Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

[SE6Ajacied]

Not the most challenging questions but interesting none-the-less
http://video.sbs.com.au/player/twg_new/ ... erId=14570

Thanks Dan, that's a great link and an interesting looking site too.

I don't know about anyone else but I really enjoy the few times when I get to see our players or coaches interviewed in English, or with English subtitles. You can always read a translated written interview but it's just not the same as hearing it........is this just me??

[DanK]

Thanks Dan, that's a great link and an interesting looking site too...

No probs. Its actually a direct link to the media player, not the site which is:
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/home/

Its Aussie based, but it does cover 'The World Game' as the name suggests.

A little history actually...

For years in Oz, football (or soccer as it is known there) was considered a (please excuse my language here as I mean no disrespect just repeating what was the standing of the game in Australia) "wog" or "poof" game. Played by Greek, Italian and Croatian immigrants. This despite for years, soccer was played (and this is still the case from memory) by more kids than any other sport in a country that is sport crazy. For years the media attacked and disliked anything to do with soccer.

Anyway to cut a long story short, this site which is based on the TV show shown on SBS in Australia, has a long, proud history of giving viewers in Australia access to 'The World Game', dating back to the early 80s. Without this channel, I would never have grown up with Ajax, World Cups, Euro ups etc.

The host is Mr Les Murray, who also writes for World Soccer and is considered 'Mr Soccer' in Oz. For years football was a joke in Australia, but with the help of Les Murray and co at SBS, it has become the 'in' game. He and the SBS team, were really the only media people willing to show soccer for what it was, and didn't just broadcast it as a game where crowds like to through flares and beat each other up.

Former Australian captain Johnny Warren (dec) wrote a great book on the subject of footballs hard time to be taken seriously in Australia, appropriately titles 'Sheilas, Wogs and Poofters, An Incomplete Biography of Johnny Warren & Soccer In Australia'. Translated from Australia to real English as "Woman, Italian/Greeks and Gays". Again, attacking the media about the treatment of Australian soccer.

Recommended for any football fan actually.
Johnny Warren:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Warren

Les Murray:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Murray_(broadcaster)

[SE6Ajacied]

The host is Mr Les Murray, who also writes for World Soccer and is considered 'Mr Soccer' in Oz.

OK, I actually bought a footy DVD from Australia on E-bay a while back which was narrated by this guy. It's called "Champions of the World" about footy in South America and is actually a really good film (4 x programmes) if you haven't seen it. It's from SBS TV, Over 5 hours long and certainly well worth the £8.00 or so (including postage) that it cost me.

I enjoyed the film but didn't think any more about it so interesting to see that the host is something of a legend....

[aveslacker]

Soccer has had similar image problems in the U.S., with Latin Americans replacing Italians, Greeks and Croatians. Fortunately, with a few good showings in the World Cup and the success of Major League Soccer, that has started to change. It didn't hurt that the National Hockey League decided to cancel their season a few years ago (wtf?).

Soccer is gradually becoming more and more popular here, and the level of play has improved in leaps and bounds over the last decade, even though the skill gap between the U.S. and upper-echelon teams is still significant, as evidenced by the U.S. recent friendly against England.

[gordonvandekamp]

Soccer has had similar image problems in the U.S., with Latin Americans replacing Italians, Greeks and Croatians. Fortunately, with a few good showings in the World Cup and the success of Major League Soccer, that has started to change. It didn't hurt that the National Hockey League decided to cancel their season a few years ago (wtf?).

Soccer is gradually becoming more and more popular here, and the level of play has improved in leaps and bounds over the last decade, even though the skill gap between the U.S. and upper-echelon teams is still significant, as evidenced by the U.S. recent friendly against England.

I was going to essentially say the same thing. As far as I know, soccer is the most popular youth sport in the US. I think the biggest issue Americans face is that kids play as youths, but for whatever reason as they get older they gravitate to another sport (baseball/football/basketball) and focus on that, while in other countries soccer is the sole focus.

I can only imagine how different the US soccer team would be if many of the athletes in other professional sports had focused on soccer instead. That's only part of the equation, I'm pretty interested in how the game is taught to youths in other countries, as my only experience is in the US, and in my experience barely got past the basics (kick it out of here, don't use your hands, etc), although I'm sure that varies quite a bit within the country.

Back to the topic, thanks for the Huntelaar video. I agree it's always nice to hear them speak English/un-subtitled, I think I've only seen Dutch interviews with him.

Interesting he hasn't seen much action during the Euro warm ups yet, I can only hope van Basten is resting him. I think they're strongest with Ruud, but if van Basten decides to axe him in the final group game (like at the World Cup), I hope Huntelaar gets a shot.

[DanK]

...I'm pretty interested in how the game is taught to youths in other countries, as my only experience is in the US, and in my experience barely got past the basics (kick it out of here, don't use your hands, etc), although I'm sure that varies quite a bit within the country...

It was pretty much the same in Australia. It was just a coach making sure his 11 players run around and chase a ball. Development, the likes you might get say in Holland never really existed. However, this is changing.

With the new structure of the FFA (Football Federation of Australia), they are looking long term and are adopting the Dutch way. They now have a Dutchman Rob Baan (who has managed teams such as Twente, Roda and has been assisting at PSV and the Dutch National Team in the past) acting as the National Technical Director, and they are starting to implement new processes from the ground up, with the biggest changes being small sided games to replace the 11 v 11 that had been in existence for juniors.

This is the biggest fundamental change to the game in Oz and I'm glad they have finally started to do what most of the rest of Europe started 20 or 30 years ago.

[DanK]

Van Basten urges Huntelaar to stay at Ajax
I still think he'll go, if not before the start of the season, then maybe in the Xmas transfer period. But I would love him to stay:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... 80&cc=5739

[gordonvandekamp]

Van Basten urges Huntelaar to stay at Ajax
I still think he'll go, if not before the start of the season, then maybe in the Xmas transfer period. But I would love him to stay:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... 80&cc=5739

I still think it's pretty much 50/50, I hope he stays. I think he would be fine if he left, but would have a bigger impact on whatever club he goes to in a year because he will be that much better by then. I've said it before, but I hope having van Basten coach is enough of a lure for him simply by what he can learn from one of the best.

I think it's interesting Madrid is the preferred destination (consequently I think if he wants playing time there, he should wait a year to go), sort of akin to the Dutch influence on A.C. Milan in the 80s/90s.

[The Purple Cow]

"I think it's interesting Madrid is the preferred destination..."

Well yes, but Klaas-Jan is not necessarily Madrid's preferred final destination. David Villa is there stated striker of choice.

And if the Sneijder + cash deal for Cristiano Ronaldo goes through, even Madrid are going to be stretched to buy Ronaldo, Villa AND Huntelaar.

[SPL]

Still talk of Juve but they only appear to want to spend 18m euros and Ajax are not going to be conned by that shower again. I believe they finish paying for Zlatan in August !!!!!!

A lot will depend on whether he gets much playing time at euro and scores!!

I do not think he would settle for a team like Juve but I cannot see Man u or Real going for a player who is nearly 25 and with little International games.Berbatov of Spurs is valued at 25m euros also and a proven scorer in EPL. Would imagine Man u would spend their money on him.

I see KJH will likely extend his contract if he does not go this summer but wants a fixed selling price to be included. This seems common for Ajax as I believe Heits had a max 10 m euros price tag and Babel also had a similar fixed selling price.

I would imagine , if he stays he may put in something like 18m euros, £15m. For another season of him scoring goals for us and hopefully CL qualification I could live with getting less next summer .

[DanK]

Oh-Oh
Huntelaar future in doubt
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/huntelaa ... bt-121928/
and
Huntelaar rejects new Ajax deal
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 57,00.html

[gordonvandekamp]

Oh-Oh
Huntelaar future in doubt
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/huntelaa ... bt-121928/
and
Huntelaar rejects new Ajax deal
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 57,00.html

I'm not sure there's a whole lot to make of this. Huntelaar is still contracted for 2 years, and honestly if he did extend it, I don't think he would be here after then anyways. It basically means he will be sold after this season so that he doesn't leave for free.

So if he did extend, it would mean that he could be here for 2 years instead of just one. I also agree with the release clause from his standpoint. Ajax and he both know he will be gone eventually, but it's in Huntelaar's best interest to be able to leave at whatever price. It could hurt the club, but that's the position he is in.

I don't think it will hurt the club that much in the end though, because when he does leave, they will still probably get around the 25 Million that they want the reserve clause to be set at, give or take a few million.

[The Purple Cow]

I reckon he'll be gone by the end of this month.

[DanK]

I reckon he'll be gone by the end of this month.

I'd rather that then August 31.

[SPL]

If he is sold now we hope to get 30m euros.

If he stays but does not extend then we will have to sell him next summer but with only 1 year left on his contract we would only get 20m euros max.

If he extends then he is still going to go next summer.We therefore want 25m euros but he is probably saying he wants 20 m euros release clause.

Basically if we sell him now its 30m but wait a year and we will be looking at 20m . I think he will go this summer.

[Van basten]

If he is sold now we hope to get 30m euros.

If he stays but does not extend then we will have to sell him next summer but with only 1 year left on his contract we would only get 20m euros max.

If he extends then he is still going to go next summer.We therefore want 25m euros but he is probably saying he wants 20 m euros release clause.

Basically if we sell him now its 30m but wait a year and we will be looking at 20m . I think he will go this summer.

We wont get 30mln for him this summer. Before the Euro 2008 - yes, but now - i dont think so.

[SPL]

I did say hope to get 30m!!

[Manneken Pis]

According to the News of the World (not the most reliable publication) Arsenal want to buy Huntelaar for £18M (€22.7M).

Having said that the Telegraph (UK) Arsenal want Arshavin.

[SPL]

I really cannot see Arsenal spending 23/ 25m euros on a player given they have money problems due to the debt on their new ground.If KJH does go then I would love to see him at Arsenal.

[Venezuelan Ajacied]

Well Pepe guardiola has asked for Adebayor and the team is trying to please him so i guess Arsenal could be looking for a center striker like KJH...i for one think he would do wonders in the premiership but would be useless in the Spanish or worse...the Italian league.

[Manneken Pis]

I really cannot see Arsenal spending 23/ 25m euros on a player given they have money problems due to the debt on their new ground.If KJH does go then I would love to see him at Arsenal.

I think it's based on the Arse losing Adebayor for £25 to £30 million, and JKH being the replacement. I see that now there's also talk of Man Ure being interested in JKH, but that could be a ruse to get the transfer fee up and forcing the deal.

Either way this all looks like the final steps in the saga ... he's gone mentally if not yet physically.

[ZoefdeHaas]

As much as I love Huntelaar, i think he should leave this summer.

We'll get more money now (maybe not as much as last summer) and he'll still be able to get a good club.

[DanK]

As much as I love Huntelaar, i think he should leave this summer.

We'll get more money now (maybe not as much as last summer) and he'll still be able to get a good club.

Im actually starting to come round to this thinking too. He is a great player and all, but the money we could get for him now would be pretty good. Plus I am worried if he stays, he will leave in December anyway which would annoy me more.

[aveslacker]

As much as I love Huntelaar, i think he should leave this summer.

We'll get more money now (maybe not as much as last summer) and he'll still be able to get a good club.

Im actually starting to come round to this thinking too. He is a great player and all, but the money we could get for him now would be pretty good. Plus I am worried if he stays, he will leave in December anyway which would annoy me more.

Furthermore, unlike the Zlatan and Sneijder sales, we already have something like an equal replacement (Sulejmani + Cvitanich) lined up.

[SPL]

No body has asked about him at present. I am not convinced Man U will buy him when there are players like Berbatov and Villa probably available.

The press keep talking him up but nothing is happening.