Analysis Oranje: Goal keepers

October 24th, 2011 | by: Jan |

stekel kaka
Stekelenburg denying Kaka

Hi guys, there were so many great games this weekend and most of them are broadcast delayed here in Oz, which means I won’t have an up to date post this time around.

My reflections on the weekend will have to wait a bit. Time is my enemy, with the CL games waiting already and I decided to bring you this Oranje analysis as well, remember?

Anyway, before I start: a fat congrats to the All Blacks for finally winning the World Cup again and with the smallest margin possible… .

Anyway, let’s analyse our goalies now!

A country that brought forward goalies like Jan van Beveren, Piet Schrijvers, Frank de Munnik, Eddie Pieters Graafland, Joop Hiele, Hans van Breukelen, Pim Doesburg, Stanley Menzo, Ed de Goey and Edwin van der Sar shouldn’t worry too much.

But we did, when Edwin said his goodbye. Only to see Maarten Stekelenburg emerge as a new gladiator under the bar. This time around, our national team manager can rest assured that we’ll have quite sufficient ball stoppers at the European Championship.

This category is most likely already set in stone. The Top 5, as picked by the AD newspaper, didn’t have any surprises. Stekelenburg ( AS Roma), Michel Vorm ( Swansea City), Tim Krul ( Newcastle United), Ken Vermeer (Ajax) and Piet Velthuizen ( Vitesse) are the usual suspects. Honesty forces me to admit that with Jasper Cillisen’s move to Ajax – where he warms the bench – this top 5 is even easier to make. Because Bert van Marwijk taught us that there is never a spot in the squad for a goalie who doesn’t play regularly.

vorm
Vorm with feet

He broke his own rule for the Oranje selection for the World Cup 2010. Sander Boschker was reserve goalie at Twente and became Holland’s number 3. But the shrewd Van Marwijk knew that most number 3 candidates didn’t have a starting spot. Vermeer was number 2 at Ajax, Mulder was no. 2 at Feyenoord, Krul still number two with the Magpies and Velthuizen didn’t play in Spain.

Jasper Cillesen is most likely Holland’s biggest goalkeeper prospect. He picked a career path with his sight on the long term. He’s seen as Ken Vermeer’s successor. His time will come, for sure. And with Kenneth Vermeer, Cillesen is stand in for another highly talented goalie. He’s only 25 years old and on Bert’s short list.

But, while Foppe de Haan called Vermeer the future Oranje goalie ( he was the number one in the Oranje under 20 squad), he has never really delivered on his promise. Thanks to the fact that Stekelenburg stayed a bit longer in Amsterdam, Krul and Vorm have leap frogged the athletic Ajax goalie.

The hierarchy is therefore clear: Stekelenburg is the absolute number 1. Vorm is the reliable number 2 and Tim Krul the insanely talented number 3.

krul
Krul in the starting line up in Brazil

It was Steek’s save on Kaka’s attempt in the World Cup quarter finals that put him on the international map. There is not a lot between Krul and Vorm. Krul is the man with length and steel balls and the boss in his box. Vorm is the man with the reflexes and the leadership. Both had their breakthrough internationally. Vorm has slightly more experience than Krul, but in time I can see Krul take over from Vorm as number 2 and most likely also from Stekelenburg, if sleeping giant Newcastle United awakens.

piet
Piet Velthuizen of Vitesse

Jasper Cillesen warming the bench but getting some game time too….

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Comments

By danni | October 24th, 2011 at 8:00 am

Don’t forget Mulder and ZOET.

By Felix | October 24th, 2011 at 8:40 am

Again, Top 1 save of the week from Tim Krul.

http://www.supersoccer.co.id/liga-inggris/special-features/content/read/saves-of-the-week-68/

By Jeff | October 24th, 2011 at 9:23 am

Jan, I think Krul is either number 2 or possible even number 1 at the moment. He is simply outstanding. Vorm is still slighly less dominant in his 6 yard box than either Krul or Stenk. Also I think Cilessen is teh real deal. He looks very confident and impressive. I would not be surprised if he finishes the year ahead of Vermeer.
Finally a thought for the French rugby team, clearly the Dutch team of rugby…3 finals, 3 losses and that last one I thought we had it as I thought we had it with Oranje a year ago. I knew the referee Joubert would never wistle a penalty goal in the last 10 min, not in NZ. Very tough loss.

Posted from United States

By Carlos | October 24th, 2011 at 9:39 am

Vermeer was sent off – probably out for 3 weeks ???

Posted from Singapore

By Steve | October 24th, 2011 at 10:22 am

Thanks Jason.
Actually I think both of us are in Vancouver…
live streaming is problematic for me because my computer (no laptop) is in my bedroom (tiny apartment) where my wife is sleeping.. so I stay out in the living room with the TV so I don’t have to tip toe and try not to make a noise. So I subscribe to pretty much every channel I can but no one carries eredivisie (though i routinely emails channels asking them to! Haha) which is basically all I am missing.
So I rely on you guys.
Cheers!

Wow tiju, wijnaldum over Robben? can’t agree but u have some refreshing ideas

Is Elia still injured??
Do we know how long Robben is out?

Posted from Canada

By eric | October 24th, 2011 at 12:47 pm

In my view, Tim Krul is the real deal. He has the skills, athleticism, strong will, and leadership. He also has a huge advantage playing in England in such young age, which will help him maturing fast. If he continues his growth rate, I have no doubt that at some point he will play for a top Champions League club. Future Oranje no.1 for sure.

Technique-wise, not to far behind Krul, I’d say Velthuizen. In fact, some would argue that on the surface, he might have the highest ceiling. Great responses, agility, positioning, and just enough dose of animation and insanity. I am disappointed that he chose to go to Spain last year, and unfortunately it might have cost him a year or two of development. He’s still young, so I expect him to come back and re-establish himself.

To be perfectly honest, I never rate Vorm. He’s a decent goalie, of course.. but I just don’t think he has what it takes to become a world-class. He is an all-rounder, but he doesn’t have the organization skills (as witnessed in the couple recent Oranje matches). Reminds me of Stanley Menzo/Sander Westerveld.

Vermeer is an excellent shot-stopper, but his inability dealing with crosses is a glaring weakness. Serviceable goalie for Eredivisie, but hard to imagine him excelling in the international stage.

I haven’t seen a whole lot of Cillessen. Looks very confident on the pitch, though. His main priority is to take over Ajax no. 1 before we can talk of him any further.

Posted from United States

By Jason | October 24th, 2011 at 1:47 pm

@ Steve, are you a Caps fan?

They used to have an Eredivisie game on Fox Soccer Channel every week on Wednesday night before they had pvrs. Thye got rid of it and I have been emailing them ever since too.

Posted from Canada

By Jason | October 24th, 2011 at 1:48 pm

Vermeer was awesome against feyenoord until he got sent off. Feenoord should have score 3 or 4 goals if it wasn’t for him.

Posted from Canada

By Steve | October 24th, 2011 at 2:58 pm

@Jason – Yea I am a caps fan, though I couldn’t get to any matches so I’ve just been a tv fan

Haha yea I’ve been emailing both Fox and GolTv for ANYONE to pick it up..

Posted from Canada

By Alex | October 24th, 2011 at 6:18 pm

Stekelenburg 1
Krul 2
Vorm 3
Vermeer 4

Velthuizen, Cillessen, Zoet, Mulder are the spare keepers for when we get in trouble with injuries. That extreme emergency.

Posted from Netherlands

By OranjeRules | October 24th, 2011 at 6:20 pm

Off topic but can anyone comment on young Right Backs for Oranje. Who has the highest ceiling between:
Maikel Kieftenbeld
Johan Kappelhof
Ties Evers
Sven Nieuwpoort

Any info would help. Need to sign one as a free agent for my fantasy liga U-22 squad (Kelvin Leerdam is my starting RB).

By OranjeRules | October 24th, 2011 at 6:31 pm

And on the keepers, I have watched some Newcastle United games this year and Krul has to be Oranje’s number two guarding the old onion bag! From what I’ve seen he’s been amazing!

1 – Stekelenburg
2 – Krul
3 – Vorm
4 – Vermeer
5 – Velthuizen
6 – Zoet

By SamDC | October 24th, 2011 at 7:46 pm

Stekelenburg has to be #1. He had a great experience during the 2010 World Cup. If he keeps up performing, I could see him playing for Milan as Abbiati is not a very reassuring goalkeeper. Krul is improving game after game for Newcastle. He needs to be more vocal and better on organizing his defense. Defenders need to respect him and follow directions just as Van der Sar used to do. Vorm seems a bit shaky for me. I have seen a couple of Swansea games just to see how he is. In my opinion, he should be 3rd choice at the moment behind Stek and Krul. I can’t comment about the other prospects because I don’t know much about them.

Posted from United States

By Kelvin | October 24th, 2011 at 9:59 pm

I have watched every game for Vermeer this season.
He is reflexive, extremely. I also agreed that he saved Ajax many times. But sometimes he just cannot give me confidence.
For quite a few occasions, I have the feelings like, “Well, this goal is not his fault, but Stek could have saved it….”
And look at the numbers Ajax conceded it tells you something.

Posted from Hong Kong

By Jalepinho | October 25th, 2011 at 2:53 am

I agree with all of you who said Steke #1 and Krul #2. either way, our gks are damn solid. We should have no worries for years…

but positions like rb, i’d be concerned especially since van der weil’s poor performances of late. Oranjerules, I too am curious of the potential from our young rbs.

Posted from Australia

By Srinjoy | October 25th, 2011 at 5:26 am

Tim > Maarten > Michel > Kenneth > Dorus > Piet > Jasper > Boy (Period)

By Jan | October 25th, 2011 at 6:56 am

Defenders are being analysed shortly, people!

By SamDC | October 25th, 2011 at 12:20 pm

Tim<Maarten at least at this point. Going to a world cup final game is an immense experience. Maarten showed that he can remain calm when the pressure of the whole nation was on his shoulders. I can't blame him for the goal we conceded in the final. Van der Vaart messed up defensively that let Iniesta score.
If we had won that game, Maarten would have been our undisputed goalkeeper for years to come. Bottom line, Tim needs to be tested in a major tournament at the highest level.

Posted from United States

By OranjeFan | October 25th, 2011 at 2:32 pm

@SanDC

Agreed

OJF

By OranjeFan | October 25th, 2011 at 2:33 pm

oops

SamDC

Comments are closed