In football, certain matches leave a psychological scar that lasts an entire season. For Go Ahead Eagles manager Foeke Booy, the reverse fixture against FC Groningen earlier in the 2013/2014 campaign was exactly that kind of match. In his guest column for the February 16 matchday programme, Booy uses the opportunity to reflect on that bizarre, traumatic afternoon in Deventer.
Under the sub-header “MOEILIJKER” (More difficult), Booy brings up the elephant in the room. “Earlier this season, Go Ahead Eagles squandered a lead after FC Groningen received no less than two red cards,” he writes, recalling the infamous 3-3 draw where Groningen miraculously fought back with only nine men on the pitch. “In our home match, we dropped two points. We didn’t know how to deal with the numerical advantage and in the final phase we gave away the lead. That was sour.”
Booy’s column is a mix of lingering frustration and pragmatic optimism. He notes that his newly promoted side is “nicely on course” to secure direct survival in the Eredivisie, but acknowledges that the novelty of playing in big stadiums like the Euroborg has worn off for his players. “We know what is required for the level of the Eredivisie,” he states. His words paint a picture of a team desperate to prove that their collapse in the first half of the season was a fluke, and that they are capable of holding their nerve in the hostile environment of the north.
A Look into the Future
Foeke Booy’s assessment of his team’s trajectory was accurate. Despite the lingering trauma of that 3-3 draw against nine men, Go Ahead Eagles successfully navigated their return to the Eredivisie, securing safety and avoiding relegation that season. However, the lessons learned from matches against established sub-top teams like FC Groningen proved crucial. The “sour” taste Booy described in this column served as a harsh but necessary education for a newly promoted side trying to establish itself in the top flight.