albionalex
Well-known member
Maybe even January if we go back in for Boscagli.
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[Albion] Jan Paul van Hecke - contracted to June 2027
- Thread starter Bozza
- Start date
Maybe even January if we go back in for Boscagli.
- Nov 11, 2009
- 12,251
This. Still plenty of life in the old warhorse, but JPVH is the future. I hope we can tie him down and he wants to stay long term.
Naa, I thought that performance was a bit over rated against a massively hungover City who were very much on the beach already and couldn't give a shit. Haaland was way off it. He then had some shaky games at the start of the following season/last season
His real coming of age performances though were last November away to Ajax and away to Forest after Dunk got his idiotic red card, he was absolutely magnificent in both games when we under real pressure at times and almost single handedly got us the 3 points in both games. He showed he was a brilliant defender and true leader and his confidence soared. The JPVH before and after November last year were quite different.
His improvement throughout last season was incredible. I can't remember many player's progress as much as he did so quickly - from the player who looked like an imposter who's team mates wouldn't pass to him away to Leicester in January 2023 to the colossus that became our best defender by the end of that same year was just incredible.
I don't credit RDZ for much, and I'm still not sure how much credit to give him for this as if we'd signed Colwill, I don't think Van Hecke would have featured as much, but he deserves some plaudits for JPVH's progression.
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This is very true. He was MAGNIFICENT.
Nobby Cybergoat
Well-known member
- Jul 19, 2021
- 8,617
I get the model, we get decent young players, bring them through, sell them on.
But this has only worked because we've got a core of servants. People who know the culture of the club, steady hands to help bring the youngsters through.
This is what I hope Van Hecke becomes. The next step for us is to be able to convince a player like JPVH to sign new deals until he's in his 30's and we reject any offers that come along, that aren't Caicedo £115m levels of craziness.
I'm not saying we stop selling, of course we still sell. But I hope that we can identify the next generation of Dunk, Veltman, March, Gross type players and build the club around them for the next 5+ years. JPVH seems to fit the bill.
It won't be easy, big clubs will offer good money for players like that. But if we can get European football regularly we have a chance.
But this has only worked because we've got a core of servants. People who know the culture of the club, steady hands to help bring the youngsters through.
This is what I hope Van Hecke becomes. The next step for us is to be able to convince a player like JPVH to sign new deals until he's in his 30's and we reject any offers that come along, that aren't Caicedo £115m levels of craziness.
I'm not saying we stop selling, of course we still sell. But I hope that we can identify the next generation of Dunk, Veltman, March, Gross type players and build the club around them for the next 5+ years. JPVH seems to fit the bill.
It won't be easy, big clubs will offer good money for players like that. But if we can get European football regularly we have a chance.
Nobby Cybergoat
Well-known member
- Jul 19, 2021
- 8,617
Agree with you. Haaland missed a free header from 6 yards out in that game. This Man City thing is a thing which people have kept saying to each other till it came true.
In my mind, the truth is that there has been steady improvement all the time he's been playing. He's had great games, good games and bad games as you would expect from any promising young CB in this division
Garry Nelson's Left Foot
Well-known member
This is pretty much my thinking too. I'd love him and hinshelwood to become the mainstays of the team.
I think it's a really important role and fundamental to how we will continue our progress.
Weststander
Well-known member
His fee was just €2m according to Naylor. Rising to €3m.
seagull_special
Well-known member
The brilliant thing about Dunk is that he makes his partners look excellent, couldn’t think of a better partner and mentor for JPVH. Maybe Dunk has peaked but as captain and an excellent CB he has a few more years in him. JPVH is my favourite player at this time. He is like the Terminator.
seagull_special
Well-known member
PS - Love Webster too
METALMICKY
Well-known member
- Jan 30, 2004
- 6,810
Comes across as a top fella and has been looking good. However, his Achilles heel is being prone to injuries and when if comes back if always looks decidedly shakey and liable to make a key error. I'd love him to stay injury free. He may still not get too many starts but last year told us that we needed strength in depth.
seagull_special
Well-known member
It’s very difficult to get that match fitness if you don’t get 5 or 6 games in a row. I am glad he is one of our back ups too. Was a bit surprised one of the promoted teams didn’t come in for him as injury free he would be ideal.
Not sure many teams could afford the price tag on him.
Next club captain. Loves his quizzing of every decision.
Next club captain. Loves his quizzing of every decision.
Well we got done there
aolstudios
Well-known member
pigmanovich
Good Old Sausage by the Sea
What an upgrade
aolstudios
Well-known member
What an upgrade
