Questioning Steijn’s impact: doubts linger at Feyenoord

In the bustling De Kuip stadium, a restless Sem Steijn steps onto the pitch in a Feyenoord shirt, yet the attacking midfielder has yet to make a convincing impression. He arrived in Rotterdam as captain but now finds his place in the starting lineup uncertain, sparking debate among pundits.

FC Twente-watcher Leon ten Voorde says Steijn has not done anything wrong, emphasizing that the player’s struggles are not a result of personal failings. The comment was made .

The Tubantia journalist added that Steijn received a lot of criticism last year and did not always play well. He was long‑injured, but before his injury he had scored eight goals; adding the half‑season could have taken him to fifteen or sixteen goals in his first year at Feyenoord.

Kenneth Perez, a Danish football analyst, disagrees, arguing that at clubs like Feyenoord, Ajax or PSV, goals alone are no longer enough. He says a player must also be able to integrate well and fulfil all aspects of play, something he claims was also lacking at Twente.

Perez continued, noting that Steijn’s success at Twente was largely due to his prolific scoring, a situation similar to that of Zerrouki. He called the suggestion that eight goals is acceptable “indicative” and stressed that teamwork is essential at a top club, even referencing Tomasson’s limited contribution.

The contrasting views highlight the heightened expectations placed on players moving to a top Dutch side, where scoring must be complemented by overall play and cohesion.