Despite the goals of Michiel Kramer, ADO Den Haag were a disappointment last season. Now without their top scorer, can Henk Fraser’s side realistically improve this season?
- By Michael Bell
- Follow Michael on Twitter
The club from the Hague flirted with relegation last season before finishing safe in 14th, but would have surely been in the bottom three had it not been for the excellent form of striker Michiel Kramer, who netted 17 times in 32 games. However the 26-year-old has now left for Feyenoord, while Mike van Duinen has also exited the club to join German side Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Henk Fraser has brought in the young talent of Kenji Gorre, and ex-Feyenoord winger Ruben Schaken, but without a striker to score from their service, can ADO Den Haag avoid falling into the relegation places?
Summer Signings
In: Ludcinio Marengo (FC Volendam), Édouard Duplan (FC Utrecht), Kenji Gorré (Swansea City, loan), Ruben Schaken (free agent)
Out: Robin Buwalda (VVV-Venlo, loan), Richelo Fecunda (released), Ricky van Haaren (Dinamo Bucharest), Ninos Gouriye (released), Mitchell de Vlugt (released), Papito Merencia (released), Malcolm Esajas (FC Den Bosch), Guy Smith (Noordwijk), Wilson Eduardo (returned to parent club Sporting), Oleksandr Iakovenko (returned to parent club Fiorentina), Mitchell Schet (released), Mike van Duinen (Fortuna Düsseldorf), Michiel Kramer (Feyenoord)
Pre-Season
Pre-season started off well for the club with wins over amateur sides Laakkwartier (12-1) and Scheveningen (2-0). However they were followed up by a troubling 1-0 defeat to English third tier side Burton Albion, along with losses to Turkish side Genclebirligi (0-2), and Veria (1-2). A single goal from Kenji Gorre ensured that ADO Den Haag finished their preparations well, in a 1-0 win over Spanish side Mallorca.
Strongest Line-up
Hansen, Malone, Wormgoor, Zuiverloon, Meijers; Bakker, Kristensen, Alberg; Schaken, Kramer, Gorré
Key Players
Alongside Kramer, the other star man of last season for ADO Den Haag last season was midfielder and captain Roland Alberg, who netted eight goals and provided nine assists. An attacking midfielder with excellent technique, Alberg is also a set piece expert and should be the main provider of assists at the club once again this season.
The 33-year-old has returned to the Eredivisie after a short spell in Azerbeijan with Inter Baku, and his experience will be crucial for ADO Den Haag this season. The pacey winger scored 18 league goals in 113 league games for Feyenoord during his five year spell in Rotterdam.
Young players to watch
The highly rated young Dutchman joined Swansea City from the Manchester United academy in 2013, and made his Premier League debut on the final day of last season. The quick and tricky twenty-year-old winger will now gain first team experience on loan at ADO Den Haag this season, and is already becoming a fan favourite after two goals in pre-season.
The 22-year-old winger has spent the last two years on loan with Dordrecht, scoring 18 goals in 50 league appearances for the club that was relegated from the Eredivisie last season. Korte missed the most of last campaign through injury, but is now back in the Hague and ready to force his way into the ADO Den Haag first team.
Prediction
Losing Kramer is a major blow for ADO Den Haag, but in Schaken, Gorre and Eduard Duplan they have enough attacking talent to avoid relegation this season. They are not good enough to challenge the top ten, but Henk Fraser would probably settle for mid-table if offered it now.
Predicted position: 14th