Klaassen accepts need to improve

Thursday, 28 September, 2017 14comments | Jump to most recent

Davy Klaassen says that his step up from the Dutch Eredivise is what he wanted but admits the transition has been challenging.

The 24-year-old made a £23.6m move from Ajax over the summer and was expected to be a linchpin in Everton's new-look attacking midfield but he has yet to set the Premier League alight.

It's a situation that his new manager Ronald Koeman acknowledged this week when he reaffirmed his belief in the Dutch midfielder while Klaassen himself reflects on his middling start to life in England in this evening's match programme for the game against Apollon Limassol.

Klaassen starts the game on the bench despite being named in the starting XI that faced Bournemouth last Saturday.

"It has not been easy for me to adapt," the Netherlands international explains. "I need to improve."

"[The Premier League] is a different speed to the one I am used to, a different intensity, but that is what I wanted. I wanted something else, something bigger."

"The fans have been great since I arrived... I like it here, the life is similar to Holland... Even the weather is the same... I'm used to the rain back in Holland!

"At the same time, everything within the club is different [to Ajax]. Everything is a little bigger, the pitches are really good and the stadium is really nice.

"Everton is a big club, but it's difficult to compare the two clubs I have played for. They are both big clubs, but I think the biggest difference here is the league. In Holland, not everything is that big but when you come here it is huge.

"Before coming to Everton, I knew the players and the club, but I didn't know how big it was.

" We've had some difficult games," the 24-year-old continues with regard to Everton's rocky start to the 2017-18 season, "and it's even more tough when you sign four, five, six new players. It takes time but we're getting better.

"It's true I cam so close to winning the Europa League last season, but I don't need to lose in a final to be hungry for this campaign. We all want to go as far as possible and I have confidence in this squad."

Reader Comments (14)

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Sean Smythe
1 Posted 28/09/2017 at 20:06:28

Keep working hard, lad

Oliver Molloy
2 Posted 28/09/2017 at 22:59:00

Yep , I agree, the Premier League is a massive step up from playing in Holland Davy, but giving away silly fouls in any league is plain fucking stupid. I'm sure you've got the bollocks chewed off you in the dressing room tonight and rightly so.

I agree with Sean; keep working hard and the fans will give you a fair crack. Keep doing stuff like tonight and you'll wish you hadn't come to Everton. It's up to you in the end.

Neil Carter
4 Posted 28/09/2017 at 23:42:01

Every credit for saying that publicly.

Joe Edwards
5 Posted 28/09/2017 at 23:50:07

Would anyone pay £23.5 mill for a player from the Championship? That's what we have effectively done .

Phil Sammon
6 Posted 29/09/2017 at 01:05:43

Oliver,

How you can blame Klaassen for that defeat is beyond me. He gave away a free kick 45 yards from goal. Any decent team would have been 4-0 up and defended it without issue.

Tony Everan
7 Posted 29/09/2017 at 07:15:48

Last night changes nothing, he needs to work his socks off and toughen up. I think we all want him to be a success, if he puts the work in he will come good.

Where he fits into the team is another question altogether!

Paul Smith
8 Posted 29/09/2017 at 07:25:07

Seen nothing to think this guy is the quality we need.

Oliver Molloy
9 Posted 29/09/2017 at 08:00:16

Phil,

Well, if he hadn't given away that foul (and it was a stupid action that could have ended up in him being sent off) they would not have landing the ball in out penalty area.

We weren't 4-0 up and we are not particularly good at defending these days are we!

It was a draw also, Phil – not a defeat – although it feels like one.

Karl Meighan
10 Posted 29/09/2017 at 14:02:46

I simply think Koeman was paid handsomely from this transfer as Davies – as poor as he was last night – is light-years ahead of him.

£23m for him – no wonder Ajax had a firework display for him. He offers nothing and I see him in the bracket of Pembridge and Milligan.

Philip Bunting
12 Posted 29/09/2017 at 16:16:51

Klaassen has at least admitted to himself that he needs to step up and good on him for admitting that, at least that's a step to improvement.

I did say long ago when we signed him that after watching a few Dutch games in Holland as I was working there last year, that the pace was pedestrian. No pressing, no urgency. The Dutch seem to let the opposition have the ball and when they miss place a pass only then do the opposition then keep the ball.

I swear our Under-23s would win that league. Hence why a lot of their players struggle abroad and that their national team has went downhill.

David Connor
13 Posted 29/09/2017 at 16:26:33

At least he knows he has been shite since he signed for us. And yes Davy you do need to improve and fast, lad. We've too many overrated players here as it is; we don't want another and, at this moment in time, that's exactly what you are.

Christy Ring
14 Posted 29/09/2017 at 18:54:44

I don't blame Klaassen, but what other manager would bring in 3 No 10s?

John Graham
15 Posted 29/09/2017 at 19:56:36

Yes, he needs time... they all need time. So while they are getting time, why not try a different system or different players? We know some can already do a better job because of the lack of confidence; put Lookman in, keep Kenny at right back, keep Davis in the team so he can settle a bit more, leave some of the others out.

Andy Meighan
16 Posted 29/09/2017 at 21:40:31

Not good enough, end of.

Oh, and you said Pembridge our kid – stop repeating yourself. Didn't your big bro teach you nothing? Obviously not.

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