After announcing the departure of Maximilian Wittek for football in Germany, Vitesse announced the signing of Mica Pinto. The 30-year-old left-back did not renew his contract with Sparta Rotterdam and was free on the market. With the Arnhemmers, Mica Pinto signed a two-year contract.
“Mica Pinto was our first choice after Maximilian Wittek left. He is a builder full back, with excellent physical conditioning and an excellent passing quality. He is a group athlete. He knows the Eredivisie very well and will be a key player in helping us achieve our goals throughout this season,” said Vitesse director of football Benjamin Schmedes.
Welkom, Mica!💛🖤
✍️ 2025#Vitesse #Welkompinto— Vitesse (@MijnVitesse) August 14, 2023
“I have already played against Vitesse several times and now I am very proud to wear the shirt of this important club. After a few successful seasons with Sparta Rotterdam, this was a step I wanted to take. I had good conversations with the club officials and with the coach, Phillip Cocu. I am extremely anxious to start wearing the Vitesse shirt. I will deliver everything on the pitch for the club” said Mica Pinto.
With Sparta Rotterdam’s shirt, Mica Pinto reached the milestone of 90 matches played and four goals scored. He also played for Fortuna Sittard and played 50 games with just one goal scored. In the Eredivisie alone, he has played 120 matches. He is an athlete with a lot of experience in Dutch football.
The new kid has arrived on the scene. Gustavo hamer scored on his debut for shieffied united and what a goal from outside of the box. when you score these kind of goals defintely you are quality. Lost though 2-1 to forest. He has got dutch passport with Brazilian heritage and plays on the right of Midfield.
I did say keep a tabs on him last season when he was instrumental in getting Coventry city to the playoffs for promotion in championship. which they failed off course.
has that veratti /barella esque
Frimpong continue his form from last season. Start the new season with a goal and an assist.
Micky Van de Ven
Looked a bit nervy in the early stages and lost Fernandes behind him for a big chance for United in the first half. However, he grew into the game and a couple of dribbles past United attackers showed that. Amazing to think he’s only 22 and has been at the club just over a week yet has been thrust into the centre of a previously struggling defence in two big opening matches and has helped raise their level. 7
Sven Botman – 7
Relished the physical battle with Haaland and did well aerially. However, there were occasions when Botman couldn’t cope with the Norwegian’s pace and movement.
Jeremie Frimpong, 9 – Man of the Match for Bayer Leverkusen this afternoon. 8 goals and 9 assists in 37 games under Xabi Alonso last season and already off the mark this season. Opened the scoring in the 24th minute and assisted Florian Wirtz for his first of the season just after the hour mark. Bayer Leverkusen have done exceptionally well to keep hold of the Dutchman despite interest.
Watched leverkusen vs Leipzig
Leipzig played 4-4-2 with Simons on the right wing. A lot of action was centered on the the opposite flank as leverkusen were using frimpong to build up attack and Leipzig as well using olmo, Werner and openda on the same flank.
Simons on the right hardly so much action and was often cutting inside as Openda was often to deep and had to allow for Hendrich at RB to venture forward and come up with crosses.
Nothing to be worried about as on ball he was always technical and creative. Eventually after he adopts to playing on the right it will help him to balance his overall play when switching to 10 in future. Or in NT. Otherwise it’s evident he another of those whose has his stronghold on the left cutting inside.
This was discussed and I remember mentioning eredivisie was step down for him and he should have gone to a more competitive league which he now is getting a feel of it.
Frimpong one goal and assist , it’s just a shame that koeman ignores him and you just have to admit it’s just another blunder from KNVB to get him back. Eventually things will back fire on him for not making the right choices. Bosz 3-4-3 is all written over what’s needed to take this team to another level especially with payer options. I said this before leverkusen and Alonso is still using the blue print which bosz implemented and left at leverkusen. Alonso has just strengthen the formation with new incomiNT players
It seems kenny Tete could be going to Bayern Munich if pavard leaves for serie A
Crazy how Dutch coaches are so good in creating their own problems.
Take the case of Ten Hag in United. This man has at disposal some of the best players money can buy but chooses to resort only to the familiar.
First it was Weghorst who anyone could conclude is a step or three below a united level. Then came in Martinez and Anthony who are all decent players but far from the best he could have got if only he was capable of looking outside of his orbit of comfortability.
Anthony on YouTube clips may be exciting but after coaching him for that long, surely ETH should have known its more flick and tricks than substance.
Bringing in Onana is okay if you’ve really made up your mind to play out of the back.
What is not okay is trying to make united the replica of an Ajax side. Koeman failed at that in Barcelona and so did LVG.
But the learning of lessons and internal reflection seem to be a tough prospect for Dutch masters.
And so the beat goes on…
@orangutan – I see your point and agree with some of it but think you need to look at context.
Martinez has been a good signing. When you consider ben white, laporte, fofana, hernandez, maguire (even sanchez was close to the fee of martinez) etc all cost more than martinez, you can see theres some decent value.
Weghorst was below the level but was basically free. Im not sure there are any other free options that wouldve provided the depth they needed with his mentality. He’s not good enough for united but he provided value for free (even if most of his value was just to give a breather to other guys). Everyone saw that UTD would spend the money in the summer on a proper striker so weghorst was just a temporary stop gap.
Antony signing looks to be extremely overpriced. Good points on this one but we will see if he pans out.
I think ten hag is doing exactly what he was brought in to do. Create a clear identity for Man U who hasnt had one since fergie. Hes made bold decisions and he achieved top 4 which is quite the accomplishment based on what he inherited and the competition.
Watched Everton vs Villa. Wanted to see danjuma. Came on for injured Calvin lewin around 35’. Didn’t see much ball in the first half but came alive in second half when Iwobi went off injured and he shifted to the left. caused problems for villa defense with his quick feet but nobody were on hand to react to his cross balls. Did have one big chance when in the first half playing as striker when played through on the right but the angle was too tight. Looked good on ball overall
Unfortunately for him Everton were already 2-0 down when he came on and villa went on win the game 4-0
For sure danjuma will have made coach Sean dyce something think about as he was more lively then iwobi.
Everton needs to sign a good striker. Danjuma is best if deployed on the left so that he can bring the strikers into the game.
Can be a good super sub for NT
PSV continues to make good moves; Schouten last week, now Dest. If Sangare leaves as rumored, Schouten can step into that spot.
PSV looks like have done the best business in the transfer window buy getting proven players. Some critics came out and said PSV are buying trash out players of Ajax but they don’t realize when it comes Ajax it is all business.
If Either of sangare and bakayoko don’t depart, PSV will be favorites for tilte this season. The depth factor in every position plus the coach.
Noppert to feyenoord incoming. This is very good for him and NT
Watched Milan vs bologna. Good game. Both Milan goals came in the first half and Reijnders assist was very simple. Met a good cross from pulisic on the far end ( box) and played it back into the center ( box) where Giroud was on hand to pounce on it. As a 10 he hardly controlled or dedicated the play. Passes obviously were good when he was involved especially in counters otherwise like I said he was just running and pushing into spaces anticipating balls which often came.
I have said this before veerman, Van den bommen, Gravenberch, koopmeiners are all in the same boat. They like to build up from back where they have space and time to move around. At 10 they are not able to hold to ball as they are not technical enough and the defensive line close them off easily
Reijnders best position is CM and I don’t think he is above veerman and neither he is a 10.
Zirkzee was in thick of things as well for bologna. Looked good on ball but didnt got those moments where he could have being decisive. Work rate was tops. Need to improve on his finishing to get more recognition. Van hooijdonk replaced him late in the game.
@Wilson, good points about the group of mf’s you mentioned. Veerman’s next two matches against Rangers will be a good test. Last year (playing the 10) he got pushed around and couldn’t handle the constant pressure. It affected his whole game; he wasn’t good defensively and he seemed to lack fight in the possession battles. I’m hoping that after being at PSV for an entire year, playing in a deeper position, and playing for Bosz, and being exposed to the NT, he’ll have learned what he has to do to be most effective in the games against better opponents than the Utrechts and Vitesses. But we’ll see. All those guys you mentioned need to show they can handle all the responsibilities and necessities of playing in a CM role. There is a spot in the NT’s midfield waiting to be claimed.
Howler from sangare at the back and rangers punish PSV who have had everything in the first half of the game. 2/3 of posession. Dest at LB looked good linking with lang who was heavily marked, veerman pulled the strings as ever provided outlets from the MF.good game from him
Shame they were caught napping twice and rangers showed how it shud be done. Need to take chances if they want to win in L2.
Rangers just defended and waited for those chances to come by.
Hard fought draw. PSV look thin in CB position and will have to invest in one more CB.
Not sure what happening with EL Ghazi, experienced and to lesser technical guy but warming the bench. Til on as impact player was awful.
Saibari and bakayoko missed a lot of good opportunities. Still not there yet but then if that’s the case why not use them as impact players. At eredivisie level it’s ok but at CL it’s not acceptable unless you are going there to collect eggs.
Back to the drawing board for bosz
It seems kenny Tete could be going to Bayern Munich if pavard leaves for serie A