John Chapman - Jan 2013




Beyond The Pitch show

Summary: Belgian football expert and observer John Chapman makes his debut on the show where he gives us his view of the game in Belgium, both in the club ranks and with a national team that is considered among the serious up and coming challengers in the next two World Cup cycles if all goes according to expectation. At the center of this conversation is the emergence of a young, dynamic and deep class of Belgian players under head coach Marc Wilmots who have left their mark this season in a number of professional leagues across Europe and are locked in a 2014 Brazil Qualification fight with Croatia in Group A with a huge match perhaps being the fulcrum of this campaign in Zagreb in October. We examine whether the development cycle has substance or has been more a formula whereby a player cycle found unintended consequences and try to establish what the future looks like for the biggest clubs in Belgium as clubs from larger and more established leagues continue to raid this league for some truly quality talent. We also examine the transfer speculation surrounding Lucas Biglia and Dieudonné Mbokani and whether Anderlecht can sustain the overtures for their transfers during this winter period. Also discussed here is the emergence of Sacha Kljestan who has helped restore some of the midfield balance over a very important winning streak and a brief look at former player Roland Lamah who has sealed a move from Osasuna to Swansea City. John has a very interesting take on whether the window opening for the Belgian National Team has serious potential and whether Romelu Lukaku could be that player to take this generation to the destination where the biggest expectations currently reside.