Afellay: Messi applauded my goal…

February 14th, 2011 | by: Jan |

ibi1

Ibi Afellay was back in Endhoven for the friendly against Austria and he was there as a starter ( he got Van Marwijk’s confidence when Robben got injured) and became a Barcelona player as well.

Bert van Marwijk compared Afellay with Zidane, a bit, when he said: “Every creative player wants to be the “10″… We have Sneijder, Rafael, Van Persie already while De Zeeuw plays there for Ajax sometimes. Afellay can play there too, but like Zidane, he could also play coming from the left. A number 10 normally plays with his back to the goal, while Afellay is better with his face to the goal, because of his speed. Coming from the left, he can dribble, give and go, play the cross….”

Van Marwijk is convinced Afellay will do well with Barcelona and therefore with Oranje. “In today’s football, you can be among the best but not play every match. I think we at Oranje have tremendous players who don’t find themselves as starters all the time. Players like Elia, Afellay and Huntelaar would make it in the starting line up of many other countries…. At Barcelona, Ibi will experience the same thing. But he’ll do well there.”

Afellay himself looks up in wonder and says: “You know what? I scored my first goal for Barcelona and I look up and what do I see? Messi is applauding me…. Can you imagine what that means? Do you think I’m interested in any other critics, hahaha…?”

At Camp Nou, Ibi is reminded at the Dutch past in Barcelona daily. “In the dressing room, there’s signs on the wall of all players’ names who sat on a certain spot. And there’s heaps of Dutch ones of course. My seat was used by Ronald de Boer in the past.”

Afellay still walks around in amazement after his dream transfer. “The most remarkable thing is how normal all the lads are. Messi, Xavi, Iniesta you name them. Superstars for the fans but they treat one another as neighbourhood friends. And that is the basis of the success. If you can’t act in that way, you don’t make it here I guess.”

Afellay signed for 4.5 years in Spain. He calls the second half of this season a bonus season, to get used to the sensational level Barcelona plays at. “Some people say that I don’t get to play, but I have played more than I expected. I’m satisfied, I scored my first goal and if Messi applauds you, what else is there to want, really? And trust me, coming on as a sub here to play 10 minutes is not the same ten minutes as coming on in the Eredivisie. The level here is so high…”

And he tells us more about his wonderful world. “The lads complain about the bad pitch. And I look around and say “bad”??? And they still play great football on that pitch… Really, every day is a joy.”

Former Ajax, Juventus and Oranje star Edgar Davids was in Barcelona last week and visited the team he joined for half a season under Rijkaard.

He only played 18 competition games but the Amsterdam born midfielder will never forget that time. “It was tremendous. Short but sweet. I highly appreciated the opportunity to play here and to serve the club.”

Davids feels Afellay should be impatient. “Ibi should take time to get into the groove here. It will take some time and he will need to adjust to the Catalonian mentality but than he will succeed.”

Davids quickly said hello to Guardiola. “I visited mates, like Michael Reiziger and I had a meeting with the board of my fashion-design business and then I met with Pep and looked around at training. I love learning new stuff.”

ibi2

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By gooranje | February 19th, 2011 at 12:28 pm

New interview on Eric Cantona, there he expressed how much respect he has for Cruyff, his role model since childhood:
http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/6134877/eric-cantona-sits-david-hirshey-talk-cosmos-all-things-football

Posted from Canada

By Harold | February 19th, 2011 at 3:03 pm

MOTM Performance by Robben today.

Posted from Kuwait

By fares | February 19th, 2011 at 3:35 pm

Arjen Robben

9.0

The Dutchman was in brilliant form tonight. He was a constant terror to the Mainz backline and his passing was immense. Deserved a goal for his hard work.

(goal.com)

By Nad | February 19th, 2011 at 8:20 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy7EbB6fNWU

van persie vs barcelona

By Oranje_Crush | February 20th, 2011 at 2:44 am

can’t wait for the inter-bayern match. Guys, who will take it?

By Harold | February 20th, 2011 at 3:45 am

Obviously Bayern…. Both teams have suspect defences but Bayerns attacking options outweigh inters attacking options. That being said Sneijder may run amok like he did against Chelsea and Eto will be the beneficiary. That being said Bayern will be too strong. I am going to bet alot on them

By fares | February 20th, 2011 at 7:11 am

i am starting to wonder whether luc castaignos will be selected for the next games of oranje

By susanne | February 20th, 2011 at 7:27 am

What a goal eh Fares? Beautiful

Posted from Netherlands

By Alex | February 20th, 2011 at 8:19 am

Uhu, two beautiful goals Damn. Well I always said he was really talented, ever since I saw him in the U-17 EC.. I was shocked when i heard Rene v.d.Gijp say, Castaignos wasnt much… Well, looks like its finally showing through a bit, his real talent.

Posted from Netherlands

By Wissam | February 20th, 2011 at 10:07 am

Bayern-Inter:

Inter have not been very convincing of late. Bayern on the other side have been very strong and are scoring fluently. I’d say Robben would score a wonder goal as well.

Posted from United States

By Jan | February 20th, 2011 at 4:16 pm

Thanks for keeping this going guys. I will be back soon!

By Carlos | February 20th, 2011 at 7:07 pm

Who is this “Jan” guy ???

Posted from Singapore

By Carlos | February 20th, 2011 at 7:15 pm

Luc Castaignos goals;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8tyQOA5VbA

Posted from Singapore

By jake | February 20th, 2011 at 7:23 pm

nice clip carlos,
it looks he’s next big thing, we should get him in orange sooner better.

Posted from Australia

By Alex | February 20th, 2011 at 7:59 pm

To stur things up, long time since i talked about it, but DEFENDERS. Since some people were talking about CB’s. Ill give my two cents on the current youth just under the radar and such. Obviously, im quite charmed by 19 year old Stefan de Vrij at CB, though Feyenoord let in some unnecessary goals, he doesnt do bad at all, SO FAR.
Also PSV’s Maikel Verkoelen keeps impressing me in the PSV youth, strong, tall defender, local from Helmond( Near Eindhoven) and yet to turn 19. IMO should be getting a lot more chances looking at that knucklehead Brazilian Marcelo and the weird mexican Maza.
Could be a real good defender.

Then, Bruno Martins Indi, but he needs time and regular playing time somewhere. Same with Bart Schenkeveld, also from Feyenoord, who suffered serious injuries.

So. De Vrij, Verkoelen are my top bets and with some first team experience Martins Indi, Schenkeveld, Ismo Vorstermans and Excelsior’s Kaj Ramsteijn are my top outsiders.

Rest of my scouting tips.

Feyenoord: LB-Mats van Huijgevoort, CB-Terence Kongolo, Moreno Rutten, Karim Rekik
Ajax, CB-Stefano Denswil, Fabian Sporkslede, LB – Mitchell Dijks, Dico Koppers
Sparta: LWB- Jetro Willems

Wildcard Ryan Donk, seems to be slowly improving his consistency at Club Brugge, some supporters changing their mind about him, hes getting older though and if he doesnt get to impressing soon and make a move to a bigger club, i dont see him ever doing so…

Posted from Netherlands

By Alex | February 20th, 2011 at 8:02 pm

Of course, needless to say V.Aanholt and Bruma top all of these for me… as I am a huge fan of both. But everyone already knows about them

Posted from Netherlands

By Miguel Rosado | February 21st, 2011 at 1:50 am

A crazy XI!!!

—————-Stekelenburg—————–

—-Heitinga—–Mathijsen—Pieters———

———–V.Bommel——-Afellay—————

—–Robben——-Sneijder——-Kuyt———

———-V.Persie——Huntelaar————-

*Afellay and Mark building up from the back with Afellay going up everytime he wants.
*2 center forwards!!!.

By Carlos | February 21st, 2011 at 2:22 am

Miguel !!! You said it – CRAZY

Posted from Singapore

By OranjeAussie | February 21st, 2011 at 4:20 am

How’s this for breaking transfer news..

Liverpool are interested in Dutch midfielder Ibrahim Afellay (24) and could sign him in June for around 10-11 million Euros.

This is not a good idea at all I hope it doesn’t happen.. Like huntelaar who just starts moving around every six months. Maybe this was barca’s plan for a short term profit.

Posted from Australia

By OranjeAussie | February 21st, 2011 at 4:27 am

another afellay article on his reason for transfer..

http://www.footballtransfertavern.com/2011/02/premiership/dalglish-will-beat-wenger-to-rejuvenate-barcas-e9m-odd-man-out

Posted from Australia

By goose | February 21st, 2011 at 5:06 am

not because im a Den Haag fan but this first goal by Castaignos was a lucky goal.. if you look at the goal (and his face) you can see that he is aiming for the second post (but his first touch was good)

Posted from Netherlands

By Alex | February 21st, 2011 at 5:28 am

He said himself he intentionally aimed the lob at goal.. he might have seen Wijnaldum, doesnt mean he didnt hope it would go in on its on and try anyways.

Posted from Netherlands

By Carlos | February 21st, 2011 at 5:47 am

I think he was trying to set up Wynaldum, but who cares this happens in football all the time – Ronaldhino against Seaman at WC 2002 – meant to cross the ball !

Posted from Singapore

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Posted from Australia

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