Ealbss: Newcastle have hit jackpot with Wijnaldum capture

Saturday, July 11, 2015

Newcastle have hit jackpot with Wijnaldum capture

Newcastle United’s scattergun transfer policy of recent years has been nothing short of a disaster but the signing of Georginio Wijnaldum offers hope that the club’s planned summer overhaul has got off to the best possible start.

While the Eredivisie’s talent drain continues apace Wijnaldum’s move, hot on the heels of his former PSV team-mate Memphis Depay’s switch to Old Trafford, could yet represent one of the best deals of the summer.

Newcastle’s record when it comes to recruiting from Holland has been largely unsuccessful in the past.

In the late 1990s, Jon Dahl Tomasson endured a miserable spell with Newcastle after previously shining with Heerenveen, while more recently Vurnon Anita and Siem de Jong haven’t exactly set the Premier League alight.

"In Wijnaldum it looks like Newcastle are to sign another player people have hardly ever heard of," former Newcastle midfielder Rob Lee recently said about the imminent arrival of the Netherlands international.

"This has unfortunately become the Newcastle way of late. They seem keen to buy players from Europe with no Premier League experience in the hope they can make money selling them on later.

"Well it’s a gamble that isn't working and hasn’t worked for a long time. What Newcastle need are three or four top quality players who have already proven they can play in the Premier League."

Contrary to Lee's beliefs, however, Wijnaldum is anyhing but "a player nobody has ever heard of".

The 24-year-old made his senior debut for Feyenoord at the tender age of 16 and has since developed into one of the finest players currently plying their trade in the Eredivisie. Not only has he made close to 300 senior appearances at senior level for big clubs like Feyenoord and PSV, captaining the latter to title-winning glory last term as they smashed a number of records, but he has also been capped 20 times by the Netherlands.

Admittedly, the current generation of Dutch players might not be on the same level as some of the illustrious sides of the past, but the fact remains that they made it to the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup - and Wijnaldum was an integral part of that side.

The Rotterdammer is nothing like the naive youngster he was when breaking into the first team at Feyenoord some eight years ago, but has developed from a exuberant midfielder into a mature player willing to take responsibility, particularly during difficult moments - a trait recognised by current Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal during last summer's World Cup.

"Wijnaldum used to play on the right wing, but is playing in midfield now. I really like players like him. He has really surprised me," commented Van Gaal.

Last season, Depay might have been the one grabbing most of the attention as PSV cruised to the Eredivisie title, but Wijnaldum’s contribution was equally important. He netted 14 goals, created over one chance per match for the Eindhoven side, while his passing accuracy of 84.45 per cent illustrates that he hardly ever lost possession despite his willingness to create opportunities, rather than take the safe option.

That's not to say Wijnaldum will be a guaranteed success at Newcastle.

Much will depend on how manager Steve McClaren decides to use his newest asset. He is at his best either as an attacking midfielder or in a slightly more withdrawn role as right midfielder with the freedom to roam around the pitch and go in search of the ball.

Were the former England manager to deploy Wijnaldum as an out and out right-winger, hugging the touchline, he would be wasted. Finding the right balance will be McClaren's biggest challenge with the Dutchman - and a similarly difficult task awaits with the rest of his squad.