[Albion] Jan Paul van Hecke

[Greg Bobkin]

That was a friendly

A friendly that produced the Premier League goal of the season?

OK mate

 

[Greg Bobkin]

He's certainly come away from last season at Newcastle where a load of fans wrote him off as 'not a PL defender'...

 

[Weststander]

I have an abiding memory of Ben White being turned inside out by Rashford and really suffering a torrid time. I feared for his mentality but he coped after that. Having seen JPVH handle Rashford yesterday (on a yellow) and previously keep Haaland quiet I think we have another goodun.

During the first half at Wembley our right-side defence was carved open on repeat, they could’ve been 2 or 3 up. Gross and Webster the defenders. A horrible watch imho.

From memory, Sanchez made some saves?

 

[bluenitsuj]

It’s only the biggest game in our history

Nope.

 

[Triggaaar]

He got better as the match went on. I think he is fully up to speed with De Zerbi ball which is crucial because Dunk will need to be rested at some stage.

Don't be bloody ridiculous. Dunk will never be rested, he can play 8 days a week.

 

[Javeaseagull]

During the first half at Wembley our right-side defence was carved open on repeat, they could’ve been 2 or 3 up. Gross and Webster the defenders. A horrible watch imho.

From memory, Sanchez made some saves?

My memory says Amex and White was playing in a back three with Dunk and Webster I think. Wasn’t it quite common that one season that White had with us? He was repeatedly left on his arse IIRC.

 

[Triggaaar]

Like it.

View attachment 166531

That is excellent work, chapeau whoever did it

 

[Triggaaar]

Webster was great under Potter when he went on his charges up the pitch giving the opposition something extra to worry about.

Thing is, now when we attack it's not about one centre back adding to numbers.

Attacking then wasn't about a centre back adding to numbers, it was simply what we did when they stood off our defenders to mark up, and I think we'll still see that when they give up pressing.

 

[Weststander]

My memory says Amex and White was playing in a back three with Dunk and Webster I think. Wasn’t it quite common that one season that White had with us? He was repeatedly left on his arse IIRC.

Watching from the NS in May the first half at times was a horrible watch, we were carved open imho from poor defending. Thankfully Antony, Martial and Rashford fluffed their lines.

Webster and Caicedo our right side defence on the night.

One thing appears clear imho ….. if you can, always play a proper RB.

 

[Weststander]

My memory says Amex and White was playing in a back three with Dunk and Webster I think. Wasn’t it quite common that one season that White had with us? He was repeatedly left on his arse IIRC.

White was always best as part of a back 3 or 5. Against great left wing players, Arsenal fans say the same.

 

[Triggaaar]

I spent last season angry that we were playing Chelsea's future first choice CB for a season and blocking JPVH's development. He'd have another 30 games under his belt for us by now if we hadn't been so keen to develop Colwill for Chelsea's benefit.

And maybe we wouldn't be in Europe.

Now we have Europe and Van Hecke.

 

[Triggaaar]

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
I WANT YOU IN MY ROOM
AINT NOBODY BETTER
THAN JOHN PAUL VAN HECKE

MAKE
IT
HAPPEN

 

[Questions]

A friendly that produced the Premier League goal of the season?

OK mate

We were trying

 

[GT49er]

But what we did has worked out perfectly as usual though? Colwill was very good for us last season and if you look at JPVH’s first performances, he really wasn’t ready - his passing was not up to the standard required and the players noticably didn’t pass to him. After a year working with RDZ, he is clearly ready now.

Plus we obviously wanted a left sided centre back with the bids for Colwill, interest in Matvienko and signing Igor so I don’t think JPVH was seen as a first choice alongside Dunk initially but his performances have kept him in the team now. I still think the long term ideal is to have a left sided CB alongside Dunk (hopefully Igor) with JPVH the alternative to Dunk when he’s injured/needs resting and longer term, the successor to him.

Dunk has played left sided CB quite a bit, and is quite comfortable (and very competant) there. If JPVH and Dunk are better than Igor, they play - and Igor fills in when injuries, susension, or a need to be rested apply. Of course, we haven't seen much of Igor yet, but at the moment JPVH and Dunk are in possession, and he'll have to await his opportunity.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Watching from the NS in May the first half at times was a horrible watch, we were carved open imho from poor defending. Thankfully Antony, Martial and Rashford fluffed their lines.

Webster and Caicedo our right side defence on the night.

One thing appears clear imho ….. if you can, always play a proper RB.

Spot on. The playing of Veltman has made us so much stronger, and actually helps JPvH, as he talks to him a lot during games, and covers positionally.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Dunk has played left sided CB quite a bit, and is quite comfortable (and very competant) there. If JPVH and Dunk are better than Igor, they play - and Igor fills in when injuries, susension, or a need to be rested apply. Of course, we haven't seen much of Igor yet, but at the moment JPVH and Dunk are in possession, and he'll have to await his opportunity.

Ordinarily, yes.

But it doesn’t work like that, RdZ has everyone so well drilled it is a squad game, more than ever before. I don’t think the whole ‘shirt possession’ thing applies.

 

[GrossTurn]

But what we did has worked out perfectly as usual though? Colwill was very good for us last season and if you look at JPVH’s first performances, he really wasn’t ready - his passing was not up to the standard required and the players noticably didn’t pass to him. After a year working with RDZ, he is clearly ready now.

Plus we obviously wanted a left sided centre back with the bids for Colwill, interest in Matvienko and signing Igor so I don’t think JPVH was seen as a first choice alongside Dunk initially but his performances have kept him in the team now. I still think the long term ideal is to have a left sided CB alongside Dunk (hopefully Igor) with JPVH the alternative to Dunk when he’s injured/needs resting and longer term, the successor to him.

That’s pretty much how I see it. Some of the performances with Colwill slotting in at LCB last season (eg. 3-0 vs Liverpool) showed the balance a naturally left sided CB could bring in De Zerbi’s system. It was no surprise we spent the summer chasing a similar option.

It’s to Van Hecke’s credit that he’s stepped up sufficiently to show he’s the clear next best option at CB behind Dunk despite not being left footed. Some quality displays of pure defending combined with composure and bravery on the ball.

It’ll be interesting to see how things pan out with Igor seemingly not quite ready yet and Webster’s influence waning somewhat.

 

[GT49er]

Ordinarily, yes.

But it doesn’t work like that, RdZ has everyone so well drilled it is a squad game, more than ever before. I don’t think the whole ‘shirt possession’ thing applies.

Of course, but I think at the moment Igor will have to wait for an injury or suspension (or a League Cup match!)

 

[brighton_tom]

Absolutely loving JPVH's good form this season. In the Newcastle game at the end of last season he seemed lacking in confidence & the opposition players clearly saw this as a weak spot for us. They were letting him have the ball, waiting for a misplaced pass. Since then he's really taken up the challenge and seems so assured on the ball. He makes some great tackles, and is rarely out of position. In the summer window I felt like we needed another centre back, and another full back, but JPVH and Lamptey are proving there's no need so far.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Spot on. The playing of Veltman has made us so much stronger, and actually helps JPvH, as he talks to him a lot during games, and covers positionally.

As an aside, Veltman was superb again. He has a wonderful mix of ability, vision, technique, dark arts and professional respect for his opponent all carried with an innocent and cheeky smile. Alongside Gross, my favourite player. Man love