Finish position:ย 6th
Overview:
For the first time in a long time, Gent will not have European football next season. They were so poor during the play-offs that Danijel Milecivic, who had taken over from Wouter Vrancken temporarily, was sacked just weeks after being given the job full time. The side spent in the summer but none of the signings really came off, especially up front. That Max Dean, who was injured since December, was their top scorer with just six goals speaks volumes. Ivan Leko certainly has a job ahead of him next season to get the Buffaloes back amongst the top four/five sides and a European ticket.
Player of the Season:ย Tsuyoshi Watanabe
Keeping 28-year-old Japanese defender Watanabe is going to be difficult this summer. He has already been linked with a move away from Gent, although Feyenoord did pull out of a deal as the Buffaloes were asking for too much money. It was another solid season in Europe and in the league for Watanabe, and it is hardly his fault that the side were lacking going forward. He even managed to chip in with three goals and three assists.
Young Player of the Season:ย Mathias Delorge
Despite tailing off somewhat come the end of the season, it was another solid campaign for 20-year-old Delorge. The central midfielder joined from Sint Truiden in the summer and grabbed two goals and five assists in 54 games. Delorge was ever present for the side throughout the campaign and it will be intriguing to see how he progresses under Leko.
Summer needs:
Gent will likely need to reshape the defence, with Jordan Torunarigha having left at the end of the season and Watanabe likely to be off. Archie Brown is also being heavily linked with a move away, so a number of defensive replacements might be required. If Leko can get the strikers firing they may not need to go shopping for another striker. Aime Omgba and Momodou Sonko were big signings that need to perform next season.
Grade:ย D
GBeNeFNย |ย Ben Jackson
