Roda has completely lost it in recent weeks. On Monday evening, the final opponent comes to visit with confidence to win confidence.
Roda JC:
Roda JC runs very difficult the last few weeks. The Limburg fans are already waiting six games for a victory of their team and now Roda is only on a play-off place on goal difference. 2.5 weeks ago a blazing 3-2 defeat on a visit to low-flyer FC Dordrecht led to the resignation of trainer Molenaar, but after the new trainer Eric van der Luer it didn’t really start running either. Last week his team gave away a 2-0 lead at home against archrival MVV Maastricht and last Friday the low of the season took place: a visit to number 19 Helmond Sport was lost by no less than 4-0.
Helmond Sport had only won two games this season until Friday, which made it seem like the ideal opponent to reverse the form dip. However, it became a total decline. By hits from Arne Naudts (2x), Joeri Poelmans and Dylan de Braal, the Church Counselors returned to Limburg with shame on their jaws. “Some players think they are better than they really are” was Van der Luer’s conclusion after the game.
Monday night, Roda Struggles must miss the necessary players. Richard Jensen, Daniele Zotti, Nicky Souren and Roshon van Eijma are missing. Henk Dijkhuizen is suspended and from Daryl Werker and Livio Milts it is highly questionable whether they are fit enough to play.
Young FC Utrecht:
On Monday evening, Jong FC Utrecht is the ideal opponent for Roda to wash away the hangover and regain some confidence. The promises made by trainer Robin Pronk in Utrecht are the worst team in the Dutch professional divisions. Young FC Utrecht took one point (!) Throughout 2019, against Jong Ajax last Monday. The team has been waiting for thirteen games for a win and only managed to win three times this season. Because Helmond Sport beat Roda last Friday, Jong FC Utrecht is now in a desolate last place, with only fourteen points from thirty games. The question is justified whether a promise team from FC Utrecht in the Kitchen Champion Division has any added value, because hardly any talents break through. Nick Venema is the only youth product that occasionally makes playing minutes in the first team.
Venema did participate last Friday and scored immediately. In the home game lost against Sparta Rotterdam, 1-5, he was responsible for the only Utrecht goal of the game. He will not be there on Monday evening, as the Utrecht main force came into action on Sunday and will play again on Wednesday.
