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Weekend news pt 1

October 21st, 2007 | By: Jan | 13 Comments »

Edwin van der Sar has been asked to sign for another year with the Mancunians. The 36 year old is dubbed “on of the best signings in the last 20 years” by Sir Alex… Edwin wants to focus on his recovery from his toe-injury and will decide on his future in December.

Feyenoord is still no. 1 in the Dutch league. The Rotterdam based club played a lacklustre derby against Excelsior, winning thanks to a late goal by Gio van Bronckhorst, assisted by Roy Makaay, who hit the post in the first half.

Ajax - under new manager Adrie Koster - played a poor match against NEC. No excitement, no dominance, no opportunities and no goals ( 0-0). Without a creative midfielder (no Sneijder, no Perez) Ajax looked very mediocre. Koster must have been shocked to see his team play so lame. There was much more aggression amongst the many fans who want the heads of chairman Jaakke and director Fonteijn.

PSV played a sober match against VVV, winning 3-1. Highlights, the two Koevermans goals in the second half and the debut of 19 year old Dirk Marcellis. A central defender with flair, a long pass, good skills and confidence… Hmmm….where could we use a player like that….?

We mentioned Hiddink and his Russian success, but we shouldn’t forget Don Leo Beenhakker. The former Ajax, Feyenoord, Real Madrid and Volendam coach is virtually qualified for the EC with Poland. Who never ever played an EC before (they did play WC’s though… and good ones too…). With two matches to go, Poland has a four point lead. If Poland qualifies, Don Leo will ask NEC coach and former Feyenoord and Pisa star Mario Been to assist him.

Dirk Kuyt helped Liverpool beat Everton, with two penalty-kicks. Real Madrid lost their competition game in Spain, and…so did Barcelona.

Tags: Adrie Koster, Dirk Kuyt, Group C, Koevermans, Mario Been, The Netherlands, Wesley Sneijder

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Comments

By Caleb | October 21st, 2007 at 8:12 am

I’ve been thinking lately about the dutch football legacy. Someone said a while ago that the dutch legacy is not 4-3-3 as JC would like to think, but total football. And I was trying to figure out the team today that best produces total football. Unfortunately I don’t think that it’s a dutch club at the moment. It’s certainly not Real Madrid right now either, even with their 4 dutch players. What they played this weekend was barely football, nevermind total football (I know you love hearing that Ferenc ). I hear Barcelona plays some beautiful football at times, but is it total football?

In my mind it has to be Arsenal. They are a joy to watch, a fast paced passing game using triangles that at its best cuts through the opposition defense and leaves their heads spinning. All of there players have a balanced skill set, not just defending for defenders, scoring for strikers, etc. A goal can come from pretty much anywhere on the park, and all of their players look comfortable going forward. They often rotate positions and switch roles in a play. I could go on praising them, but what do you guys think is the best total football team at the moment?

Posted from Japan

By dirk v.d berg | October 21st, 2007 at 10:11 am

I heard that Ajax wants to sign Marcus Chrisantus (the u-17 star). Does anyone have anymore information on that, because I think he would be an amazing addition to the team.

Posted from Canada

By ferenc | October 21st, 2007 at 3:31 pm

Caleb: in my mind there are 2 teams playing ‘pure’ total football - barca and arsenal. so my answer to your question: yes, barca’s style is total football.

(i watched real too and - especially after our defeat at villareal - i have never supported so much espanol like yesterday evening… what is interesting that sneijder is very good at oranje but except the 2-3 first games he’s very average - he should be in the center not on the left. but not surprising that the 2 superteam lost: although barca have 16 international players,real betvween 10 and 12,villareal and espanol only have 2-3.)

Posted from Hungary

By JVB21 | October 21st, 2007 at 3:38 pm

Caleb, I’d have to agree based on the football I’ve seen played as of late (admittedly here in Canada without paying outrageous cable bills the amount of football available is limited). Arsenal are playing some magical football right now and while it’s certainly down to a lot of different elements it has a tremendous amount to do with the fact that the entire team can go forward.

Posted from Canada

By Caleb | October 22nd, 2007 at 8:37 am

By the way JVB21, I had the same problem trying to watch games in Canada when I was there, and here in Japan there are even less games on t.v. unless I want to pay outrageous cable bills, so now I download my games to watch every weekend. Now I can watch all the soccer I want

ferenc, I really should watch a Barcelona game again, it’s been a while. I just can’t get interested in them because there are now dutch players there anymore. I guess I can always wait for ‘El Classico’ that’s coming up (of course then I’ll be cheering against them though, haha).

Posted from Japan

By goose | October 22nd, 2007 at 9:24 am

@Ferenc; what happened with Barca?? read that Deco is out for a few weeks…

looks like Az wont win the title this year…too bad

Posted from Netherlands

By goose | October 22nd, 2007 at 11:04 am

btw; smething has to be done about all this acting by players

first we had Rivaldo at WC02 v Turkey
second; Dida with the supporter
and now we have Suarez from Ajax… look at the vid at about 2.15….disgusting!! these players should be banned for several games at least

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=XQst_IhCZ7s

btw2; i knew i forgot a player on my most-hated-of-all-players-list:

Mido!!! hes a strong 2nd after Totti the Lama

Posted from Netherlands

By Kyle | October 22nd, 2007 at 4:17 pm

Hey Goose,

The question is do you think Dida dived during the flare incident? I’m not worried that he might have embellished that one as well.

Posted from Canada

By Tristan | October 22nd, 2007 at 7:30 pm

Caleb，don’t forget that Barcelona has a Dutch coach. It’s very important. Real Madrid has 4 Dutch plyers, but it doesn’t mean they play dutch stlye. Barcelina have no Dutch player, but they are more like real Dutch style. I think you should watch one Barcelona game and you’ll find it really beautiful.

But Deco will be out for 5 weeks because of thigh injury. I’m a little worried about them. There’re too many injuries in Barca.

Posted from Australia

By jan | October 22nd, 2007 at 7:47 pm

I agree: To me it’s Arsenal, with Barca as a close second.

AZ can play total football if they are in good form.

By the way, my internet connection is dead and it will take some days before I’m back in.

Sorry for that (this is from an i-cafe)

Posted from Australia

By goose | October 23rd, 2007 at 2:36 am

Hi Kyle:

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=k0dfsRfXd-w

had a look at the footage (tube above), think that was a pretty honest reaction, it does hit.. so ill give him the benefit of the doubt on this one

Posted from Netherlands

By Caleb | October 23rd, 2007 at 4:34 am

Goose - wow, that saurez faking was terrible, I agree he should get a few games ban to set an example, like dida got. It really is getting terrible to watch all the diving and faking all over the place.

Tristan - yeah, I know they have a dutch coach, but I can’t watch the coach play. I usually like to watch teams with dutch players, so even though barcelona may play nice football, without any dutch players it lacks a certain something for me. Also, being a bit of a real supporter, barcelona is kind of the ‘enemy’ (not that I really care that much about that though).

Posted from Japan

By stephen | October 23rd, 2007 at 5:10 pm

Arsenal is the best Total Football club right now….they are just slicing through teams with the greatest of ease. The next couple of weeks is going to be a major test with L’pool and ManU.

Posted from United States