So no, it wasn’t – entirely – Brian Riemer’s fault. Anderlecht under David Hubert is also reaching its limits. While the Dane mainly tried to collect points, Hubert also tried to inject good Football. But Anderlecht does not have a decent core for either of them.
Anderlecht has a bacterium in the Lotto Park field, but also has one in its dressing room. We’re just going to say it like it is: there is not enough quality in the current Anderlecht squad. And Jesper Fredberg can take credit for that. A fast central defender was needed, a sturdy creative midfielder and extra speed on the flanks.
Fredberg half succeeded with Edozie in one of those three assignments. Against Vanaken, Onyedika and Jashari, Hubert posted the following ‘midget’ midfield: Rits, Leoni, Stroeykens and Verschaeren. On average, the four are 1m74 high. The three from Club have an average height of 1.86 m. And they are much sturdier on their legs.
Quality and… length
Verschaeren and Leoni were simply overrun, Rits could handle himself quite well against his ex-club, but Stroeykens – normally the strongest of them all – was simply invisible and also excelled in giving bad and catastrophic passes.
A Leander Dendoncker should have been there, but Hubert needed him in defense because Zanka is not suitable and he needs Sardella at right back. That is not normal for a top club. That you have to choose between the plague and cholera. And then Dendoncker probably played his worst match ever against blue-black.
Strange choice also by Hubert to start on the flank with Verschaeren and Dreyer. That’s zero depth and not enough speed. But he probably wanted them to jump into midfield to launch Dolberg. However, the Dane was full of frustrations and has been for a while, even if you don’t see it.
Worse under Hubert than under Riemer
He just has to work and fight to create a decent chance. He barely gets any usable balls. It’s just all too little, because Vazquez is not exactly that striker who will score 20. Just compare the bench of Club and Anderlecht.
Club still had Jutgla, Vetlesen, Nilsson, Skoras, Nielsen, Spileers, Sabbe and Talbi ready to come on. At Anderlecht Marco Kana had to call up to get 9 bench seats. By the way, imagine that something happens to Coosemans… Even Hubert doesn’t want to think about that.
No, this core needs a major overhaul in January – even when Vertonghen and Hazard are back. Quality is simply needed or Anderlecht – which is now 5 out of 15 under Hubert – will miss play-off 1. Riemer still managed 12 out of 21, which Hubert can no longer achieve.
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