Team manager Bert van Marwijk confirmed he uses a shadow list for potential Oranje players at last Friday’s press conference in Zeist. The coach refused to publish the list, though. “It wouldn’t do anyone any good to publish that list. It’s not a fixed list either, so then I’d have to go out and justify all the changes all the time apart from all the media attention these players will get as a result. I don’t think it’s healthy. It will put extra pressure on and I don’t think club coaches will be pleased if their youngsters are suddenly approached with all these types of questions… I think the fans should trust the process, me and my staff in this. Our goal is the same as everyone’s: win prizes with attractive football. I’d be a fool if I’d close my eyes to the progress of certain youngsters.”

The press did manage to have Van Marwijk discuss some names. “Ron Vlaar is an obvious name, I guess. I know him well. He was an Oranje player before his injuries and he plays on a position that we’ve been having problems with in the past. We deliberately left him in peace in the first six months. His journey was a long one and it was irresponsible to call him up too early. The last thing he needs is to be over-utilized.”

Van Marwijk confirmed Drenthe and Maduro are on the radar as well, and a new name he came up with is Jeffrey Bruma, the young Chelsea defender. “He’s only 17 years old, mind you. But a high potential. He trains with the likes of Lampard, Terry and Drogba every week and that will definitely help his development. He’s made the final step to the Chelsea first team. Now I’d like to see him play a lot of games at that level.”

Maduro and Drenthe have a similar situation. “They are high potentials and we all know that. Under other management, they could have been selected for Oranje, or re-selected, but I don’t want to invite players on the basis of a number of good turns as a sub or a limited series of good games. Oranje needs consistency, but both players fit the bill on any other aspect.”

Van Marwijk also confirmed he enjoys watching FC Twente play… “But not only Twente. They do play according to a typical Dutch style and have great players, but I also like the developments in Eindhoven and Amsterdam. I think Dutch football is developing very nicely, despite our role at the international club level. I think that’s more a financial issue than a talent issue.”

Robin van Persie excels every week as Arsenal’s deepest striker. In Oranje, Van Persie is limited to playing on the flanks. Van Marwijk confirmed he has seen this too. “We’re not blind… We follow our players closely and have close contact with them and their club coaches. We deploy our players in such a way that benefits the team the most. I have had long talks with Robin about this and you shouldn’t be surprised if Robin plays central striker in Oranje. He’s done it before, with success, and in Arsenal’s system – which resembles what we want to do at Oranje – this works very well.”

The former Feyenoord coach – and the man who allowed Van Persie his debut in pro football – quickly added that he hasn’t made any firm decisions yet. “It does depend on the game and opponent though. Robin is wasted if he needs to fight off two strong central defenders in narrow spaces. Robin is lethal in situations where he has some time and space to control the ball, make a turn or can pass in another players. I don’t see him as the typical center target man. Klaas Jan is more equiped for a role like that. Klaas Jan can physically handle those situations well and doesn’t need the ball a lot to still score with a header or dry finish. I see Robin as a forward playmaker who can score goals, but his contribution – also at Arsenal – is more than scoring goals. Robin needs to play facing the goal, whereas Klaas Jan can play well as a striker with his back to the goal, if you know what I mean. Using Robin on the wing, means he has more vision towards the game, more space to create and he does have the freedom to roam around. Robin has a killer through pass and cross, and he can penetrate the box and score himself. But, it’s a luxury. We have a number of options for the center striker role. Dirk is yet another option, who may not be as prolific as Klaas Jan or Robin, but Dirk does a lot of hard work upfront, allowing players like Van Persie, Robben, Elia or Sneijder to benefit from that. Again, another model. We’re actually blessed to be able to shift our tactics for different circumstances.”

Van Marwijk makes a comparison with Afellay. “Ibrahim can play on the wing too, he can play playmaker and he excels as holding midfielder as well. We watch their progress at club level ( Afellay plays in a more controlling way for PSV) and take that on in our deliberations.”

Despite lack of playing time, Huntelaar, Babel and Van der Vaart are still part of the group for the friendlies against Italy ( November 14) and Paraguay ( November 18). Although it does seem that Huntelaar is now Milan’s third striker. “I’ll say it again, some players have more credit than others and I will make exceptions where I see fit. Huntelaar is our only real center striker. That is in his advantage with Oranje. After these two international games, we won’t be meeting for three months. In that timeframe, they will have to prove it. For the sake of Oranje and Huntelaar himself, I hope he’ll get to play more. I need top fit players for the WC. Talent and reputation aren’t enough. They need rhythm, so the coming months will be exciting for the three. Do I advise him to leave in the winter break? Hmmm… I don’t think switching clubs three times in one season is ideal, but if the choice is a bench spot in Milan or starting somewhere else, I’d know what I would do…”

Mark van Bommel is back in the Dutch selection. The last four games were missed due to a toe injury. Afellay, De Jong, Van Persie, Robben and Van der Wiel make their return as well, since the Australia game.

But we’re not doing too shabby in the Europa League and you have to start somewhere…

Dembele tries…

AZ Alkmaar is a club and a team in trouble. Replacing Van Gaal by Ronald Koeman is one thing, but having your sponsor, chairman and sugar daddy declared bankrupt is another. AZ could have impressed in Europe, under the right circumstances (and coach) but with all that’s going on in Alkmaar, you can’t blame them for being played off the pitch by Arsenal. And with Arsenal, in my view, we’ve mentioned one of the contenders for the title, by the way.

In Holland, AZ was the dominant team last season with a style that resembled Arsenal’s a little. The contrast is huge. The champs of Holland being given football lessons by the number 4 of England. That’s where we stand.

In the Europa League, we do have a chance that all four contestants survive the winter.

PSV was lucky away against Kopenhagen. Jesper Gronkjaer, the former Ajax winger, scored for the home side, but Rutten was able to secure his 22nd game without a loss when Dszudszak scored the equalizer in the second half, when the real PSV decided to show their colors. 1-1 the end result and PSV is firmly on second spot in their group.

Ajax played away in Zagreb against the local Dynamo. Without public. The home side was punished (and has three points deducted as well) and the empty venue didn’t motivate the hosts. Ajax scored early in the first half via Pantelic and when a Zagreb player was red carded, Jol knew the points were secure. De Zeeuw (again him) scored the 2-0 with a clean header this time, while the English ref decided to send another Zagreb player off. Jol decided to rest some players for the Twente game and only needs one more point in two remaining games to survive the European winter.

Pantelic

FC Twente had a shock loss against Sheriff in the last round. At home, the Tukkers took revenge. Twente started very sloppy though and players like Stam, Perez, Douglas and Janssen (consistent players normally) made mistake after mistake. Chelsea loan player Miroslav Stoch scored the 1-0 but an own goal by Tiote meant that Twente needed to fire on all cylinders. N’Kufo missed a couple of sitters but the same Stoch scored a late goal after a goalie mistake: 2-1. Twente has qualifications for the knock out phase in their own hands, still.

Matchwinner Stoch

Heerenveen didn’t do itself a favor at home against Hertha BSC. The Northerners had a good result away against the Germans and should have put this game away too, leading 1-0 after a couple of minutes. But a festival of faults resulted in a 2-3 loss in the Abe Lenstra Stadium. Heerenveen still has chances to proceed but can’t afford any more mistakes.

The season is almost two months old and PSV and Twente are above Ajax in the tables. At the same time, Ajax hasn’t impressed in Europe yet.

That’s too bad. But nothing more than that. Ajax might not play sensational against clubs like RKC or NAC, but there is almost no criticism. That’s weird. That’s un-Ajax. Even Marco van Basten was made out to be a pancake with these performances.

Sure, the recent win over Feyenoord was great. But this Feyenoord is not the same Feyenoord Ajax played against in the 70s. Or 80s. Or even 90s. And that red card did help. A lot.

So why has the critical, snobbish Ajax fan changed?

It’s Martin Jol.

Most people don’t know what to make of him. It’s a guy that’s hard to pin down. He doesn’t want fans at the training. He uses the seriously criticized Kennedy and Rommedahl. He doesn’t wear the standard Oger suit on the bench, but prefers a trainings outfit with baseball cap. Un-Ajax, again. And Jol doesn’t give shit.

Ajax used to have vain macho men at the helm. Co Adriaanse. Louis van Gaal. Johan Cruyff. Morten Olsen. Marco van Basten.

Ajax is not longer arrogant. Marco van Basten had this untouchable aura and Henk ten Cate didn’t just come across as arrogant, he actually was extremely arrogant. Not Jol from The Hague. A new cult hero is born.

But Jol is a bit of a cuddly toy. The written-off Kennedy plays reasonably well, so does Rommedahl. The whole group plays better. Is that the impact of De Zeeuw? Maybe, but it seems it’s also the cuddly toy. Four youthful defenders have risen to the task. Emanuelson plays tremendous games for Ajax. The only one searching is Sulejmani.

Jol is also original. His international network was put to work last summer and Jol scored a number of interesting players for Ajax.

Of all new players, Demy de Zeeuw and Ze Eduardo seem to be fairly middle of the road. De Zeeuw is international and champion, while Ze Eduardo has been scouted by many big name club in Europe as one of Brazil’s finest. There are no weird YouTube clips on them.

But Pantelic, Kerlon and Atouba have been chased by their own pasts. Any compilation film of Pantelic on YouTube starts with his pathetic behavior after being subbed against Hamburg SV. He overacts his bows to referee, fans and coach. Only after that, we see his many goals. And what a goals… 83 goals in 194 games and all high quality, from every possible angle. Kerlon is famous because of his seal dribbles while Atouba is known to show his middle finger to the fans. His own fans, that is. Jol didn’t go out and sign ideal son in laws, in other words…

Confidence galore with Pantelic by the way. The Amsterdam news broadcaster AT5 asked him at the beginning of the season to introduce himself to the fans. The striker didn’t get that. “Everyone knows who I am! Not just here or in Germany, every football fan in Europe knows me.”

Kerlon might still be young, he’s definitely not shy. “I’m a dynamic player with a good dribble, I can take on opponents and score goals. I can play anywhere on midfield. And anywhere upfront too.” He also added that he’d easily perform his seal trick in Holland… “If the match requires it or allows it, I will do it.”

Interesting times in Amsterdam. The youth team recently beat ADO’s youth team, 10-0, and a new striker showed himself. Ebecilio, a 17 year old talent, scoring five times. Van Basten would have awarded the youngster with a go in the big Ajax, but Jol is opportunistic in another way. Last year, San Marco clashed with the players with personality, Jol simply adores those types. And with Kerlon, Pantelic and Atouba he has them…

1. If you take up too many projects, you can’t watch CL games . Or post enough articles on the blog.

I missed a lot of action. Didn’t see anything of the CL yesterday…

2. If you can sign Van der Vaart because Xabi Alonso leaves, you should! (Mr Benitez!!)

Liverpool looks frail. Without ideas. Lucas and Mascherano as playmakers??

3. If Sneijder is half fit, you will play him. Always.

An assist and a goal…

4. If your sub scores a cracker, do not let him take a free kick straight after it.

Babel had a top goal and followed it up with a free kick that almost ended up at the half way line… What?

5. If you were the Best of the World, it doesn’t mean you will make it in Munich…

United manager Ron Atkinson gave Molby a tape after the game with video footage of police camera’s, showing the goal.

Now, 24 years after the fact, the Danish star felt it was time to show the goal to the world.

Well, I commented on the biggest upset of this weekend already… Feyenoord losing away to Ajax, 5-1. That hurts. Every Feyenoord fans secretly thanks the referee for that debatable red card for Babovic, so they can now claim that maybe maybe maybe with eleven, Feyenoord would have had a chance.

Ajax played impressive without being brilliant. But from the start, it was clear Ajax wanted to win this game. Feyenoord was overwhelmed and thankful that Pantelic and Suarez’ canons weren’t aimed right. When Feyenoord got back into the game, after 15 minutes or so, Ajax got some scares. Vlaar was the danger man from Rotterdam, with a sneaky header and a rocket on the post.

A marking mistake of Fer resulted in the first goal. By Fer. De Zeeuw couldn’t connect with the ball too well and Fer’s leg pushed the ball under Van Dijk. 1-0 and credited to De Zeeuw. Within 60 seconds the game was altered. Where Suarez was left unpunished for his wide arm in Babovic (!) face, the latter got red-carded for a similar offence. There was blood, so ref Blom thought red was the color in fashion.

Playing ten against eleven Ajax players is tough for any opponent and when Emanuelson scored the 2-0 right after the break, Feyenoord was ready for the slaughter. The 3-0 (Van der Wiel) was another lucky. Pantelic wanted to play the ball wide, but a Feyenoord shoe pushed the leather in the stride of the young right back, whose finish was impeccable.

A nifty pass of ol’ timer Gio on the other ol’ timer Landzaat brought hopes back in Rotterdam. The pass was superb, the first touch Van Basten-like and JC once scored a similar chip from distance: 3-1. Feyenoord pushed forward to go for 3-2 but as ever, it was the Ajax machine that knew how to find space. A smart dummy by De Zeeuw resulted in the 4-1 ( making the defense believe he’d pass the ball, but instead he fired in the opposite corner. In the dying minutes, Ajax got a penalty kick (and Feyenoord goalie a red card) for another debatable challenge in the box.

Honey, I blew up Engelaar!

PSV seems to have the patent on winning close games with one goal difference. Tight Vitesse tried not to give anything away but after an hour of play, Dszudszak scored the winner.

AZ Alkmaar finally won a game. Away in Groningen – struggling this season sans Berg – it was sub Lens who gave AZ a reason to celebrate at long last.

FC Twente still leads the standings. The Tukkers won away against Roda JC, 2-0. The making of true champions, playing weak football, but still winning. Goals by Ruiz and Stoch.

FC Utrecht and NAC lost their games, leaving Feyenoord on spot 4, after Twente, PSV and Ajax. AZ is now number 7. Gert jan Verbeek, the highly criticized former Feyenoord coach, is currently head coach of Heracles. His team takes number 6, after FC Utrecht.

Manchester United is closely monitoring Suarez. The Ajax goal machine is high on Sir Alex’ shopping list for next season.

The Dutch newspaper Telegraaf published news that Gio van Bronckhorst, Denny Landzaat and Roy Makaay will be sold by next season. Their salaries are too high for the Rotterdam club.

Willem van Hanegem’s column in the AD:

Ajax – Feyenoord is not a real classic anymore. It’s a normal, mediocre game. The players simply need to make it a classic and yesterday they didn’t. After Babovic red card the game was played and became boring. The pace was low, the quality lacked and there was no tension left. Whenever Ajax deservedly wins, I’m fine with it. But yesterday I got annoyed with Ajax’s attitude. As if they played tremendous. Come on, they didn’t. They had a man more and were leading 1-0. Not that hard, then. By the way, the ref should have given Babovic a yellow. He killed the game and Babovic didn’t even give Vertonghen a conscious knock. It was dangerous play. And that means a yellow.

I blame Feyenoord for not wanted to play. Feyenoord came to Amsterdam to stop Ajax from scoring. I don’t like that. Feyenoord always needs to play to win. I’ve once lost to Ajax, 5-2, as a coach but we did enter the game to win. We created opportunities and we played along in the game. Even before the red card yesterday, Feyenoord had trouble keeping the ball. Feyenoord’s football was horrible. I can understand it when you don’t want to go firing on all cylinders if you don’t feel strong enough. Sure, but why do you play the youngsters in that case? You have all that experience on the bench, which is what you need. Fer, Biseswar, Wijnaldum…they can’t carry a game like this yet.

I’m a Fer fan, but what he demonstrated in the first half was pathetic. Was he nervous? What would Makaay have thought on the bench. I think that Makaay is treated horrible at Feyenoord, although they do pay his salary on time. Why doesn’t Been dismantle his contract? That would be honest towards Makaay and it would save Feyenoord some money. I know Makaay has lost some of his edge, sure, but he’s probably still a better striker than Slory, who recently showed himself from his worst side.

But, I want to end this piece positively. I would like to ask Bert van Marwijk to invite Urby Emanuelson and Ron Vlaar to Oranje. In particular Vlaar deserved to at least train with Oranje. We keep on moaning about how we don’t have good defenders, but when you watch Vlaar play you can’t help but smiling. Vlaar will become a regular starter in Oranje, I’m convinced.

Mario Been and Martin Jol are facing their first ever classic as coaches. The Amsterdam ArenA is the venue for the first clash of Ajax and Feyenoord this season. The number 3 against the number 4.

Mario Been: “These games are always special, whether it’s about anything or not. If we win, the whole of Rotterdam and everything Feyenoord will be walking on sunshine for at least a week. But, you can’t win the title against Ajax. I’d rather lose against Ajax and PSV and win all my other games and thus the title than the other way around.”

Been was there when in 1983 Feyenoord with Johan Cruyff went to Amsterdam to play the Sons of Gods in the Olympic Stadium. “We lost 8-2. A tremendous flocking. I’ll never forget that game. Was a good lesson. Because we played as good as they did. We had Cruyff, Gullit, Vermeulen, Houtman… They had Vanenburg, Schip and Van Basten. We played great till it was 3-2. We needed to play aggressive and offensive to grab a draw but they countered us to kingdome come. I remember their chairman was in the USA for business and when he was told over the phone what the score was, he simply didn’t believe it and was angry that his coach was putting him on… JC suggested to use a more defensive left midfielder instead of a winger after that ( Brard for Pierre Vermeulen) and we won the title that season.”

Been will change his squad again, for tactical reasons. Roy Makaay, back in the starting line up since a week, will have to make way for the explosive and active Andy Slory. “I need to have players up front that will keep pressure on the Ajax back four. Slory is the man to do that. Sad for Roy, but he understood my explanation and won’t whinge about it.”

In 1992, the town of Voorhout was preparing for a unique classic game. For the first time ever, two young goalies from Voorhout’s amateur club Foreholte would guard the goals for both Ajax and Feyenoord. Stanley Menzo was injured and second goalie Edwin van der Sar would get the nod. At Feyenoord, Oranje goalie De Goey was injured, so Sar’s buddy Rob van Dijk was supposed to keep for Feyenoord. De Goey recovered quicker that imagined and Van Dijk’s debut for Feyenoord was postponed. No, 17 years later, Rob van Dijk finally will play his classic game against Ajax. He will also be the oldest player (40) ever to play an Ajax – Feyenoord. “This is an amazing match. It’s always extra, but with the knowledge that my chance was gone 17 years ago, makes it extra special. This whole season is a bonus for me, anyway. Darley was supposed to be number one goalie, but I’ve played eleven games by now and two cup games. Quite something for an oldie like me.”

Van Dijk will turn 31 in January, but he won’t say he’ll quit after this season. “The chance that I will quit is big, of course, but I won’t decide now. You see that goalies are getting older still. Even Edwin (van der Sar) has an offer to stay one more year at Man United. So, who knows. If I feel good and the club wants me, I might sign another deal.”

Gio van Bronckhorst and Kelvin Leerdam are both fit after their groin injuries. Stefan Babovic, the Nantes signing, will start as well against Ajax. “With his creativity and will to win, he’s a good contribution to the team. With De Guzman injured I can sure use him, ” Been said.

Feyenoord will probably play with Slory as lone striker, with Babovic behind him. Biseswar will play on the left, with Wijnaldum on the right. El Ahmadi and Fer will play holding roles ( Landzaat might replace El Ahmadi) and the usual four at the back.

Jol misses Aissati and Rommedahl for the Feyenoord game, while Demy de Zeeuw might not be fit in time (flu). Gabri is fit and allowed to play, following his two yellows against cup fighter Dordrecht.

Ajax – Feyenoord in 1983… 8 – 2…. But it could have easily been the other way around

Ejero Elia is traveling in a fast elevator. And he’s going up! The winger has a tremendous start with HSV and the talent of the year was also decisive for Oranje in his first internationals. Elia is inspired by his idol Rafael van der Vaart. “Everything he does has a reason behind it.”

HSV shares the lead in the Bundesliga. The contribution of new comer Elia is substantial. In Germany, they adore the dribbler, but the young father stays calm. His story…

“I highly enjoy myself at HSV. I’m doing better and better. And I score too! It’s what we all hoped for. And you know, in Germany they love it when you take players on. They don’t have that many players with those skills. In Germany, it’s easy to become the fan favorite for a player like me.”

“The level in Germany is quite higher than in Holland. In every sense. Technical skills, speed of execution, power… You need to be able to defend and you need to see the game tactically. And mentally too. It takes a lot of concentration. If you make one mistake, you’re gone. In the beginning, I was struggling. I needed to adapt a lot. At Twente, I was the man upfront, always on the half of the opponent. Now, I’m spending quite some time on my own half. I sometimes defend in the 6 yard area!”.

“Our coach, Bruno Labbadia is still young. But he understands football like no other and he’s clear in what he wants. And he treats everyone equal. When he doesn’t like something, he’ll tell you. And he wants everyone to act normal and stay grounded. He talks to me a lot and gives me confidence. He wants me to follow my instincts on the pitch. My defensive skills were a bit lacking, though, and he spends a lot of time with me on that.”

“I need to learn a lot. I’m used to playing left winger, now I play left midfielder. As a left winger, you have to their right full back. Now, I have to control the whole flank. Squeeze, put pressure, take over if the right midfielder comes through, all of that. And I am improving. Labbadia never yells at me when I make mistakes. He always talks one on one with me and uses video material. It’s as if I’m at the University of Football.”

“They elected me the most valuable player twice in the first weeks. I thought that was a bit over the top. I need to stay critical. I didn’t think I played that well, but once you take on a player successfully, they sort of remember that. In Holland, that’s normal. I am critical. I suffer to much loss of possession at vulnerable spots on the pitch. I watch every game I play on dvd, sometimes twice. I can feel I’m improving my total game, but playing in midfield does take a lot of energy so I’m training to become stronger without losing my speed.”

“Hamburg is a cool city. A bit like Amsterdam. People come to Hamburg from all over the country. Romeo Castelen sometimes takes me out to see the sights. But I spent most of my time at home. I have a little daughter now and I like being with her and my wife.”

“German is a strange language for me. I can understand it but I can’t speak it too well. I remember I wasn’t too good at it at school. Some blokes at HSV don’t understand a word of German, while they’re here already two seasons… My team mates speak German to me, I respond in English.”

“It’s cool to play with Joris. In Holland, he gets criticism, but in Hamburg he’s the leader. If Joris doesn’t play, we’re in trouble. He recently played Grafite and Dzeko (Wolfsburg) out of the game, and that means you are a great defender. These lads are world class. Mathijsen doesn’t look to strong or fierce, but he’s a powerhouse. He had an unlucky game against England, well… it happen to anyone. I’m glad it was in a friendly.”

“At Oranje, I constantly watch Rafael. He is such a tremendous player. And everything he does, has a reason behind it. He knows exactly what he does and why he does it. It looks so easy and sometimes effortless, but he’s constantly working. With his mind. I have a weakness for left-footed players, as if I know what they’re thinking and doing. I only have to watch Rafael and subconsciously I know what to do. I love his style. He’s not the fastest, but his mind and execution are so quick, he can easily play himself out of every situation. To me, he’s got the same level as Zidane. And the goals he scores… I haven’t really spoken with him, you know… I keep my distance and just observe him, whenever he trains.”

“I’m not sure what my position is in the Oranje hierarchy. I don’t think about it like that. I just focus on my own game and the coach will decide. I think I’m close, but there’s a number of players in front of me. We have many players who can play on the left side: Sneijder, Rafael, Afellay, Robben, Van Persie… And whenever I get the chance, I’ll have to embrace it and show my worth.”

“The WC in South Africa is in my head, every day. That is one my major goals. I want to win prizes with HSV and be part of the WC squad. I can do that, but performing at my top. Al Jarreau? That’s the guy I was named after, haha… My sister was a huge fan and she used his name for inspiration for my first name… I haven’t got his music on my iPod, now you mention it… Still have to add those…”

It’s that time again soon!

The 00’s are coming to an end. We need to talk “Best Players of the Decade”.

That means, any player who played somewhere from 2000 till now.

Dennis Bergkamp, for instance, qualifies for this list.

There’s a massive questionaire being put up by the OffSide Weekend Blogger and I will collate your responses and make a definitive Top 20 List by the Oranje Bloggers!

How bout that?

My list would be:

Ruud van Nistelrooy
Edwin van der Sar
Clarence Seedorf
Dennis Bergkamp
Steve Gerrard
David Beckham
Raul
Ronaldinho
Ryan Giggs
Thierry Henry…

Not sure of other players, really…

Ah… Phillip Cocu!

Please have a go, guys, and I’ll tally the totals.

One can’t just leave for two weeks, it seems… Lots has happened since, not in the least the 250+ comments from my calcio brothers and sisters . Thanks for keeping this blog alive, my friends!!

Anyway, I’m just doing this from the hip, if that’s ok…

In Holland, AZ is hurt by the debacle that is the DSB bankrupcy. In all honesty, I never liked those “buy a caravan, borrow the money from us” kind of deals, and it seems Scheringa’s company wasn’t able to run the business in an ethical fashion. It’s sad for all people hurt by this (employees, bank account holders)… They all seem to be the victim of greed.

I always felt it was strange how in the past some players were heralded as heroes at AZ (Ken Perez, Olaf Lindenbergh, Demy de Zeeuw, Oscar Moens) and then suddenly they were pushed out with the week’s garbage. Some revealing interviews off late showed us how that actually happened.

Goalie Moens was offered a 10 million guilder/euro (?) deal when he signed for AZ ( a lifetime contract) and Moens would be payed as the figure head of DSB’s marketing campaigns. He would be paid under a “portrait rights” contract. When the tax-department blocked that construction, Moens wanted to revise the contract terms. Scheringa refused and basically killed Moens’ career (who was the ideal second goalie for Oranje in my book).

Olaf Lindenbergh was offered 1 mio guilders (or euros, don’t know) as sign money, but… He never actually got it. He was told that he’d get it after his 5 year contract. Scheringa would invest an amount in his trading bank and trade it to 1 mio in five years.

When Lindenbergh was happy to leave AZ after 4 or 5 years ( I believe he went to Ajax ), it appeared that DSB mishandled that investment, and Lindenbergh actually owed DSB 600.000 euros!!!!! Can you imagine that? Your chairman pledges you a certain amount (leave it with me!!) and after 5 years you find you are in debt….

Whenever a player asked Scheringa to put his promises in writing, he refused: “If you want it in writing, the deal is off”. My Goodness…

So Scheringa is going down and he might take AZ with him. It appears that AZ owes DSB money and the caretaker of DSB could well demand that money back. AZ is for sale now.

NEC chairman Marcel Boekholt – a wealthy investor – has offered to pay AZ handsomely for the three forwards: Dembele, El Hamdaoui and Lens. The game is on. The vultures are ready to feast on the dying…eh…vulture.

At the same time, Dwight Lodeweges (PSV’s former assistant coach who took the reigns last season after Stevens left) resigned at NEC as their head coach. Totally surprising the NEC board! “I’m not the right man for the job here,” he said.

Feyenoord’s progress is stalling a bit. They lost against Sparta last week due to two horrible tackles by Cisse and Tomasson (both out with a red card). Last weekend Feyenoord played at home against minion VVV and were barely able to win ( 1-0 by Denny Landzaat). Mario Been seems to be at a loss. “Why can’t they just go out there and play nice football? I’m not putting any pressure on them. But they seem to fear something…”.

I read the Goal.com minute by minute report of that horrible Real Madrid stinker in the Copa and it seems Van der Vaart was constantly threatening while it looked sub (supersub?) Van Nistelrooy saw a 100% goal effort denied by a superb goalie.

As for the Van Bommel discussion… I’d like to add my 2 cents.

I think a Van Bommel in good form is crucial to the team. He’s a wonderful passer, has great vision, is able to destroy a lot in midfield (I mean, destroy the opponent’s build up) and he can engage offensively and score goals. Most importantly, (because other players – like De Zeeuw – share these qualities) Van Bommel has the winning mentality so needed in Oranje. It’s true that he does have a history of going over the edge, but in the last series of Oranje games, Mark’s sheet was clean (I believe… maybe one yellow, but no red cards).

On the topic of Bert being his father in law… Players will sniff out immediately when a player is played for the wrong reasons. Also, I trust Frank and Phillip. They won’t go along with a nepotistic team manager.

So, from where I’m standing, Mark doesn’t play because he sucks up to his father in law. Mark plays because he’s the real package.

Twente is still leading the tables in Holland and they’re looking good! I like them. Steve Umbrella just extended his deal with Twente. Good on him…

Ruud is back on the pitch, which is great!

And lastly, the phenomenal goal Emanuelson scored against AZ and Argentine goalie Romero was not a lucky. Ajax’ keeper trainer Carlo L’Ami had told the Ajax players that Romero always steps out to intercept crossings at tad early to get the advantage. Urby: “It’s smart, he can rule in the box like that, but once you know it you can fool him. My goal wasn’t a lucky.”