January Transfer Targets in the Eredivisie

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There are four months between the Summer and Winter Transfer Markets and within those four months, things can change quite dramatically for players. Net worth can decrease, potentials can fade away and prospects might become disappointments. In the past 18 weeks in the Eredivisie all of that has happened.
Usually I make lists of players that are the best transfer targets for that period when the markets are open. This Winter, I have to make an exception because a many players that were bound to go abroad in the Summer never made a move. The case of Ola Toivonen is a prime example of that. PSV have been trying to get a 1 year extension signed by the Swede. Problem is, he is already at the salary-cap but he still demands more. Problem for Ola is that he hasn’t shown his worth on the pitch in recent months. His net worth has declined fast and a few clubs seem to be interested in his services. Dutch media have also been reporting that he has been a big part of the dysfunction within the PSV team, causing all sorts of problems in the locker room.

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Whilst Toivonen is one case, there are many more, so here is a list with the disappointments in the Eredivisie:

Jordie Clasie(Feyenoord CM): Has regressed, lacks experience to be a leader in midfield. Even though his work-rate is good, he has been very inconsistent.

Siem de Jong(Ajax AM): After his lung collapsed early in the season he has been out of form and picked up injury after injury. Has been replaced by Davy Klaassen.

Stefan de Vrij(Feyenoord): Inconsistent, extremely regressed in his development and defensively very weak. Feyenoord is lucky to have Joris Mathijsen because this was supposed to be the season to let De Vrij take leadership of the defence and the team, he horribly failed to do both.

Viktor Fischer(Ajax LW,ST): Lost his form of last year. He has the quality but so far has been a bit too eager to show his talent. Defenders have discovered how to take him out and since then hasn’t been very effective.

Kolbein Sightorsson(Ajax ST): Injury after injury and when he is in good health, proves that he is not a class striker, just a very, very average one.

Adam Maher(PSV CM): THE biggest disappointment of the season. Can’t seem to find his way in the PSV team. Still shows signs of brilliance now and then but they should put him on the missing persons list in Eindhoven as he has been invisible in the entire first half of the season.

Georgino Wijnaldum(PSV AM): Good start of the season but has been injured for 3 months.

So these names are the ones to avoid this Winter, but even though the Eredivisie has been ransacked in the Summer, there are still a couple of names on the ‘to watch’-list for clubs in the EPL.

Alfred Finnbogason(Heerenveen ST): He was in top form at the start of the season but ran a bit out of steam a bit towards the end of the year. Very consistent striker but, and this is a big but, still needs a lot of chances to score goals. His positioning and finishing are currently the best for a striker in the Eredivisie, on top of that he is incredibly strong as well. His technique, speed and ball security however are below par and cause him to miss a lot of chances. SC Heerenveen tried to extend his contract but so far Finnbogason has snubbed all offers and wants to move on. With 1.5 years left on his contract he could be a bargain for any team that can take a big risk. There is one condition though, he needs minutes. Used as a sub, he is worthless. Worth 4-6 million pounds

Daley Blind Ajax(LB, DM): Extremely consistent and has made quite a development defensively. He became a decent left back last season but lacks top speed to be effective. Frank de Boer has put him on midfield this season next to Davy Klaassen and made a direct impact there. His passing and positioning are superb and therefore could attract the interest of clubs. Worth 6-8 million pounds.

Davy Pröpper (Vitesse CM): Ever since the departure of Marco van Ginkel to Chelsea, Pröpper has been the rising star at Vitesse. This midfielder got the chance to be the play maker in midfield and took it. The guy has been phenomenal this season. Worth 2-5 million as his contract runs out this season, but he is in talks with the club to get an extension.

[video=youtube;UC7qKZpU9dQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC7qKZpU9dQ[/video]

Maarten Martens(AZ Alkmaar, AM): This 29 year old Belgian is inconsistent, but has brilliant technique. Poor work-rate and a bit complacent but, he has half a year left on his contract and is not willing to sign an extension. Potential bargain for 1 or 2 million pounds.

Roy Beerens(AZ Alkmaar, RW): This guy has been the engine of AZ this season. He is a box to box winger with an extremely high work-rate. His tactics, vision and technique are good but his problem is his finishing. A lot of chances he tries to convert himself and most of the time he shoots them in the second ring. At a bigger club he would probably look for options more and therefore could be a very good winger for the EPL. 4-5 million pounds.

Dusan Tadic(FC Twente AM/RM): Bit invisible this season but still is a quality attacking midfielder. His technique, passing and shooting makes him one of the best players in the league. Could be an option for lower table clubs. 5-7 million pounds.

Kenneth Vermeer(Ajax GK): Fallen out of grace with Frank de Boer and got benched. The guy is still a good Michel Vorm type of goalie with excellent reflexes. At 29 he is in need of a new club and therefore on a cheap: 2-3 million pounds.

Others on the list:

-Luc Castaignos(FC Twente, ST): Poor start of the season but regained some of his form in November. Still misses a lot of chances but his positioning, work rate and his concentration are top notch.
-Filip Kostic(Groningen, AM): 21y old AM with brilliant passes, tactics and a good vision on the pitch. 5-6 million.
-Kristoffer Nordfeldt(SC Heerenveen): Flappy but experienced goalkeeper. Poor technique and distribution but excellent at shot stopping, neutralizing crosses and one-on-ones. Just an old school goalie. 3-5 million.
-Graziano Pelle(Feyenoord ST): Bit reluctant to put his name in here, never had any success outside of the Eredivisie but an amazing striker for Feyenoord. A killer in the box, at Feyenoord they have one policy when it comes to attacking: give the ball to Pelle. 8-10 million.
-Lasse Schöne(Ajax) : Solid, experienced midfielder. 27y old, 5-7 million
-Hakim Ziyech(SC Heerenveen): Revelation of the season, gifted midfielder with brilliant free kicks and long range shots. At 18 too young to make a move but a definite must watch this season.

And that’s the list of transfer targets this Winter.

 

Interesting and informative yet again Cove, what's your impression of Bony to date, and if there any similarities to the players you've highlighted above .Could they adapt to the PL sufficiently to make an impact

 

His agility remains lethal in and outside the box as shown last weekend, his top speed is too low however to suit the kick and rush football in the EPL. Little you can do about that other than refrain from that tactic. As long as Laudrup sticks to his build up playing style, Bony will continue to score his goals. Just don't give him the ball 10-20 yards away from the box.

 

Thanks , he's adapted well and hopefully he'll push on to greater performances .Any thoughts on my other question?



I noticed at the Villa game, in the Witton Arms a trio of Den Hagg supporters propping up the bar .wasn't you by chance one of them ?

 

No, the closest I am to supporting a team is maybe Newcastle because I stayed there for a week and bought a scarf due to peer pressure

Eredivisie players in the EPL can work under one pre-condition: regular games. Oussama Assaidi is a good example, only played one or two games for Liverpool and could not make a lasting impression other that: 'he's a nice winger'. At Stoke he is getting the games and he looks a lot better there. Altidore too: he starts the season but is quickly dropped. Eredivisie players can adapt but they need time and more important: trust.

 

Why buy a player with declining value from the Dutch League (if their value is declining why would we want them) when we have a World Cup bound midfielder in Ki at Sunderland for the cost of a phone call - or even less with an email.

 

Don't mean to butt in, but any thoughts on Bakkali, Cove?

 

Had a good start, then got over-glorified and lost his head with the fame and stardom. Has been playing **** ever since. Not ever worth mentioning in this list.

 

Buy players that is needed and can do the job and not anyone because that is their position they play. We need a couple of tall defenders and we can manage the rest of the season with what we got...We lack height at the back...

 

j

 

Now that's some reading there what a top notch thread this is

 

Ah well.

At least we'll all get a season out of him on Football Manager.

 

Aye that's true enough.

 

This is exactly the case with bony now he is the focal point of our attack and getting game time we are seeing what he can do. It also gives michu the chance for more space as teams will have to watch bony rather than just michu as a threat

Excellent post cove