Christian Eriksen

[Rossi22]

I see a quick, dynamic, versatile, creative player who is also capable of taking a deadly set piece. I would be AMAZED if he wasn't to have a much bigger impact than Sigurdsson has for us so far, the only upside Sig has over Eriksen is that he's home-grown, that's about it. I remember you being very much against signing Suarez(I myself wasn't totally convinced I'll admit) but I think we can agree he's shown to be a good player(complete **** though obviously).

 

[AdamB]

If the prices being quoted are vaguely accurate, then I would say that Eriksen is a much better value signing than Willian. You obviously pay more for someone who is a finished product and therefore less risky however I'm not really sure that Willian is less risky that Eriksen despite being more than twice the price

 

[Rossi22]

What makes Christian Eriksen so great? Jake Davison takes a closer look at the Danish superstar.

This 21 year-old Danish international has been amassing interest for years and not without just cause. Now, with his announcement that he will not be extending his contract with Ajax, which expires next summer, the hype and speculation surrounding this attacking-midfielder has reached fever pitch.

So how has he deserved his reputation as one of the most promising youngsters Europe, alongside names like Mario Götze and Jack Wheelchair? One word, creativity. Every now and then, you see a player that just has a certain flair and creativity. This enables them to create chances out of nothing and makes them hard to predict. Eriksen is one of these players.

Playing a play-maker role in an attacking-midfield position at Ajax, Eriksen has the ability to change a game. When he’s in the attacking third, it just takes one unexpected flick And there’s someone breaking through the back four or unmarked in space. Eriksen excels at surprising opponents like this with his unorthodox and sometimes risky passing.

On the ball, Eriksen always seems to know what he’s doing. As he’s coming forward, expect to see him with his head down going exactly where he wants. When defenders are in his way, he finds a way past them to get there. Though far from a very physical presence, he seems to just get through players; more dancing past than using strength. Through this he often finds space, and that’s when the opposition are really in trouble.

Eriksen has proven that he can strike well time after time. He can’t be allowed too much room around the edge of the box because if he opts to shoot, he’ll hit it with pace but he always places it well. One of his traits that make him such a danger is his ability to place his shots from anywhere. You don’t want to let him cut in or get an inch away from you, as many defenders in the Eredivisie will tell you.

Christian Eriksen is a game changer, as displayed in his decisive performance against PSV last Sunday. The Dane is sort of like a more involved, more daring Mesut Özil. Finding space and racking up assists through a combination of flair and precision, but he’s not shy of scoring either. Maybe it’s just part of the Ajax mentality, but his ability to pick out a teammate with a pass seems almost telepathic at times. Eriksen has, however, struggled to stay in his top form this season. Maybe a change of scenery will bring out the ability that he is known to possess. The need to prove that he deserves a spot in a club’s first team would really do him a world of good.

 

[Modric THFC]

I'm not a huge Eriksen fan but he's worth a punt if AVB is willing to play him in the midfield 3. We need someone who can pass it around the middle. And whatever else you think about Eriksen he can play a decent defence splitting pass.

 

[nrenz123]

I'll be honest I've only seen a few youtube vids on him, most of which involves flicks etc. If he does come hopefully he has the eye for a killer pass. As yet no one is really feeding Soldado.

 

[braineclipse]

He was shockingly bad at the Euros, and always is on the international stage.

I have seen a couple of Ajax CL games since, and while he's tidy, games just pass him by/he doesn't stamp any authority on matches.

Is this all you've seen of him?

Don't you think this is a very limited amount of information to base your opinion on?

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Rossi: Same question to you as you asked to GB. How much have you seen of him? You seem very convinced that he would be a great buy.

I haven't seen enough of Eriksen myself to support any strong opinion either way, obviously talented, but beyond that I have no clue personally. Just curious to hear what you're both basing your opinions on.

 

[BrainOfLevy]

I'm not a huge Eriksen fan but he's worth a punt if AVB is willing to play him in the midfield 3. We need someone who can pass it around the middle. And whatever else you think about Eriksen he can play a decent defence splitting pass.

I don't think he'd be signing if we intended to play him in the midfield 3, and I don't think we'd go for him if that was the case. Whatever people feel about Siggy, we also have Holtby, Dembele and Paulinho that will all expect a good amount of games, and that's assuming Capoue and Sandro fight it out for the holding role.

I guess that we are hoping to play him in the role we had earmarked for Willian, and if we are going for him I would assume that means AVB thinks that he can play that role ok.

 

[Gutter Boy]

Is this all you've seen of him?

Don't you think this is a very limited amount of information to base your opinion on?

---------------

Rossi: Same question to you as you asked to GB. How much have you seen of him? You seem very convinced that he would be a great buy.

I haven't seen enough of Eriksen myself to support any strong opinion either way, obviously talented, but beyond that I have no clue personally. Just curious to hear what you're both basing your opinions on.

If someone is disappointing in 7 or 8 consecutive matches you watch over an 18 month period, you assume that's more than an off day. Better than basing it on a 3 minute youtube clip just showing some shooting anyway (general comment - not aimed at anyone on here).

I don't think he'd be signing if we intended to play him in the midfield 3, and I don't think we'd go for him if that was the case. Whatever people feel about Siggy, we also have Holtby, Dembele and Paulinho that will all expect a good amount of games, and that's assuming Capoue and Sandro fight it out for the holding role.

I guess that we are hoping to play him in the role we had earmarked for Willian, and if we are going for him I would assume that means AVB thinks that he can play that role ok.

I think it would have to be. But he's a bit of a square peg there, especially when there are a lot of genuine creative left forwards out there and we have the £30m Willian money burning a hole.

 

[Modric THFC]

I don't think he'd be signing if we intended to play him in the midfield 3, and I don't think we'd go for him if that was the case. Whatever people feel about Siggy, we also have Holtby, Dembele and Paulinho that will all expect a good amount of games, and that's assuming Capoue and Sandro fight it out for the holding role.

I guess that we are hoping to play him in the role we had earmarked for Willian, and if we are going for him I would assume that means AVB thinks that he can play that role ok.

He's not good enough for the behind the striker role just like Siggy isnt imo.

 

[tommysvr]

I have some major concerns about Eriksen.

First, he was 21 in February. So he's getting on a bit.

Second, he has played 112 times for Ajax, scoring 25 goals, and has 37 senior caps for Denmark. Those stats say just one thing to me: he must have bunked off school a hell of a lot. Sounds like a disciplinary nightmare in the making.

Third, Ajax has a long tradition of allowing second-grade hoofers onto their first team. Basically any jackass who shows up and runs around a bit can get a game with them (their scouting and coaching are well known to be embarrassingly sub-par).

Fourth, at 21 years of age Gareth Bale was the finished article. His decline only happened between the ages of 21 and 24. As they say, those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.

So there are troubling signs there for sure.

:ross: :ross: :ross:

---

The way people are passing judgment on Eriksen made me double check I hadn't logged onto an Ajax forum. Never knew we had so many Dutch football experts on here.

 

[Modric THFC]

I don't think he'd be signing if we intended to play him in the midfield 3, and I don't think we'd go for him if that was the case. Whatever people feel about Siggy, we also have Holtby, Dembele and Paulinho that will all expect a good amount of games, and that's assuming Capoue and Sandro fight it out for the holding role.

I guess that we are hoping to play him in the role we had earmarked for Willian, and if we are going for him I would assume that means AVB thinks that he can play that role ok.

The thing is though Ajax never play 4231 always 433 and Eriksen has played nearly every game in the last year as part of a midfield 3 (a few times as a false 9) so why would we buy him to play behind the striker? And werent we in for Cabaye recently? Maybe the plan is for Carroll to go on loan and Eriksen can be the creative option in the middle.

 

[BrainOfLevy]

The thing is though Ajax never play 4231 always 433 and Eriksen has played nearly every game in the last year as part of a midfield 3 (a few times as a false 9) so why would we buy him to play behind the striker? And werent we in for Cabaye recently? Maybe the plan is for Carroll to go on loan and Eriksen can be the creative option in the middle.

Then what do we do with Holtby, Dembele, Sigurdsson and Paulinho? To me, we have the goalscorer and the schemer, one of each there. Even if we sell Sig, I don't think Eriksen would come as a rotation option.

I could be wrong but I imagine us playing 4-3-3 with Lamela in from the right and someone in from the left, Paulinho/Sig playing the role Paulinho played against Swansea.

 

[AdamB]

The thing is though Ajax never play 4231 always 433 and Eriksen has played nearly every game in the last year as part of a midfield 3 (a few times as a false 9) so why would we buy him to play behind the striker? And werent we in for Cabaye recently? Maybe the plan is for Carroll to go on loan and Eriksen can be the creative option in the middle.

The roles aren't vastly different. If he plays in one of the midfield roles in a 4-3-3 then he has the back four and presumably two more defensive minded or physical CMs alongside him. If he plays in the centre position of the 3 in a 4-2-3-1 he has the same protection behind him but is arguably more centrally involved which is what you would want your key creative player to be. I actually think that the 4-2-3-1 formation suits him better given a top pass from there is more likely to create a goal-scoring opportunity and, given that he's scored 8, 8 and 13 goals from midfield, then he can clearly finish and being further forward is probably better

 

[Rossi22]

Eriksen is adaptable, he can play wherever you put him. Kind of like how Iniesta goes from a midfield three to a front three easily enough.

 

[braineclipse]

If someone is disappointing in 7 or 8 consecutive matches you watch over an 18 month period, you assume that's more than an off day. Better than basing it on a 3 minute youtube clip just showing some shooting anyway (general comment - not aimed at anyone on here).

Half (or more?) of those games were international appearances and we all know that a lot of very good young players struggle to transition into performing for their national sides and when the player is generally highly rated and seemingly also rated by Baldini and AVB. Isn't it then also a pretty good assumption to think that perhaps there's more to him than he's shown you in those games?

Anyway, cheers for letting us know how many times you've actually seen him. Something often missed on this board imo. All I'm saying is that you sound very convinced about being right and I don't quite see how you have the basis for that.

 

[AdamB]

Then what do we do with Holtby, Dembele, Sigurdsson and Paulinho? To me, we have the goalscorer and the schemer, one of each there. Even if we sell Sig, I don't think Eriksen would come as a rotation option.

I could be wrong but I imagine us playing 4-3-3 with Lamela in from the right and someone in from the left, Paulinho/Sig playing the role Paulinho played against Swansea.

Neither Siggy or Holtby have shown enough to justify being in our starting 11 yet if we want to finish in the top 4. They're bench players.

Paulinho alongside Sandro or Capoue in CM, Lennon, Eriken and Lemela in front of those 2 and Soldado up top. That's top 4 standard! You can then have some of Sandro/Capoue, Dembele, Holtby, Siggy, Defoe, Chadli, Townsend etc on the bench. That's an eff-ing strong squad!!!

 

[he_is_you_know]

I watched him in a crunch game at the end of last season away to PSV in which he was terrific here.

To use one of AVB's favourite buzz-words, he seemed a very "vertical" player. I haven't seen much of him, but £8m for what's still only a 21 year old seems like good value to me.

 

[Modric THFC]

Then what do we do with Holtby, Dembele, Sigurdsson and Paulinho? To me, we have the goalscorer and the schemer, one of each there. Even if we sell Sig, I don't think Eriksen would come as a rotation option.

I could be wrong but I imagine us playing 4-3-3 with Lamela in from the right and someone in from the left, Paulinho/Sig playing the role Paulinho played against Swansea.

I see him as an option to play exactly were Dembele did on Sunday when we need to be bit more creative to break down a defence.
-----------Soldado----------
Chadli-----------------Lamela
------Eriksen---Paulinho------
-----------Sandro-----------

I just see Eriksen being the typical young number 10 who becomes a deeper lying player as he matures just likes of Modric, Pirlo, Scholes and Schweinsteiger did.

For me the real issue with our team is the left wing. Lamela can play behind Soldado if we need someone in that Bale position. We have so many option on the right. There's not much competition for Chadli.

 

[VolSpur]

Well it's not like Vertonghen turned out bad did he? Why wouldn't we spend 10 million or so on a 21 year old who's got Champs League experience and plays every week? It's almost too obvious to pass up.

Just an added bonus that he's been linked with Liverpool for a while now.

Some people on here are acting like he's the second coming of Jenas..

 

[Gutter Boy]

The thing is though Ajax never play 4231 always 433 and Eriksen has played nearly every game in the last year as part of a midfield 3 (a few times as a false 9) so why would we buy him to play behind the striker? And werent we in for Cabaye recently? Maybe the plan is for Carroll to go on loan and Eriksen can be the creative option in the middle.

Yeah - Eriksen plays in the CM trio, whilst Fischer plays as the creative left forward.

Then what do we do with Holtby, Dembele, Sigurdsson and Paulinho? To me, we have the goalscorer and the schemer, one of each there. Even if we sell Sig, I don't think Eriksen would come as a rotation option.

I could be wrong but I imagine us playing 4-3-3 with Lamela in from the right and someone in from the left, Paulinho/Sig playing the role Paulinho played against Swansea.

Agree = for me our DMs are Sandro and Capoue, our ballplayers are Dembele and Holtby, and our box-to-box goalscorers are Paulinho and Siggy.

For me Eriksen isn't as good as Dembele or Holtby to get a look-in as a ball player (which would be his better position), and doesn't score enough or be mobile enough for the box-to-box role.