Even a professional reporter is going to have a hard time here, making a nice, rosy report. And I, voluntarily picked someone, with no journalistic training, am going to try anyway.
The trip to Roda, a good hour in the bus from the Herdgang, turned into a nicely chosen trip to get the heads in the same direction to good, and productive "Champagne football" as it is called. By Champagne football, then, I mean football to savour. Unfortunately, it was only feasting for the home team. It failed collectively as I could pick up from several corners, the intentions to own artifice were apparently more important than the team.
The supporters who traveled along were left hungry for two thirty-minute periods. The home team was feasting on so much freedom. Roda JC, a team that was collectively well put together. Although our boys were not lacking in work ethic, only the teamwork was sometimes lacking.
This time it was the goalkeepers who were able to assert themselves, after only one minute Arne was already at full stretch. In the previous games we had already had it all for the goalkeeper. Because he would then remain "unemployed" for the rest. Not so now. After two minutes, second chance for Roda and again Arne was right there.
James was keen to shine after a mandatory rest day last week. He was one of the star players in the first period.
Roda's play was simple yet efficient, after some ball circulation in the middle the strikers were put in position by dropping a deep ball behind the PSV defense. This often resulted in a player heading straight for goal. But how could it be otherwise, with a name like RODA ( Recht Op Doel Af ).
After fifteen minutes it was still 0-0, but 4-0 could have been just as good.
After twenty minutes Arne could make a save like he likes to make, but two minutes later he had to give up as well. Again a ball over the defenders and the striker lobs the ball beautifully into goal. 1-0
Four minutes later it was 2-0, great long-distance shot from 5 meters outside the box, Arne without a chance. 2-0 it also remained until halftime. We could not create a single PSV chance against this, and that was hard to swallow for the visitors and their loyal fans.
The second half could only be better, in the third minute nicely rehearsed number on a corner kick, put by Raphael to Huseyin, who runs over the ball and James is well followed and pops into a pack of defenders, this deserved better. But the supporters were spoiled again, and we were waiting for that a bit.
Unfortunately, moments later it was 3-0. Attempt to play out, in the PSV rectangle, the ball eventually comes into the foot of a Roda striker and he doesn't let the gift go, Stan hopeless. Until then Stan should have done his thing in goal, but there was nothing he could do about it.
The goals were always copies of each other, and I may be repeating myself, but PSV was lulled asleep in the middle by Roda, or lost the ball due to unsuccessful actions by PSV until the ball came over the defenders and then it was all hands on deck. Similarly, the 4-0 fell five minutes from end.
Roda was stronger, fiercer and more efficient in all areas. At PSV, where the will to really make something of it was a bit lacking, I and so many others missed the experience of the game called "football".
Two minutes before the whistle, our boys have to empty the chalice to the bottom and a fifth goal falls into the nets. Again, the free striker is sought and found, he can calmly check and bang in. 5-0. And what was worst of all, we couldn't create a single chance in return.
But as in real life, after the rain comes the sun, and that is what we expect next week when PSV play Aachen at the Herdgang. After a flashy game with good and attractive football then, this lost game will immediately be forgotten.
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger !
Report with thanks to Joël Lekens