Glenn Loovens

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Cardiff City look to ‘The Loovenator’ - WalesOnline

Cardiff City look to ‘The Loovenator’

Mar 20 2008 by Steve Tucker, Western Mail
HE is known by many at Ninian Park as “The Loovenator” for his no nonsense, uncompromising approach to the game.
Indeed, during his near three seasons with the Bluebirds Dutch centre-half Glenn Loovens has established himself as an integral part of the City line-up becoming almost indispensable in the heart of defence.
Indeed, amazing statistics show the 24-year-old has a claim to being perhaps the most important player manager Dave Jones currently has at his disposal.
In the Championship this season forget the likes of Joe Ledley, Paul Parry and Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink, if Loovens does not play Cardiff do not win. It is as simple as that.
Of the nine games the Dutchman has missed through injury or suspension this campaign, Cardiff have managed just five draws and four defeats.
By contrast, when Loovens is present, the Bluebirds have had 13 wins, 11 draws and lost just four times. It was a similar story last season too.
Whether paired in the Cardiff defence with Darren Purse or more often with Roger Johnson, the pair are now seemingly the established first choice, Loovens emerges as one of Cardiff’s most consistent performers.
The question is, of course, is it just coincidence or is Loovens so absolutely brilliant City just cannot do without him?
“Those are your words, but you can write that if you like,” said Loovens, with a laugh.
“No, I just try to do my best the same as Roger and Darren do. It is lucky for me if we seem to do better when I am playing.
“I think me and Roger play well together, although the first two years here I was playing with Pursey and we did well.
“Now Roger has found his way in and it is going well so far and let’s hope we can keep it going.
“Me and Roger know each other. We know what each other can and can’t do within a game. We have a feeling for each other’s games, but I did have that with Darren too.
“This season I was injured for a few games early on. I came back and I played about four games in 10 days. It was crazy. After that I had a few bad games and I thought the gaffer did well to take me out and give me a bit of a rest.
“I worked on myself a bit then and feel I came back and played as well as ever.”
Loovens arrived at Ninian Park in July 2005 from Feyenoord for a season on loan after failing to make an impact at the Dutch First Division side, despite appearances for Holland at U21 level
After impressing Jones he was snapped up on a three-year deal the following summer for a fee reportedly around £250,000, surely one of the best pieces of business the club has done in recent years.
Since then Loovens has emerged as a tough-tackling, resolute pillar of strength in the Cardiff back four and a man as honest off the pitch as he is on it.
While most blamed the sending off of Hasselbaink last weekend for City’s failure to take three points against Colchester, Loovens saw things differently.
“No, I think we were already poor first half,” he admitted. “Colchester got a lot of chances. I don’t think we defended the second ball well. They got away a few times.
“But I suppose it was going to get tougher when we had a man sent off. I didn’t think it was a sending off to be honest, but that’s the way things go sometimes. The way we played I think we had to take the point.”
It was all a bit of an anti-climax following the Bluebirds superb display at Middlesbrough in the FA Cup quarter-final the week before, but Loovens sees a reason for the contradiction in form, adding, “At Middlesbrough, they wanted to play and it is better for us. We get time. If you look at Colchester, then things are very scrappy. Long balls and you are fighting for your life out there. It is a totally different game.
“That is why I think we always play better if teams want to play against us instead of lumping it forward.
“I am not saying we are like a Premiership side, but at least we try to play a bit.”
With Cardiff’s play-off credentials now looking decidedly distant the club’s upcoming semi-final clash with Barnsley looks City’s best route to glory this season.
Like most youngsters in Holland, Loovens grew up watching the FA Cup final and he admits it is amazing to find himself heading to Wembley next month.
He admits his mind does drift to dreams of FA Cup glory, but insists he and his team-mates remain fully focused on their league campaign.
Although that is when he is not taking calls and texts from mates back home about the “big one”.
“At the beginning of the season the league is always number one now we are doing so well in the cup, of course, then the cup is becoming important to us,” added Loovens.
“I still believe the league is as important as the cup, but, if we are being realistic, it is going to be very, very tough to reach the play-offs now.
“Of course you think about the cup now and then, but the game against Bristol City now is the most important to us. That is the way it must be. I don’t think anyone is going to say, ‘I am not making this challenge or going for this ball because I might be injured for the cup.’ No way. We are not like that.
“We go for everything and want to win every ball. The boys are focused.
“The cup is a big game, but that is a while away yet, although the chance to play at Wembley will be amazing and hopefully we will get to play there a few times more this season.
“Sure the FA Cup is very popular in Holland. I have had a massive reaction, people calling me and texting me asking me for tickets of course.
“But the support from home has been very good.”
And if Loovens can keep his performances for Cardiff at the same high level the support from the terraces at Ninian Park for “The Loovenator” will not be too shabby either.

an interesting read

 

Sounds like he would have rather joined Rangers if they had European Football

 

is he in glasgow today for talks ?

 

you have a nasty streak and a very tasteless attitude

firsy it was the Tottenham JEWS, mow it MIDGETS.

 

What has my dislike of Cannavaro has to do with accusations like that??

 

I think he'll be a good signing! Looking forward to seeing him in action

 

He's quoted in the daily hun as saying he should be available for sunday, as long as contract negotiations go ok!!!

Does anyone else think if the darkside were still in europe he would have opted for them instead?

 

Read post #262 mate

 

you always put a bad spin on things. can't you just be happy? or is it because he isn't Croatian or German?

 

No, I just don't like short CB-s. I'd like Boulahrouz, or even Mathijsen, but this fella is too short.

 

When is he due then ppl

 

so you rate Mathijsen over Cannavaro? i say again, i take your comments with a pinch of salt.

 

Don't worry, he looks more like 6' 3 on the pitch, trust me

 

This is not the Spanish Primera, short CB-s are a liability here, unless we get a 2m tall CB to cover for him...

 

I'd rather have one of the young lads playing for the shirt get the chance than another foreigner coming for a nice paycheck and a chance to put himself in the shop window of europes elite. yes, i am rather pessimistic on ALL transfers due to some of the dummies we've bought in the recent past.

 

Leone, just wait until you see him play before you criticise him. Height isnt the end all and be all of a good CB, never will be.

 

Yes but for the 3 dummies we have got maybe 2 gems but that is football. If it takes us 5 players to get 2 gems then Im happy. You forget that the first 11 except McGeady has be brought in or brought through by WGS so Im happy with his transfer dealings.

I would doubt that he is on massive wages compared to some others at the club.

I will be watching and listening right up until the 31st august to see who else we bring in and I will back every player who gets the chance.

I dont know how much will be done on the last day of the window as we are playing the huns earlier in the day

 

Maybe they arent good enough at the moment. He'll be on a 3-4 year contract, anyone that wants to buy him off us will have to pay more than we did for him. Whats wrong with that?

You sound abit racist with that 'another foreigner' comment.

 

Has anyone thought for a minute he may be used as a left back? He started off his career at LB and part of me thinks that's the reason GS has signed him. It actually pains me to say it after all the criticism i've levelled at him, but Gary Caldwell was one of our best players last Sunday and for the end of last season. I wouldn't drop him with the form he's in.

I think Strachan will use Loovens at left back

 

I didn't even realise he was left footed. That is a good possibility.

As for Caldwell I am in aggreement. Him and Brown were our Best performers on Sunday.

Maybe he will be left back then have to wait and see