Interesting read and an interesting player - https://www.whoscored.com/Articles/z0fBTsIzXEuw884vkNH9ig/Show/Daley-Sinkgraven-How-playmaker-became-first-choice-Ajax-left-back::
"Daley Sinkgraven - How playmaker became first choice Ajax left"
Phillip Cocu, the current PSV Eindhoven manager, once quipped that during an illustrious playing career he played in every single outfield position bar right-back. If nothing a testament to his athleticism and footballing acumen. His story, though, is commonplace across the Netherlands, the country which gave birth to total football.
It's normal to see players constantly changing roles as they develop, with one recent example being Daley Sinkgraven, who initially joined Ajax as a technically gifted playmaker, and is now their first choice left-back.
Football is a funny old game. Sinkgraven was essentially a squad player under former boss Frank de Boer, with murmurs of a potential departure (possibly on loan) to gain regular playing time, but he now finds himself in the Amsterdammers starting line-up on a regular basis, albeit not in his natural position.
However, it's not fazed him in the slightest. Instead Sinkgraven is determined to not waste this opportunity of having minutes under his belt and has through sheer force started to thrive in his new surroundings, in the process adding a new dimension to the football being played under Peter Bosz.
It's worth remembering Bosz is no stranger to thinking outside the box. Sinkgraven's comfortableness out wide, as well as being a creative outlet, convinced Bosz he could be converted into the modern full-back, which meant Mitchell Dijks – who served that role during the 2015/16 – became surplus to requirements and has since joined Norwich City on loan for the remainder of this season.
From the onset, it was clear Sinkgraven was a player Bosz was enamoured with, subsequently playing five of his opening six Eredivisie matches in a multitude of roles, before attaining his now fixed position at home to PEC Zwolle last September. Though it's early days, five months on since his transformation, it looks promising at least from an attacking point-of-view. Arthur Numan, who famously was converted into a left-back by Dick Advocaat during his revolutionary phase at PSV in the mid-90s, is best placed to comment.
"He's started well," Numan told Voetbal International. "If he grows into his role, then the world is open to him." The former Dutch international also stressed the importance of tactical disciple in his position, especially when you consider his natural instinct is to be on the front-foot.
The solution to reduce his defensive responsibilities has been to limit the number of times he is left one-v-one against an opposition forward, as it's one area where he is still understandably vulnerable. Nevertheless, he continues to improve with each passing game, and encouraging his endeavour has subsequently led to Ajax changing their shape, which might have been Bosz's intention all along.
If there's one thing to know about Bosz it's that he is a disciple of Johan Cruyff's teachings, which means a commitment to daring and expansive football. Because of Sinkgraven's licence to drift inside, and not just maraud up and down the flank where he's forged a near telepathic relationship with German winger Amin Younes, the 33-time Dutch champions are more or less playing with a midfield diamond.
Bosz, like all Cruyffian's, aims to create ample goalscoring opportunities through retaining possession for large periods, a task made easy for the native of Apeldoorn given the plethora of attacking riches at his disposal. Across his first choice starting eleven there are at least four players who can naturally play in the number 10 role including Lasse Schöne who is now Bosz's 'number six', which sees him sit just in front of the back four, retaining and recycling possession as well as scoring the odd goal here and there.
Ajax, who are chasing a 34th championship and currently five points behind table toppers Feyenoord, lead the division when it comes to number of shots per game (20.3) as well as average possession (59.6%) and short passes per game (489).
Given their fluidity at times it's easy to forget which position Sinkgraven is playing, again highlighting his on-field intelligence, such as positioning himself correctly to regain possession, and when to execute a tackle. He continues to display that acute vision and speed of thought, which initially attracted Ajax's attention, before parting with €7m for his services in January 2015, as well as combining individual skill and playmaking with stamina.
Eloquent and down-to-earth, the 21-year-old is putting everything into what is currently being expected of him. After 19 league appearances – with 14 coming at left-back – he effortlessly moves between defence (2.5 tackles and 2.4 interception per game) and attack (1 key pass per game and 4 assists).
His strongest asset remains his distribution of the ball, averaging 41.6 passes per game with a success rate of 85.6%, which is another major reason why Bosz wants him in his side. Moreover, he's turning into somewhat of a lucky charm, as it is interesting to note Ajax haven't lost a single game with him playing in defence (11 wins and three draws).
He's missed their last two league outings, as well as the Europa League game against Legia Warsaw sandwiched in the middle, but they've coped registering three wins, though it's fair to say once he's fully recovered Bosz will plant him back into his starting line-up. Little by little his reputation grows. Ambitious is a more than suitable word to describe him – his dream is to one day play for Barcelona – the burden of responsibility playing for a club of Ajax's stature is something he's taken in his stride showing maturity beyond his years. In the process he's becoming a popular figure in the dressing room as well as on the terraces, and being a vital cog will no doubt accelerate his maturation.
In truth, he couldn't be in a better environment, the knowledge gained working under a manager of Bosz's reputation will no doubt make him a more all-round player. Although the chance of an international call-up anytime soon is remote, and time will tell whether he returns to the deep-lying forward role he still craves, it doesn't change the fact that his future looks Bright.
