Stekelenburg to join Ajax next season

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6YEpQNBtn0

What exactly do you expect from a backup keeper? He's been a decent player for us.

In his first season, they were relegated and there was a succession of managers and he lost his place as Felix McGrath oversaw the confirmation of relegation.

Due to his big wages, he was loaned out and so began the rest of his career as the “backup”. A swift fall from grace for the man who had only played in a World Cup final just 3 years before.

As a backup, he was great, particularly under Koeman where he played 36 games in successive seasons for Southampton and Everton. At Saints, he was on loan and deputised well for the injured Fraser Foster. With us, he was brought in as backup to someone who presumably never arrived and then stole the starting slot off Robles. The next season, a big money keeper did arrive and he's been back to dependable backup ever since.

Fulham sold him to us for an undisclosed amount. We can only assume it was small potatoes as they were desperate to get his wages off their books and Stekelenburg was eager to go to whoever would pay him to play in the top flight.

All in all, we got our monies worth. He was one of the best backups we've ever had, more than reliable when needed, and able to push the first choice keeper more than most backups. He also didn't sulk; he clearly trained hard. This was evident every home game where he warmed Pickford up like he was the keeper coach, and he seemed to be a natural to move into the position still held by a “temp” in Alan Kelly, brought in by Unsworth in his first caretaker spell, and under Silva, he was with the U23s.

Cheers, Stek, all the best at Ajax.

Presumably this will mean Lössl getting promoted to full-time deputy. I guess Virginia will be looking for another (hopefully more successful) loan move.

Having a reliable replacement getting woodworm from sitting on the bench is a matter of luck. Usually the best ones are in their mid-thirties and arrive as an emergency signing covering an injury. They stick around when the Number One man returns to form and fitness, eking out a pension before going into coaching.

We'd like to have 2 top-flight keepers. But it isn't always going to happen. Stekelenburg never let us down. I hope the move works well for him.