@owlstalk Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Joost Van Aken has spoken out about a frustrating time at Sheffield Wednesday: “It was tough mentally keeping myself going. It is not nice when you are not playing. As a footballer, you want to play. “I know I have to improve a few things so I’m working hard in training every day to get better. “Of course, I want to play every game but I understood the decision of the manager. “It was just a case of making sure I was ready when he needed me.” Van Aken described losing his place in the Owls team as a “different experience”. The Haarlem-born player was a first-team regular at Heerenveen, making 26 appearances for the top-flight Dutch outfit in their mid-table finish last term. “It was a little bit strange,” he conceded. “I’m not used to sitting on the bench. “When I was fit in Holland, I, luckily, played all the games. “It was a different experience being on the bench but I’m still a young player and I have to improve.” Van Aken is hungry to learn, listen and get better. While he was on the bench, he meticulously studied Loovens and Lees in an attempt to improve his own game. Van Aken said: “Glenn and Tom have a lot of experience so when they are playing I try to watch them to learn what they are doing. They are clever players. When I was on the bench during a game, I watched them specifically to learn from them. “Both players try to help me and I listen to them. “I think I can learn from them both with the way they play and the experience they have.” Owlstalk Shop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post alanharper Posted December 7, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted December 7, 2017 "I have to improve a few things" Yes, like your defending. 1 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozzieowl Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 bloomin eck doesnt want to be copying them two this season 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveger Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 still reckon he will turn into a really good defender as he was in Holland, he's young enough, fingers crossed 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post vulva Posted December 7, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted December 7, 2017 He wants to think himself lucky. Half the players we sign don't get that far. 2 1 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest everydays_wednesday Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 He better get used to it and buy a nice soft cushion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pazowl55 Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 I think there is a good defender in him. Just needs to concentrate a bit more, makes so many errors. Both goals his fault on sat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hookowl Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Just now, pazowl55 said: I think there is a good defender in him. Just needs to concentrate a bit more, makes so many errors. Both goals his fault on sat. Agreed, too many silly mistakes at present but he has potential Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Starling Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 41 minutes ago, @owlstalk said: Joost Van Aken has spoken out about a frustrating time at Sheffield Wednesday: “It was tough mentally keeping myself going. It is not nice when you are not playing. As a footballer, you want to play. “I know I have to improve a few things so I’m working hard in training every day to get better. “Of course, I want to play every game but I understood the decision of the manager. “It was just a case of making sure I was ready when he needed me.” Van Aken described losing his place in the Owls team as a “different experience”. The Haarlem-born player was a first-team regular at Heerenveen, making 26 appearances for the top-flight Dutch outfit in their mid-table finish last term. “It was a little bit strange,” he conceded. “I’m not used to sitting on the bench. “When I was fit in Holland, I, luckily, played all the games. “It was a different experience being on the bench but I’m still a young player and I have to improve.” Van Aken is hungry to learn, listen and get better. While he was on the bench, he meticulously studied Loovens and Lees in an attempt to improve his own game. Van Aken said: “Glenn and Tom have a lot of experience so when they are playing I try to watch them to learn what they are doing. They are clever players. When I was on the bench during a game, I watched them specifically to learn from them. “Both players try to help me and I listen to them. “I think I can learn from them both with the way they play and the experience they have.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr. benway Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 55 minutes ago, @owlstalk said: The Haarlem-born player was a first-team regular at Heerenveen, making 26 appearances for the top-flight Dutch outfit in their mid-table finish last term. I'm now secretly hoping he turns out to be rubbish so I can successfully use the phrase "Haarlem Shuffle" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owl999 Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Stop trying to ping diagonal balls into the channels that aren’t hitting there mark and learn to defend properly and you might not be on the bench so much . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelcityowlsfan Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 When he looks down on the bench it reads "Urby was here" 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobbieOwler Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 I reckon he'll come good, defenders generally take time to settle in to a new squad. He might make silly mistakes but you can tell a quality ball playing defender is there, maybe he'll play better in a 3-5-2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gypsyowl Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 I'm not writing him off as his long range passing is brilliant but I don't think he's ready for 1st team yet, Pudil for me should be CB instead of him I think VA will become a decent centre back though, keep working hard son Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matthefish2002 Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Was always likely to take some time readjusting from the Dutch league to the Championship, plenty of examples of other players experiencing similar problems. But we are not really in a position to give someone rest of season to acclimatize we needed someone to hit the ground running straight away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whatahoot Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 He will come good with a little time. Pity is we paid a lot of money for what we thought was a dominant football playing centre back, with just a few rough edges. Well it looks like those "few" rough edges need ironing out and that is not easy in front of 25000 Wednesday fans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lythamowl Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 best not chat to abdi then....that could really push him over the edge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrickyTrev Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 I get the argument of a player only being young and being able to improve but Joost Van Aken seems to cost us goals in almost every game he plays. Straight off the top of my head I could pick fault with him for a goal against Forest, 2 goals against the pigs and 2 goals on Saturday against Hull. He says he's not used to sitting on the bench, personally I'd rather see him sitting in the stand, defensively he really is a shocking defender. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steelman Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 (edited) He's not used to defending either from what I've seen. Don't give a monkey's chuff about his distribution, his job is to stop goals. If we really looked at 200+ defenders before settling on him, God help us!!! Edited December 7, 2017 by OneDavidHirst Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sultan_Pepper Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 I think too many of you are being overly harsh on the lad. He's got the makings of a really good defender. Any young player is going to make errors when being thrust into the championship. Especially when those around him are not playing too well. His attitude in wanting to improve and play as opposed to pick up a cheque and watch from the bench is exactly what it should be, good on him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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