De Guzman critized by team mates and coach

March 31st, 2008 | by: Jan |

Jonathan de Guzman is playing his third season for Feyenoord and is still referred to as “the supertalent of Rotterdam”. Still, the question whether he really is that good arises more and more. Against Sparta last week he showed that he is still not top. Twice De Fuzman let his man go, and twice this resulted in a Sparta goal.

“Unbelievable,” said Bert van Marwijk. “Much too easy. I can imagine Sparta players asking their coach to play against De Guzman.”

It’s extra painful for De Guzman, because his coach – and some more experienced players (Makaay, Gio and Landzaat) – is working ferociously with De Guzman to make him more aware of the finer details of top football. It wasn’t the first time the Canadian-born let his man go freely. When Van Basten selected De Guzman in the Oranje pre-selection this resulted in typical Rotterdam cynicism.

And although De Guzman is only 20 years old, the excuses are running on empty. With the ball, the player has been decisive a couple of times (against Vitesse and AZ) but on the whole his contribution is a bit disappointing, in particular without the ball. Too often he takes the wrong decisions. Maybe because he doesn’t see it, maybe because he doesn’t care…

These aspects make the difference between top and sub top in modern football. At a first glance, De Guzman has it all: great technical skills, stamina, scoring-instincts and a good pass. The critical viewer will detect his lack of football intelligence and mental toughness. Top football requires a very critical self-assessment.

Last season it was Pierre van Hooijdonk who singled him out, but that criticism didn’t work out. Pierre was only a sub, he should shut up, was Jonathan’s stance. Another veteran, Alfred Schreuder was also intensively involved in getting the youngster to see the light, but again without results.

This season, starting players like Van Bronckhorst, Hofland, Timmer, Makaay and Landzaat try to take the midfielder by the hand, but it still doesn’t work. “There comes a time that you will have to see it, you need to learn it, pick it up. You can’t keep on going like this,” captain Gio Van Bronckhorst recently quipped on De Guzman.

Van Marwijk didn’t want to give all the blame of the Sparta defeat to De Guzman. “I think the referee had the biggest hand in it, but still…we did allow Sparta to steal the victory.”