Big Jan not concerned with individual criticism.
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink is a footballing enigma wrapped up in a paradox and locked in Pandora’s box. On one hand you have a player who is blessed with some footballing talent, who has scored regularly in both Holland and Scotland (one goal for every two performances in the SPL). On the other hand you have a player whose laid back approach to football has a lot of people accusing him of being lazy or not interested. This is the aspect of the player that most of the media latch onto.
When he was asked about his current form, Big Jan responded "I don’t like to talk about myself that much. I do my thing and as long as I’m appreciated by the management staff, then it’s good. The first thing for me is the team. You always hope to do better but sometimes there are games where you don’t do so good. But I try to work hard for the team."
This notion has been closer to the truth in recent weeks more so than it was at periods nearer the start of the season when Jan looked to be as disinterested as a ball boy. He didn’t appear at times to want to get involved in the play unless it was delivered to his feet. More recently however Jan has looked more interested and has looked more able to contribute to the build up play, something that could be put down to him having had enough time to recover from injury.
Vennegoor also commented on some of the flak that he has taken this season for some of his more anonymous ‘performances’ "I’ve said before that you have ups and downs in the season," he said. "There is always that discussion [among supporters]. It happened in Holland also. You can be the kind of player that some people love or the kind that some people don’t like as much. For me, I just do my thing, play for the team, score goals and be important.
"It’s difficult – you can have an opinion and write that about me. As a player, you can’t make friends with everybody. You hope so, and you try, but there’s always going to be a discussion, and everyone will have an opinion. Maybe it’s better that people talk about you than don’t talk about you."
Gordon Strachan is one man who is fully supportive of the big striker and also hinted that the strikers tally skinny frame can inspire unfounded criticism.
"As a team, and as coaches, we feel better when Jan’s in the team," Strachan said. "He thinks like a footballer, he’s got the touch of a good footballer, and his goal-scoring record is fantastic. I also know that other teams we play against know what a good player he is. When he’s in the tunnel with us we know we’ll be all right.On the subject of his shape, Strachan said "The thing Jan suffers from is a bit like how it was for Billy Stark, or even Alan Hansen to a certain extent. Some people don’t relate to the big, ganglier types, so they can be the whipping boys now and then. But the boys here love Jan. He’s a real player, and let’s be fair – if you keep getting picked for Holland, then you’re all right, eh?"
Jan has been asked to wear the Captain’s armband in recent weeks, an honour that the big amiable Dutchman is proud of. "It was a great honour for me to be captain of Celtic and I hope someone took a picture of it because it would be framed after I stop playing football," he said. "I was captain once at PSV and I was very proud. It means a lot to me. It is obvious who the captain is here [Stephen McManus] but it was still an honour."
Jan was keen to state that it doesn’t matter who is scoring the goals and taking the chances as long as they are being created and that the team performance is more important than individual plaudits. He said "As for me, I don’t say that I [must get] so many goals. If the team scores 40 goals and I score ten and the team become champions then it’s good for me. At the end of the season, we will see what happens. Scotty is doing a very good job and is helping us as a team."
So lets hope that Jan continues to contribute more to the team than he has done to date, and lets hope that the new found ability to pass our way to goal on the deck rather than trying to force JVH to play a ‘target man’ role that has clearly not suited him.
Yours in Celtic
Clydebuilt