International breaks are fun! For GBE and ESC anyway, focus on Eerste Divisie - Pro GBE Bulletin #9

The sense from conversations that I am having recently is that things are really ramping up in clubs’ preparations for summer.

Most parameters have been set, and the vast majority of clubs are attempting to cast their net wider than ever before.

This brings its own pressures and risk as well though. How well clubs are set up to identify and, importantly, accurately assess players from abroad, is going to be important.

It is also important to assess where they are at in terms of space in their squads. This may be as simple as, which players will be leaving in the summer, creating space in that way, but, also what ESC slot provision might be available.

The next fortnight is an interesting one. International break often provides some staff members, and players, a little less intensity for a period of time, but, for recruitment staff, it can provide a real window of opportunity.

The chance to see a player that they are tracking in a completely different environment is a valuable one. New teammates, different tacticsl instructions, different role, all of things aspects can help provide a deeper understanding of the individual.

From our specialist GBE/ESC perspective it is the time when so many of the variables change. This is why we have written a special report about the window in this bulletin.

Our focus on Band 6 leagues continues as well, with our first look at a second tier league, Netherlands’ Eerste Divisie.

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