Comments on: SCOOP: Letter from Edgar Davids: Van Basten lacks class and decency!

By: souramaliki

souramaliki — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 10:25:12 +0000

Some of those have forgotten how great player Davids was!Go ckeck wc98 euro 2000 and 2004 and all his years in the giants juve and ajax!If these guys are irrelevant to football I don t mind!Go play basketball!Some of his words are true and only time will show us if netherlands can make the brilliant team that have in the past years althought were unlucky…

By: jumhed

jumhed — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 07:31:55 +0000

I gotta agree with Davids on this one. MvB made some mistakes. Hopefully, he’ll learn from them.

And Micha, Davids only commented on MvB after MvB made unnecessary disparaging remarks about him trying to cover his mistakes.

I’m also sure RvN will have plenty to say about MvB once either of them has quit the National team. RvN isn’t stupid enough to complain while MvB is still boss is he?

By: ferenc

ferenc — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 05:37:32 +0000

maybe this kind of talk was omni-prsent,but they got results (wc semi final in 98,ec semi final in 2000 and even in 2004, last time with less beautiful football)and they played beautiful and dominant football.

By: micha

micha — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 04:02:50 +0000

You know from another way of looking at it; this statement from Davids is a good example of why the old guard of the Oranje line-up had to to be scraped. Can you imagine having a guy like Davids in the locker room, or several guy like him, all second guessing the managments decisions and constantly voicing their arguments on and off the field to anyone who will listen and write about them?
In contrast, nobody on this Oranje team, including Van Nistelroy, has said anything derogitory or inflamitory about the managment, and their decisions, or critisized other players for their actions.
This kind of talk was omni-present in the Oranje ranks of Davids generation. And now it is he who is throwing fuel on the fire while V. Nistelroy, who has a legitimate cause for throwing venom at Van. Basten has remained calm and classy.
I salute this aspect of Van Bastens team and feel it may be a true departure from the path that was the norm for almost 2 decades of Oranje football contraversy and in-fighting.

By: Kervin

Kervin — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 01:58:05 +0000

for once i agree with mara1ona, nistelrooy should have been on the field, kurt has barely played a champions league game and this was the knock out stages of the world cup man! experience counts!

netherlands had the potential to go far, but MvB made some lethal errors… and midfield should perhaps have been arranged differently, but surely not with davids.

By: goose

goose — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 23:52:20 +0000

a lot can be said about this but vanBsten should not have joked about Davids at the final press conference, it was out of order, still think the underlying problem with vanBsten is PEOPLE MANAGEMENT, even in his playing days Marco was a loner, never a big part of the team outside the pitch, never a real leader BUT he was always the best so there never was a problem… now as the bondscoach he should be people manager and he just isnt..
1. Problems with vanBommel
2. Problems with vanNistelrooy
3. Problems with Davids
he should have a very good look at Hiddink!!
remember: a good horse doenst make a great rider at all times!!

to be fair, here in Holland we were never satisfied with the way we played under vanBasten BUT the results were great so we all just shutted up…now the result isnt good so here comes the shit…..

greetz

WIJ HOUDEN VAN ORANJE

By: sphinx

sphinx — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 23:00:38 +0000

Davids responds Basten on his personal ground. But still few important points for the future of Orange I thought.
Here are some qoutes I agree with.
“Van Basten choices seem to be driven by romanticism and idealism. But where was the realism?”
“name me one player in this Oranje selection who did have a full great season?”
“the differences between teams is very very small at a WC.”
First two are in concern of selection. Basten may have given reasons that’s not really from his iner mind to answer why not Davids or VNS etc..
Any way I feel it is not right to criticize a coach not for selecting players any other guy wants. It is Basten’s team and it’s up to him.
Point is the coach can’t blame players once it loose, it’s him.
Italy or French will win the cup very soon. I dare say Different is not much between the winning team and Netherlands or other big teams.
Difference really come from details.
Being a serious Dutch fan for almost 2 decades the most worrysome thing to me is Basten and Cruyff seem to be too stick to the winning formular, with whitch they success once upon a time, to “DOMINATE THE GAME”.
Ajax no longer rules Europe. Sneijder, Vaart and Cocu can’t overwelm the mid-field.
As Davids say It’s time to find uot where is the reality.

By: mara1ona

mara1ona — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 20:42:15 +0000

I personally am not a Davids fan, i just agreed with what he said.

Anyway get on Germany and Italy to both win in 90mins. They are different class to the opposition and only match fixing can change these results.

Im going to fill my boots and hope the later does not materialize.

By: Samuel Knight

Samuel Knight — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 20:42:07 +0000

I left one trailing thought. Sorry.

The Netherlands needs that win -now mentality. What was profoundly disappointing the last few big tournaments (2000, 2004 and 2006) is that the Dutch just don’t seem to sub aggresively.

In each case they seemed to just coast at the end – rather than going for the jugular. Rijkaard didn’t bring him Van Hooidonck for the big kick in 2000, Advocaat pulled out his big weapon (Robben) in 2004. And again in 2006 Van Baasten didn’t appear to get his offense moving.

That’s one huge change in soccer in the last 20 years – subs are vital in sparking your team. Look at Germany – every game Klinsman had his subs lined up to get some more verve. Same with France.

And the Dutch had obvious picks to do the switches with: Van De Vaart and Snijder – neither seemed ready to go a full 90, but sure as heck could give a great 45. Or Cocu. Or Van Bommel.

It’s a vital part of the modern game – and what looked to me what lacked for Holland. Redeploying to take advantage of the changing tactical situation.

Against Portugal, the clear tactical choice was to pull out people with yellows and throw more into the attack.

And although I would not have played Davids, he’s right in the sense that Van N would have been an excellent choice in fighting for the last goal.

But I still agree that Van Baasten overall goal of pciking players who really want to play hard for Oranje is the best criteria to put them on the team.

By: Mah

Mah — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 15:21:03 +0000

I agree to Bessam. What is important is that Holand lost the WC and these letters can do nothing to change the results. I think all the team have to work hard ro catch the Euro 2008 to show the differences of young players. Marco! I hope you will be successful enough to chenge the critical views arround yourself.