Westerlo began this season on fire. The side, who had been involved in a relegation battle last season, looked far more confident and assured as they grabbed three wins to open the season. However, a few months later, the side have won just four of their 12 games. They are currently on a run that has seen them win just one in their last nine.
Many of these losses or draws can be, unfortunately, pinpointed on poor goalkeeping from the experienced Sinan Bolat. The 36-year-old Turkish goalkeeper has looked well past his best this season, making a number of high profile mistakes that have really cost the side. It was telling that, during the 2-0 defeat to Sint-Truiden, his replacement Koen Van Langendonck looked far more agile and assured. Yet Van Langendonck is only one year younger than Bolat.
Yet Timmy Simons had little choice in having to finally make a change that, in truth, he shouldn’t have been forced into doing. The side were in desperate need of a new goalkeeper in the summer and failed to act. Outside of an ageing goalkeeping department, the side is incredibly young. They are also inefficient. Against Sint Truiden they had 20 shots, but ended with an xG of less than one. Losing Lucas Stassin has clearly been a big blow, as well as Nicolas Madsen who led the side in goals last season.
Defender Luka Vuskovic has chipped in with four goals, while Matija Frigan and Allahyar Sayyadmanesh have also grabbed four. Yet three of Frigan’s four came in the space of two weeks. Much has been expected of the Croatian and there was hope after this brief flurry of goals he was ready to kick on. There is still a chance this could happen, and the direction of Westerlo’s season may well depend on it.
Simons certainly shouldn’t be under any pressure at this point. The first three games, and some subsequent performances, show that he and his side have enough to avoid being entangled in a relegation battle. Yet they do need to start getting more wins on the board. They are currently one point above the bottom four, but have been sliding ever closer in recent weeks. A cup match against second tier RWDM could help boost confidence, but the Brussels side are in great form. Next weekend they face newly promoted Dender at home, a game the fans will expect them to win.
GBeNeFNÂ |Â Ben Jackson
