FC Cincinnati General Manager Gerard Nijkamp sent a clear message during his introductory preseason conference that he was going to give the Orange and Blue a club identity and philosophy.
So far, that’s been witnessed as Interim Head Coach Yoann Damet has installed a 4-3-3 formation that builds possession from the back – Nijkamp’s preferred system.
The signing of Maikel van der Werff from Vitesse is a sign of the club’s new identity.
So, who is van der Werff?
He’s a 30-year-old Dutch center back who just finished the 2018-19 season with Vitesse in the Eredivisie. Before that, he played for Nijkamp at PEC Zwolle, and has 139 Eredivisie appearances to his name.
Those that’s and numbers suggest two things:
- Nijkamp clearly knows van der Werff and trusts him.
- Van der Werff has proven potential at a respectable level and can offer FC Cincinnati something instantly.
Why the signing makes sense
Van der Werff can play out of the back. If he couldn’t, Nijkamp wouldn’t have signed him. If you consider the club’s current depth at center back, it could be argued center back is one of the few positions where FCC don’t need more personnel.
But whereas previous defensive singings focused almost exclusively on simply defending, van der Werff’s introduction is another player who can do the same – while also playing comfortably with his feet.
Vitesse just finished fifth in the Eredivisie – good enough for a spot in a three-team playoff to qualify for UEFA Europa League play in 2019-20. That’s certainly a good standard of play.
Because the Dutch club utilized a 4-3-3 formation with emphasis on possession – like FC Cincinnati are transitioning to – that means van den Werff arrives with expertise in the philosophy and can assist others as well.
Sure, Nijkamp might sign players who can help the Orange and Blue for the remainder of the 2019 season. But the addition of this center back is a strong move playing into the club’s future.
If this is the philosophy Cincinnati is instilling for its future, signing a center back who can play as Nijkamp wants is a strong, logical step in the right direction.
