Full name: Gregory van der Wiel
Club: Ajax
Date of birth: 03/02/1988
Place of birth: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Height & Weight: 172 cm, 69 kg
Right-footed
U19, U21 International
IDEAL POSITION: Centre back
STRENGTHS:
Quick and with balanced body. Has a good tackling ability, however he still can improve in it. Great individual technique for his position, can give a neat ball exit from his poition. With criteria with the ball posession, also likes to go upwards with it so he can cause surprise to opponent team and break pressure lines. Good passing skills, both long and short, however sometimes risks or loses the ball because passes are too short. He places quite well inside the field, prefers to be free from mark and likes to anticipates the opponent striker when he is going to receive the ball, nevertheless sometimes he measures badly and arrives late. Intelligent to do tactical fouls when the rival is starting a counterattack. Always available to help teammates, especially attentive to coverages. Disciplined and with good attitude inside the pitch. Has personality and normally he doesn´t get complicated with the ball if the opponent is doing him an aggressive pressure. Good left foot use. Aggressive without the ball. Elegant with it. Good individual defence, but he needs to improve in this aspect aswell. I think he could also play as deffensive midfielder and right back.
WEAKNESSES:
Maybe he needs to gain more confidence and assume more offensive responsabilities attending to his individual quality. The aerial game is not one of his strengths, he isn´t too tall to play as a full back. Sometimes he hurries too much and loses his position. Other times he is excessively backwards in the pitch so the offside line isn´t in the right place. Needs to gain forcefullness and to become stronger. Also has to avoid the "concentration lapsus" that he shows sometimes. He doesn´t follow enough the opponent move other times. Needs to become more solid.
COMPARISON: Raúl Albiol
ADDITIONAL INFO:
- Is one of the most promising new guys from Ajax youth system along with Jan Vertonghen, Anita Vurnon, Siem de Jong or Geoffrey Castillion.
- In my opinion, despite Netherlands performance, he was one of the best defender at Toulon 2007. Also Lorenzo Davids and Wout Brama did interesting performance.
- His debut with Ajax was in season 2006/07, however is this one when he has more options to become a regular first team player. Has contract with the club until July 2011.
EVALUATION/POTENTIAL: 7,8/10
He has great characteristics and features to practice football, however he still needs to improve in many aspects of his game. Has potential to become a great aggressive and "organizer" centre back, however maybe his body isn´t the best to play in his position. I think he is going to become a very very good player, but I cannot assure it.
Written by Joan Peris, 13 September 2008. hoeman5beta@hotmail.com
Recommended links:
Description of van der Wiel at "Perlas del Fútbol" (Written in 08/06/2007, Spanish)
van der Wiel in Wikipedia
Pics: www.ajax.nl, www.daylife.com (Reuters)
