If one youngster grabbed his chance in pre-season, it is this bloke. He definitely conquered a slot in the first squad. HTC is constantly praising him.

Jan Vertonghen is his name. Belgian kid. Left-footed. Can play in midfield or as a left-footed central defender.

K.

Belge or not, this kid has huge potential.

Yeah, for a Belgian kid he's quite talented... :blush: ;)

Plus: he scored one of the most spectacular and unforgettable Ajax goals I have ever seen, so he's already a bit of a legend...

http://www.ajax-usa.com/news/2005-2006/ ... -game.html

K.

And a great shot ! Remember Jong Ajax - Cambuur (G. Cup) last year... :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ROWV46Wv6A&eurl=

Edit :oups, I haven't seen the last Ko's post. :blush:

Cool! I didn't know there was a video online!

Awesome. :D

And what makes it even funnier: the teams agree that Cambuur can score a goal, but they're so confused about the whole thing that they almost blow it. That pass is way too hard. What if it had trickled across the line and it would have been a goal kick to Ajax... :D

K.

I agree he looked pretty impressive in the friendlies, but i still think he needs to becareful and keep his feet on the ground and not end up like Pienaar or de Jong.

Speaking of cool videos, here's another good one to watch. :xyxthumbs:

Ahhhhh the scorpion goal, what nice memories that brings me :yes:

Vertonghen might become the "Sneijder of 2003" or the "Van der Vaart of 2001" :yes: I've got high hopes for the kid

A new season of FC Godenzonen has started on AT5 television and I will once again be one of the 'house analysts' to appear bi-weekly. Yesterday we had assistant coach Hennie Spijkerman on the show. A very nice guy, who really impressed when we talked after the show.

Anyway... Spijkerman said that Jan Vertonghen might be added to the squad for Wednesday. Ajax have a pretty large A-squad at the moment, and there are various options for almost every position. The left fullback position is the exception to the rule: we have Urby Emanuelson - but there's not much behind him.

Zdenek Grygera has experience as a left fullback for the Czech Rep, but he's injured. Robbert Schilder has played one or two games at left fullback, but HTC and Spijkerman feel that he's a midfielder and not a candidate for the left fullback position. Same goes for Olaf Lindenbergh. Thomas Vermaelen is a left-footed defender, but that's not the same as a left fullback: he's pretty weak on the flanks and must play in the center, next to Stam.

In other words: now that Grygera's injured, Jan Vertonghen is the #2 left fullback, plain simple. He's originally a midfielder, but played many games at left-back in pre-season, and did really well.

I like Vertonghen, he's a good player, but it is obvious that the left fullback position is where Ajax are the most vulnerable. If something happens to Urby... it will be: "Houston, we have a problem".

K.

Ko, Thanks for sharing Mr. Spijkerman's thoughts with us. Glad to see AT5 have shown the good sense to retain you as an analyst.

I hope Urby is over his stamina problems of last year. That would really be a blow to left-side depth. It makes me wonder if the reason no midfielder has been brought in is because left fullback is where MvG is looking to add depth.

Jan Vertonghen has been added to the squad for Sparta Prague.

Meanwhile, it looks like Ajax will loan him out in January and according to VI he is likely to join either NAC Breda or RKC Waalwijk.

Personally, I have heard rumours that he might join Robbert Schilder at Heracles Almelo.

K.

no one has anything to say about this guy? is he so bad, that his new contract at ajax didn't affect any reaction?

That's a bit of an odd conclusion, innit mate?

K.

Why is that?

Well... No-one's posting anything about him, so he must be crap?

I think he's a very good player. Liked him in pre-season. But fact is: he doesn't see much action in Ajax-1 yet, so there's not much to say about him (yet). His deal has been renewed and I'm sure thousands of Ajax USA'ers around the globe opened a bottle of champagne because of that, but I will forgive everybody for not having much to say about the boy...

K.

If he would be very good player, he would pay more. we aren't so good that we could keep very good players on the bench, especialy miedfielders. yeah, he is promising boy, but very good - probably no :nooo:
P.S my first message was ironic by the way :xyxthumbs:

I might be exagerating a bit here but i think with time he could become Ajax's version of Tim Borowski :yes:.

The reason nobody has said anything is because it is not surprising he was resigned, i can bet a thousand bucks people would be screaming had Ajax not offered him a contract extension.

Jan Vertonghen is now an Ajax Player On Loan, so let's discuss him in that thread from now on. This thread is now closed, but will be re-opened when he comes back!

K.

Oh yeah! He's back!

Topic unlocked again!



K.

jan had a stinker U21 with belgium, but hopefully he'll bounce back into top form with ajax this season!

I think he was actually one of the better players of that tournament.

Ditto, He was way better than De Mul. I really have faith in this kid :hupajax.gif:

he was a force on the midfield, when he didn't play you really saw the difference!

The problem is that he said he will have to fight for a place in defense when back at Ajax... I don't really like this.

Verthongen enjoying Koster life
Jan Verthongen says life has been easier for him at Ajax since the arrival of coach Adrie Koster.

The Belgian international is a regular starter under the new coach, after being given the chance to prove himself at left back.

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/verthong ... fe-108172/