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Bert van Marwijk: Drenthe is on the radar!
Comments(31)
Royston Drenthe grabbed his chance in the Real Madrid – AC Milan CL game last week. Although the Galacticos lost the game, the young Dutchman impressed 30 minutes. Bert van Marwijk watched the game with one eye, using the other one to check out Bayern Munich vs Bordeaux.
Did you look forward to the Madrid – Milan clash?
“As a football fan, yes. But as team manager I actually hoped Rafael would play. I’m keen to see how he’s holding up. Now I sort of shared my attention over two games.”
Did you enjoy seeing Drenthe play?
“He had a good sub turn. When he came on, something happened. But it all lacks consistency, both with him and with the Madrid team. He doesn’t play often enough and this time he came on as a midfielder, which is a totally different role than the full back position he usually has.”
Is he closer to Oranje now?
“It doesn’t work that way and it doesn’t work that fast either. We do look broadly, we follow many players. We have been following Maduro as well, who had a good spell but who doesn’t play that often either. We also follow players in Holland, like Otman Bakkal and Leroy Fer. Their development doesn’t go unnoticed and we’re pretty optimistic about Oranje’s future.”
Are Bakkal and Fer more developed than Drenthe?
“They have more rhythm, they play more games. But I can’t compare them like this. It doesn’t work like that. The competition in Spain is different, Drenthe trains daily with the likes of Kaka, C Ronaldo, Van der Vaart and Raul. You need to take that into account as well. But we are not opportunistic with Oranje players. A player will need to prove he can handle the level over a series of games. All these lads can play good football, but players need to prove their worth mentally, physically, tactically…at all levels for quite some time. We all know they can kick a ball.”
So a sub turn against AC Milan is not enough?
“No it’s not. But Drenthe knows that too. He has potential, but he needs to make the next step. I do hope for him he’ll grab a starting spot. Then we can really follow his progress. Believe me, the pressure on a starter is different than the pressure on a sub. When the team is trailing, the coach will tell a player like Drenthe: go for it and see what you can force. That’s different. You have different responsibilities as starter. And those kind of responsibilities are needed for Oranje.”
But Oranje does have a lot of similar faces then….
“And why not? A national team needs consistency. But it’s not like it’s impossible to come into the group. Last year, several Twente players came into the picture and under my management players like Braafheid, Van der Wiel and Elia entered the fore. We’re totally open for new faces but it takes more than two or three good games. At the same time, I will make exceptions for players who have proven themselves through the years. Rafael van der Vaart has more credit with me, than say Drenthe or Tim De Cler…”
Clarence Seedorf?
“He played a great game for Milan and I highly respect him as a person and a player. But Clarence does well in the Milan system, which is different than the way Oranje plays. Clarence’ weak points are his tactical discipline and his defensive skills. Both are key in Oranje’s game plan. I agree with Van Basten in this. If I don’t need Clarence as a starter, I won’t call on him. Clarence is one of those players who can’t deal with the sub-role too well. That’s not unique… Van Hanegem, Cruyff, Ballack, Fabregas, Lampard… They all share that. So, if for some kind of reason a number of our creative midfielders can’t make it to the WC, because of form issues or injuries, Clarence is on the long-list. We all know what he can do and he still demonstrates his class, so… But in our current squad, Clarence is not our first choice.”
Ruud van Nistelrooy?
“Ruud retired from Oranje. I can’t say anything more. And he’s still recovering from injury, I guess. But if Ruud plays for Madrid, I’m sure I’ll see him play. If he wants to be on the radar with me, he’ll need to phone me.”
What do you think of Feyenoord’s performance this year?
“It’s good, I think Beenhakker and Been have done some wonderful work. I can see good phases in their games, but too much mediocrity for now… But it’s not easy to turn a team around after such a hard season. Some players need to find their rhythm still and others suffered injuries and all that. But Feyenoord is on the way up and that’s good for Dutch football.”
You know players like Wijnaldum, Fer, Vlaar, Biseswar and De Cler – to name a few. Do you follow them more closely?
“Not because I know them. I follow players of whom I think they’re close to Oranje’s level. De Cler used to be an Oranje player but he lost his spot and doesn’t play enough for me to put his name down. But that can change, as we all know. Vlaar has always been a tremendous prospect, but I want to allow him to get back to his old level first, before I even seriously discuss him. Other players need to prove themselves still. De Guzman shows a lot of potential but is unlucky with his injuries. Wijnaldum, Fer and Biseswar are interesting too, but still young. But I can say the same about certain Ajax, PSV and Twente players… Most future Oranje players do play in Holland today, and that’s a good thing. I think our youth system is pretty good. We also have some amazing talents playing abroad and we do monitor them as well, but not just me… Cor Pot, the Under21 coach, does the same thing and we do compare notes often.”
Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 31 comments.
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Hi, jan and everyone else. A lot of us Dutchmen here in Canada are starting to get excited for next year……….
I was wondering if anyone knew of a website where all of KNVB’s games this year are available for replay? It’s almost impossible to view them live over here.
Posted from 
Canada
“but relax guys van marwijk for sure would prefer his son-in-law mr van bommel!!!
our team needs some real adjustment in the defense and defensive midfield, no passing skills, scary!
Fer can be like toure’ or lass for the oranje. he can be very helpful to sneijder in teh midfield.”
@alaa agree on you in this point…Fer is equaly good in offence and diffence with great dribbles unlike dejong and van bommel.
———–Vanpersie—————-
Elia——-Znijder———kuyt
—-Leroy——-Dejong———-
Bauma–Mathjenson–Loovens–Van derweil
————Steke—————–
Pretty balanced side–Five hard running trickery brilliant playersi(RVP,Znijder,Elia,Leroy,Vanderweil)All these palyers run very well comapring to vaart,RVN and roban.two heavy workhorses.(dejong and kuyt)and solid back line of bauma,joris and loovens
Super subs
RVN for kuyt
Roben for znijder
Posted from 
India
kidkawartha – There are many Canucks here and they have a plethora of web sites/channels/pubs etc to watch games etc – just wait for them to wake up in a few hours and your questions will be answered 
. Jason sleeps in a bit longer due to occupational hazards !
Posted from 
Singapore
i have to take off my hat for Drenthe ; he has proven me wrong …altough hes just hanging on at Madrid… i though he would be long one by now
Posted from 
Netherlands
Agree Goose… I guess this journey of his will build character. Who knows where he ends up. My guess is: he’ll be Oranje material beyond 2010!
great interview,Jan! interesting what he says about drenthe and seedorf. is it sure that clarence doesn’t feel well as a sub or is just an urban legend accepted by everyone?
to be honest,i thought the same things about drenthe as Goose: waste of time,we just should to forget him etc. this guy has the character and – despite his bad game last weekend – he’ll improve and play more regularly. i’m sure that he’ll be in the squad. on the other hand,honestly – if raf won’t play or as much as now and he won’t change club there will be no reason to select him. in this case clarence should replace him.
Drenthe is fighter…i still remmember how he won the match(EUunder21) for us against a tough portugal.he is a winner.so the winner takes all.
Posted from India
What is the similairty between the arjentines and the dutch in coming WC.?
We both will feild sun in laws into the ground.Mardona-Aguero,Vanmarwijk-Vanbommel.
Posted from India
@goose i hope BVM will prove i am wrong.(i dont want to see Ooiger,gio,vanbommel,heitinga,Afelleey,Babel in orange)i wish him my very best wishes.
Posted from India
van bommel is not selected because he’s van marwijk’s son-in-law but because the team needs him. he’s a leader. last year against russia we exactly missed this kind of player. you don’t mention them when the team works perfectly but you notice their absence when everything fails. he’s a fanatic and don’t let his teammmate surrender.
Dear guys,
We are forgetting one thing. Anybody remember the WC2006 qualifying match against Czech republic? We won that match only because of the power of Van hooidonk, isn’t it?.i don’t forget Edgar’s contribution in that match.
So now my question is, do we need a pinch hitter in the team? But I don’t mean it in a substitute base. I meant it in starting eleven in some matches.
Eg.If we are playing a quarter final or a knock out match against a good defensive team with lots of “pulling and pushing”, I cannot see either RVN or RVP scoring against them. Such kind of matches we should start with pinch hitter along with some super trickery players behind him. Because RVN and RVP are not Messi.
Both RVN and RVP can be out muscled easily. It seems Huntlaar is on the way to hell.
I think we should reconsider haiselink; he is not that bad, he is playing quite OK for hull.
I remember the match against Portugal in 2004EC they pulled RVN continuously and marked and sandwiched him very well. In 2006 they were lucky because VANBASTEN Pulled him from the back. If huntlaar is not in form this is the time to call Ricky van wolfswinkel, whether he is ready or not, that doesn’t matter. Beacause kuyt is shit in that place. I strongly believe we need a big man up front.
So I drop van persie and kuyt as a shadow striker and winger, and considering them as alrounders. So we need to decide on two main striker postion.ie one big man and one predator from RVN, Huntlaar, Wolfswinkel and haiselink are the candidates for two main striking positions.
Posted from India
@ferenc buddy i know you are vanbommel fan.i agree on the mentality of our players but Znijder and scahars and loovens can also do the same.Absolutly i am not against Vanbommel.I just said my opinion and interms of balance we have more balance if we play with leroy or de saaw or znijder or de guzman in that postion.I hope vanbommel will prove i am wrong.Vanbommel is the mentor of the team no doubt about that.i just on the basis of intusion/Crystalball/Sixthsense.we cannt write of his experience,briliance in positioning and mentoring abilty.But i fear about his mistakes and hard running.
Posted from India
sneijder is ok,but just forget all these eeredivisie and scotish league stars – loevens? he plays at celtic (we saw last week the strength of scotish clubs – rangers lost against a no name club from romania) and i have never seen his name mentioned as a huge talent. celtic is even worse than rangers (i like celtic and dislike rangers) same with schaars – when i saw him,he was average. tomorrow you will select the whole u21 or whatever. this is a worldcup and not youtube clips.
who the fu**ing hell is leroy????
Leroy Fer ! take it easy buddy .
In India its first name last and last name first – simple huh Puskas ?
Posted from Singapore
good article
the only thing i didn’t get is “wait for vlaar to get back to his previous level” what? he is on great form right now, he couldn’t have been much better than he is right now
Off topic: Hot off the presses: Umbrella-man sign extension with the Tukkers
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8327442.stm
Good luck, they will need it!!
Boulah should be in the starting 11 – does anyone but me notice how this guy lives to play for the national team?? He plays all year long and has injuries galore and plays so-so for his club sides but as soon as there is a National competition he all of a sudden gets rid of his injuries and the cannibal comes out.
Posted from Canada
@ferenc ,
haha , easy my friend .. it’s just as carlos said .. anyway it is the same in egypt .. so you find most dutch fans here calling davids – edgar – , seedorf – clarence – and so on ..
@jason ,
yeah , you’re right
that’s why i always think boula is a must in the dutch squad wether he played or not . I always liked his style , and he is the best dutch defender in my opinion in this generation .
Wether he play(s) , sorry .
we need van bommel. his game intelligence is exceptional. my issue is with the 3rd midfielder ? de jong, de zeeuw ?? as for drente i would play him fullback in the starting lineup.
de Jong, not the most charming in his play, but I think he’s vital. He has a bit of the pittbull of Davids in him. De Zeeuw now? He plays good at Ajax, but he’s hardly a defensive midfielder anymore. Sometimes almost a 10.
Posted from Netherlands
to anyone who doesn’t like vbommel
vbommel is a must in the dutch starting 11.
Posted from 
United States
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We need for our defensive midfield someone like fer, the guy can send a precise assist from 20 meter distance, we need some creativity and skill in the first third of the playground, we have a bunch of players in that part who have nothing to do with passing skills, oijer, mathijsen, van bommel and de jong. all are players who have defensive abilties only. thats why we’re not playing good. all our creativity is upfront with sneijder robben and van persie.
he is 19 sooooo? he can start calling him now and getting him used to the team and the system. a lot of players made wonders with their senior national teams, few examples? ronaldo, critiano ronaldo, owen(with that winderful goal in wc 1998 against argentina), rooney, ashley cole and many others. the guy is ready to play with the oramje. but relax guys van marwijk for sure would prefer his son-in-law mr van bommel!!!
our team needs some real adjustment in the defense and defensive midfield, no passing skills, scary!
Fer can be like toure’ or lass for the oranje. he can be very helpful to sneijder in teh midfield.