Player Focus: Can Well-rounded De Jong Transfer Club Form to Country?
It felt right at the time, leaving a modest division after three seasons - yielding 41 goals in 89 games - to continue his development in one of Europe's most illustrious, and testing himself against the very best. But it did not turn out the way he'd expected. Nevertheless, if he could turn the clock back, Luuk de Jong wouldn't do anything differently. Even though his period at Borussia Mönchengladbach wasn't the most fruitful (eight goals in 45 games, completing 90 minutes on just 11 occasions) it still provided an invaluable experience.
De Jong's struggles paint a picture of someone who's unable to cut it in the 'big leagues', but that shouldn't be the conclusion. For some, assimilating into a new environment and playing culture is a gradual process. His situation in Germany was immediately hindered by a serious knee injury so soon after signing. Once fully recovered, it became an uphill struggle, not helped by the deteriorating relationship with then-manager Lucien Favre.
He's since dusted himself down and started again, representing PSV Eindhoven who spent €5.5m for his services 16 months ago, €6.5m less than what Gladbach paid just two years prior, a clear indication as to how far his stock had fallen. It was a move that has reinvigorated him and one that couldn't have been timed better. Oranje's failure to qualify for next year's Euros means they are officially in rebuilding mode and with ownership of the 'number nine' jersey seemingly up for grabs, De Jong senses an opportunity, as well as a chance, to make meaning of his international career.
To call it disappointing up until now is an understatement. Since debuting against Austria in February 2011 he subsequently earned eight more caps over a four-year period - unsurprisingly receiving nonw while turning out for Gladbach - scoring once. Each of his nine appearances - totalling 133 minutes - have all come as a second half substitute.
With the Netherlands embarking down the long road to recovery under the much-maligned Danny Blind, there's a salient point to be made. De Jong is one of a few Dutch strikers under the age of 28, but over 23 with considerable pedigree - 17 goals in 50 European club competition matches - and most importantly performing to a credible level.
Given the state Oranje currently finds itself in, there needs to be short and long-term thinking, especially considering decade-long mainstays Robin van Persie and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar - with a combined 92 goals between them - will both be 34 once the 2018 World Cup starts. Now, a lot can happen before Oranje take on Sweden in Solna next September for their first World Cup 2018 qualifier, that being said it wouldn't be an outlandish proposition to suggest De Jong, barring a substantial drop in form or severe injury, will be heavily involved.
Another deserving of recognition is Bas Dost, who is from the same generation as De Jong and his biggest competition. He too moved to Germany in the summer of 2012, joining VfL Wolfsburg, but unlike his aforementioned rival, he is still active in the Bundesliga, though when it comes to their respective modus operandi, they couldn't be more different.
Dost is what many observers would describe as a 'killer'. In other words, a striker with unyielding predatory instincts simply built to do the one job he's designed for, case in point bagging 22 goals in his last 28 Bundesliga matches. His languid style and height makes him more adept as a target man while playing at a much higher level is to his advantage. De Jong, though, mustn't resign himself mainly as he offers a more classical approach, right now he's living up to the archetypal Dutch 'number 9½' tag (part-creator, part-finisher) - consequently becoming PSV's fulcrum in the attacking third - a role disciples of the Hollandse School, which includes Blind, veer strongly towards.
Regarding his bread and butter, 11 goals in 12 games sees him currently lead the race for the golden boot award, a prize that has so far eluded him, finishing runner-up in his last two full seasons - 2011/12 and 2014/15 - in the Dutch top-flight. Despite averaging 2.3 key passes per game, De Jong has just the one assist to his name, a paltry return, though this is sure to increase in a matter of time. Last season - a pivotal reason behind PSV’s first championship win since 2008 - no one was directly involved in more goals (30), with De Jong scoring 20 and creating a further10 goals.
It goes without saying he's not reached the level of notoriety where the mere sound of his name sends a permanent shiver down the spine of opposition defenders, and there's a long way to go before that becomes a reality, but there's no doubt he's on the right track with the disappointment of his German adventure now consigned to a distant memory. Huntelaar, who attended the same school in Doetinchem as him, is a contemporary reference. The manner in which he converted from a serial poacher to an immaculate centre-forward - technique and finesse intertwined in unadulterated ruthlessness - is what De Jong is trying to emulate.
You can see he's enjoying his football again, a far cry from his final season at Gladbach (13 games: 0 goals, 0 assists), which also saw a loan move to Newcastle United (12 games: 0 goals, 1 assist). With each passing game, he cuts an impassive figure, void of any distraction with every fibre of his being geared towards a single purpose. Once completed, the child in him escapes, but that joy is short-lived as the process instantaneously starts again. Goal scoring, in short, is an obsession. Huntelaar, who shares a similar appetite, explained it best: "It's like the elixir of life."
PSV has facilitated his recovery. He fits perfectly into Phillip Cocu's system, where there's an abundance of creativity, and going into this season - a sign of his newfound status as leader - Cocu appointed him captain, succeeding Georginio Wijnaldum. From day one he's been a model student, becoming a fan favourite in the process, repaying the manager's faith by scoring one Eredivisie goal every 124 minutes.
His most notable trait, which blossomed in Enschede where he managed 59 goals and 38 assists in 121 games for FC Twente and what initially attracted Gladbach in the first place, is his uncanny innate ability to score just about every type of goal. He’s determined to be become renowned for scoring in the unlikeliest of situations. His playing style and comfortableness with either foot - of his 11 league goals to date, three have been scored with the right foot and four via his left - strong link-up play, averaging 20.7 accurate short passes per game, and supreme aerial ability - winning 68% of his aerial duels, while 36% of his goals are headers - illuminates greater than before in the city of light.
As history has shown, the most successful Dutch strikers tend to be the ones who've bought into the idea of universality, comfortable undertaking a host of tasks, no better illustrated than during Co Adriaanse's brief tenure as FC Twente manager, where De Jong’s versatility really came to the fore. Back then he was used sparingly as a centre-forward. De Jong's commitment greatly enhanced his reputation as a team-player. Today his defensive work has shown marked improvement, averaging one tackle and 0.3 interceptions per game so far this season. However, it's clear he's best when utilised as the the focal point. "We all know what kind of striker I am."
A technically astute one. De Jong, a cerebral thinker blessed with fleet of foot, is cut from the same cloth as his more illustrious predecessors. What really catches the eye is his physique, standing at 6’2”, which compliments his all-round game. His strong presence during the build-up phase and instinctive understanding of his surroundings - playing between the lines and pulling defenders out of position with clever off-the-ball runs - allows the creation of space and makes him the prototypical modern striker. There's no reason, as we head into 2016 and beyond, why this updated version cannot transition onto the international stage.
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