Comments on: Coach Bergkamp on his way!

By: Jan

Jan — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:32:18 +0000

I think Dennis Bergkamp was one of the key players in turning Boring Arsenal into Sexy Arsenal. I remember that at first people couldn’t believe what they saw. I even remember (help me out here guys) that at first Arsenal fans and players didn’t really “get” Bergkamp. And with Wenger joining shortly after, it all went hunky dory with The Gunners, resulting in their not-from-this-planet football we see today (but not last Tuesday).

By: finnster01

finnster01 — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 10:20:38 +0000

@JVB
Under Wenger the only other Arsenal testimonial (game given after 10 years of service to the club)besides Bergkamp that I can think of is Tony Adams which happened in 2002.

Wenger became Arsenal manager in 1996 so there may have been something before Adams but I seriously doubt it.

By: Jan

Jan — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 05:50:15 +0000

I think Dennis will focus on youth development. That’s why Ajax / Marco approached him, I suppose. Ajax is having trouble at that level and Dennis once said that although he didn’t want to return to football, he did see him self working with young players. And after that, who knows right?

By: JVB21

JVB21 — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 23:40:33 +0000

After a few tough days of work it’s good to come back to the board and read a dream thread. A big over-the-head to Dennis, all hail the king.

Fav. retired: Dennis!!
Fav. work ethic: Kuijt
Fav. nearly retired: Davids
Fav. on the rise: Van Persie

I was wondering about something related to Dennis and Arsenal, perhaps someone might be able to answer this for me. Under Wenger, other then Dennis, has there ever been an official retirement and subsequent farewell game? I don’t believe so, which I think speaks volumes…

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 23:10:15 +0000

Dennis Bergkamp may have been the classiest of all Dutch footballers, and certainly one of the most gifted athletically. He certainly would be on my list of favorite Netherlanders, due to his unique combination of traits. Having said that, I do not see Dennis as a coach. We have blogged this subject previously, and suggested (I have, anyway)that great athletes generally do not make top quality coaches. van Basten is a classic example. He may have been the greatest of all Dutch players, but is proving not to be, in my opinion, a top level coach or manager. Coaching is primarily a teaching skill, which also requires controlled emotion, the ability to inspire and a genuine interest in the technical and tactical aspects of the game. Because great athletes are born incredibly gifted, it is difficult for them to understand the rest of us who are not so blessed. Very bright people have a hard time teaching those who do not possess first rate minds.

If Dennis wants to coach, I hope he succeeds. I believe he will be more amenable to constructive criticism than van Basten has been, and I also believe he has a better over football brain than Marco. I wish him well, and would love to see him back in Dutch football as a coach. The sport needs more like Dennis.

By: dirk v.d berg

dirk v.d berg — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 20:26:03 +0000

For the ec 2008 pool, there’s a great one on uefa.com, that ive been using for a couple of years now with my friends. You get 12 players, and one of them is a sub. Players cost different amounts depending on their quality, so you can’t just pick a star team.

Active: Robben
Non-Active: Overmars

Both left wings, which is what I play.

By: Ronald

Ronald — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:57:41 +0000

Dennis the menace, the legend continues!

By: goose

goose — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:24:51 +0000

Latest on Bergkamp; he will learn his trade with Ajax and vBasten; Marco told dutch press that he asked Dennis about 3 weeks ago and the latter has reacted positive…. so Bergkamp and vBasten at Ajax (btw; Dennis wont be his assistant)

By: simon

simon — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 09:05:49 +0000

Rob Jansen is everyones agent forever, it seems.

By: Jan

Jan — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 06:35:47 +0000

I had set the alarm clock to 04.30 am. When I got out of bed I noticed there was a black out. It does happen in rural Australia. So, no lights, no espresso machine and no tv. So, I went back to bed, slept like a baby till 7.30 and then read on the internet that I hadn’t missed a thing hahaha…

So, no post on these two matches ok? Man U won thanks to a Tevez header 1-0 (De Rossi missed a penalty in the 1st half. In Rugby he would have scored three points!!) and Barca won 1-0 as well I think.

Tomorrow Getafe vs Getafe and PSV – Fiorentina