Signing players from the Dutch league

[Saint Martini]

Koeman had a press conference yesterday with mainly Dutch press and one of the things he spoke about was the amount of players we have signed from the Dutch league. In short all players were already being scouted and considered by Saints before his arrival.

 

He also commented that there are a lot of players from the Dutch league being followed by Saints.

 

http://m.ad.nl/ad/m/nl/1017/Buitenlands-voetbal/article/detail/4106370/2015/07/23/Koeman-We-hebben-Feyenoord-genoeg-geholpen.dhtml?originatingNavigationItemId=1001

 

I remember seeing a discussion that a lot off the recent signing have direct link to the Koeman brothers and that this might become an issue if they would leave at some point. Good to hear that the sitting department have been involved from the beginning.

[positivepete]

There is a wider logic to this. Dutch players, or those from other countries that also do well in the Eridivisie, tend to have the technical attributes we are looking for to match our style of play. Most Dutch players speak very good English and so are likely to settle quickly. We do seem to attempt to take the bigger picture into account before we sign someone.

[david in sweden]

Not to be pedantic, BUT quite a few people are saying "Dutch players " when in fact the stats. don't totally support that statement.

 

Since Koeman's arrival a year ago we have signed /and or loaned a total of 14 first team / squad players. Only 3 of these are /were Dutch internationals.

 

However, at least 7 have either played in Eridivisie, or in clubs " one or other Koeman " has coached /or/ were in Academy sides they were involved with.

 

If we had signed 4 or 5 players from English clubs, then no-one would have raised the question- regardless of their nationality or their prev. club history.

 

I agree it may seem to some that we are only signing " Dutch players" , when in fact very few are, but obviously are familiar to RK / EK from their time in Holland.

 

I've no doubt we will sign more players from one of these categories, but given the choice available to us, we must sign players that RK wants - whoever they are.

Edited 24 July, 2015 by david in sweden

[Saint Charlie]

Cheers Davie. Definitely worth making the distinction. Just like the Italian players under Don Cortese.

[ally_uk]

Keep them coming in I like dutch players

[Toussaint]

Keep them coming in I like dutch players

 

Yesh, I am liking dem also

[david in sweden]

There is a wider logic to this. Dutch players, or those from other countries that also do well in the Eridivisie, tend to have the technical attributes we are looking for to match our style of play. Most Dutch players speak very good English and so are likely to settle quickly.

We do seem to attempt to take the bigger picture into account before we sign someone.

 

I think that this is one key factor that many clubs ignore at their peril. The culture of a country can play a major influence - not to mention the language barrier.

 

Interesting to note that a number of players from Latin / Mediterranean countries have failed to replicate their " super-form" in the Manchester climate, and bringing a good player in and expecting him to perform just as well in a different system doesn't always pay dividends either. It's not like changing a wheel on your car.

[hasper57saint]

It's not just Dutch players.Suggested line ups for Thursday has but two home grown players.How long will it be before we field an all foreign team? This is not a whinge but an opinion of the ways things are going at Saints.