Bee football talk watched the documentary that ESPN just before that broadcast on PEC Zwolle. It showed that Art Langeler, who has since resigned as coach of the club, told his group of players in May that sixth place in the Eredivisie might be feasible. “It was astonishing, wasn’t it?” is the reaction of journalist Martijn Krabbendam.
In the documentary The Zwolle Summer PEC is monitored during the preparation for the current season. It can be seen how Langeler, who had just been appointed as the new coach at that time, addresses his group of players for the first time. “I think we should have a selection that should not consist of thirty players who are equal,” said Langeler. “Our selection should actually consist of a player or twelve to fourteen, all fourteen of whom can play in the sub-top of the Eredivisie. If those fourteen all remain fit, not suspended, nothing to worry about, then we will actually become sixth. But that Obviously not going to happen, because you have suspensions, injuries and other things happen.”
Art Langeler addresses the selection of PEC Zwolle in De Zwolse Zomer.
In football talk, which aired immediately after on ESPN, is looked back on the documentary. “I can imagine that it is nice for fans to get a look behind the scenes, with those transfers, and how they are called,” said former midfielder Kees Kwakman. “But what amazed me most was that Art Langeler spoke to that group and said that they might finish sixth if twelve to fourteen players stayed fit. He did say that ‘of course not happening’, but he could do it.” twelve to fourteen in this selection, with which he thinks he can make it to the top six. Well, then you are completely overestimating your group!”
The season is progressing dramatically for PEC and on November 16, Langeler resigned from the club. “The documentary was the announcement of a total failure, from the very first moment,” said Krabbendam. “You see a trainer there with his hands in his pockets, to act a bit tough. You see a technical manager (Mike Willems, ed.) who is not prepared for his task. You see all kinds of young players who all have to play crazy games. Keezen, well, that was a hit!”, he sarcastically refers to the Old Dutch board game that the PEC players played in the documentary.
Mario Been is critical of Willems’ policy at PEC. “Mike Willems gave his transfer window a seven”, Mario Been recalls. “But if you get players who have never scored a goal anywhere, you can count on your fingers that it will be a very tough year. And that’s what you see now.” Zwolle is at the bottom of the Eredivisie with only five points from fourteen matches and only scored seven goals.