For the coming season, Jong NAC (essentially the reserve team) have relocated from their home for the last two years at De Lage Banken in Etten Leur (home of Unitas 30) to the Heksenwiel sportcomplex in north west Breda. Heksenwiel is the home of BSV Boeimeer, although the region of Boeimeer is the other side of the city! Personally I won't lose any sleep over this move as, whilst De Lage Banken is a perfectly good enough complex, I found it a little cold ambiance wise. Time will tell how the move goes, but Boeimeer have spent alot of time and money installing artificial surfaces and modernising the complex. Not only will the reserve team play here, but also some of the age group sides as well.
Below are pics and some views from 2014-15, latest game first.
Jong NAC 3-1 Jong VVV/Helmond Sports
Reserve Competition Group 3
Heksenwiel
4 November 2014
Last home game of the opening phase and a relatively comfortable win for the home side after going behind early on. Two goals from El Allouchi (incl a penalty) and one from Jelle Voermans saw the home side win for the second time and given them hope to avoid the last place spot in the group phase. NAC featured Perica for the first half as well as Suk, Robinson, Swerts and El Allouchi who have appeared in the first team squad this season.
Note; NAC did indeed finish bottom after losing the last group game 9-1 at Jong Feyenoord/Excelsior
Note; NAC did indeed finish bottom after losing the last group game 9-1 at Jong Feyenoord/Excelsior
Jong NAC Breda 1-0 Jong Groningen
Friendly
Heksenwiel
29 September 2014
Point of order; the away team was officially listed as Jong Groningen/Cambuur, but there was no obvious Cambuur representation judging by the players, shirts and bus!
Anyway, onto the game. For some reason NAC arranged a home and home friendly series with a team further from Breda than any other! Having lost the first game in August 5-1 the home side went into the game looking for an much improved result. The home side again had an experienced team (de Roover, van der Weg, Sarpong el Allouchi and Seuntjens) whilst the visitors countered with the experienced Zeefuik up front and also included first team squad members (Groningen that is!) Baas, Saban and Hagenauw.
In a drab first half, the visitors shaded possession but chances were at a premium. Unfortunately the only point of note was Sepp de Roover limping off with a right ankle injury after 30 mins following a hard but fair tackle.
Early in the second half the visitors took the lead and had two or three good penalty shouts. NAC came more into the game without ever really threatening. Just when my mind started wandering to an early departure Matts Seuntjens finally came into the game creating a tap in for Robinson on 75 ish minutes and then settling the game with a low angled shot under the keeper with about 5 minutes to go.
If I am honest, I again left the game wondering if any of the established talent on show really has a future in the first team squad. That said, I am becoming more and more of a fan of Thomas Wuyts.
Anyway, onto the game. For some reason NAC arranged a home and home friendly series with a team further from Breda than any other! Having lost the first game in August 5-1 the home side went into the game looking for an much improved result. The home side again had an experienced team (de Roover, van der Weg, Sarpong el Allouchi and Seuntjens) whilst the visitors countered with the experienced Zeefuik up front and also included first team squad members (Groningen that is!) Baas, Saban and Hagenauw.
In a drab first half, the visitors shaded possession but chances were at a premium. Unfortunately the only point of note was Sepp de Roover limping off with a right ankle injury after 30 mins following a hard but fair tackle.
Early in the second half the visitors took the lead and had two or three good penalty shouts. NAC came more into the game without ever really threatening. Just when my mind started wandering to an early departure Matts Seuntjens finally came into the game creating a tap in for Robinson on 75 ish minutes and then settling the game with a low angled shot under the keeper with about 5 minutes to go.
If I am honest, I again left the game wondering if any of the established talent on show really has a future in the first team squad. That said, I am becoming more and more of a fan of Thomas Wuyts.
Jong NAC Breda 1-0 Jong ADO Den Haag
Reserve Competition Group 3
Heksenwiel
25 August 2014
Slight role reversal this week with NAC fielding a strong side containing first teamers Swerts, van der Weg, Seuntjens and Sarpong, whilst ADO countered with Danny Bakker and ex-Eagle Xander Houtkoop. The game also saw a return for former nac'er Tim Coremans in goal for ADO. It was windy, cold and it poured with rain, and to be honest the miserable weather mirrored the play on the field. A disappointing performance from NAC with ADO having most of the possession in the first half and I was impressed with left winger Segun Owobowale. NAC won it with a 47th minute penalty, won by Seuntjens and scored by fringe player Mounir el Allouchi, rolling it slowly into the left corner (last photo). If the challenge that lead to the penalty looked a bit soft, the injustice was leveled when a clear foul in the box a few minutes later went unpunished.
NAC created a few more chances in the second half, but rarely looked like adding to their lead. ADO tailed off as the weather worsened.
So between the two senior sides, NAC have scored 4 goals in 5 games; 3 penalties and a shot into an empty net following a mistake by the opposition goalie. Maybe the problem is that obvious?
NAC created a few more chances in the second half, but rarely looked like adding to their lead. ADO tailed off as the weather worsened.
So between the two senior sides, NAC have scored 4 goals in 5 games; 3 penalties and a shot into an empty net following a mistake by the opposition goalie. Maybe the problem is that obvious?
Jong NAC Breda 0-2 Jong FC Dordrecht
Reserve Competition Group 3
Heksenwiel
18 August 2014
Regular readers will know that loyalties are a little split in the household. Miss NAC, as the names suggest, is yellow and black through and through. And whilst she has grown to enjoy her trips to the Sheepheads from Dordrecht, it will never be her side. I, on the other hand, like nothing better than my Friday night at Krommedijk. And therein lies the problem; promotion to the Ere Divisie has meant a virtual end to the Friday football and weekend after weekend of fixture clashes. Now these are nothing new, but in the past they happened maybe once every couple of months and a suitable agreement was reached (i.e. we went to NAC!).
I guess then it was almost inevitable that when the fixtures came out for the reserve teams, the two clubs would be in the same group and would play each other first up (for NAC). The game showed the somewhat different approach clubs can have to assembling a side. Dordrecht had a very experienced side including many players who have, or will expect, to play first team football; Vet, Alisic, ten Voorde (ex-NAC) to name three. NAC had a very young side out with no first team experience. However I did get a first look at the younger Gudelj, although I doubt he will be a regular at left back.
As a result, Dordrecht bossed the game from the first to last minute. That the score was only 2-0 was partly down to some resolute defending and goalkeeping and partly, I am afraid, down to some pretty poor shooting. Mind the first goal from Alisic was a great move to create an easy finish.
And so another NAC/Dordrecht game ends and our relationship is still intact! Next date for the diary, Sunday 14 September when the first teams face off at Krommedijk.
I guess then it was almost inevitable that when the fixtures came out for the reserve teams, the two clubs would be in the same group and would play each other first up (for NAC). The game showed the somewhat different approach clubs can have to assembling a side. Dordrecht had a very experienced side including many players who have, or will expect, to play first team football; Vet, Alisic, ten Voorde (ex-NAC) to name three. NAC had a very young side out with no first team experience. However I did get a first look at the younger Gudelj, although I doubt he will be a regular at left back.
As a result, Dordrecht bossed the game from the first to last minute. That the score was only 2-0 was partly down to some resolute defending and goalkeeping and partly, I am afraid, down to some pretty poor shooting. Mind the first goal from Alisic was a great move to create an easy finish.
And so another NAC/Dordrecht game ends and our relationship is still intact! Next date for the diary, Sunday 14 September when the first teams face off at Krommedijk.