Kevin Strootman

[itisrising]

22 years old and already a regular with Holland. Displaced Nigel in the first team. Baconface is said to be scouting him ad could be a cheaper alternative to Javi Martinez. Has 9 assists from central midfield and will be in Holland's first team for years to come.

 

[El Mago Silva]

Thank you for mentioning Strootman. City were linked with him in the fall, but the focus seems to have shifted to Javi.

Anyway, I think Strootman is well worth a look. Not sure if he is available, though, since this is only his first season with PSV.

More of a deep-lying playmaker than Javi, so he would fill that role in addition to simply being an upgrade over Barry/DJ. Check out the video:
http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=/&gl=US#/watch?v=w1UVxLuNcLc

 

[Dax777]

Thank you for mentioning Strootman. City were linked with him in the fall, but the focus seems to have shifted to Javi.

Anyway, I think Strootman is well worth a look. Not sure if he is available, though, since this is only his first season with PSV.

More of a deep-lying playmaker than Javi, so he would fill that role in addition to simply being an upgrade over Barry/DJ. Check out the video:
http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=/&gl=US#/watch?v=w1UVxLuNcLc

I think he is more likely than Javi Martinez. I think it is more the case that CIty fans are into Javi Martinez than it is that City management is. Martinez has not done much to warrant the kind of attention he is getting on BM. He has played predominantly as a defender this season, and thus I don't think his stock has risen as much as most think. He is just so similar to Yaya, that he has lots of city fans mouths watering. But based on news connection, I don't think he is being as scouted or sort after by our front office or manage as reported.

Strootman on the other hand was, and he has gotten better this season. A little inconsistent, But when he is on, he has looked majestic. Dutch fans here think he needs one or 2 more years of seasoning, but I think he is more likely i to be a City prospect than Javi Martinez.

 

[LoveCity]

I think he is more likely than Javi Martinez. I think it is more the case that CIty fans are into Javi Martinez than it is that City management is.

What makes you say this? We've had our scouts watch Martinez 7 times (maybe more now) this season, the interest is very strong in him and we're persistently linked with him.

 

[Dax777]

I think he is more likely than Javi Martinez. I think it is more the case that CIty fans are into Javi Martinez than it is that City management is.

What makes you say this? We've had our scouts watch Martinez 7 times (maybe more now) this season, the interest is very strong in him and we're persistently linked with him.

We have had scouts watch Bilbao, not Martinez. BM fans have made the assumption it is Martinez we were watching. But seeing as Winger has been the consistent weak link talked about. links to Lavezzi and Hazzard suggests it is highly likely that it was either Muniain or De Marcos that we were scouting at Bilbao and not Martinez.

 

[Mad 4 It]

Martinez has the edge due to his versatility. When Kompany and/or Lescott are out we just don't have the quality at the back we need to sustain/maintain are push for glory on all fronts.<br /><br />-- Sat Apr 07, 2012 3:46 pm --<br /><br />

I think he is more likely than Javi Martinez. I think it is more the case that CIty fans are into Javi Martinez than it is that City management is.

What makes you say this? We've had our scouts watch Martinez 7 times (maybe more now) this season, the interest is very strong in him and we're persistently linked with him.

We have had scouts watch Bilbao, not Martinez. BM fans have made the assumption it is Martinez we were watching. But seeing as Winger has been the consistent weak link talked about. links to Lavezzi and Hazzard suggests it is highly likely that it was either Muniain or De Marcos that we were scouting at Bilbao and not Martinez.

That certainly could be the case but I doubt it for one simply reason "De Rossi" and our failure to land him. Martinez is the backup aquisition, that's for sure.

 

[Dax777]

Martinez has the edge due to his versatility. When Kompany and/or Lescott are out we just don't have the quality at the back we need to sustain/maintain are push for glory on all fronts.

-- Sat Apr 07, 2012 3:46 pm --

What makes you say this? We've had our scouts watch Martinez 7 times (maybe more now) this season, the interest is very strong in him and we're persistently linked with him.

We have had scouts watch Bilbao, not Martinez. BM fans have made the assumption it is Martinez we were watching. But seeing as Winger has been the consistent weak link talked about. links to Lavezzi and Hazzard suggests it is highly likely that it was either Muniain or De Marcos that we were scouting at Bilbao and not Martinez.

That certainly could be the case but I doubt it for one simply reason "De Rossi" and our failure to land him. Martinez is the backup aquisition, that's for sure.

I agree about De Rossi. But that seemed so much like a Mancini want. He knew his quality and wanted him specifically. Martinez on the other hand, has barely played CM this year. So I doubt Mancini went from considering a top 3 CM in the world as his first choice, to a converted young CD. It doesn't seem logical. It would be something else if Martinez was lighting up the Spanish league and laying a claim to being one of the best CMs in the league. He isn't.

Frankly as a CM in La Liga, you probably have to consider

Xavi, Alonso. Busquet, Toulanlan, Gabi, Soriano, Valero, Benat and Verdu as players currently playing superior CM football in Spain.

I am also not certain the Bielsa rates him as a CM. At first many have claimed he was deployed as a CD because of injury to the position. But that is not really the case. I think Bielsa just rates him more as a CD. They have San Jose, Ekiza and Amorebieta who are all central defenders, yet Martinez is started there. And an average Itturaspe starts at CM.

This is kinda like how we played Kompany at CD last year, even though most of the world viewed him as a DM since joining us. Martinez is not playing CD because of need. He is playing CD because that might just be his best position.

 

[stavros]

Martinez has the edge due to his versatility. When Kompany and/or Lescott are out we just don't have the quality at the back we need to sustain/maintain are push for glory on all fronts.

-- Sat Apr 07, 2012 3:46 pm --

We have had scouts watch Bilbao, not Martinez. BM fans have made the assumption it is Martinez we were watching. But seeing as Winger has been the consistent weak link talked about. links to Lavezzi and Hazzard suggests it is highly likely that it was either Muniain or De Marcos that we were scouting at Bilbao and not Martinez.

That certainly could be the case but I doubt it for one simply reason "De Rossi" and our failure to land him. Martinez is the backup aquisition, that's for sure.

I agree about De Rossi. But that seemed so much like a Mancini want. He knew his quality and wanted him specifically. Martinez on the other hand, has barely played CM this year. So I doubt Mancini went from considering a top 3 CM in the world as his first choice, to a converted young CD. It doesn't seem logical. It would be something else if Martinez was lighting up the Spanish league and laying a claim to being one of the best CMs in the league. He isn't.

Frankly as a CM in La Liga, you probably have to consider

Xavi, Alonso. Busquet, Toulanlan, Gabi, Soriano, Valero, Benat and Verdu as players currently playing superior CM football in Spain.

I am also not certain the Bielsa rates him as a CM. At first many have claimed he was deployed as a CD because of injury to the position. But that is not really the case. I think Bielsa just rates him more as a CD. They have San Jose, Ekiza and Amorebieta who are all central defenders, yet Martinez is started there. And an average Itturaspe starts at CM.

This is kinda like how we played Kompany at CD last year, even though most of the world viewed him as a DM since joining us. Martinez is not playing CD because of need. He is playing CD because that might just be his best position.

hes played centre back most of the year.

but he looked quality in centre mid against schalke the other day.

great touch great vision, and great football brain

 

[Dax777]

Martinez has the edge due to his versatility. When Kompany and/or Lescott are out we just don't have the quality at the back we need to sustain/maintain are push for glory on all fronts.

-- Sat Apr 07, 2012 3:46 pm --



That certainly could be the case but I doubt it for one simply reason "De Rossi" and our failure to land him. Martinez is the backup aquisition, that's for sure.

I agree about De Rossi. But that seemed so much like a Mancini want. He knew his quality and wanted him specifically. Martinez on the other hand, has barely played CM this year. So I doubt Mancini went from considering a top 3 CM in the world as his first choice, to a converted young CD. It doesn't seem logical. It would be something else if Martinez was lighting up the Spanish league and laying a claim to being one of the best CMs in the league. He isn't.

Frankly as a CM in La Liga, you probably have to consider

Xavi, Alonso. Busquet, Toulanlan, Gabi, Soriano, Valero, Benat and Verdu as players currently playing superior CM football in Spain.

I am also not certain the Bielsa rates him as a CM. At first many have claimed he was deployed as a CD because of injury to the position. But that is not really the case. I think Bielsa just rates him more as a CD. They have San Jose, Ekiza and Amorebieta who are all central defenders, yet Martinez is started there. And an average Itturaspe starts at CM.

This is kinda like how we played Kompany at CD last year, even though most of the world viewed him as a DM since joining us. Martinez is not playing CD because of need. He is playing CD because that might just be his best position.

hes played centre back most of the year.

but he looked quality in centre mid against schalke the other day.

great touch great vision, and great football brain

I agree. Reminiscent of a mix between Pique and Busquet.

 

[itisrising]

He is obviously good enough for us if he is the one to dethrone De Jong from his position.

 

[Dax777]

He is obviously good enough for us if he is the one to dethrone De Jong from his position.

He is very talented. But has been inconsistent and this is his first year at PSV. But it seems the talent is so obvious that every time I watch them, there is always talk (by the commentators) of him leaving.

So he must be really hot property. I can see Wenger getting him as one of the replacement for the aging trio of Arteta, Rosisky and Benayoun.