Who makes us European Champions??

I have always wondered if the national team results are as important to the Dutch players as are the Club team results. van Nistelrooy has stated repeatedly that the Champions League is his primary goal. Maybe others feel the same way?

If, on the other hand, the players do care a great deal about the national team results, and do speak out, are they fearful of the result? Ruud is another example, an athlete willing to state his opinion, yet what has happened to him–bounced off Man U. and put in the dog house with van Basten.

Currently, there may be a another even more important factor regarding van Basten and the Dutch team, namely the unknown but suspected great influence of Cruyff. If van Basten takes the players comments to Cruyff, and Cruyff does not agree (4-3-3 vs. 4-4-2, etc.)then will anything change? Based on what I read, including at this blog, in many respects van Basten is not his own man, apparently relying too much on the opinions of Cruyff. I admired Johann as a player and coach–he was, and is, clearly a genius with respect to football–but if he wants to coach, then step up and coach. Otherwise, let van Basten work with the players for a “team” solution and a “team” spirit. A shadow coach, no matter who he is, will hurt the players’ willingness to speak up and try to solve problems. In my opinion, the KNVB should either replace van Basten or let him alone and keep Cruyff away. There is no evidence that Cruyff has been helpful to van Basten’s coaching career.

Posted from  United States

I think many of the players have said something but that we will never know because those type of things happen very privately.
Other comment…the only leaders that I see today with vastly experiencie and very strong mentally due to all the tournaments they have played are just van der Sar, van Bommel, Seedorf and van Nistelrooy. But if you analize this then you realize that van Nistelrooy was sacked so as van Bommel and Seedorf is a bench warmer at Oranje while he is named best midfielder at Europe. Only van der Sar has the confidence of San Marco and that is mainly because Stekelenburg and Timmer do not come close to van der Sar´s level.
So that makes me think…if van Bommel, van Nistelrooy and Seedorf have been treated like that by van Basten is because they have spoken to him and surely van Basten didn´t like what they said or his little experiencie coaching he thought that by listening and doing what they said was a mistake and he would lose his authority on the team. And the easiest thing to do for him is either bench them or close them the door. I am sure this players have spoken to van Basten and I read some time ago that even van der Sar didn´t agree that Ruud and Bommel were out because he thought that without this players it would be difficult to qualify to the Europeand Championship and he was right, now we are in a very risky position.
Dear Jan, the players with experiencie, the players I just mentioned have talked but San Marco just ignored van der Sar without taking any retaliation on vd Sar but he made a lot of damage to Seedorf, van Bommel and Ruud by not supporting them correctly. These players should almost untouchable because they are very experienced and should guide the younger ones but what can they do if the coach doesn´t listen and is so stubborn???. Gio is another vey but he does not have the leadership to guide the team and he says yes to everything van Basten says not like Ruud, Mark, van der Sar and Seedorf and the young guys are too scary to contradict van Basten mainly because they are launching their international careers and to get a better club contract or jump into a bigger club is very important to be selected as international by your country, otherwise you can get stock with the same wages and at the same club year after year and for a young player that would be a big problem.
What I am saying after all is that the players have tried to talk and reach agreements but van Basten but he has not listened and at every job if the boss doesn´t listen then things will go wrong for sure and the people, in this case the players, will not feel motivated and committed to his boss because they know that he would do whatever he wants to do even if he is not going to please anybody.

Mario, I hear you loud and clear. I think you’re right, but…

The Bommel / Nistelrooy rift happened last year. I do believe Marco understands now that his “old” ways don’t work. And all those individual talks won’t really work (Ruud didn’t talk to Marco, I believe, but got really angry in front of the whole group and that is never a smart thing). The group will have to stand up as a whole or prove during the match – if the match needs it – that they can turn things around themselves. And that is immediately the problem. Players like Cruyff, Van Hanegem, Blind, Koeman, Wouters could read the game and make tactical decisions in the match. I can’t see Mathijsen, De Zeeuw, Gio or Robben do that. Maybe Sneijder…maybe maybe… Or van Persie… Ah well…every nation/player gets the coach they deserve .

Posted from  Australia

i’m sure that clarence reads perfectly the game too. maybe he’s the only one?

Posted from  Hungary

a very positive n good article this by jan for a long time
if they want to win the qualifier n the trophy one thing is impotant the belief in each other
this thing really lacks in this dutc squad
a killer instinct a team spirit a unity and a team combination is wat we want to see in the dutch football the way we played in 98 n 2000
looking at the way they play we can make two very good football teams biliv me we have two options for each position
but this doesnt matter the thing that matters at this time is the 3 points against bulg n albania
jan have a very good point wen he says it is da players who wins us the trophies
the urgency in the squad is lacking rite now
it is not the talent or skill or creativity or fluency thats lacking in the team

Posted from  Nepal

Good point Sandesh, I actually forgot that. The confidence, the bluff, the “we’re the best” attitude is missing. The charisma the De Boer bros had and Overmars and Davids… Where is that?

Posted from  Australia

anyone here playing fantasy premierleague
check the site fantasy.premierleague.com it is about managing ur choice of epl teams a very good site
n if there r some one playing this fantasy games why not make our own league of dutch football fans
it wud b GREAT

Posted from  Nepal

I believe something like that exists in Holland… I think when I lived in Holland I participated…can’t remember. Most of my time goes into this blog now, so…

Posted from  Australia

dear all guys
wat r our main problems
1. back line
2.no confidence
3.no team work
4.dont have good stamina(previously we had tire less mid feildersdavids cocu etc)
then work on these problems
then we can think of EU2008

Well, heres a first timer! dont agree Jan!!

Its the managers responcibility to make the team and make the tactics..thats what he gets paid for…
there are more examples of dutch players rebelling; remember WC90?? im very sure San Marco does!!! they didnt want the coach that the KNVB hired…they rebelled and what happened?? they played the worst WC ever with the best team (on paper) we had since 1974!!
its a dutch disease to always question everything but they need to just shut uo and play the best they can, the way the coach wants!!
whats next?? Players making the line-up, players selecting players?? thats not possible (and not desireable)
if there is anybody with any power to make a change its the KNVB and they for sure are not gonna sack vanBasten..

i understand where your comming from but just accept that nothing is gonna change… you can always discus football, every dutchman likes to talk..even vanBasten..but in the end its vanBasten who is in charge..not the players…
sure; the weaker the coach, and vanBasten is a weak coach, the more you hope that the players would stand up but just accept reality…can you imagine asking this question when R.Michels was manager?? think not.

@Bob; pretty sure all players see Het Nederlands Elftal as the summon of evrything, with vNistelrooy i almost know for sure…remember; biggest prizes in football are still to be won at the EC or WC, no Champ. Leg. title comes close

dont think vdSar is a leader at all, he has no charisma and just doesnt like to be a leader and ‘present’in the team… think that the only one we have is vPersie(Seedorf doenst seem to be vanBastens fav.)

@sandesh; its hard to get any belief in yourself when you havent played a decent game in years…it doenst come naturaly!haha

@Mario; right on the spot my friend…looks like Marco doenst like players who question his authority (btw; the main reason for the split up was that vNistelrooy made fun of vBasten during a dinner at the WC), really hate it that vBasten is such a poor people manager

but nothing we or the players can do

grtz

Posted from  Netherlands

Jan: The Dutch “we’re the best mentality” died with globalization.

I know what you mean Goose and you are right… The only BUT I have, is that at the end of the day, the players with guts (and vision) need to step up IF they feel Marco is not leading them correctly. It’s also their responsibility. Gullit walked away from Advocaat in 1994. Willem van Hanegem did in 78. And it doesn’t need to rebellious or nasty. But if Oranje fails, to me it’s not just San Marco failing, but also the players…

Funny game, eh? Coz if Cocu would’ve scored against Portugal and if van Persie would have shot that ball with his inside left instead of the outside… who knows .

I love this game….

Posted from  Australia