royalp-we Van der kwaak & Kromheer. The stuff legends are made from.
Joey van den Berg rejected several Dutch clubs in favour of a move to Reading.
The 30-year-old should formally be unveiled as the club’s second signing of the summer on Wednesday having agreed a two-year deal.
And the midfielder has revealed that the lure of playing in England was too strong to turn down.
“I have seen all the stadiums in the Netherlands before,” van den Berg told VoetbalInternational.nl .
“After all these years in the Eredivisie I needed a new challenge, which is why I signed for Reading.
“It’s a new country, a new league, with new opponents and a different playing style - It’s going to be a great experience.”
He added: “It is clear that Reading wants to return to the Premier League, but so does every club in the Championship.
“There are 24 clubs, even Newcastle United have come into it so it will not be easy - but I am looking forward to it."
Van den Berg arrived in England on Tuesday to complete his medical before finalising his move.
This will be the second time he has worked with Jaap Stam, having played under him while Reading’s boss was assistant at PEC Zwolle in the Netherlands.
"It helps that Jaap remember me from our time at Zwolle,” he said. “And Andries Ulderink knows how I play from my time at Go Ahead Eagles.
“I’ve talked to Jaap Stam about a midfield role. I’ll be one of the older ones in his team.”
Van den Berg has also revealed how he made a call to QPR midfielder Tjaronn Chery ahead of agreeing his free transfer switch from Heerenveen.
“I spoke to Tjaronn briefly about the Championship and asked what I can expect,” said Royals’ new signing.
“He said it’s a fantastic competition. I’m now even more curious.”
Ian Royal
We've added a 30 year old from the Dutch second division whose agent is the same as Stam's, who has played for Stam before and who has a record of getting sent off.
Ian Royal So to bolster our current midfield options of Ollie Norwood - PotS contender, Stephen Quinn - one of three good signings to come out of Clarke's tenure, Aaron Tshibola - the very impressive Academy graduate, and Danny Williams - the driving US Strugglepig...
We've added a 30 year old from the Dutch second division whose agent is the same as Stam's, who has played for Stam before and who has a record of getting sent off.
Er... well that's certainly an improvement on what we've got. Yay?
From Despair To Where?Ian Royal
We've added a 30 year old from the Dutch second division whose agent is the same as Stam's, who has played for Stam before and who has a record of getting sent off.
Heerenveen haven't been in the Dutch 2nd division for 20 years and have qualified for Europe more often than not in that time.
Whilst not wanting to overstate their standing, calling them a Dutch second division team is doing them a massive disservice.
Yeah, he could be shit but at least let him kick a ball in anger before slagging g him off. And there's me thinking we lacked bottle and fight in midfield. He could be our Dutch Parky.
From Despair To Where?Ian Royal
We've added a 30 year old from the Dutch second division whose agent is the same as Stam's, who has played for Stam before and who has a record of getting sent off.
Heerenveen haven't been in the Dutch 2nd division for 20 years and have qualified for Europe more often than not in that time.
Whilst not wanting to overstate their standing, calling them a Dutch second division team is doing them a massive disservice.
Yeah, he could be shit but at least let him kick a ball in anger before slagging g him off. And there's me thinking we lacked bottle and fight in midfield. He could be our Dutch Parky.
RoyalwasterFrom Despair To Where?Ian Royal
We've added a 30 year old from the Dutch second division whose agent is the same as Stam's, who has played for Stam before and who has a record of getting sent off.
Heerenveen haven't been in the Dutch 2nd division for 20 years and have qualified for Europe more often than not in that time.
Whilst not wanting to overstate their standing, calling them a Dutch second division team is doing them a massive disservice.
Yeah, he could be shit but at least let him kick a ball in anger before slagging g him off. And there's me thinking we lacked bottle and fight in midfield. He could be our Dutch Parky.
Ian Royal decided on the first page of this thread that Heerenveen are in the 2nd Division, so that's where they are regardless of what you say. They are a 2nd Division team so they must be sh@t.
PS: luckily Leicester didn't take that attitude when they signed Mahrez from the French league .... who we all know is equally sh@t.
Sutekh Opinion on him from Dutch writers is :
Van den Berg is a player who has the physical and the technical skills to play in England.
Jaap Stam worked at Ajax for the past two years, so I can see him building a team that plays the passing game, building up from the back.
Van den Berg is a player who likes to pass and build, but he’ll enjoy the battle at tough grounds as well.
If I had to name a famous player who he reminds me of, I would say Mark van Bommel or - a bit exaggerated maybe - Javi Martinez or Kevin Strootman.
More on the EP site
http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/footb ... h-11537828
Highlights are that he is a defensive midfielder who started out as a full back. He is prone to the odd card or seven (for lippiness as much as attempted amputation) but that he was one of the better Heerenveen players although played slightly out of position as a no. 10.
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