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Jermaine Vanenburg: artist

June 23rd, 2009 | By: Jan | 9 Comments »

Gerald Vanenburg was one of the first in a long line of artist football players. Circus acts, would be the criticism, mostly by people who’d break their angles if they tried to copy the trickery.

Van Basten, Van ‘t Schip, Seedorf, Leonardo, Robin van Persie, Richard Witschge…they can all do tricks with the best of them, but there is a place and time for everything and grass surfaces and eleven big boys chasing you for the ball is not the right spot to deploy your magic. Gerald Vanenburg knew that and learned it the hard way: he transformed from a playful creative artist into a hardworking midfielder, only using his skill when he needed to or when there was no alternative.

I’ll try to find some tubes on the debut of Vanenburg, Rijkaard and others to demonstrate their skills.

Anyway, in the street in Amsterdam, many kids wanted to be Vanenburg and one young player, Edgar Davids, would grow out to a technician-pur-sang. When Edje played for Ajax as a youngster, many top players from all over Europe would call upon the pitbull midfielder to ask how certain tricks were done. Through buddy Richard Witschge (playing for Bordeaux, with one ZiZou) Edje met with Zidane and became a well known name in insiders’ circles.

Long intro, I know. Jermaine Vanenburg is the nephew of Edgar Davids and carries the same surname of that other marvel. Jermaine wouldn’t make it on the field, but in the hall, there is no one better than him.

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Tags: Ajax, Davids, Group C, Jermaine Vanenburg, Schip, Van Basten, Vanenburg, Zidane

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Comments

By Tiju | June 23rd, 2009 at 11:16 pm

@jan great workman.happy to see this old trickery man.

Posted from India

By Jeroen | June 24th, 2009 at 5:39 am

Met him a couple of years ago when I was organizing a tournament and he was the half-time show with some of his buddies (he’s a friend of a friend of mine). That friend of mine is similar on style, albeit not as good as this guy, but in the beginning you’re completely befuddled. After a while though, you see through it and you become much better defensively . Pretty amazing though, there’s no way I can move the ball so fast and so precisely.

Posted from Netherlands

By Alex | June 24th, 2009 at 7:18 am

good technique, but indeed, he wouldn’t cut it on field doing that for 90 minutes. I’m pretty good at this myself, the trick is to confuse you’re opponents, faking shots, move the ball alot and pretend to go left when you’re going right. Opponents will almost always take the bait, and when your opponent is finally on the wrong foot or practicaly standing still in the hall, it’s a lot harder for him to recover than on a grass field.
BTW good to hear that Drenthe is loaned to Fiorentina with a clause to buy him for 12 million euros. That’s one out at Madrid, and i don’t expect him to return.
BTW Celtic’s Glen Loovens, who ended the season with a regular spot and with good performances had some interest from PL side Birmingham, but Celtic refused and stated Loovens is firmly in their plans. Good news to hear he ended the season well for Celtic.

Posted from Netherlands

By Alex | June 24th, 2009 at 7:20 am

I think someone already said that about Loovens, but no matter.

Posted from Netherlands

By Alex | June 24th, 2009 at 7:46 am

So there’s still “hope” for us in defence for the WC with Zuiverloon hopefully finding a good club on a decent level, Bouma, Vlaar, Luirink hopefully recovering and back on their old levels, Heitinga and Boulahrouz and Loovens hopefully retaining their spots at Atletico, Stuttgart and Celtic, Mathijsen hopefully staying decent, Braafheid hopefully playing a lot for Bayern, V.d.Wiel and Marcellis hopefully developing further, and Maduro hopefully establishing himself ass “the main defender” of Valencia(almost hoping for Albiol to join Madrid). But for now, I’m mainly hoping, as you can see.

BTW LB/CB Patrick van Aanholt(18) and CB/CDM Jeffrey Bruma(17) will be getting some chances of training with Chelsea selection, and on that basis, the new coach will decide whether or not to loan them out for experience.

Posted from Netherlands

By Alex | June 24th, 2009 at 7:54 am

Apparently Ashley Cole spends quite a lot of time with V.Aanholt, helping him improve with things as one-on-one defending, that can’t be bad.
Still, i think PSV or Ajax should make a move to loan him for one or two seasons, he speaks dutch, is tall, and strong and multifunctional.
Marcellis could benefite from playing RB for some time, and Ajax could use some reinforcements in the back.
V.Aanholt-Pieters/Salcido/Ooijer-Marcellis
V.Aanholt-Verthongen-Oleguer-V.d.Wiel

Posted from Netherlands

By sonneveld | June 24th, 2009 at 8:52 am

mancity has bought gareth barry so de jongs place in the team may be threatened. luckily we have cover and i still expect him to start.

By Jan | June 24th, 2009 at 9:09 am

I think Wielaert will play CB at Ajax and Oleguer is allowed to leave.

By Caleb | June 24th, 2009 at 9:28 am

Impressive skills and such quick feet! In the end, in a real game, I’d rather have a player with an excellent eye for a pass than someone who can do all different kinds of tricks, but still impressive none the less.

Posted from Canada