Comments on: Wesley Sneijder: new captain of Oranje

By: Shyam

Shyam — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:26:15 +0000

Speaking of Sneijder, I think he is one of the few guys who identifies with the concept of playing for Holland, he will be an exemplary leader.

By: Caleb

Caleb — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:59:12 +0000

I think Richard has it right. Beckham is a set piece specialist (except for penalties ), but during the run of play is pretty average – he does fight hard and have a good work rate though.
It’s really difficult to seperate the player from the hype though, and I think a lot of real fans tend to write him off as overrated and useless because of all the hype. Lots of people who don’t know much about football think he is a great player, and to balance it out us real fans tend to go the other way and think he sucks.

goose – You shouldn’t say he has no part in it. Beckham is actually a very smart business man and carefully cultivated his media image/hype. But like you said, he’s no Zidane.

By: goose

goose — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:19:42 +0000

off topic; Fc Twente will play Arsenal in the CL

Jan , have a good one!

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:35:46 +0000

Beckham is excellent on free kicks, and he can pass the ball well, but during run of play he is pretty average at best. He’s not very fast or physical, and is no threat to score (except on set pieces). I do admire him for being a reasonably likeable; it doesn’t seem like he’s let his superstar status take hold of him.

By: Mario Rosado (Dutch admirer)

Mario Rosado (Dutch admirer) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 01:02:11 +0000

Captain: Van Nistelroooooooooooooy!

By: Jan

Jan — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 22:46:41 +0000

Chaps, my second break is coming up! Off to see Sydney (yawn yawn) with friends from Holland. See you in a week…

By: Carlos

Carlos — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 22:37:25 +0000

Goose, agree totally,Beckham is at best an “average” player with good fighting spirit.Too much hyped up. Nice guy yes…pretty dumb (self admittance) yes. I always ask those people who think the world of Beckham if they have ever seen him dribble down the wing and dazzle an opponent a la Robben or Ronaldo. – Answer NO ! Wouldn’t make my 3rd team of selected world players.
I think Wes will be captain but like most here think Raf has better experience. Oh and at their best would I take Sneijder or Beckham ? Not even a contest !

By: goose

goose — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 22:24:57 +0000

@jan; i know its a bit unfair cause Beckhem himself has no part in it but because of all the hairdo’s etc. he is one of the most hyped player in recent history
but he is a decent player and i also agree on the fighting spirit…he also seems to be a nice guy but to name him alongside Zidane like Blind did is a laugh

By: dirk v.d.berg

dirk v.d.berg — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 22:21:21 +0000

Gio is currently captain, but he’s in his declining years, and van der Vaart will probably next in line, especially since he’s been playing for the Oranje since he was 18, back in 2001.

@Jan, Beckham isn’t really as talented as he’s hyped up to be in my opinion. If you put an average player on a team full of talent like Manchester used to, and Real Madrid during the Galaticos era, he’ll definitely look talented. Look at Adebayor for example, he’s a terrible player, but provided with a lot of excellent passes, so now the world thinks he’s a good striker.

By: Jan

Jan — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:47:04 +0000

Goose, don’t you think Beckham is a great player?

If you take all the hairdo’s, clothes, Posh, voice and commercials away, I do feel he is a tremendous midfielder: wonderful vision, fighting spirit, reasonable right foot and scoring abilities… Is it me?