Well...it's more or less a surprise I think but the old Barca player, last season at Villareal, is our new signing in the midfield..

I was really shocked after I've read that. It is very big surprise, because I haven't seen any rumours in the internet and press that Ajax want to buy him. Anyway - I hope that ten Cate knows what he does and Roger Garcia will be good transfer :xyxthumbs: .

Big surprise. I didn't expect this signing. The only thing I know about Roger is that he played in Espanyol and that he had a terrible knee injury I think that left him out of the fields for a long time. Also this guy is great in long range shots. Well I hope this guy fits well in the team, may not be a big name but he is a very experienced player apparently.

I remember that a few weeks ago there was a rumour saying that Ajax was interested..but I thought it was a big bullshit..
don't know what to think. good player for sure, but did we really need him?

Anyone have a link? There's nothing on Ajax USA.

http://english.ajax.nl/show/id=118083/contentid=47481
http://www.ajax.nl/show/id=1322/contentid=47479

Thanks!

How much did Ajax pay for him, if anything??

Interesting that he was only signed to a one-year contract.

he came on a free transfer.

Don't know much about this guy but has he been injured or something? It seems very unusual that we've only signed him on a one year contract.

I don't remember where I read this, but it seems that 'he heavily injured one of his knee' (not too sure of my english). And the stats show that he played only one game during the 2004-2005 season. Last season, he played 24 games but was a starter for only 8 of them.
I can understand why Ajax is cautious...

OK, Yeah, that would make sense then. To be honest, more than being surprised that we only gave him a one year contract, I was surprised that he accepted it. Anyway, that makes sense, hopefully he can stay injury free.

maybe he wanted a 1 year contract to sign a fat deal somewhere next year on a free transfer and he uses Ajax to get in the picture again?

Yeah, maybe, but I suppose if we got him on a free and he does the business then there's no loss really. It just seems really unusual to sign anyone other than say a player in their mid-30's on just a one year contract.

and maybe in his contract there's the possibility to renew, a kind of option like the one we didn't use for juanfran..
but anyway: is he an offensive left midfielder (at villareal he had the number 10 on his skirt, unless this shows nothing) or what?
'cause in that position i thinkwe had wesley, lindenbergh and also perez..I am curious to know how the club would use mr roger.

maybe Ajax is awaiting a free transfer on Davids next year?

Garcia represents another example of competiton at every position and versatility. A fall back midfield option since Davids is not coming. Sneijder, Perez, Maduro, Gabri, Garcia , and Lindenbergh .Throw in Krohn -Dehli and MF is even more crowded. Lindenbergh is also cover at Center back . Perez is also cover at LW.

Im sorry but, I hope this does not turn out like when Van Gaal took over at Barcelona, he signed as many as 8 dutchman and another none dutchman, former Ajax player (Jari Litmanen). I mean ok we got Gabri, and now Roger, whos next? De la Pena? And then...del Horno, Victor Valdes etc. I hope not :eusa_pray:

Well, I'd make a terrible talent scout (that's why I don't post in the "new players" thread much) but Del Horno is a bloody good player - a bit dirty for my liking I admit - so what would be the problemo?

SE6Ajacied said:



My point is that I dont want ten Cate to do what van gaal did in his first spell at Barcelona. I.e. 8 dutch players at Barcelona, a mirror image of 8 spanish players at Ajax.

I think that a lot of fans (including me) won't be angry at ten Cate when the Spanish become our best players (moreless as good as majority of former Ajacieden in Barcelona). But the main problem is, if Spanish players we've just bought are able to rule on the ground. They are after injuries and - to be honest - I don't remember any good game of Gabri and Roger Garcia... The only thing that is good in their transfers is their value. Ajax signed them from a free transfer, so it won't be a big pity tif they won't play very good.

Thats true and they are only on one year contracts. But I still feel we need a commanding midfielder, unfortunately neither gabri or Roger meet that criteria IMO. I dont know who can.

Ok, we will see... It's easy to make a mistake when we say such things before the season. It was exactly the same with Ibrahimović at first, Rosenberg as a left winger and so on, and so on. I'm afraid of them just like you, but we have to hope that it was a good choice of ten Cate...

completely agree with you. I hope is not true what ten cate and van geel are reported to say, that the squad is done. no way, we need a strong midfielder.

When Charistaeus and Grygera go we are left with about 25 players , including
Boayke, Timisela , Schilder, Sarpong. Unless we sell Sneijder, Babel or Heitinga I do not think we will buy anyone else. We could still do with Davids but it looks as if with the 2 spaniards that is it for midfield.

We are not going to buy Defour but surely with kids like Sarpong Anita and Vertoghen coming through we do not need to buy any young midfielders ??

On paper the players we have signed , except Stam, are not as good as some of those we have let go ie Grygera, Trabelsi, Galasek, Pienaar and of course De Jong. There does seem to be a great short term thinking in our buys especially as Sneijder, KJH and Babel could easily be on their way after 2 more seasons.