Liverpool set to face 'new Cruyff' Ibrahim Afellay at Anfield

[Cunny]

So, has anyone seen this lad play?

Is he as good as this hype suggests?

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/200...15875-20758237/

 

Liverpool set to face 'new Cruyff' Ibrahim Afellay at Anfield

 

By Bill Mills, sundaymirror.co.uk 28/09/2008

 

GROUP D Liverpool v PSV Weds, KO 7.45pm, live on Sky Sports 2

 

The hottest young property in European football will be unleashed against Liverpool this week.

Ibrahim Afellay is the 22-year-old PSV Eindhoven midfielder who could have joined Manchester City on transfer deadline day. He is also top of the Arsenal list of players to watch.

In fact, PSV say the Gunners sent scouts to check on Afellay 15 times last season. There's a £12million get-out clause in the youngster's contract, so potential buyers know what he's going to cost. But the big question is, just how good is Afellay?

Ronald Koeman, the former Dutch star and renowned coach, insisted: "Ibrahim has certain things in his style that can be compared to Johan Cruyff's game.

"He can speed up with the ball, he can whizz past players as if they are puppets. He has qualities as an attacker which we hardly see these days in football." Piet de Visser, the international scout employed by Roman Abramovich, believes Afellay could be the next European superstar. But De Visser's regard for the PSV player is no guarantee he will end up at Stamford Bridge.Man City have already told PSV they are prepared to outbid anyone else. On transfer deadline day, while City were gazumping Chelsea by landing Robinho, they also moved for the Dutchman of Moroccan parentage. But Afellay didn't want to rush into the move.

A transfer in the January window is now a real prospect - especially if he continues to prove his burgeoning talent at Anfield this week.

The first Premier League boss to spot his potential was Arsene Wenger. The Frenchman was astonished when he saw Afellay come on as a substitute against Arsenal when the Dutch side knocked the Gunners out of the Champions League 17 months ago.

Wenger has instructed his scouts to keep a close eye on the player ever since.

[CarraLegend]

He carries them now, done f*** all against us before though so dont see why it'll be any different this time.

[Sion]

He's quality, but we should have the ability to counter-act whatever he does for them. The rest of their team is poo

[Guest Snorky]

With losing their home game, PSV need something out of Wednesday night. Lets hope its just a cup of tea at half time

[pipnasty]

He played for Holland in the summer (if my memory serves me right) and looked quite tidy. He'll probably go on to be a boss player but we've got more than enough to take care of him on Wednesday.

[Falconhoof]

I liked the look of him for Holland. He had a class team around him though, not so sure about the quality of his teammates at PSV.

[Tosh]

Too much confidence on here - much like "we'll batter Stoke"...

[CarraLegend]

Too much confidence on here - much like "we'll batter Stoke"...

 

Yeah how dare people be confident we'll win a CL game at Anfield. The f***ing cheek of it!!!

[Oli]

I remember thinking he looked quite good during the Euros. I'm assuming this is the same Afellay?

[RP]

Arsenal have had him watched at least 15 times last season - he is available for £12mil.

 

They can't be very convinced by what they're seeing, can they??

[stressederic]

Arsenal have had him watched at least 15 times last season - he is available for £12mil.

 

They can't be very convinced by what they're seeing, can they??

 

They're not sure he's lightweight enough.

[Tobes Rafa]

I'm pretty sure he played in the 3-0 home defeat to Athletico so he isn't a messiah or anything. Respect them by all means but let them worry about our players not vice versa.

[cymrococh]

He's Afellay good.

[Kvarme Ate My Food]

Ibra: him A fella, y?

[John am Rhein]

This'll be any easy win for us

[fyds]

He's a very decent player - but comparing him to Cruyff is pushing it somewhat.

[floyd]

Another article suggesting Wegner is like the Eye of Sauron.

[Gerrardrules]

Very good player in a poor Dutch league. He indeed carries the team.

[Stevie H]

he's the new ibrahim ba. but he'll never be the new ibrahima bakayoko.

[Koogan]

Did Cruyff ever play at Anfield, BTW? And if he did how did he do?

[John am Rhein]

Did Cruyff ever play at Anfield, BTW? And if he did how did he do?

 

Ajax gave us the run-around in a late 60s game, presumably in the Fairs Cup (?), I assume Cruyff played in that.

 

I think he also played for Barcelona in the 1976 UEFA Cup semi-final at Anfield where we drew 1-1 after famously winning the away leg (in black and white!) 1-0.

[Jarg Armani]

Another article suggesting Wegner is like the Eye of Sauron.

 

hahaha

[StevieC]

he's the new ibrahim ba. but he'll never be the new ibrahima bakayoko.

 

 

Because it's been verfied that he is in fact, 22 as opposed to 42?

[yuriska]

Did Cruyff ever play at Anfield, BTW? And if he did how did he do?

 

In a European Cup game in '66 when Ajax were starting to build their famous team.

We got hammered 5-1 away, and then drew 2-2 at home.

 

Quote from Liverpool in Europe: The Early Years 1964-1973:

Dutch champions Ajax were pretty unknown too but they tore Liverpool apart in foggy Amsterdam and carved out a massive 5-1 lead, Liverpool's only success coming in the very last minute from Chris Lawler. The tie was effectively over by half-time with the home side being four goals up and at one stage Bill Shankly even went onto the pitch unnoticed to give some instructions to his players (!) but even his bravado before the second game on Merseyside could not disguise the fact that this had been a severe thrashing against a club that would soon go on to win the Champions' cup for three successive seasons. Hunt scored twice at Anfield but so did a young Johan Cruyff and Liverpool were out.

[AE]

The 22 year old youngster ???

 

At what point do players stop being youngsters?