Marco van Ginkel

[BOSS 372]

Transition is transition. Mourinho would still want to challenge strongly in the Premier League and Champions League, the 2 major competitions for us, and win it. Moreover, there needs to be a balance of experience and youth to the team. Right now, we have an influx of the latter and not enough of the former that will elevate us to the next level and fix the immediate problems in the team. We could find ourselves in battling to finish in the Top 4 again if we don't address the right areas in the team for next season.

The reason why we battled for the top 4 last season was because we did not have enough width. We so desperately needed a striker and DM aswell + we had Rafa Benitez as our manager.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Not too happy with this signing, looks similar to Kdb, but not as good. Some will say that Kevin isnt CM, but he played there for Genk and je plays in midfield in 4:3:3 for Belgium. Way too similar players because both will never get in starting eleven with Mazacar and others like Chalobah, Loftus, Romeu,...

Besides I kind of dislike all these transitional seasons, our team might be younger but in all these years, we dont even have the formation and at least half of the first 11. Soo many buys but no one knows what for realy. Oscar was brought as CM as Modric replacement, look is he playing there? Kdb was brought for what? CM, wing? Now we get another CM; Ginkel. Great! Its cool with all the talent etc, but this isnt Fifa or we want to fake Arsenal, I dont know...should sign experienced players that will be replaced with these youngsters eventualy...

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Well, not bad at all!!

Isnt Thorgan 20 years old and was 19 when he signed???

[The Mak 4,459]

It's about time we got a bit of dutch magic! From what I hear, he's mainly a CM who likes to go forward? I could be wrong, but it may point to us alternating between 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 for certain games as a lot of our AMs are also comfortable on the wing.

I'm all for the signing, but it's still not addressing our main concerns. These:

I wont complain because I believe he is a good player, but I wish we were focusing more on buying stablished and experienced player for key posistions (ST, DM, CB, etc)...

Transition is transition. Mourinho would still want to challenge strongly in the Premier League and Champions League, the 2 major competitions for us, and win it. Moreover, there needs to be a balance of experience and youth to the team. Right now, we have an influx of the latter and not enough of the former that will elevate us to the next level and fix the immediate problems in the team. We could find ourselves in battling to finish in the Top 4 again if we don't address the right areas in the team for next season.

The pivot in particular is in dire need of a world class talent or some experience. It's where we fell down a lot last season. If it came to it, I think we could go another season with the defence and strikers we have at the moment, but only if the pivot gets a top, top signing. Maybe if even two, especially if the links of Mikel to Turkey are in anyway true.

We can't get distracted by buying more flashy attacking youth when we also need players who can get the dirty work done as well.

However, I think this may be a leftover Emenalo signing that Jose simply gave the green light to. I don't think Emenalo is too adept at picking defensive players, so I turst Mourinho to get it right. I think the next signings will be influenced more by José...

P.S. I think MVG should probably go out on loan. He'd add great depth, but the likes of Werder Bremen would take him in a second and he'd start nearly all their games.

[Jase 43,479]

The reason why we battled for the top 4 last season was because we did not have enough width. We so desperately needed a striker and DM aswell + we had Rafa Benitez as our manager.

Did not have enough width? Width?! You meant depth right?

Buying players like van Ginkel will add depth in terms of numbers but the quality is not necessarily there. We need depth not just in terms of having numbers but also a sufficient amount of quality in the squad. And yes, we have Mourinho as the manager this time around but as I have said many times, he's great but not god. He can only work with what he's got. He can't magically give players additional quality or improvements in it, especially with the younger ones.

[BOSS 372]

Did not have enough width? Width?! You meant depth right?

Buying players like van Ginkel will add depth in terms of numbers but the quality is not necessarily there. We need depth not just in terms of having numbers but also a sufficient amount of quality in the squad. And yes, we have Mourinho as the manager this time around but as I have said many times, he's great but not god. He can only work with what he's got. He can't magically give players additional quality or improvements in it, especially with the younger ones.

Depth and width. Playing Mazacar is a problem. We need more width we needed someone like Schurrle and i am glad we got him.

[Jase 43,479]

Depth and width. Playing Mazacar is a problem. We need more width we needed someone like Schurrle and i am glad we got him.

Erm, that wasn't even the issue I was alluding to in the first place.

And on Schurrle you mention there, he was bought more for adding depth and providing a different option (in terms of operating in his main position at LW). If you want to talk about depth and width, then we probably should be buying a right winger, if anything.

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

Not too happy with this signing, looks similar to Kdb, but not as good. Some will say that Kevin isnt CM, but he played there for Genk and je plays in midfield in 4:3:3 for Belgium. Way too similar players because both will never get in starting eleven with Mazacar and others like Chalobah, Loftus, Romeu,...

Besides I kind of dislike all these transitional seasons, our team might be younger but in all these years, we dont even have the formation and at least half of the first 11. Soo many buys but no one knows what for realy. Oscar was brought as CM as Modric replacement, look is he playing there? Kdb was brought for what? CM, wing? Now we get another CM; Ginkel. Great! Its cool with all the talent etc, but this isnt Fifa or we want to fake Arsenal, I dont know...should sign experienced players that will be replaced with these youngsters eventualy...

He's nothing like KDB, in what ways is he similar? KDB will never play in the pivot, he might get a run-out as an attacking CM in a 4-3-3 but that's it. Van Ginkel on the other hand is solely for the pivot/midfield. Defensively, he's miles miles better than KDB. KDB is an attacking player, wherever he'll play his instinct is to attack (it should be, this is where his value lies). Van Ginkel is a box-to-box mid who will look to control the midfield, provide defensive cover, tackling, positional discipline and with him you get a bonus of goals thanks to his great movement and deep runs from midfield, ala Lampard.

[Tomo 21,751]

The pivot in particular is in dire need of a world class talent or some experience.

Hyjack Paulinho's move to Tottenham and get Luis Gustavo (who fell behind Martinez in the pecking order), then our pivot is sorted

Speaking of Martinez it's painful watching him knowing just how perfect he will be for us.

[Jase 43,479]

Hyjack Paulinho's move to Tottenham and get Luis Gustavo (who fell behind Martinez in the pecking order), then our pivot is sorted

Speaking of Martinez it's painful watching him knowing just how perfect he will be for us.

You have just made that painful feeling even worse...

[edetarod 2,155]

he's going to start with Ramires probably

[The Mak 4,459]

Speaking of Martinez it's painful watching him knowing just how perfect he will be for us.

Don't....just don't

[Amblève. 4,995]

I wish we had gone for a more experienced and better player than van Ginkel. Sigh.

[Jusek 2,031]

I wish we had gone for a more experienced and better player than van Ginkel. Sigh.

We'll get De Rossi...hopefully.

[Tomo 21,751]

You have just made that painful feeling even worse...

Don't....just don't

Clear example of an expensive risk paying off ten fold (im not going to say what i would usually say next because if i do this thread will do stupidly off topic).