Football: inconsistent and absurd… You gotta love it!

Hugo Borst’s column in the AD.

I’m thinking about the football year 2008 and the word that sticks is inconsistency. It’s all or nothing.

Take Louis van Gaal. He’d resigned in May. And now we all think he’ll win the title. Gee, when Pelle hadn’t injured himself Ari would have never made into the team… Coincidence?

Or Feyenoord. Leading the tables in January 2008, now ready to be delegated. When and where will the brilliant architect Wim Jansen surface to explain what went wrong?

Or Oranje… Football from another planet against Italy and crashlanding on the Earth against Russia, and that all within two weeks!

Take Johan Cruyff. Returns to save Ajax and leaves after a clash with his “son” Marco van Basten. And all that within one week!

Or what about Eljero Elia. Benchwarmer at ADO Den Haag, and now high on the list of Arsenal and Ajax. Last season, transfered for 150.000 euros, now worth 15 million.

And PSV? Last season still a warm and cosy family club, now an institution of stress.

Let’s take Arjen Robben. Genius. Injured. Genius. Injured. This happens four or five times a year. In 2009, Robben will stumble over a commercial in the break to tear a hamstring again. And six weeks later he crushes an opponent in the Champions League.

Or Raf van der Vaart. Embraced as the lost wonder-son in Madrid and four months later put outside with the garbage.

Yeah, Real Madrid. Champs of Spain. Inconsistent, 12 points behind the leader now, but still capable of winning the Champions League.

Once, Real Madrid won the Cup fives times on the trot with the same players. You can’t attach yourself to players anymore, the changes come so quickly these days. But the attendance numbers keep on increasing.

Is there still stability? Is there consistency?

Joop Munsterman, architect of FC Twente and Dirk Scheringa, saviour of AZ.

Are there still masters at work?

Holland has many good coaches. Old and young. From Advocaat to Mario Been. In 2008, one was the best. Dick Advocaat is Russia’s coach of the year. He won the title with Zenit and snatched up the UEFA Cup.

Sustainability, craftsmanship, authenticity, that’s what I want to see. Not just “money rules”. The fact that Marc Overmars is playing again makes me smile. One of the most expensive players ever can’t say goodbye to the ball and plays for naught at Go Ahead Eagles. Paul Bosvelt is back at the same club as assistant coach. Ex-players giving back to their old club. That’s loyalty. That is good.
I want Go Ahead Eagles back in the Eredivisie.

I want to hear the word “Adelaarshorst” (stadium of the Eagles) mentioned again when I watch football on tv.