[Archived] Andre Ooijer

[DannyKeg]

http://offsideliam.com/andreooijerinterview/

Interesting admission by Ooijer that he had problems adapting to the pace and fitness level required in the PL, I remember thinking the same thing about him myself, how many goals (own goals), penalties and needless free kicks did he give away in those first few months he was with us ? After that he developed into a very good player.

[Jock]

Great professional. No hiding from him when he started poorly. Ended up looking solid and chipped in with a few vital goals.

[47er]

Particularly that last gap winner at Goodison, at which I went absolutely bananas! Happy days.

[Dunnfc]

Struggled at first and snapped a leg if i remember correctly?

Ooijer Samba Nelsen Warnock a defense for less than 4.5 million yet probably top six.

Top top player, loved him.

[tomphil]

He got played at right back a few times and he didn't have pace anyway so he struggled. Class act at centre half though, coolest head on the pitch.

[A cup of beans]

I was one of his biggest critics in his early months, and marked him out on here as a poor signing. Slow and mistakes machine.

How wrong I was. He became a favourite of mine rather quickly.

[gumboots]

Broke leg at city. Guy fell on and it snapped. Was right in front of us

[sambo]

Remember he really struggled on his debut at home to City - we won 4-2 but sure he scored an own goal and looked out of sorts.

Vastly improved though, his winner v Spurs at home in Allarydce's first season lives with me. Top pro.

[joey_big_nose]

He was never quite first choice once Samba cemented his place, and didn't have the pace for right back where Neill held his place. But a quality centre back, professional and a leader in a team of leaders which Hughes assembled.

That defence under Hughes was great. As was the midfield. As were the striker. As was the keeper. Sigh.

[K-Hod]

Great player for us. 47er beat me to it re the goal vs Everton!

[windymiller7]

Can only echo the sentiments posted above. Thought he was an absolute liability in the first few games he played, wondered why the hell we'd signed him.

Didn't take too long to realise why. Absolute top class centre half and great pro. One of my faves from that era.

[47er]

Great player for us. 47er beat me to it re the goal vs Everton!

Best of all we didn't know at the time that Nelsen should have been penalised for off-side when he flicked it back and the goal shouldn't have counted!

[onlyonejackwalker]

Remember Ooijer against Babel from Liverpool playing right back. Liverpool fans had told me to watch out for Babel but he never got a kick up against Ooijer.

Very good player and one of my favourites also.

[philipl]

Ooijer became a fantastic player for us. Very honest committed and at times creative centre back.

[Dunnfc]

Has there been a player who came a better player after an injury like his?

[Lhrover]

Id give my left leg to have an ooijer in our squad now

[Baz]

Id give my left leg to have an ooijer in our squad now

I think he's probably a little past it now. Although he probably hasn't lost any pace.

But yes, echo the sentiment.

[Pedro]

I never rated him. Made as many mistakes as Gresko did. He's a Bovril player but to me, a great defender shouldn't need to make as many last ditch tackles as he did for us. Not a patch on Berg, Short, Samba or Nelsen.

[RevidgeBlue]

I never rated him. Made as many mistakes as Gresko did. He's a Bovril player but to me, a great defender shouldn't need to make as many last ditch tackles as he did for us. Not a patch on Berg, Short, Samba or Nelsen.

Completely agree. I never really rated him either.

Ordinary at best and not a patch on the other players mentioned above.

[Mike E]

I never rated him. Made as many mistakes as Gresko did. He's a Bovril player but to me, a great defender shouldn't need to make as many last ditch tackles as he did for us. Not a patch on Berg, Short, Samba or Nelsen.

Samba who made a career out of last ditch tackles because of his own mistakes?

I think Ooijer is right in there with the other names tbh.

[Pedro]

Samba who made a career out of last ditch tackles because of his own mistakes?

I think Ooijer is right in there with the other names tbh.

Nah. Samba was FAR better than him.

I missed out Phil Jones too!

Ooijer was a calamity waiting to happen but did improve as time went on.

He certainly divides opinion.

Maybe controversial but I think the best and most cultured centre back we've had during the Prem years was Henchoz 1st time around.

[Dunnfc]

Ryan Nelsen best center back in the premiership years for me.

[Mike E]

My favourite cb was actually Craig Short, even though he was never our best one.

I think he was basically Nelsen-lite