Comments on: Danes tame the Oranje Lion

By: Kervin

Kervin — Fri, 30 May 2008 15:52:27 +0000

Put kuyt right back!! He just runs and runs!! and then misses in front of goal!!!! No joking this guy should have been a defensive midfielder or a side back!!! Jan was right!!! He just an average striker, but a very good player and has a good mentallity! However forget it for euro 2008, for world cup 2010!

By: sphinx

sphinx — Fri, 30 May 2008 02:05:58 +0000

Firstly, it was really and firendly..especially in the second half.
But we can found out three different phases of the game.
first half was the real test by Basten. Attacking Party was well gel up and lethal and defence was equally open.
I garee with Bastens’ remark on importance of mid-field part on defence.
with sneijder and robben, instead of kuyt& Afelly we did lose the defensive support while attacking more dangerous. As Vaart wasting hell of opportunities it’s look we need a second smarter finisher like persie or Kuyt. Ooijer at the left flank produced nothing.
Then changes after break.
Kuyt for Vaart looked to be a right balance but Dejong for Ooijer make the defence more out balance. Kuyt and JVH wasted a perfect opportuniy once again…means..ruud or hunter are inrreplacable.
Third part is my worry on Basten …repalacing Snijder by afelly made no creative mid-fielder left.
then it was not the team any more like just struggling for a draw result.
I saw him sometimes he made silly decision at crucial moment.

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 30 May 2008 01:26:50 +0000

I was also highly disappointed with the wide attacking in general. No-one could deliver a decent cross. Half the time there was only Van Nistelrooy to aim at. The Danes basically didn’t defend their wings at all, but Oranje couldn’t benefit from that. Very disappointing. This in itself is an argument to start Huntelaar and Van Nistelrooy against teams who leave space on the wing.

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 30 May 2008 01:20:06 +0000

Player ratings:

Van der Sar – looked solid as ever and yelled at Mathijsen – 8
Ooijer – decent defensively, unable to offer anything in attack – 5
Van Bronckhorst – didn’t offer much in attack but Robben was doing that – 6
Mathijsen – lost out in the air, turned inside out for the goal – 4
Heitinga – some shoddy marking but great tackles – 6
De Zeeuw – foul after foul, one great pass to Van Nistelrooy – 4
Engelaar – don’t think he lost the ball once in the first half and could bully players off the ball, quality performance – 9
Sneijder – didn’t offer any decent crossing on the right, but controlled the midfield well – 6
Robben – always available on the left – could improve his crossing but he was definitely the big midfield threat – 8
Van Nistelrooy – grabbed his goal, missed a few others, his hold up play and passing was terrific though – 8

Subs:
De Jong – looked fairly tenacious if a bit ineffective – he offers something different at right back – 6
Dirk Kuyt – missed a sitter, didn’t do too much – 5
Afellay – not really on long enough to judge, but his introduction lifted the crowd, he was prepared to shoot while others dinked it about on the edge of the area – 7
Tim De Cler – did ok – 6
Ryan Babel – looked a threat every time he got the ball – there should be arguments for this kid to play right wing because he’s prepared to beat people, cuts in too much though – 8
Vennegor – Didn’t do a whole lot or make an impact – 5

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 30 May 2008 01:03:56 +0000

Hmmm…so my thoughts on the game and player ratings:

I think Jan has it spot on. Mathijsen was really poor and, much as I hate Bouma I think he is the better option (or Ooijer at centre half and Melchiot at right back).

Van der Vaart cannot be played in the way he was. Behind Ruud has to be someone who will make the most of their chances and actually be able to score in a brothel. Watching Vaart in acres of space (the sort of space he won’t be afforded in the Euros) only to let the Danish defence catch him up and then fluff a tame shot at their keeper was depressing. Vaart could play more centrally, if Van Basten were prepared to sacrifice a defensive midfielder, his passing is of course very good.

De Zeeuw had a woeful game – constantly gave away stupid fouls. Mad a brilliant pass to Van Nistelrooy – but he’s in there to break up plays and all he did was give away foul after foul.

Overall – an indifferent performance. I do think it will be different in the actual tournament though – the defence looked too relaxed and the attackers toothless – I think that’s partly due to the friendly atmosphere. Jan is right though – far, far too little penetration. Despite Van der Vaart and Sneijder possessing great shots it was apparently only Robben who was prepared to have a pop , and went very close twice.

By: Hup

Hup — Thu, 29 May 2008 23:51:57 +0000

VDV is talented. Probably more useful on teh wing however. Van Persie at full power is the most talented dutch international.

By: richard

richard — Thu, 29 May 2008 23:40:25 +0000

Is Van der Vaart any good, really? Unlike the others, I haven’t seen him play in the German league, which let’s face it is a definite cut below the top European leagues. With van Persie–whom I think is the most talented Dutch playmaker–the Dutch might be a force in this tournament. The attacking talent is pretty formidable and in its prime. Without him, I doubt it. I too think Kuyt gives the team more than vdv, but he too has trouble finishing.

By: Michel-Olivier

Michel-Olivier — Thu, 29 May 2008 22:45:33 +0000

the dutch team was great and awful, with performance like that i fear for us.
i agree mathijsen had a bad game, but van der vaart was awful as a playmaker.
he had about ten shot on goal, none of them were on target. i hope robin vP is fit so he can play the playmaker role behind RVN. i do like the real madrid(Van Nistelrooy, Sneijder and Robben) combination.
if kuyt or robin was playing instead of van der vaart the score would of been different.