Heerenveen coach Veldman defends striker Vente after goal drought

Heerenveen coach Robin Veldman has publicly defended striker Dylan Vente following another match without a goal. Veldman labelled the criticism of the forward as ridiculous and shifted the focus to the team's collective attacking struggles after a 0-0 draw with Telstar.

"I think it's ridiculous," Veldman said on Saturday. "The criticism is now aimed at Dylan, but it should be aimed at the team." The manager stressed that Vente is a proven finisher in training but receives too few clear chances in matches. "He has to score goals eventually. That is the most important statistic for a striker." He added that the lack of goals affects everyone in the squad.

Difficult Start to the Season

The defence of Vente comes amid a challenging start to the campaign for the Frisian club. The goalless draw against Telstar on 13 September was their third draw in the last five league games. As a result, Heerenveen sit 11th in the Eredivisie with six points from six matches and a goal difference of minus two. They are now ten points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven. The full standings illustrate the task ahead.

In the first half against Telstar, Heerenveen created only two chances, both falling to Vente. First, he shot over from a clever pass by Levi Smans, later his header from a Vasilios Zagaritis cross narrowly missed the post. The team played predictably and slowly, making Vente's battle against Telstar's physical centre-backs difficult. Veldman noted that only two percent of all goals come from high crosses, underlining the need for better attacking patterns.

A Collective Issue

The coach explained that the staff is working on attacking movements and the positioning of wingers through video analysis and individual talks. Midfielders Ringo Meerveld and the still-rusty Levi Smans are also involved. Veldman pointed out that players like Jacob Trenskow and Maxence Rivera are underperforming, increasing the pressure on Vente. The injury to Dirk Proper, currently sidelined, further robs the team of creativity. The current squad situation demands more output from others.

After sixty minutes against Telstar, Veldman introduced pinch hitter Roberts Uldrikis, signed on transfer deadline day. Vente dropped into an attacking midfield role, a position he previously played at Hibernian. Fifteen minutes from time, he had a free shot from the edge of the box, but it lacked the power or placement to beat goalkeeper Ronald Koeman Jr. In the dying stages, Vente took a blow to the head from the keeper and played on in a groggy state.

Veldman called the draw "unnecessarily frustrating" and said his team dominated large parts of the match. Confidence in Vente remains high within the club, where they believe in his potential for around fifteen goals a season. Young loanee Lanroy Machine from Angers must first prove himself, while Uldrikis is seen primarily as an impact substitute. The coming weeks, starting with the away fixture at Sparta Rotterdam on 19 September, are critical for finding form. The schedule is on the fixtures page. Veldman urged supporters to continue backing Vente through this difficult period.