Ruud run out?

I checked the de telegraph website. Hundreds of reactions posted on the dutch website over Van Bastian openly thinking of starting Kuyt over Van Nistelrooy. Most people are pointing fingers aver the dumb decision not to take Jan Klaas Huntelaar. The leading striker in Holland not selected for the National team. “Sir Alex may have been right all along” “regrets on Huntelaar Van Bastian?” Dirk Kuyt can certainly hustle. He makes plays. Having said all that, I would start Van Nistelrooy, and put him on a short leash. Bring Kuyt in early if needed.

Posted from  Canada

Hmm…sounds to me Van Basten is trying to get Ruud as sharp as a razor for the Portugal match… I think ruud will start.

Posted from  Australia

First off let me state I am a Portugal fan so with that out of the way, I really hope RVN starts. Don’t get me wrong he is a quality striker, but he is the type of striker, much like Pualetta, who needs service. He rarely creates his own goals or creates much for others either. With the type of wingers you guys have, shoot first, cross later…this only makes him even less effective. He is however excellent on pouncing on rebounds and only needs a crack to be effective with the ball in a good position so he is still a danger. From the perspective of our defense though I think I would prefer the known quantity of RVN to Kuyt.

I’ve always been a fan of the Dutch side, so if you knock us out…you will certainly be one of the teams I root for.
Best of luck guys…

-Tony O

Posted from  United States

Ronaldo benefited from some good passes today. On his first goal he had to do nothing–he was served brilliantly with that header. On the second, he showed some skill collecting a return pass and putting it past the keeper.

There has not been a lot of chemistry up front with any of the strikers, and the supporting midfield play is spotty, so it’s hard to know what the best lineup might be. Kuyt is certainly much more active and athletic–and he’s a proven goal scorer as well, yes? (I saw him yesterday for the first time.) I would certainly think about playing him if I thought he could work with robben and RVP. Kuyt gives the middle lots more speed and athleticism than RVN–and he is clearly a workhorse. An important decision for van Basten!

Posted from  United States

As you all know, over the years the best teams in the finals are the ones who can finish their opportunities. Kuyt — I love the guy because he plays with such energy — is NOT as good at finishing his chances as Ruud. The problem with Ruud is he is getting crap service. The one good lead Ruud got from Robben versus CdI, he finished the chance successfully. Kuyt might have put the ball in for a goal, or he might have sent the ball over the crossbar… Kuyt might create more chances, but he didn’t exactly run at the argentina back line that often, either. A couple times he managed to create some space, but that was it (though Kuyt was playing as a winger most of the game, which was not ideal). I would say Ruud and Robben need to figure out a way for Ruud to capitalize on Robben’s ability to create structural defects in a the other side’s defensive arrangement… Ruud needs to work harder to get open. Sorry for the long post, but I’ve seen Ruud finish so many amazing tries at Man U that we can’t give up on him!

Posted from  United States

@Zakkie
AGREE!

Posted from  Australia

@all,

think Ruud came to these championships to eager to show sir Alex wrong, hes so tight up..

its very true that Ruud needs a team around him who feed him, Robben and vanPersie almost never look for the backline to deliver a cross, they turn inside the centre to try and score so it gets far to crowdy in the middle…

here in Holland commotion is starting, theres real critisme on vanBasten cause he told the press first and hadnt talked to vanNistelrooy before…

about Kuyt, dont forget he scored 22 this season and 29 the season before (i know its dutch competition but only Romario Ronaldo and Kezman made more than 30 goals in one season) , guess well have more control with Kuyt cause hes a better holder of the ball

havent given up on Ruud but maybe its time to give others a change..

greetz

Posted from  Netherlands

What is the deal with Ruud v Nistelroy? It seems his form of the first 2 seasons he played for Manchester is long behind him. I was encouraged by his desire to fight for the ball and position in the first half; but, with seemingly no success? I remember him routinely beating defenders one on one and imposing his will with full speed runs that started well outside the box. Service or not, he just seems to give up on runs too easily, and against Argentina he consistently-one touch passed-the ball back into the midfield where he had just received it from. Why does he not ever try to turn on one side or the other and run the ball right into the box losing the defender thats playing on his back, like he used to do? True his strike from the box was clinical and although it looked easy there was no room for error, and he did not make one. But you cant expect the kind of service Robben provided to leave Ruud wide open and on side regularly. If these are the conditions Ruud requires to suceed, then maybe MvB is better off starting Dirk Kuyt in the center instead of Ruud, or even better, move van Persie into the middle. Because personally, i am not conviced of Kuyts ability either; he reminds me of van de meyde when ran up and down the right side for advocaat in the euro’s , with absolutely no effect; ultimetly costing us the game against Portugal when he was subbed on in place of Robben who was playing great, and should have stayed on. But that is why we don’t have advocaat anymore, and if we lose to Portugal on sunday, van Bastens future with the national team may be in serious jeapordy. So lets win, decisively, and show the improvment we have been waiting for 3 games now. Hup Holland!

Jan, thanks for the feedback, still think it may be worth trying Robben on the left, V. Persie in the center, and Kuyt or Venagoor of H. on right. Seeing what V. Persie can do from that more central position 442 for Arsenal leads me to believe he is out of place on the wing isolated, the same way as Henri has become, on the left wing of France (quel catastrophe)
It just seems like Kuyt maybe more comfortable over there and we know Robben’s ability on the left side, I say put Persie in the middle and put Ruud on the bench, maybe he will play more inspired off the bench? After all, he is 29, is definately rumourerd to be leaving Man U.; Bayern Munich have openly confirmed interest, and it seems to me that the willingness of a top club to pay the pricetag sir Alex will attach to Ruuds transfer is very much balanced on his performance at the world cup? I can’t see Ruud signing with a medicre club; but i don’t know how much Munich will pay if he can’t perform now when he needs to most, for Holland, for himself, and for Sir Alex, who hopes to earn a sizable transfer fee on behalf of Man U. In contrast Kuyt, as our British friend points out, is playing for his Priemiership debute, there is alot of interest and Feynoord need the money! Given a chance to produce he could substantially jack his value. He seems to want to step up to the occastion, Ruud seems a little non-chalant. Maybe starting on the bench will light his fire. Hup Holland!