Marco Speaks

Good Article.

One question though mike. Don’t you think that Oranje should be able to change from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 , when it is needed?? Sometimes i think van nistelrooy alone up front is too risky. I would love to see VN alongside van persie or Kuyt for example. I truly believe that VN will be able to perform much better then.
And Im not saying that they should ever start as a 4-4-2 formation but should at least be able to shift to it when the time is right. A shift like this can prove beneficial on many occasions.

What are your thoughts on that? or anyone?

Posted from  Russian Federation

Yeah good point, but honestly, I think the team is able to do it. The big question is: can they make those decisions themselves during the match or does MvB need to tell them to. It’s quite common for teams to adjust their positioning according to ball possession, score, or other hard to predict circumstances. In ball possession, Oranje will want to play 3-3-4, with vd Vaart close to Van the Man and one of the central defenders closing in to midfield. And when the opponent has possession, both wingers will support the midfield. That 4-3-3 stuff is all a bit artificial in my view…

Posted from  Australia

A 4-4-3 formation can be covered defensively. Say 2 close down on each winger , and 2 on van nistelrooy, without much help and support coming from the midfield. We’ll be doomed!

Posted from  Russian Federation

youre definitely right about being able to make the decisions themselves. The only main concern i have i guess with this 4-3-3 fromation is the role of the midfield. In this formation, they are three. But two of them should be attack-minded. Something like an attacking midfielder, and be able to go through the middle. Id like to see VDV and Sneijder playing those two roles together.

I think relying on our two wingers only is just impossible. We should give our midfield much more weight. And they on the other hand should take responsibility of fulfilling their role well and not simply pass it to the two wingers for them to do the job only. Against cameroon, this is exactly what happened. We saw Van Persie and Robben having to dribble all the time to create chances. Nothing came from the Middle.

Yesterday was much better. Sneijder played this role effectively. So im hopeful we will only improve. I hope VdV will be fit in time for S&M. We’re definitely gonna need him if want to penetrate their mighty defense.

Posted from  Russian Federation

Hi Marco, Rami and Jan. Just to remind you that the game against Australia will be shown live on the KNVB broadband console at knvb.nl/live - good luck to the Oranje!!!

Posted from  United Kingdom

@Rami
If you follow your logic with the defensive moves of the opponent, they’ll have 6 guys involved in marking our three strikers. That would mean a field day for our midfield! I’d say, bring it on… Cruyff used to take his center striker off the pitch in those situations and leave the two central defenders wondering what to do. All offensive action would come from center midfield. Penetrating players are much harder to defend than static strikers… Interesting. I’m not worried. Although we could easily loose the match of course. No guarantees…

Posted from  Australia

Jan. youre definitely right, again..

I do believe that this is how S&M are gonna play, at some point at least. So much rests on our midfield to move forward, take responsabilities, create chances, and play well all in all..

We’ll see i guess.
I can’t wait.

Posted from  Russian Federation