Words of praise tonight in football talk show De Afkick for AZ top scorer Vangelis Pavlidis. Guests include former striker Piet Keur and former goalkeeper Roy Pistoor. Keur: “Do you know what I think is so clever? Everyone knows he is the most dangerous striker, but he does it every time.”
Although both former players have high regard for Pavlidis, this is no guarantee for a great next step outside the Premier League, in which Pavlidis is now joint top scorer with eighteen goals.
Interim departure
The Greek has a contract with AZ that still runs for another year and a half. There were rumors about a departure last summer and surfaced again just before the winter transfer window. Pistoor advises a transfer in the summer. “It is easier for a player if you experience the entire preparation at a club.” Keur does not attach importance to that. “You should go when you get the chance.”
“But abroad may be a bit wary of strikers from the Premier League,” Keur continues. “Of all the strikers of the last ten years or so, few have succeeded abroad. That is due to the Premier League. That is logical, because the capital differences with foreign countries are large.”
Pistoor is thinking of Eintracht Frankfurt as a possible next step for the 25-year-old Pavlidis. “That seems like a nice club. They play attacking football in the sub-top of Germany.”
Ronaldo
While Keur (62) made waves in the Premier League with, among others, HFC Haarlem, AZ and FC Twente, Pistoor (33) had little time to play as a goalkeeper for AGOVV, Helmond Sport, FC Volendam and Almere City. Yet he made it to the international media at the latter club with his imitation of Ronaldo. How is this? Check out the video below.
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If you want to see the entire broadcast of De Aftrap, click on the video at the top. You can see De Afkick on TV every Friday at 5:10 PM on NH Sport. This is followed by repetition every hour.
Due to the winter break, the next broadcast is Friday, January 12. In that episode, former skater Marianne Timmer and sports journalist Yoeri van den Busken are guests.