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Young Dutch Defender Joins Blues on Trial

17-year-old centre-back Henk van Schaik has joined Birmingham City on trial for four days from today with a view to earning a contract next season. The teenager currently plays for Hoofdklasse club Quick Boys in Netherlands having previously been on the books at ADO Den Haag.

Van Schaik announced on his twitter feed that he was coing to Birmingham City today and according to this piece on www.leidenamateurvoetbal.nl the Dutch centre-back will be playing for Blues in a game against Coventry on Satuday. The 6’3″ defender has previously been on trial in England at Arsenal, West Ham and Ipswich, with Birmingham City originally showing their interest at the start of the season just as the youngster signed for Quick Boys.

Judging by the Youtube clips, the boy clearly loves a tackle. Whether he will get a contract or not is unknown, but with Kees Luyckx also coming in this week on trial (and Marcus Nilsson the week before) it’s clear Blues are expanding their horizons a bit looking for new players.

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14 Responses to “Young Dutch Defender Joins Blues on Trial”

  • StaffsBlue says:

    A Dutch player who likes a tackle? That’s a rarity in itself. I didn’t think tackling came under ‘Total Football.’ :)

    With all these new defenders being trialled, I’m wondering where that leaves players like Packwood, Hancox and, below them, Fry, Bell, Kelly et al. Will any of them be making the step up in the near future? They can’t all play in the U21s.

  • StaffsBlue says:

    I’m wondering, also, how Blues are sourcing these overseas players. I know some are recommended, but do we have a new scout in Europe? In an interview with Malcolm Crosby in pre-season, he stated quite clearly that there wasn’t the finance available to have a scouting system in Europe. Just a thought.

  • Dan says:

    Think we need a good striker with abit of pace not a defender

  • rhees says:

    Looks like Garry is looking a head that’s good

  • rhees says:

    Building for next season reason for optimism what does he know !!

  • rhees says:

    Just got to trust Garry

  • Dutch says:

    Dirk Kuyt alsof came from Quick Boys. Who knows…

  • RichieBCFC says:

    It doesn’t surprise me that we’ve brought in 2 Dutch Defenders this week for trial.
    We all know how Gary likes his CB’s to be ball players, and we know how good the Dutch are for producing such players.

    I can see us signing Henk van Schaik as he is tall, powerful and looks like a decent tackler of the ball, while there is plenty of time to improve. I think he will suit the English game down to the T.

    Kees Luijckx, however, I cannot see him being signed; although I’ve been proved wrong before.
    Reading about him and seeing clips of him he doesn’t seem much of a good CB.
    I think he like’s to attack more than he does defend, which wont work at all in the Championship unless we play him as a holding midfielder.

    I’m really excited about van Schaik though!

    Keep right on!

  • Mirkwood55 says:

    On the other hand you wonder why Arsenal, West Ham or Ipswich didn’t sign him up after their trial.

  • Stirchbllue says:

    Didnt arsenal once have yaya toure on trial and even played pre season games for them i think and turned down the oppurtuntiy to sign him. So they dont always get it right!!!

  • Dave Mann says:

    Rob Kiernan joins on loan from Wigan till end of the season ..centre half who’s played 18 games this season… Why let him go on loan if he’s that regular? Kro


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