Rob Wielaert

[orange goblin]

http://www.ajax.nl/web/show/id=154417/contentid=68495


I think that many of us are happy today..the long-wanted defender is here!

[Amol]

http://www.ajax.nl/web/show/id=154417/contentid=68495


I think that many of us are happy today..the long-wanted defender is here!

How much did we end up paying for him?

[Rooie]

3 million euro

[Kowalczyk]

There we go

Nice one. Well done, Ajax.

Contract for 2.5 seasons, until summer 2011, with an option to extend it for another season.

K.

[gordonvandekamp]

I hope he can last us a few seasons, although I wish we would have made this move last summer (or even the summer before).

Regardless, I am pleased that we've filled one of the holes that I think we've needed to most. I think we could still use another proper defender, but this leaves me pretty optimistic for the 2nd half of the season. I didn't think we'd win the title with the defense we had. I still don't know if we will, but I think our chances our better.

[Orange14]

I glad that we already have played the away fixture with Twente. Wouldn't want to play in Entschede after what went on with this transfer.

[SPL]

A much needed extra central defender but is he much better than Oleguer, who I assume he will replace! Well he is not going to take Vermaelen's place at left back and Vertonghen has been voted one of the best defenders in Dutch league so far this season.And as a central defender he is unlikely to take Van der Wiel's place at right back.

We have not paid 3m euros for a30 year old, (the oldest player on our books once Gentenaar goes ,) just to sit on the bench so I assume Oleguer will be a bench warmer!!

I hope you will forgive me being a little less enthusiastic but I am not jumping up and down with joy at this signing of what is in effect a 30 year old non international journeyman.

[DanK]

I can see where you are coming from, but this age is perfect for a defender. Its one of the positions where experience really makes a difference.

[SPL]

Quite agree we need experience and I hope he proves to be a great signing but it does appear that he will replace another experienced defender in Oleguer.The other 3 regulars still being only 20,22 and 23 year olds.

I do know I am asking to be shot down but that is why I made the point.

[GangstaRiB]

The first time I saw Wielaert, he looked very very bad. He made his debut at PSV in an European game against a not so very good opponent. And he was outclassed.

But I have to say, he really turned it around. He chose for the slow way to the top, just like Huntelaar.

I'm very anxious to see how he holds up.

[bluedaddy19]

We have not paid 3m euros for a30 year old, (the oldest player on our books once Gentenaar goes ,) just to sit on the bench so I assume Oleguer will be a bench warmer!!

Oleguer can also play RB.

[Blind3]

Glad the fiasco is finally settled. Re: Oleguer, I don't think Oleguer will play on the right. Well, unless Silva is sold.

[Van basten]

Glad the fiasco is finally settled. Re: Oleguer, I don't think Oleguer will play on the right. Well, unless Silva is sold.

And Van der Wiel injured

[Blind3]

"Quote :And Van der Wiel injured "

Van basten. You're right of course. I guess should've said that Oleguer's not likely to see any time at RB, not even the few minutes Silva has managed to pick up SINCE VAN DER WIEL HAS MADE THE SPOT HIS . Oleguer would be this season's Gabri at RB...Break glass in case of injury only.[/quote]


My A-D-D kicked in. I forgot this is Rob Wielaerts's thread. So, my Robbie Wielaert comments are : A nice piece of business by Ajax to pick up a top of table competitor's captain for a reasonable price. I haven't a problem picking up a thirty year old. Prime of his career. Unless FCT is in the habit of awarding the armband as a sign of sympathy instead of talent, he should have alot to offer his new club. Finally, Ajax.nl said he'll go into training on Wednesday. Good timing as it should allow him to become familiar enough with his new side to play a part Sunday.

Welcome to Ajax !!

[Kowalczyk]

OUR NEW PURCHASE, AND HE'S ALREADY DEAD!

http://www.ajax.nl/web/show/id=154417/contentid=68508

Oh, hang on... It's just a cardio test...



K.

[Blind3]

I thought that was a story and photo showing F-wad's title chances.

[Kowalczyk]

Oh yeah, in case you didn't realize... Wielaert will not be eligible for UEFA Cup games this season... He already played in UEFA competition for Twente, of course.

K.

[Kowalczyk]

Yellow carded against PSV. Misses next match.

K.

[Kowalczyk]

NEC reportedly interested in Wielaert. Ajax willing to talk. Sale, loan, whatever.

Get the guy off the payroll a.s.a.p. is what I say.

K.

[Kowalczyk]

According to newspaper De Telegraaf Rob Wielaert is in talks with Heerenveen. Heerenveen want him and Wielaert would love to move there. Heerenveen now have to fork it out with Ajax (sale? loan? we'll see).

K.

[Blind3]

Sounds like Heerenveen supporters may get a 6 foot plus LUMP of coal in their Christmas stockings.

[SPL]

Hope so

[Orange14]

It's interesting how optimistic we all were when Wielaert's transfer was announced (see the first post in this thread). I guess the same thing can be said about other recent transfers as well (Oleguer, Cvitanich, Silva, etc.). Too bad they did not work out as precious €€s were spent on these acquisitions. As SPL has pointed out so often, we are better off giving the youth players the opportunity to get the job done and save a lot of money as well. Sure we will always need to keep an eye out for the special player we can bring in on transfer but the Band-Aid policy of the past needs to stop (and I think it has under Jol).

[Kowalczyk]

It's interesting how optimistic we all were when Wielaert's transfer was announced (see the first post in this thread). I guess the same thing can be said about other recent transfers as well (Oleguer, Cvitanich, Silva, etc.). Too bad they did not work out as precious €€s were spent on these acquisitions. As SPL has pointed out so often, we are better off giving the youth players the opportunity to get the job done and save a lot of money as well. Sure we will always need to keep an eye out for the special player we can bring in on transfer but the Band-Aid policy of the past needs to stop (and I think it has under Jol).

I wholeheartedly agree.

Ajax's big purchases? Sometimes I agreed, sometimes I disagreed, sometimes my predictions were right, sometimes they were totally wrong, but if you look at the bigger picture there can only be one conclusion: Ajax are, in general, not so great at buying players and the best teams were 'homegrown' (youth players and young players from abroad, scouted at a young age).

Time to acknowledge that and stop spending money (we have to stop spending money, by the way, simply because there's not that much of it anymore; Ajax don't even have to acknowledge that... it's the naked truth).

K.

[SPL]

I know I go on about giving youth a chance but when you are only 3rd and facing a third year without
CL it is clear that we should stop throwing money and look at our youth . I know our defence have looked crap v Utrecht and Anderlecht but after the PSV debarcle we dropped Wielaert and Oleguer and the homegrown defence has certainly done a lot better.( I know 2 of them are flemish but Antwerp is only about 100 miles or so from Amsterdam and flemish is basically dutch !!! That should get one of our dutch friends putting in my place ).

Hope we can get rid of Wielaert as he is not even getting on the bench