A constant since the start of the playoffs where only a good half hour against the Union comes to mind. The fault is partially to be attributed to Brian Riemer who struggles to define clear contours of his style of play. Sunday evening against Cercle, he forced a philosophy which is not his. Verticality is anchored in his DNA but not to the point of swinging long balls aimlessly.
The fault is also that of the players. Or more precisely the absence of some. Starting with Thorgan Hazard who we know will logically not see the pitch again before 2025. The Brainois is the element that is missing the most from the Anderlecht system. By his ability to make the difference alone with a gesture but also by his tactical intelligence. The Red Devil would never have agreed to let his team play like this. He would have asked for balls at his feet by finding the space where others would have only seen a green and black double curtain.
In his absence, who can provide this surplus of football that Sporting lacks so much? The profiles are there as are the downsides accompanying them. Analysis.
Do not squeeze Verschaeren
How can it help? “We miss Yari Verschaeren. ” Best player in Riemer's RSCA before his injury a big year ago, number 10 has settled into the costume of his coach's favorite. For reasons that the Danish T1 explained to us when it returned to its day at the end of 2023. “He has everything to play in the Premier League”, he summarized to illustrate his qualities, both technical and physical. One is more important than the others in the eyes of the coach: his ability to keep the ball under pressure. He is the most important technical element in the eyes of his coach.
What is his concern? He trained with the group on Saturday. “A light session”, specifies Brian Riemer. The coach would have liked to include him in his group but Verschaeren did not feel physically ready. “I have to listen to him”, concedes the coach. Riemer is thinking: should he take a risk with Verschaeren or dare not use him again until the end of the season?
The Dreyer shortcut
How can it help? Anderlecht's game has often revolved around individual exploits. Anders Dreyer is the leading figure of this phenomenon. The Dane is the most decisive player in the championship (26, goals and assists combined) and is capable of turning a match on its head with a sharp strike or pass.
What is his concern? Its impact in the game remains too weak to make it THE solution to Anderlecht's problems. Dreyer likes to take up space between the lines but is not a player who carries his team technically. It is more of a bandage than a vaccine. His return, hoped for this weekend, will still do a lot of good.
How Anderlecht played like the Wild West and threw themselves into the den against Cercle (1-1)
The Ashimeru Temptation
How can it help? Majeed Ashimeru is the fittest midfielder in the last playoff matches. Facing Cercle, he repeatedly asked to put the ball on the ground, to calm the game down. However, he is the main accelerator of the Brussels game.
Riemer sees Ashimeru as a replacement but his performance could change his status.
He has the style closest to what Brian Riemer calls for. He runs, presses, knows how to give good balls (like on Amuzu's canceled goal) and starts to offer races again while wearing the leather. “He enters into my planssaid Riemer. He could have a big impact as a supersub. ” Given his progress in the game, he could quickly demand a more important role.
What is his concern? “It’s very different to play for an hour when everyone is fresh than to come on at the end of the match when the other players are sticking their tongues out.” Brian Riemer puts the performances of his replacements into perspective with this statement. Ashimeru may not be ready to repeat such performances when starting. “He had a terrible year injury-wise,” said his coach. His lack of rhythm raises fears of a relapse. He also has a reputation for having difficulty putting together high-level performances.
Not in other people's DNA
The other offensive players in the core do not seem to be able to provide this surplus of technical quality. Anderlecht ended the match against Cercle with power play and vertical projections. Riemer lined up Francis Amuzu, Nilson Angulo and Luis Vazquez together in the final minutes. None of the three is capable of taking the game on their own. Amuzu is a pure depth player. As for the other two, they play on instinct in a more individualistic register.
Mario Stroeykens must also be mentioned but he does not have the ability to take the ball and distribute it. He knows how to keep a ball but his profile is geared towards the conclusion more than the construction. Théo Leoni has more of this technical leadership capacity in him. However, he needs to be well surrounded to do so. His game is more focused on work and tempo than on pure creativity.
Kasper Dolberg can partly solve the problem facing Anderlecht. Not by directly being the element that runs the game but by helping the impact players. He is a better support for his teammates than Luis Vazquez. But for him to be able to play in his register, he must not be exiled to one side.
