Low Country Football: MBFranchise's Amsterdam Eleven MM

[MBFranchise]

Draws In League Surround Cup Knockout

LC League 1

Amsterdam 3-3 Genk
(G) MBoyo 2'
(G) Vossen 14'
(A) Rybus 24'
(A) Rybus 45'
(G) MBoyo 67'
(A) Stancu 77'
MOTM: (A) ST Bogdan Stancu 8.9 Rating

League Cup

Amsterdam 0-1 Zulte-Waregem
(Z) Leye 88'
MOTM: (Z) RB F. Duplus 8.5 Rating

LC League 1

FC Gronigen 1-1 Amsterdam
(G) De Leeuw 22'
(A) Schrijvers 84'
MOTM: (A) ST Siebe Shrijvers 8.2 Rating

[MBFranchise]

A11 Holds Liverpool, Mechelen, and Zulte-Waregem

Europa League

Amsterdam 1-1 Liverpool
(L) Sturridge 65'
(A) Rybus 81'
MOTM: (A) ST Moestafa El Kabir 8.2 Rating

LC League 1

Amsterdam 1-1 Mechelen
(M) Enevoldsen 45'
(A) Krhin 80'
MOTM: (A) CDM Rene Krhin 8.3 Rating

CDM Levin Oztunali sprained ankle out 3 weeks

Zulte-Waregem 1-1 Amsterdam
(A) Van Acker 65'
(Z) N'Diaye 69'
MOTM: (A) RW Maciej Rybus 8.1 Rating


Amsterdam owner Art Vandelay was only happy with one of the three draws.

[MBFranchise]

Huge Win Over Rival Ajax Followed by Huge Loss to AZ

Low Country League 1

Amsterdam 3-0 Ajax
(A11) Milik 26'
(A11) Milik 57'
(A11) Torje 79'
MOTM: (A11) ST Arkadiusz Milik 9.1 Rating

AZ 3-0 Amsterdam
(AZ) Gudmundsson 25'
(AZ) Gudmundsson 36'
(AZ) Gudmundsson 62'
MOTM: (AZ) LW Johann Gudmundsson 9.7 Rating


Gudmundsson had the last laugh for AZ

[MBFranchise]

Europa League Success Followed by More Disappointment in the League

Europa League

Clermont Foot 0-3 Amsterdam
(A) Rybus 59'
(A) Rybus 61'
(A) Stancu 89'
MOTM: (A) RW Maciej Rybus 8.8 Rating

LC League 1

Amsterdam 2-2 FC Utrecht
(A) Torje 28'
(U) Duplan 35'
(A) Kostic 47'
(U) Toornstra 66'
MOTM: (A) LW Filip Kostic 7.8 Rating

FC Twente 3-1 Amsterdam
(T) Tadic 13'
(T) Tadic 32' PK
(A) Schrijvers 62'
(T) Janssen 71
MOTM: (T) LW Dusan Tadic 8.5 Rating

[MBFranchise]

Needing a Point to Advance, Amsterdam Overrun at Home by Bilbao


De Marcos put Bilbao up early.

Europa League

Amsterdam 1-3 Athletic Bilbao

(AB) De Marcos 28'
(A11) Milik 53'
(AB) Moralez 57'
(AB) Kike Sola 89'
MOTM: (AB) GK Iraizoz 7.8 Rating

ST Moestafa El Kabir sprained ankle out 3 weeks

Europa League Group B

1. Liverpool 4W 1L 1D 13PTS
2. Athletic Bilbao 3W 2L 1D 10PTS
3. Amsterdam Eleven 2W 2L 2D 8 PTS
4. Clermont Foot 0W 4L 2D 2PTS

LC League 1

Amsterdam 1-1 Lokoren

(A) Torje 14'
(L) Romeron 54'
MOTM: (A) GK Thomas Kaminski 7.5 Rating

CB Vadim Demidov broken tibia out 6 months
RM Gabriel Torje torn calf muscle out 6 weeks

[MBFranchise]

Shakhtar Pays Back A11 for Early Season Blowout


Taison was all smiles after dispatching the Dammers.

LC League 1

Shakhtar 4-0 Amsterdam

(S) Taison 19'
(S) Taison 37'
(S) Fernando 54'
(S) Luiz Adriano 76'
MOTM: (S) CAM Taison 8.8 Rating

[MBFranchise]

Serenity Now!

Inconsistency the key word for first half

A team without a lot of history or tradition to fall back on, perhaps it is not surprising that Amsterdam has struggled to find its identity this season. The team currently sits in 12th place in the Low Country League 1, has been knocked out of the League Cup, and has struggled in the Coupe Trinationale.

One of the main problems for the team has been expectations. Last season, the club's inaugural competitive campaign, went splendidly in part because A11 was able to sneak up on their opponents. After finishing a surprising 5th in the LC League 1, expectations were heightened for a team playing European football in just its second season.

The results, thus far, have been hit or miss. Many fans never know what to expect from week to week. The high point of the season was undoubtedly the first game, where the Dammers defeated rival Ajax for the Low Country Supercup. Soon after, A11 defeated nemesis Shakhtar 5-1, with new signing ST Arkadiusz Milik leading the way. Since then, however, the skies have clouded considerably.

One major area of disappointment has been being held to draws by lower level teams. Already this season, Amsterdam has been drawn by lower table teams such as Brondby, Genk, Groningen, Mechelen, Zulte-Waregem, FC Utrecht, as well as Clermont Foot in the Europa League.

Not surprisingly, the roster has remained in flux. One of the team's top players last season, Ryo Miyaichi, returned to Arsenal after his loan deal. One of the fan favorites, Marco Rojas, was sold to Italian side Palermo. Team captain LB Lars Vilsvik has recently been vocal in his dislike of the changes, and has handed in a transfer request himself. Rumors now surround ST Bogdan Stancu and GK Thomas Kaminski may be the next to leave.

With the season thus far defined by continual changes, expect more changes before the board, owner, manager, players, and fans are happy.

[MBFranchise]

Club Shows Initiative with 3 January Signings

Purchased RB DeAndre Yedlin from Seattle Sounders for $3.5 million


Yedlin will need to get used to orange going with his red, white, and blue

Purchased RW Jody Lukoki from Ajax for $2.0 million


Lukoki looks just fine in orange and black.

Purchased GK Koen Casteels from Hoffenheim for $2.0 million and Marcel Ritzmaier

Most Dammer fans envision Casteels as an upgrade over Kaminski

Yedlin had a strong World Cup for the United States, and his pacey style of play will fit right on in the wings. Lukoki will most likely use his speed as an impact substitute, plus he was purchased away from Amsterdam's main rival, Ajax. Casteels signing may signal the end of the road for current GK Thomas Kaminski.