Johan Derksen speaks…

Johan Derksen is Holland’s most notorious columnist and analist. Former football pro, editor of Dutch football weekly Voetbal International, consiglieri (or at least former) of Johan Cruyff and tv-personality. You either love him or loathe him. Most at least hate his cigars and his passion for obscure American blues and grassroots music.

This is what he wrote the other day:

All that humbug about the great atmosphere in the team starts to bore me. As if that’s relevant. The kindergarten approach of our team manager does not match the coaching of grown up men. If they are too late at dinner, they need to tell a joke! If players accept something like that, I am a lot more sceptical about our chances. That’s not how you treat adults! And if I see Tim De Cler sitting in the dug out, I really wonder why there wasn’t a spot in the group for Edgar Davids. And Van Bommel shows that his public humiliation some months ago was out of line. If Oranje needs tough cookies on the pitch later on in the tournament, Davids will be sorely missed. You won’t win the cup with creative wingers and fast paced passing alone. In some matches you’ll need to step up and actually conquer the park. The injury of Jaliens is a gift from heaven. The fact that he regularly plays for AZ is one thing, but to give him the shirt with number 2 is more like gambling. And it’s as risky to play Cocu in midfield. He is still a vital player for this team, but he can’t compete in a tournament like this match after match with highly skilled opponents 10 years his junior. He is much more valuable as central defender.
Playing van Persie on the right wing, is a master stroke, however. It’s been a long time – since John van ‘t Schip, our current assistant coach – since we had a real right winger. Kuyt seemed to be an ok alternative, but Robin seems to be the ideal option now. He has become a true professional in his last season at Arsenal. Van Persie could become this WC’s sensation. It’s sad for Kuyt though, he played another great season at Feyenoord and focussed himself on the right wing position, accepting Ruud van Nistelrooy’s undisputed right to play as center striker. Kuyt will always play sufficient, because of his working ethos. But Kuyt too will acknowledge that van Persie is much more threatening than he is. That is a small drama for Kuyt and his facial expression says it all. But, harmony is king, at Oranje, so Kuyt will restrain himself. Because who knows… if he doesn’t, he might have to sing a lullaby in the dressing room…