Agony Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 Belgian joins RedsUnited have confirmed the signing of defender Ritchie De Laet from Stoke City.The 20 year-old Belgian joined Stoke from Royal Antwerp in August 2007 but he did not feature for the Potters' first team, only being named as a substitute on a few occasions.The defender played for Bournemouth on trial last summer (July 2008) and played in a 4-1 friendly defeat against Portsmouth before returning to Stoke.In October 2008, he joined non-league Wrexham on loan. He made three appearances in the Blue Square Premier, only for his stint to be cut short by surgery on a double hernia.Now fit again, De Laet will hope to make an impression at United, initially in the reserves - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's assistant, Warren Joyce, is a former Royal Antwerp manager.The Manchester Senior Cup tie at Stockport County on Monday 19 January could offer De Laet his first chance of match action for the Reds.http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid=...;newsid=6624828 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flojo Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 Hold on let me get this straight, Stoke are letting a 20 year old player go that isn't playing for them to Man Utd? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Q Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 Hold on let me get this straight, Stoke are letting a 20 year old player go that isn't playing for them to Man Utd?Doesnt make sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FANTA Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 Royal Antwerp are one of our feeder clubs.so i'd guess he was brought into Stoke on the interim until all his papers were sorted and what not.(i think) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HangTheDJ Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 stoke and united have done quite a bit of business in the past havent theygotta be some sort of agreement there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tee Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 *baffed*anyone hered of him b4 ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 probly just doing the player a favour getting him fit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The King Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 *baffed* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lieutenant Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 Never heard of the kid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Planet Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 Allow being a feeder club to a fellow league team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capricious Beats Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 Obviously Stoke signed him, and this Joyce guy has recommended him to SAF so they have bought him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kompressor Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 He was playing in Non league earlier this season so who knows what the deal is with this transfer the fee is performance related so i suppose there is no real risk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agony Posted January 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 United have followed up the acquisition of Serbian starlets Zoran Tosic and Adem Ljajic with a surprise move for Stoke City’s 20 year-old right-back Ritchie de Laet on an initial free transfer.The Belgian right-back didn’t make a single first-team appearance in his 18 months at the Britannia Stadium but has today signed a three year deal with the Reds, who are believed to have negotiated a deal whereby they will only pay the Potters a transfer fee if certain performance clauses are met - de Laet making a first-team appearance for example, or perhaps signing a new contract.De Laet arrived at Stoke in the summer of 2007 from United’s feeder club in Belgium, Royal Antwerp, in a deal worth roughly £100,000. The Antwerp native came through the youth ranks at his hometown club and made his debut in the 2006-07 season, making nine appearances in the league and playing alongside (among others) then United loanee Ryan Shawcross, who he would of course go on to team up with at Stoke. The young defender, capable anywhere in a back four but most at home in the right-back berth, clearly did enough to impress Stoke boss Tony Pulis and secure a move to England, but spent most of the 2007/08 season in the reserves. Loan spells at Bournemouth and Wrexham followed in the first half of this season, the latter being cut short so de Laet could undergo a hernia operation.It’s fair to say that that’s not the sort of CV you’d perhaps expect from a United signing, even one so young. So why have we bought him? I guess the answer to that ultimately is that there’s nothing to lose. De Laet will start life at Old Trafford in the reserve side, where defenders are somewhat thin on the ground at the moment - if nothing else, he’s an extra body for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to call upon in what promises to be a busy second half of the campaign. There is also a connection between de Laet and Solskjaer’s assistant, Warren Joyce - Joyce was manager at Antwerp back in 2006/07 and it was he who gave the youngster his breakthrough at Bosuil.With that in mind, it’s likely there has been a recommendation of sorts from the Reds’ assistant reserve coach, enough to prompt Sir Alex to take a chance on de Laet. The deal United appear to have in place with Stoke ensures that if de Laet fails to make the grade - which has to be the most likely scenario - they won’t be out of pocket, whilst being presumably only too happy to make certain payments to Stoke if the young Belgian surprises everyone and makes a name for himself in Manchester.One to watch with interest, with a possible debut being pencilled in for the January 19th reserve clash with Stockport County in the Manchester Senior Cup. RITCHIE DE LAET PROFILEBorn: 28th November 1988In: Antwerp, BelgiumPosition: Right-back/defenceHeight: 6′ 1″ (186cm)Weight: 12st 2lbs (77.0kg)Previous Clubs: Stoke City, Royal Antwerp, Wrexham (loan), Bournemouth (loan) Being from Antwerp, I can clarify this a little.Ritchie was held in very high regard at Royal Antwerp FC. When he came into the first team, he did a good job and his talent was obvious, but because Antwerp was failing yet another time to promote from the second division (= championship), they quickly realised they wouldn't be able to hold onto him for much longer. Also because Ritchie had a bad relationship with the general manager at Antwerp. Not that that means much, the GM isn't exactly a popular figure at the club.Since RAFC have quite some debts, they were prepared to sell him and when Stoke offered 300,000 euros for him, it was an easy decision. It may not sound much, but you have to understand that clubs in Belgium's second division work with budgets of around 1 to 2 million euros, so roughly a fifth of your entire budget is quite a lot of money. Even though he only played about ten games for the club, the fans were sad to see him go and gave him a big applause at his send-off: Why exactly Stoke wanted him? He was supposed to be Carl Hoefkens' (long term) replacement at right back when he went to WBA. But as some of you pointed out, Pulis seems to favour a specific type of player, and De Laet simply isn't a huge black guy.What can I tell you about him as a player? He's originally a central defender, but can play at right back without any problems and can hold his own at left back, although he's better as a defensive midfielder than at left back.In Belgium he's still considered a good prospect. When Nicolas Lombaerts (Zenit) had to pull out of the Olympics because of injury and it looked like Hamburg wouldn't release Kompany, De Laet was a serious candidate to go to the Olympics, but since Kompany did go in the end, Ritchie didn't make the squad.Honestly, I can't see him making the first team, but then again, when O'Shea was at Antwerp, nobody thought he would make the United first team (or even a Premier League first team) and he's made over 300 appearances so far, while Chadwick looked to be a real player at Antwerp ...When Ritchie was still at Antwerp, he was a back-up for Jonny Evans and Danny Simpson first and when they went to Sunderland in the winter, Ryan Shawcross and David Gray replaced them. By the end of the season, he had cemented his place in the first eleven and played 5 of the 6 games in the play-offs in central defence with Shawcross, with De Laet looking the better player of the two and Gray not getting a game anymore. Why he hasn't made the step up like Ryan did is obviously in part due to injuries and the fact he has had limited opportunities. If there are other reasons, I don't know. Belgian defender talks of surprise move to Old Traffordby Martin [email protected] de Laet spoke for the first time about his fairytale move to Manchester United and admitted: “I’m still in shock.”The 20-year-old defender, who joined Stoke from Belgian outfit Royal Antwerp in a £100,000 package in August 2007, has completed an extraordinary move to Old Trafford on loan until the end of the season.De Laet, like goalkeeper Ben Foster before him, joins United after a loan spell at Wrexham and after failing to make a single first-team appearance for City.“I’m really shocked, to be honest,” he said.“We have talked about it for two weeks and, at first, I didn’t think it would go through.“I first heard about their interest when my agent rang and said do you fancy Manchester United? I thought he was joking.”Then, a week after that, on New Year’s Day, he called me and said the two clubs were trying to get an agreement done. So it was coming closer and closer.“Then yesterday I was asleep when Stoke called me to sign some papers. I still can’t believe it. It’s a dream come true.“The family are all happy, of course. They could not believe it at first. My Dad had to stop work and went home because he couldn’t believe it.”He revealed that United were taking over the remaining six months of his contract at Stoke – and have promised a two-or three-year deal at Old Trafford if he impressesbetween now and the summer. “Even if they don’t take me,” said De Laet, “there will be six months at United on my CV, so I’ll find something.”He revealed that United’s assistant reserve coach Warren Joyce – De Laet’s coach at Antwerp – was instrumental in his astonishing move north.“He’s probably quite a big influence,” he continued, “and was pushing to get me over there. I have to thank him.” De Laet was due to meet Sir Alex Ferguson and his new team-mates for the first time in training today – but does he really believe he can hit the jackpot at United? “I think so. I need to believe in myself,” he said.“If you don’t, then you shouldn’t be going up there. But I believe I can.“I don’t know what it will be like playing against those names in training, I will have to let you know. It’s just brilliant. I will just try to be calm and not be nervous. I will be nervous, but I cannot show it.”He knows he will be consigned to the reserves, at least initially, but is already dreaming about a possible debut at Wembley in the Carling Cup Final.“Yes, hopefully,” he grinned. “But no, I think that’s probably a bit too early. I will just try to do my best in reserve games and, if I do get the chance, that will be brilliant.”Manager Tony Pulis said the club had no option other than to release De Laet once United expressed an interest.“It’s a dream move for the kid,” he said. “It’s been a bit stop-start for him here. It’s difficult for a young lad to come from the continent and settle quickly. He’s a smashing kid and never been a minute’s problem.“It’s a great opportunity for him to go to work hard and see what he can do. The thing for him is to knuckle down and really work hard.“When Manchester United come calling, it’s very difficult to say no to the kiddie.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yadunknojz09 Posted January 12, 2009 Report Share Posted January 12, 2009 Another player who aint guna be in the first team for years to come.Safe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avon Barksdale Posted May 24, 2009 Report Share Posted May 24, 2009 WOWStarting today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Planet Posted May 24, 2009 Report Share Posted May 24, 2009 Any Jonathan Greening wannabe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gambino Posted May 24, 2009 Report Share Posted May 24, 2009 Thought he performed well today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kompressor Posted May 24, 2009 Report Share Posted May 24, 2009 He gave a good account of himself today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FANTA Posted May 24, 2009 Report Share Posted May 24, 2009 indeed.gutted for Fabio though.seems to have no luck with injuries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kompressor Posted May 24, 2009 Report Share Posted May 24, 2009 To be honest it seems like whenever him or Rafael step onto the pitch the leave with some kinda injury Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avon Barksdale Posted May 24, 2009 Report Share Posted May 24, 2009 Qualitysurprise signing of the seasonwell done lad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gambino Posted May 24, 2009 Report Share Posted May 24, 2009 Was Fabio actually Injured then, I thought I heard the commentators saying they were suprised Fabio wasn't featuring today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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