Dutch tidbits… Sneijder to move to ManU?

Oh, and Guus killed off our left wing, leaving the build up to Boulah who didn’t get a lot of support.

@goose: Good question. I am not sure I have a great answer either, but it seems to me that truth lies somewhere in between.

I think the team unquestionably improved since the qualification, and that goes for MVB too. However, it is a team that still has not solved some serious limitations, and if Oranje is to take it to the next level in WC2010, needs to find solutions rather fast. Our central defense is slow, with sloppy marking. Not a good combination. We need to find a new goalie to step up into some very legendary shoes. We need a midfield old-school warrior and terror for the opposition. Kuyt could be that guy, De Jong showed real promise, and Van Bommel can come in from the old but he is not getting any younger either. The attack, passing game and quick transition I am less worried about.

Another thing I am worried about is fitness and injury. I can never remember seeing so many injuries in training leading up to a tournament. That could & should have been avoided. It is not “normal”, and not a coincidence. Dutch players play too many games these days?. Perhaps, but so do other countries. Something went wrong and players/coaches became sloppy. I can also never remember a Dutch team looking so tired. They had to chase Russians all day, whereas against Italy it was the complete opposite. That is after 9 of them got the day off against Romania. If anyone should have been fresh, it was Oranje.

I guess for me the status has to be that Oranje has improved significantly since the Ec qualification campaign started, but has areas of weeknesses that need to be solved if it is going to go deep into WC2010. Besides, there is also that minor detail of qualifying first too….

Posted from  United States

Hey, I just read on Goal.com that the Dutch are having a friendly game against RUSSIA in Moscow on August 20 under coach Van Marwijk. I was wondering why would the Dutch play RUSSIA(of all teams) again after being eliminated from the EC.
By the way, are there two JAN?Which one is which?

Posted from  United States

@Finnster, as I recall, Robben, van Persie and Melchiot (I’m not sure, though, by the latter) all came back from severe injuries, even Boulahrouz, before the EC started. I’m not sure if you referring to that, or that you mean they got injured during Dutch training. Well Sneijder was, initially, Melchiot too (?) and later Robben, but we all know he is made of porcelain. Anyway, Bouhlahrouz was game-fit; van Persie, hmm, I’m not sure, but I believe the Dutch staff were very cautious with him, also with the injured Melchiot. They all had training-session on their own, but if they weren’t ready to play yet, why in the first place did MVB select them?

Posted from  Netherlands

@lowiesje; yeah I was referring more to the Dutch training and I would include Babel in that. Yes, Robben, Van Persie et co came back from long term injuries, but MVB said he would only select “fit” players in the squad. Next thing you know, they drop like flies, in training. Van Persie may possibly have been physically fit (although I doubt it), but he was not Match-fit, Ooijer was banged up for a long time with Blackburn, Boula came heroically back but sometimes even he seemed a bit “tentative”, and Robben we can just forget about. So you are absolutely right, why were some of these there in the first place if their ability to contribute on the field is jeoparized? Something wasn’t right.

This all “one-day-they-are-fit” and “next-day-they-are-injured” roller coaster, the rumoured tackles and arguments, Babel not warming up properly before tearing his achilles without contact,etc. Basic, and mostly avoidable stuff in my opinion. I blame both coaches and players for that.

Posted from  United States

It reminds me of Ajax in the early seventies warming up by sitting on the radiators in the dressing room while smoking cigarettes…

Posted from  United States

I hope Sneijder doesn’t move to Man U and I hope Ronaldo doesn’t come to Real. Real have a good thing going with the three Dutch player’s there (as much as that irks the Barca fans here), and Sneijder is one of their most important midfield players. Without him, who do they have for creativity and buildup, Guti?? No, I couldn’t see them swapping those two players…

Posted from  Canada

I really hope Steve McClaren can do something with Twente. Get our UEFA ranking back up, so we can have some more teams in the CL. I say sign some talented veterans, eg Edgar Davids, Kluivert, Jari Litmanen. I actually think Ajax should try to get Litmanen because he’s still really talented, and would do a lot of good for the team.

Posted from  Canada

@van Basten, the Russia game was scheduled long before the EC started, I think it was sometime in March.

Posted from  Canada

@dirk; McLaren is an interesting choice. The good news is that he is a proven club coach. He is also good with veterans although he didn’t get along with Beckham at England. He is less proven with young talents. He did a great job with Middlesborough though winning the League Cup and also getting them to the UEFA Cup final in 2006 which is remarkable given a club like Boro and their resources. They haven’t been closing to winning anything for years before or after.

I think he will good for Twente, but he has no personality or charisma so it will be interesting how he will get along with the players, not to mention the fans…

Posted from  United States

My question for the European football experts is–why is a transfer from Man U to Real Madrid considered a step up at the club level? A few years ago Man U was shown on the soccer channel here in the US, and I became a fan because of Stam and van Nistelrooy. Then I went to a coaching seminar in New Jersey sponsored by Man U, and saw them play against AC Milan. Considering the record of Man U during the Ferguson era, I would not consider any club team “better” than Man U. Many clubs equal to Man U–absolutely. So why is Rinaldo so intent on a transfer to Real Madrid?

Posted from  United States

@Bob; Let me give a first stab and answering this. This Ronaldo saga is now bordering “religious” territory:-) If you take your logic, and the evolution of the English Premier League and it’s resources and sponsorship deals, it is very hard to argue that Man U has at least over the last 10-odd years possibly been the cream of the crop in European soccer. Spanish fans will disagree, Italian fans will disagre, and even a handfull of German fans may also have a problem with my statement.

However, having followed the English Prem very closely(liverpool fan, so by def. I have a bit of problem with United:-) I think it is a fair statement that from a pure sporting point of view, Real Madrid is arguably not a “step up”. At best, it is a lateral move, and that is giving Real a lot of credit. Financially speaking, Real may still be the “largest” club in the world as counted by “revenue” or “turnover” However, Man U has pretty much closed that gap, and given the TV right deals for the English Prem, is likely to overtake them in the not too distant future (if I am not mistakes, new deals to be negotiated in 2010)

So why is Cristiano so hell bent on Real, if it isn’t pure sporting reasons? I think it comes to a number of things:

1) What is there left for him to win in England? Done the league, cup, and now also CL. Been Young Player of the Year, and Player of the Year twice. Voted by both the Press and the soccer players themselves. That is pretty much all you can possibly win as a footballer in England. He’s still a young guy so what other challenges are there?

2) He’s Portuguese. For one thing, Spain is closer to “home”. Also Manchester, with all respect, as a city is not anywhere close to a place like Madrid. For anyone who has have ever been there (and I have been there several times), it is pretty depressing actually, and that is excluding the weather which is awful.

3) Real madrid played mindgames with him. FIFA found no evidence of tampering, but every Real president and coach has always been commenting in the press about how much they have been drooling over Ronaldo. In fact, they did an excellent job of getting the British tabloids to run a Ronaldo story every day. Still doing it. Eventually, a young and in my opinion a very immature person like Ronaldo, will potentially get affected by that

4) Scolari played dirty too. He had no business telling Ronaldo to change clubs, especially when he was planning to take over at Chelsea all along.

5) Ronaldo did not help himself by making hints in the papers either, in stead of sitting down and talk with Sir Alex and have a frank discussion

6) Now even Man U fans are beginning to turn against him because of his antics. Man U has always been a club with tremendous history and a big heart. Playing for Man U is an honour, which is why a guy like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spent 10 years more or less content with sitting on the bench most of the time, when he could have started for most, if not all, other Premiership teams. Ironically enough, Solskjaer will actually be the coach of the Man U reserves this coming season… Several fans are saying they should just cut the losses and let Ronaldo go. No man is bigger than the club, especially at Man U. Never saw Charlton ask to move anywhere, did we?

7) Money as far as the individual can not be the issue either. Ronaldo isn’t starving, and I am sure if that was all it took, they would give some more. Unfortunately, it seems like they have to extend and give him a new deal every year and I guess United is getting alittle tired over that too. His agent is not starving either.

For me the bottomline is: This guy has gotten too big for his boots, it is all about him (just like Ibrahimovitch), and as much as I actually enjoyed watching him and his amazing skills in the Prem, I say it is time to take the money and let him go. Maybe Liverpool then can have a better shot at it next season:-)

Posted from  United States

if real madrid can get ronaldo without giving up sneijder, vnistelrooy and ramos they will be unstoppable… dump robben he wont play due to injury anyway… Eric Lindros anyone??? lol…

Posted from  Canada

if barca can get arshavin they will make a better deal than real with ronaldo.

Posted from  Hungary

Seconded. They should now Deco’s gone.

Posted from  Netherlands

Finnster great article about Ronaldo in the Prem League, it’s a real pleasure to read articles from true fans that have their heads screwed on correctly. They may have a club/country to cheer for, but can admit to shortcommings and admire (with envy not jealousy) what other clubs/countries do at times. – Well said Finn !

Posted from  Singapore

Finnster, thanks for the great response. Your thoughtfulness and time is very much appreciated.

Posted from  United States

Lets consider

———–casilas————
sergio ramos-pepe-cannavaro-drenthe
————guti—————-
robinho———————robben
———–sneijder————–
—van nistelrooij–huntelaar—-

I think Real Madrid would be smart to consider arshavin, you switch Sneijder with Robinho and Arshavin into his spot. and Voala.

Posted from  Canada

Dirk, Huntelaar is not going to Real Madrid!!!No way!!!Not anymore!!! Van Basten has said he wants to build a Champions League club, and he intends to have Huntelaar as his main striker. Besides, Huntelaar wants to learn how to score from the greatest clinical striker of all time in this Universe. So anyone who is considering to buy Huntelaar, let me use the words of President Galliani when he spoke to Abramovich and Chelsea about Kaka: “Huntelaar is not for sale”. Real Madrid, Huntelaar is going nowhere. He is priceless and the future of Van Basten’s Ajax.
P.S: This goes to all of you(Man U, Arsenal, Liverpool, Barca,RealMadrid, Milan…).
Gooooooooooooooal Huntelaar!
By the way, I think against Russia, it was Basten’s mistake not to play him alongside Van Nilsteroy, instead of substituting in Ibrahim Affelay.
The Hunter would have scored, as he always does.

Posted from  United States

Poor Ruud. He just can’t get away from ronaldo. I think it was Goose who called him Handbag? I actually laughed out loud while reading that and tried to explain to my co-workers. sigh. Canadians just don’t get football. Very funny Goose. You’re great!

@Van Basten:

There are two Jans at least: one in Australia and one in Switzerland. Apart from us, there are probably many many more in Holland

And why would Galliani say “Huntelaar is not for sale” to Abramovic when they’re discussing Kaka??

I’m sorry, it’s in the middle of the night and I thought that was hilarious

Haha! Funny Jan

Van Basten – If a club comes with enough money, Huntelaar is almost certainly gone. Unless Huntelaar decides himself he wants to stay another year. The club would sell him at the drop of a dime (or millions of Euros rather) for big money. Although I do hope he stays.
And I don’t agree that he should have brought on Huntelaar to play along side Ruud. Besides the fact that they’ve never played together and we never tried that as a team, they play the same style and would just get in each other’s way. And we needed someone to fight in the midfield, not another goalscorer who wouldn’t get the ball, and therefore couldn’t score, no matter how good his goal scoring record in Holland is.
It’s great to love a player, but you have to analyze the game a little more than “throw him on and he’d score”.

Posted from  Canada

Jan…Galliani said to Abramovic that “Kaka is not for sale”. So I was using his words,prentending to be him and replaced “Kaka” by “Huntelaar”.
All I meant to say is “Huntelaar is not for sale” similar to the way Galliani says it when talking about Milan players. By the way, this is the difference between the President of Milan and those from other clubs. Milan never sell their mega-star players, unlike Ajax. Ajax sold among others “Van Basten, Gulit,Rijkaard,Bergkamp,1995 Champions League Club, Van Nilsterooy, IBRAHIMOVIC, Sneijder,Van der Vaart…” and possibly Huntelaar in the future. So I am pretending to be Galliani, and I vehemently say to the great clubs of Europe that “Huntelaar is not for sale”.

Posted from  United States

^Gullit ever played in Ajax?

Posted from  Australia

..sorry..australia? i’m posting it from indonesia..why Netherlands failed again ..sigh..

Posted from  Australia