger. The Anderlechtois is essential this season and is the real “X factor” of Mauve & Blanc.
At the forefront, three candidates stand out. Adriano Bertaccini was the outsider and deserves to be mentioned: his performances in Sint-Truiden carry the Canaries who, without him, would be stuck in the red zone. Tolu Arokodare has long held the position of top scorer. But Kasper Dolberg surpasses him at the finish in this first leg: very complete, the Dane is approaching the best level of his career.
The eleven-type of the first phase:
Lammens / Foulon – Smets – Mechele – Sardella / Hrosovsky – Heynen – Tchery / Stroeykens – Dolberg – Steuckers
Banc: Coosemans – El Ouahdi – De Cuyper – Watanabe – Vanaken – Schoofs – Ondrejka – Arokodare
