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Has played the whole game in PSV's CL qualifier against Zulte Waregem (2-0 to PSV, 83 minutes played). He hasn't been tested all too much, but looks very composed as a central defender in a very young PSV team. Judging by tonight I think he will do very well in the Dutch league.

Sounds promising. could be a big season for him

Indeed!

I generally don't think the Dutch league is a good litmus test for central defenders, but he has to be a success here to even be considered being good enough for us.

Didn't Samaras do very well in the Dutch league?

Scatman wrote:Didn't Samaras do very well in the Dutch league?

And Afonso "7-goals in a game" Alves.

dutch league = championship level apart from a couple of clubs!! although i hope rekik gains the experience and gets a chance in our senior squad

We should recall him if we can from his loan because Nasty is injured and we may need him as back up

Burt wrote:We should recall him if we can from his loan because Nasty is injured and we may need him as back up

We can't.

mr_nool wrote:

Scatman wrote:Didn't Samaras do very well in the Dutch league?

And Afonso "7-goals in a game" Alves.

that is bull shit no? impossible to score 7 in one game. impossible.

Nigels Tackle wrote:

mr_nool wrote:

Scatman wrote:Didn't Samaras do very well in the Dutch league?

And Afonso "7-goals in a game" Alves.

that is bull shit no? impossible to score 7 in one game. impossible.

Yep. also, pics or it didn't happen!

Slim wrote:

Burt wrote:We should recall him if we can from his loan because Nasty is injured and we may need him as back up

We can't.

He isn't good enough even if we could.

But he is starting to show some of the aggressive defending which impressed me when he first signed. He looked miles stronger than Savic two years ago but has looked comparitively weak since. As a relative shortarse in comparison, he will have to be exceptionally strong & aggressive in his defending if he wants to play centre back in the Prem.

Ted Hughes wrote:

Slim wrote:

Burt wrote:We should recall him if we can from his loan because Nasty is injured and we may need him as back up

We can't.

He isn't good enough even if we could.

But he is starting to show some of the aggressive defending which impressed me when he first signed. He looked miles stronger than Savic two years ago but has looked comparitively weak since. As a relative shortarse in comparison, he will have to be exceptionally strong & aggressive in his defending if he wants to play centre back in the Prem.

I seem to remember a shortish centrehalf playing very well for an entire season alongside Richard Dunne, strong and aggressive, jumps like a salmon. Wonder if he'd be up for a move to the middle.

Slim wrote:

Ted Hughes wrote:

Slim wrote:

Burt wrote:We should recall him if we can from his loan because Nasty is injured and we may need him as back up

We can't.

He isn't good enough even if we could.

But he is starting to show some of the aggressive defending which impressed me when he first signed. He looked miles stronger than Savic two years ago but has looked comparitively weak since. As a relative shortarse in comparison, he will have to be exceptionally strong & aggressive in his defending if he wants to play centre back in the Prem.

I seem to remember a shortish centrehalf playing very well for an entire season alongside Richard Dunne, strong and aggressive, jumps like a salmon. Wonder if he'd be up for a move to the middle.

Exactly.

When people talk about 'potential' in players such as Nastasic, I wonder how it stacks up compared to Micah completely having Henry in his fucking pocket at a young age. Doing him for pace etc. Then he jumps a foot higher, is harder, better at tackling than Nastasic but has hardly played a game at centre back in years. He even thinks himself that he is better at centre back.

If we are talking potential centre backs, why don't we re-educate Micah to play there ? If he drops a bollock, give him the same leeway as Nastasic, & see who gets the job in the end. Maybe both would end up playing together in a couple of years ?

I mentioned yesterday that the PSV team was very young, I didn't really realise how young, though. The average age of the starting 11 was 21.5. All the players (including the ones who came on as subs) are Dutch. Quite impressive!

mr_nool wrote:I mentioned yesterday that the PSV team was very young, I didn't really realise how young, though. The average age of the starting 11 was 21.5. All the players (including the ones who came on as subs) are Dutch. Quite impressive!

I think I'll try and watch some Dutch footie when I get the chance this season. I'd quite like to see how he gets on.

Ted Hughes wrote:He isn't good enough even if we could.

But he is starting to show some of the aggressive defending which impressed me when he first signed. He looked miles stronger than Savic two years ago but has looked comparitively weak since. As a relative shortarse in comparison, he will have to be exceptionally strong & aggressive in his defending if he wants to play centre back in the Prem.

You said this last season too. But admit it, besides the game he featured in late April/early May, when have you seen him play for the past year?? If I'm not mistaken, he barely played while out on loan for a good part of last season as well.

I know you already have the narrative worked out that he was great - then shit - now building back to great, but I question how much of that is based in reality vs. being based on your inflated expectation of him. Seeing him play once in a year after not playing regularly for the past 9 months is not a proper judge of his ability.

Writing him off would be ridiculous.

Rekik has just been called up to the dutch senior national team.

The kid is looking the business and now breaking through at all levels. I'd expect him to be in our squad next season.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/462/netherl ... /4202447/-?

All he lacks is experience, and he is ideally situated to gain it this season. I hope PSV can manage a result in their second leg European match because it will do him the world of good.

He played the full game last night against Milan. Tangled with Balo a couple of times. Seemed confident and didn't make any silly mistakes.