That's a bet I would have never dared to make. Though I'll admit that Bruges is the team that Union seems to struggle with the most, however Union is the team that seems to defy all logic.
- They seem to peak at the start and mid of the season, it's mostly in the playoffs that the physical and mental fatigue seem to hit in. While the other top teams, including Bruges, seem to prefer to pace themselves to they have juice left for the playoffs
- Further Union have an interesting scouting mechanism that seem to focus a lot on data and mental strength. Every player that they attract is the type of player that keeps running even when frustrated rather than start complaining etc. Further do they prefer transfers of sure things rather than speculating on a players potential and hope to flip him for a good profit:
"Er zit een héél duidelijk idee achter die strategie. "Dat idee is simpel: we willen meteen goed zijn. De transfermarkt is niet dom, hé. Wil je als club een 19-jarige speler halen die zich al bewezen heeft en later voor veel geld kan verkocht worden? Dan moet je ook meteen meer geld ophoesten."
"Bovendien mag je bij zo'n transfers niet verwachten dat je aan de leiding zal staan of zal meespelen voor de prijzen", besluit Muzio. "Het risico op mindere prestaties ligt hoger. Het is nu eenmaal moeilijker om in te schatten hoe zo'n jonge speler zal presteren. De data van een 25-jarige speler zijn accurater en betrouwbaarder."
Source: https://www.voetbalkrant.com/nieuws/2024-03-18/is-het-echt-zo-simpel-union-eigenaar-legt-heel-transparant-en-duidelijk-de-filosofie-achter-succestransfers-van-zijn-club-bloot
- Tony Bloom is minority owner of the club (had to sell his majority because of the conflict that he can't own 2 teams in the same competition: Brighton & Hove Albion and Union wouldn't be able to both play European). So betting on a loss of Union is betting against one of the most successful sports betters in the world.
It was worth the gamble, if only because Bruges historically have the least problems with Union, but it was definitely a gamble that isn't meant for the faint of heart
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