As for the problems mentioned: the police in Holland is consistently being underpaid. It’s not a popular election theme so politicians are not really trying to solve it. Through football, the police unions at least get some attention and after Kesler’s stupid remarks earlier the police had enough of him and the KNVB. Do you know what happens if the police would strike on the UEFA cup date for PSV – Spurs? Simple. The UEFA will declare the match lost for PSV, 0-3. Meaning that Spurs will go through. On top of that, the UEFA will ban all Dutch teams (!) for a year in Europe. That’s clarity. The police will never jeopardize that, so they won’t strike on that day. Our KNVB should do the same. Or at least pull rank. Kesler shouldn’t be scolding the police force as he did. That was incorrect, uncalled for and blatantly stupid.

By the way, your PSV remark needs a response. PSV has broken the license rules in Holland many times over. I don’t know the exact rule, but you can’t have a deficit bigger than “x” as a club. PSV put itself into a really tight financial spot and by doing so broke the rules. Other clubs abided by the rules. So, theoretically, Feyenoord broke off the negotiations with a Belgium player coz they couldn’t afford him. Neither could PSV but they snatched him up anyway and broke the financial guideline rules. This is competition fraude. If Excelsior or VVV Venlo would do this, the KNVB would ban them from competition. PSV has done so for many seasons (their financials are a mess) but because the former chairman was also high up in the KNVB power hierarchy, the KNVB let it be…

And that Ajax soap opera… I don’t even want to go into that…

It seems to me that Holland football has either lost its self confidence in executing what has been a long time successful program, or, in the alternative and to use an American expression, has too many chiefs and not enough Indians (or, to be politically correct, Native Peoples). Based on what you write, it appears that the KNVB is not well respected and its leadership highly suspect. If that is correct, then the leadership must be replaced–and soon. As it seems that such an action will not occur, I do understand your deep disappointment in the current condition of Dutch football. However, it has come back from the doldrums before, and I believe the native talent is still there (somewhere?!) to make it happen again. In the meantime, we who love the country and its football will have to rely on the hope that this native talent will show itself and bring the program up to the level where it belongs. Hang in there, Jan–the Dutch are a persistent and resilient people, and the football of the Netherlands will return to exceed all expectations from this small but gifted nation.

VanPersie was rusty, which was to be expected I guess, after misssing so much time. He came on in the 65th minute, didn’t do much in my book and wasted 2 somewhat decent opportunities. Again, just didn’t look match fit. Also, to be fair, the horrible muddy ground at Wigan didn’t help Arsenal and 0-0 was not too surprising, although Arsenal did have most of the possession.

He will only get better from here, but he badly need to get 1st team matches under his belt.

good to hear Robin is back on the pitch..how did he play?