Steks Is All Holland Needs

Media coverage of the Eredivisie is sparse, and such coverage in English is even more rare (as some of you have duly noted in comments). However, every now and then a terrific article is produced whenever a reporter manages to look away from the intrigue that surrounds the “big clubs”. (I mean, how many more stories about Ronaldinho need to be written?)

This article on ESPNSoccernet is a good example. The story covers the recent performance of Brazilian keeper Gomes at PSV. It is a good read, entertaining and informative about a player whose form deserves notice. So it is with a touch of regret that I must point out how terribly wrong the article’s headline and concluding point are. In short, Holland does not need Gomes to obtain a passport to replace Edwin van der Sar. They have Maarten Stekelenburg.

Of course, as an Ajacied, I am going to be biased here. And the objective data will also work against me: Ajax regularly concedes more goals (43 this year) than PSV (23). Last year, the margin was less (35-25). But it also clear that Ajax scores much more often (87 & 84 - 63 & 75). Ajax is obviously the more forward leaning team, while PSV likes to manage the game more closely. Gomes is as often the breakdown in the back as he is the answer, as the article notes his penchant for erratic behavior in the back leads to either spectacular saves or equally spectacular mistakes. Stekelenburg, on the other hand, is growing into a mature and steady keeper. While Ajax fans may have worried about him early on, it is clear that our defensive woes this season have not been Stekelenburg’s fault but the lack of a quality partner for Heitinga in the back. Steks has come up big, including a few penalty saves.

Now, I really don’t want to get involved in a comparison between two keepers. But to imply that Holland needs a Brazilian keeper (?!?!?!) to obtain a passport so that they can replace van der Sar is ridiculous. Holland already has a 6′ 5” replacement, who is 26 and has been first choice at Ajax for three years. And now, the obligatory youtube

Category: Team News

Tags: National team, Stekelenburg, Team News

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