18 Yard Box has a look at Netherland's new found talent- Kevin Strootman
The footballing fraternity usually does not give much credit to those midfielders who are given the job of doing the dirty work. Thats maybe because putting in crunching tackles is not as awe inspiring as scoring goals. However, here we have a young Dutchman who has got it all. He was one of the top performers of the recently concluded U-21 Euro Championships and many top clubs are already hovering over him, seeking his signature this summer. The man we are talking about is none other than Kevin Strootman.
TrulyShare
18 Yard Box’s Pranav Byatnal gives you an insight over this upcoming Dutch midfielder.
Kevin Strootman- Netherland's new hope
Over the past few years the Dutch have produced an array of attacking talent. The likes of Wesley Sneijder, Robin Van Persie, Klaas Huntelaar and Arjen Robben are few examples of Netherlands factory of talent. However, besides Nigel de Jong they have been found wanting for a midfielder who could break the opposition play and cut open their defence at the same time. Kevin Strootman fits the bill perfectly. At an age of 23, Strootman possess the maturity required at the international level.
And before he steps into the big league let us get to know more about him.
Early Days
Kevin Strootman began his playing career at Dutch club VV Rijsoord in 2007/08 before making a move to Sparta Rotterdam. At Rotterdam, Strootman made 72 appearances in 3 years for the club having netted 8 times in that period. Then he moved to FC Utrecht and he impressed one and all with his tally of 7 goals and 10 assists in just half a season which he spent at the club. He caught the eye of PSV Eindovhen in the following season . PSV snapped up the budding midfielder along with fellow Utrecht team-mate Dries Mertens and from June 2011 till present day, Strootman has been plying his trade for the Eredivise giants. A total of 6 goals and 10 assists this campaign, looks impressive for a defensive midfielder. However, having racked up 42 Yellow cards and a Red card in his 2 seasons at PSV, his disciplinary record is not one to boast about.
 |
| The duo were scouted by PSV together |
A Born Leader
Having been a regular for the national side in the recent past, and also having successfully led his team to the semis at the recent U-21 Euro Champonships, Strootman is one such player who can be a leader on he field. He is just 23, but he displays tremendous composure as a captain & stamps his authority as a player and a leader. He is a player who leads by example both on and off pitch.
 |
| Wearing the amrband was natural for him |
Style of Play
Strootman’s strength lies in his physical stature. He is tall, he is strong and he is talented. His 6’1” frame and strength are enough to bully the opposition off the ball. Kevin Strootman does not belong to that category of skilful, beautiful playmakers who will deceive the opposition with his skill-set and make beautiful passes which are pleasing to the eye. Instead, he belongs to that rare, dying breed of midfielders who love to pass the ball, power their way through the defences, make the runs off the ball and run at the opposition to regain possession at every occasion. What this lad can also boast of is his powerful left-foot which when unleashed is quite lethal. What doesn’t make him a typical box-to-box player is his lack of pace, which by far seems to be his only limitation. But given his talent in other aspects of playmaking, this player ticks all the boxes required to be a good midfielder.
 |
| Strootman vies for the ball with Marco Verratti |
Weakness
Strootman's weakness lies in his hasty nature. Accused of releasing a pass sometimes too early, Strootman needs to be more aware of the situation. Another aspect of the game he needs to work on is his shooting abilities. In 1 on 1 situations, Strootman usually lacks the composure of finding the back of the net. Though his long range shots are a treat to watch, his finishing needs to be worked upon.
The Final Verdict
Being a defensive midfielder, Strootman's only concern should be breaking play and giving the ball to the more 'creative' members to launch an attack. However, Strootman's abilities to take charge of the ball and create chances is what differentiates him from a normal defensive minded midfielder. Will he make the cut in the Premier League? The future of this 23-year old is a topic which interests one and all. For a player of his ability and guile, he seems to be a fit for any team across Europe. It remains to be seen where his next stop is, however, England seems to be his preferred destination. Given the speed at which it is played and the physical nature of the League, the Premier League isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. 18YB wishes Kevin Strootman a successful career.
Click on the video to check out this new Dutch sensation.
Written By,
Pranav Byatnal and Rishabh Ghai
Pranav is a Writer for 18 Yard Box.
Rishabh is a writer for Goal.com India, International, contributor for AIS and a writer and editor for 18 Yard Box.
Follow Pranav Byatnal on Twitter
Follow Rishabh Ghai on Twitter
No comments:
Post a Comment