Another Oranje becomes a Blue

And there you go… Not good enough for Ajax… Another one of those late blossomers… Stam, Ooijer, Boulah… Congrats!

Posted from  Australia

funny, the list of ‘late blossomers’are defenders only.. (though Boula is only 24),
you reckon it takes longer to become a decent defender than to become a decent striker???

greetz

Posted from  Netherlands

I would think so Goose. A single mistake for a defender often means a goal. Experience takes time.

Nice observation

Posted from  Canada

He will make a big time in London

Posted from  Australia

The problem in Holland is, we all focus on the talented, technical guys in youth games. Defending is not an art in Holland. It’s a necessity. You need some bloke at the back, so in youth games, it’s the least talented or the more introvert guys who are told: you play in defense. And all kudos, attention, extra training sessions are given to the talented strikers. It’s some sort of double barreled gun. We do not focus on defending as an artform like they do in Italy and England and we spoil the strikers and forwards before they actually amount to something. Heaps of examples there… Van Persie (came good), van der Meijde (did not do good), vd Vaart (came around), Bryan Roy, Bolo Zenden… It’s typical for the likes of Stam, Boulah, Ooijer, Greene to be totally neglected until they put in some consistent performances at lesser clubs… Just look at Stam’s career and the road he took… Kampen FC, Cambuur, Willem II, PSV… Too bad really that he has to play for Ajax now

Posted from  Australia

Good defending is an art - must be able to cut off angles, tackle cleanly.

But what important to Oranje is defence is where great counter-attacks start. Oranje used to have one or two defenders (De Boer) who did that superbly. Either with a smart pass to the midfield, or a booming blast to the forwards.

Worried that Khalid won’t get playing time in London, though. Had grown to like Hamburg.

Oh well….

Posted from  United States

@Jan, ofcourse its also the case that (esp. in Holland) we have a lot of defenders who started in midfield or even attack, like vanBronckhorst, Greene, Ooijer,Reiziger (remember him), this has some advantages: these players are not afraid to go into attack and are able to handle the ball well, there good football players, BUT it shows that defending is underrated in Holland as you say Jan.. I always have this feeling that with us its almost a crime to be a defender, and to concentrate on defending only…..

but ourdefence looks ok right now, think they really played a decent WC..

@Samuel, I second your worries about Boula and the times he will play, interesting fact: just after Marco became bondscoach he told the press he would only start with players who play regulary(?) for their club, now he broke his words a couple of times already, will he keep his word now if Boula doesnt get to play that much at Chelsea… (btw. Robben played very well yesterday)

greetz

Posted from  Netherlands

Robben is incredible. Really wish he wouldn’t dive so much though. He’s actually the one, goose who I think would thrive as a midfielder as well.

Posted from  United States

@true SK, he shouldnt dive that much, hope he has learned, he gets bood at almost every ground in England cause of the diving…

not so sure about Robben playing on midield, dont you think he lacks the fysic?? How about Robben playing in a position right behind the striker??

greetz

Posted from  Netherlands

I’ve been watching Robben closely the last few games he’s played (WC and Chelsea) I really havent seem he make a blatant dive, and he has really had some shocking calls made against him from the referee… remember portugal…

Posted from  Denmark

@PeterV, agree, noticed it as well,
but the problem is that the damage is already done, if the referee has any doubt he will never give Robben the benefit of the doubt… hope there’s still time left for him to change this around….

hope others will folow his exaple.. like my all time favo player.. Ronaldo..

greetz

Posted from  Netherlands

Seems dutch players are moving to england after lanzaat, kuyt, boularouz and kalou(nearly dutch), ooijer now moves to blackburn. they join van persie, robben, davids, kronkamp, van der saar who were already there…

seems also heitega gonna be the man to replace gary neville the captain at manchester united, Sir Alex may make a bit in january or in 1 year’s time

another transfer, seems Mathijsen may go to newcastle by next week

I really don’t like that long transfer windwow… It sort of #$%^ up the season start for the more talented squads. Look at Feyenoord right now. It’s a shame. Agree with most of you on Robben and his midfield/playmaker potential. The Dutch always had a lot of good players for that position. Now we’ve got vd Vaart, v Persie, Robben, Seedorf (who?? Seedorf!)…

Posted from  Australia

@Jan, agree, this transfer window should close in July so teams have the opportunity to look for replacements…

nice to see you name Seedorf… to be honest, I was never a big Seedorf fan, always had this feeling that he felt he was a better player than he really was..called him a few names when he played for Oranje (only ever played one really good game for us against Belgium in 1997)..but during this WC I just started wondering…when vanBasten started and he told the press that there would be no room for Seedorf I totally agreed with Marco, but now after vanBommel en vanNistelrooy im not so sure anymore..I know Seedorf has a role at AC that he wont have at Oranje BUT he still is a world class act and its not like were floating in decent midfield players, never dreamed I would ever say this but maybe its time to give Seedorf a go…??

btw. hope for AZ’s sake Mathijssen doenst go, hes the best defender playing in Holland, wouldnt be so bad for Oranje, hell get tested every week…

greetz

Posted from  Netherlands

Hey Goose, Johan Derksen had quite a column for San Marco in VI this week… I’ll try to publish it on this site soon!

Posted from  Australia

cheers Jan

greetz

Posted from  Netherlands