ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Is Van der Meyde just tired?

I've just been through the posts about the Fernandes affair and came across a comment I felt I had to respond to. Said comment referred to Andy van dr Meyde as being a Dutch waster. I too thought he was more than a little lethargic in his efforts on the park, until my grandson was born. Having been born far too early he had some complications that could only be dealt with at Alder Hey. That's where I first saw Andy Van away from a footy pitch. His brand new baby daughter was in the incubator opposite to my grandson. Andy sat and watched her from morning till night. He never left her side. That was back in April, but as far as I know she is still in hospital and her father is still keeping his vigil.

I don't know about anyone else but for me it accounts for some of this young man's behaviour and certainly excuses his lack of performance. There isn't a man alive who could spend so long awake and play dominoes well, never mind football.

No doubt he will always have his detractors, but I hope that in future the derision comes with a little bit of compassion. Always remember that he is a stranger to our shores, and loneliness is an awful, awful thing.
Mike Neely, Kirkby Posted 30/08/2007 at 17:57:59

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Michael Kenrick

Thanks for that unique insight, Mike. Given those concerns preoccupying him, it's no surprise he has been of little use to us on the field. Which makes you wonder what the mondern footballer's contract says about Family/compasionate leave? Probably a situation that is not even envisaged in their contracts, which makes something like his recent fine and suspension all the more troublesome, considering it has to have been related to his young daughther's ongoing health problems.

Gavin Ramejkis
1 Posted 30/08/2007 at 20:02:10

How do you explain him being a waster when we first signed him way back before last April?

Allan Hobbs
2 Posted 30/08/2007 at 20:15:56

I always got the impression AVDM was and is a troubled individual - all the problems with his daughter have only made things worse for the bloke. I feel really sorry for him. I was there for his debut against Boro in the league cup and the noise made when he came on was deafening.

The guys a class player no doubt, its just a shame his private life appears to be such a mess. I wish him nothing but well, not just for his footballing life but his private life as well and I would suggest that all Evertonians give him support rather than doing him down. People like him need help not condemnation.

Brian Waring
3 Posted 30/08/2007 at 20:25:58

I hope everything works out for him, concerning his daughter.But,he had these off-field problems when he played at Inter.

Danny Mullally
4 Posted 30/08/2007 at 20:49:36

It can be very easy to give plenty of stick to Andy V, and I will admit I was never short of digs about him myself. However when it comes to your child being poorly ill, I can’t imagine how he can concentrate on the football side of things. Hope she gets better soon.

Tony Miller
5 Posted 30/08/2007 at 20:50:57

Much as he frustrates me as a player I can only wish him well with regards to this. It would be every fathers priority and cannot be assisting helping things.

Yes he wasn’t flying when he first arrived but he had injury problems, I hoped a full pre-season would address this. It hasn’t and this may be why.

regarding his fines. I hope the club have helped him regards his welfare and I am sur they have. we are one of the better at assisting former players in a situation so why not present. However saying that it cannot be completly one way and if he has stepped over the line despite flexibility from the club he deserves his punishment,as would you and I.

Hope all ends well for him with the baby many things in life are bigger than football and this is one.

simon
6 Posted 30/08/2007 at 21:33:16

Im sure when he gets sorted he will be a first team regular
p.s don’t hold me to that

Alan Humphreys
7 Posted 30/08/2007 at 21:40:50

I posted the other week, before he was fined, that I had seen him that evening in ASDA in Bromborough and that he looked p’d off. Then we found out he’d been fined etc and I thought that was the reason.

The guy was probably looking p’d off as he was tired and had probably just spent the day either training then at Alder Hey with his ill daughter or all day their and now he and his missus were doing the shopping - life is still going on when in reality it has stopped still.

I think like so many who post here especially those of us who are fathers, we have found a compassionate side to ourselves regarding Andy’s problems. Like other posters I wish him and his family well. Maybe a lot of us would have been far more reserved when passing judgement on his recent behaviour had we known - remember the posts slagging the guy off for not flying to America and instead training with the reserves - obviosly not wanting to be too far away from his partner and daughter.

I realise that this is an extremely private matter but I think both the player and the club should have handled this matter better - for all concerned. All the best to you and yours Andy and thanks to Mike for reminding us about this.

Steve Taylor
8 Posted 30/08/2007 at 23:03:43

Not sure how that excuses him being lashed in establishments on the Albert Dock for the 1st year of his contract?

I feel sorry for his situation with his daughter & the burglaries - but to put his lack of "fitness" over 2 seasons down to that is naive.

The lad had a serious problem with the sauce - end of.

tom potts
9 Posted 30/08/2007 at 23:13:04

fuck off van der beer, brady is a piss head and everton need to fuck him off
better midlier please mosey come on

Steve Ferns
10 Posted 30/08/2007 at 23:44:08

did we ever hear what happened about the suspension? What was its length? Is he back on board? Will he booted out? Is he training with the kids?

I suppose we’ll only find out over time

Paul Momber
11 Posted 31/08/2007 at 06:08:11

Of course you feel sorry for the guy, your kids are the most precious thing in your life. What should have happened is he is given leave without pay for as long as his is unable to play. Its not as if he is living hand to mouth now is it.