First summer signing – Ivan Mesík
The club do keep these names quiet, don’t they.
25-year old Slovakian left sided defender has signed from Dutch club Heracles Almelo on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
Mesík has obviously been on the radar for a while, and his signing shows that the club are looking beyond these shores as they build a squad for the future.
Mesík played 63 games for Heracles in the Eredivise over the last two seasons. Prior to that he played football in Italy with Pescara and Norway with Nordsjælland. He has 3 Slovak international caps.
Looks as if he can play left centre back or left back. An area we have struggled in and spells the end of Gillesphey one would think.
It’s a step up for Mesík but the Eredivisie is a strong division with a lot of young talent from across the world within it, let us hope we have plucked one of those out.
Heracles were relegated last season but Mesík’s stats stood up very well.
Rich Cawley was quick to talk to Ivan: “I think he (Jones) knows what he can expect from me. I really can say he described me very well – he had a very good analysis. That is why I’ve been impressed.
“My main strength is aggression. I like duels and to go sometimes fully to the ball. I like to tackle – but in a good way. I’m trying to play aggressively but also bring the ball up when there is open space. I like to dribble the ball to open the gate, to play between the lines. I’m a modern type of player.” (more)
Welcome to The Valley, Ivan.
With Ivan signed and paper talk about Koumetio, I am concerned about Josh Edwards and his recovery from last season’s bad injury. I wish the club would update us on that.
Our first Slovakian?
It seems he played mostly at left-back last season a position we struggled to cover once Josh Edwards got injured and we need left-sided centre back cover as Amari’i Bell probably isn’t going to play the entire season. The options we had as cover – eg Macauley Gillesphey did their best but struggled with the speed and physicality of the Championship.
On paper this looks a good signing and we have him in the house for most of the pre-season. It also allows us to free up a centre-back for transfer, so I assume Alex Mitchell will be on his way once a deal with Plymouth has been arranged.
It seems that we paid a fee – as always undisclosed – maybe the rumours that SE7 partners were looking to cut their spending are just rumours?