If that comment sounded snide then I apologise, it wasn't directed at you. I just find it remarkable how many people are complaining about us signing too many players when having a large squad can only be a positive. Depth was our major undoing last year IMO.

 

Exactly. Don't see United fans complaining about having 5 solid CB's and 4 reliable goalscorers.

Going to be hard for any young midfielder to get a run like Lampard got early career with us. He was an unremarkable player who tried all game in his first season with us - these days with the depth we have that might have meant him being benched

Jose plays 4231 now look like most managers in the game. Van Ginkel will probably play as the slightly more advanced of the 2 in the pivot, connecting the central midfield to the creative trio.

There's a good article below from the Mirror which profiles MVG and explains where he's likely to play. The Mirror mistakenly refer to Jose's current formation of preference as a 433 when it is a 4231.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/marco-van-ginkel-profile-chelsea-2028133?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Don't believe a word of that crap mate, this is where MVG plays

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRS5dR07Sv8

Edited July 5, 201313 yr by Zola

'MVG'?

 

No.

 

NO!

Edited July 5, 201313 yr by Lofty 1905

MVG!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh wait, sorry, that's McG

http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/3229499/title/van-ginkel-signs

 

 

Official!

 

Welcome to Chelsea!

Edited July 5, 201313 yr by omnidroid70

Chelsea summer transfer window 2013: Unhandsome need not apply.

 

If you have any spare time here's a message from our new man. He goes on a bit though.

Chelsea summer transfer window 2013: Unhandsome need not apply.

 

Phew!  That's Rooney out then!

http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/3229543/title/first-words-marco-van-ginkel

 

 

 

FIRST WORDS: MARCO VAN GINKEL

Posted on: Fri 05 Jul 2013

 

Marco van Ginkel completed his transfer from Vitesse Arnhem on Friday afternoon, and was quickly in to sit down with the official Chelsea website…

 

Marco, welcome to Chelsea. What are your first impressions?

Really good, I'm very happy to be here at such a nice club with great players. I am really happy, the stadium is good and the training ground is fantastic.

I know about all the players and will meet them on Monday. I expect a lot, I've watched matches and it's really nice to be here.

 

What can you tell fans about yourself?

I am a box-to-box player. I cover a lot of metres and can score a goal, but I also like to defend and think of myself as a real team player.

 

You had a fantastic season last year, winning an the Dutch Football Talent of the Year award…

Yes, I had a good season and won the award, which I am really proud of. We were fourth in the table, which for Vitesse is really good. It was a good season and I think that's why I am here. I wanted to make a step up and Chelsea was a good opportunity.

 

Have you spoken to Jose Mourinho?

I spoke with the manager and he had some good words for me. If a trainer like this says these things to you it makes you really proud and I am happy to work with him.

 

What are your personal targets this season?

I want to learn a lot, to develop myself. I want to play games and not only sit on the bench, that's what I hope for, to play in games at these great stadiums and hopefully be important for the team, whether it is from the bench or from the start.

 

You played alongside several Chelsea loanees at Vitesse…

Yes, I played with Patrick van Aanholt, Tomas Kalas and Gael Kakuta last season. They also helped me. I asked a lot of things about the club and they said that Chelsea is incredible. Now I am here I can see this. I think they will help when I train on Monday also.

 

How much do you look forward to that first day of pre-season training on Monday?

I look forward to it a lot. It's not scary, but I will be a little bit nervous maybe! Playing with players like Frank Lampard and John Terry will be a huge thing. I played three years at Vitesse, but the Premier League is very good, and I will enjoy playing with these players with this experience.

 

It marks the beginning of a very important season for you, which could culminate with the World Cup…

Yes, everybody wants to go there to Brazil. You have to play, that's what Louis van Gaal has said to players. I think I can play games and I think the Premier League is higher than the Dutch league, so you can learn more physically and technically, and develop. That's why I am here.

 

You can hear more from Van Ginkel with Chelsea TV...

 

With the amount of coverage Marco is getting on the official site, this looks like a signing for the first team to me.

Edited July 5, 201313 yr by Huttsey

http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/3229543/title/first-words-marco-van-ginkel

 

 

 

With the amount of coverage Marco is getting on the official site, this looks like a signing for the first team to me.

 

but by the way the club went about this signing, i think its quite clear he will play for chelsea in the upcoming season

Edited July 5, 201313 yr by Lane

Well we signed Oscar last term and he played a lot. Same age as well. Although Oscar was and is more experienced this lad really wants to play. If he somehow makes the Dutch team for Brazil next year he's done well. 

I feel like saying something mean about his hair but I'm really not one to talk...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJd6X66a_hA

'A lot of nice pitcshes...'

 

Oh sh*t, we've got Ruud Gullit back.

      What I've seen of the two players Van Ginkel comes across as a more polished player than De Bruyne.

 

      I believe he'd be a better option for central midfield. He is a box to box midfielder who can attack and defend.

 

      He's got speed, power and endurance.

 

      The major issue with him would be playing time as he wants plenty of first team action to ensure his place in the Dutch squad.

'A lot of nice pitcshes...'

 

Oh sh*t, we've got Ruud Gullit back.

Is he bringing sexy back?

He has one cap for the NT?

'A lot of nice pitcshes...'

When I first saw the interview I thought he said "bitches", not "pitches".

With the arrival of Van Ginkel and Schurrle and the return or De Bruyne, Essien, and Lukaku the squad is looking a lot bigger now. There is so much competition now in that midfield, i prefer that.

 

I don't know about anyone else but i can't see how Ramires is going to be getting much game time next season. If we are going to go back to 4-3-3 then i just don't see how they fit. Lampard, Oscar, De Bruyne, Van Ginkel will all be competing for 2 spots, so where does that leave Ramires ?

 

I'm also not sure about Mikel either. Mikel is slightly in the better position for now because there isn't as much competition for his place. Essien has returned but can he be trusted to play DM on a regular basis anymore ? before his knee injury Essien was a beast, now not so much. Romeu isn't ready to be 1st team regular yet and will need time to get back to normal after his knee injury, so he's not going to be taking over from Mikel anytime soon. I hope we will bring in a new DM. I would love it to be De Rossi, if we got De Rossi in then i think our midfield would be complete, and one of the strongest in the world, maybe even the strongest.

 

We would still need a striker though and maybe another CB.

With the arrival of Van Ginkel and Schurrle and the return or De Bruyne, Essien, and Lukaku the squad is looking a lot bigger now. There is so much competition now in that midfield, i prefer that.

 

I don't know about anyone else but i can't see how Ramires is going to be getting much game time next season. If we are going to go back to 4-3-3 then i just don't see how they fit. Lampard, Oscar, De Bruyne, Van Ginkel will all be competing for 2 spots, so where does that leave Ramires ?

 

I'm also not sure about Mikel either. Mikel is slightly in the better position for now because there isn't as much competition for his place. Essien has returned but can he be trusted to play DM on a regular basis anymore ? before his knee injury Essien was a beast, now not so much. Romeu isn't ready to be 1st team regular yet and will need time to get back to normal after his knee injury, so he's not going to be taking over from Mikel anytime soon. I hope we will bring in a new DM. I would love it to be De Rossi, if we got De Rossi in then i think our midfield would be complete, and one of the strongest in the world, maybe even the strongest.

 

We would still need a striker though and maybe another CB.

 

Rambo is a Mourinho player.  he will find playing time either as a CM in the 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 or even as a utility player for us.   

When I first saw the interview I thought he said "bitches", not "pitches".

 

He probably did say that. Remember, Eva was probably there at the medical. 

Trying to get the old grey matter running here, but who was the last regular first team Dutchman we had at Chelsea?  De Goey?