Agent of Andries Noppert, Henk Timmer, had his doubts about Robin van Persie’s decision ignore his client at sc Heerenveen. While the Dutch international is now first choice at the Frisian club again, the incident still played on the mind of the down-to-earth goalkeeper.
When asked by ESPN how happy Noppert is in Friesland, Timmer has his doubts. “He’s a bit less happy now, I think. They’re not playing well and are in the lower regions. But in general he’s very happy, because he signed a three-year contract and is the first keeper of Heerenveen.”
For a while manager Van Persie preferred Mickey van der Hart between the sticks. Timmer spoke on the toll of that decision on the 6 ft 8 stopper.
“What did I think when Van Persie chose Van der Hart? That it was the wrong choice. I talk a lot with Andries and of course he was unhappy. He made a few mistakes, but in the end he can’t have forgotten how to keep goal.”
“If I were Heerenveen, I would never have put him on the bench,” the former goalkeeper of Ajax and Feyenoord, among others, continued.
“Ultimately, you have to put him back in the line-up, because he is better than the one who is in the line-up. Then you have two dissatisfied goalkeepers… If you make another mistake, you will continue to have that discussion. But I still think Andries is a fantastic guy and a very good goalkeeper and in the end he will get through this, you know.”
