Back to football, PLEASE!!

April 2nd, 2011 | by: Jan |

rutten
Fred Rutten

The Ajax soap is getting more and more ridiculous. Johan Derksen, Piet Keizer, Guus Hiddink, Arie van Eijden….everyone has an opinion. Interestingly enough, someone threw all of Johan Cruyff’s emails and voicemail messages on the street and allowed the AD newspaper to report the whole chronology. It’s too long to translate for here, unless you are really keen to read, than I will, I promise.

But let’s focus on football now. The EPL is coming to an interesting point, with big matches ahead and we obviously have AC Milan – Inter too. But in Holland, Twente – the champs – and PSV – the leaders of today – meet.

PSV coach Rutten: “If we win against Twente, we still can’t call ourselves the chaps. We want to remain in leadership and fortify our position but if we have a four point lead, nothing is certain.”

Obviously, with six games to go once his team beats Twente, the gap would become significant. But Rutten emphasised the tough programme PSV has to look out for.

“We have two tough games against Benfica in what will be physically demanding weeks. All title candidates in Europe start to stumble. I don’t believe we’ll have a competition decider tomorrow in Enschede.”

PSV has away games against Heracles, Feyenoord and Groningen, while Heerenveen and Vitesse will come to Eindhoven. “Every game we play is a big game. But, if you want to be the champs, you will have to demonstrate that you are worthy.”

Rutten doesn’t believe a win over Twente will knock them out. “I don’t think they will lose motivation if they lose points. I wish it worked that way.”

Recently, the games between Twente and PSV do not warrant many goals. In the last seven games neither team scored more than once. The Tukkers won their last game at home in 2006, with 1-0. The last three competition games in Enschede were drawn. Twente did win away this season, 0-1, in Eindhoven and they beat PSV in the national cup competition after penalties. PSV plays without the suspended Toivonen. The Tukkers have question marks in Theo Janssen, Bryan Ruiz and Marc Janko.

Ajas is the number 3, at six points of PSV but if PSV loses and Ajax wins, that difference is only three point and theoretically, Ajax still has a chance. Ajax plays Heracles, which is in great form at the moment. AZ travels to Rotterdam, where Gertjan Verbeek returns to play Feyenoord. AZ is fourth in the standings, Feyenoord is number twelve. Mario Been will not change his winning team, meaning that Leroy Fer will start from the bench.

He’s seen lurking around in Enschede. And suddenly he appears in the Veste Stadium, where he lives in the catacombs… The Munsterman!

FC Twente chairman and champion maker Joop Munsterman has a weird way of motivating his coach. “Our season is a success already. We wanted to make it to the top 3 in the Eredivisie, reach the cup final and survive this long in Europe. And we did. Our goals are reached. We can celebrate!”.

The charismatic chairman continued: “I’d make a bad coach, because I’d let it all go now. But our actual coach – Preud’Homme – is different. He still wants to win some trophies. Which is good, of course.”

Twente is active on three fronts still. “But we don’t demand anything. No one here uses the word “must”. I don’t think we are at that level yet. And I am a born pessimist. I believe we might lose on three fronts, haha….”

Twente doesn’t have any priorities either. “Winning a European Cup is unique. It’s like landing on the Moon. But the title is great too, because it’s the biggest national prize and it gives you the ticket to the CL which is good for the bank account.”

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Comments

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By Wissam | April 4th, 2011 at 3:53 pm

I think Arsenal could use Van Bommel – he’s tough, has the experience and leadership to captain Arsenal and best of all, he’s free!

Posted from United States

By ferenc | April 4th, 2011 at 4:02 pm

i think van bommel fits better to milan than to arsenal – he has just moved there and is already an important member of the team,so i cannot see any logic of a potential move to arsenal. he’s already 34 and probably will finish his career at milan.

Posted from Hungary

By Finnster01 | April 4th, 2011 at 4:02 pm

But can he play in goals?

By Jalepinho | April 4th, 2011 at 4:45 pm

I don’t mind a Van Bommel like character shielding the back for Arsenal but like Ferenc stated, makes no sense for MVB to make that switch.

But Finn’s joke pretty much sums up what Arsenal desperately needs though…

Posted from United States

By Wissam | April 4th, 2011 at 4:47 pm

Arsenal need leadership and leadership provides goals. vBommel has leadership and he can play for 2 more years I think.

Posted from United States

By eric | April 4th, 2011 at 5:24 pm

Van Marwijk fielded a B-side against Ukraine last August, handing debuts to several new (and old) players in the process. Since that match, several other players have excelled really well, Pieters and Theo Janssen in particular– with the likes of Lens, Brama and Urby keep knocking hard on the door. I think there is a direct correlation between a player’s call up and his confidence. When they know that they’re close to be part of the national setup, they work harder and harder, thus get better.

In my opinion, fielding fringe players is a no-brainer decision for a meaningless friendly. The hopeful players get to prove their points. Van Marwijk is getting a good look of what the options available. The regulars get rested and can avoid potential injuries after a long, tired season. Win-win situation for all parties.

Now, if the friendlies are for preparation to a tournament (pre-World Cup, for example), that’s a different story. I would hope to see some consistencies from the regular players.

Posted from United States

By ferenc | April 4th, 2011 at 5:43 pm

i completely agree with Eric – for meaningless friendlies bert should give the opportunity to young players. they gain some international experience,will feel more integrated into oranje’s system. anyway,who care the results of friendlies,especially one year before the next big tournament?

Posted from Hungary

By Steve | April 4th, 2011 at 10:46 pm

It would be great to see only young players against brazil. Alex should pick the team.

Interesting to day what wenger should have done after the fact. Maybe he is naive to trust his players so much.
If u really like the arsenal / wenger issue check out this interesting interview on iTunes:
The tuesday club podcast – the arsene wenger Centerpoint interview.
He us pretty

Posted from Canada

By Steve | April 4th, 2011 at 10:50 pm

Oops…

He IS A pretty convincing man to hear speak.
He may have the arsenal board hypnotized??
Haha.
Very frustrating to be a diehard Arsenal fan, I imagine.

Posted from Canada

By Steve | April 4th, 2011 at 10:53 pm

also meant Eric AND Alex should pick the team.

Posted from Canada

By Steve | April 4th, 2011 at 11:04 pm

Anyone think Drenthe might actually be great if he could ever get somewhere where he would play regularly?

Posted from Canada

By Carlos | April 5th, 2011 at 1:00 am

Steve can you direct that question at Finnster please so that you will get an eloquently well balanced opinion on Drenthe !!
Does anyone know what that great potential Thierry Henry – Mr Babel is doing ? Finn ?

Posted from Singapore

By ferenc | April 5th, 2011 at 3:53 am

Carlos:

Posted from Hungary

By eric | April 5th, 2011 at 7:16 am

Voetbalzone reported that Luuk De Jong is Ajax top recruit.. As much as I like the two brothers playing together in the same team, I think the transfer is very unlikely, if you ask me. Luuk has a bigger chance playing at UCL next season with Twente, and imho Twente in general has put together a robust foundation for continued success in the near future (while Ajax seems set to undergo some changes). Not to mention Luuk just extended his contract with the club.

Posted from United States

By ferenc | April 5th, 2011 at 8:05 am

Finn’s frontline (in 4-3-3): babel-van persie-drenthe

Posted from Hungary

By Steve | April 5th, 2011 at 8:40 am

Haha ok ok

Babel went to Milan to visit seadorf over the int’l break… also he seems to be addicted to twitter.

Posted from Canada

By Finnster01 | April 5th, 2011 at 8:48 am

I find it very interesting to look at the correlation between Liverpool’s position in the table before and after Babel got sold. Night and day. Obviously a coincidence but don’t get me started on Babel and Drenthe for that matter. I would need to spend a whole week with Huntelaar’s father to regain my belief in the human race.

@Ferenc: That front line would make me seek political asylum in North Korea

By Tiju | April 5th, 2011 at 8:56 am

@finn its too bad babel has nothing to do with liverpool’s performance, this guy hardly got chances and never utilized his given half chances,i mean substitute appearence.he never had any impact on liverpool in both +ve & -Ve way.Difference was made by LUIZ SUAREZ THE great fantasy dribbler ,raul Meirels with strong CARA and reina in defence.

By Tiju | April 5th, 2011 at 8:59 am

liverpool is sitting there just because of suarez,Caroll,Cara,Raul and raina..why dont you bash kuyt for liverpool’s poor performance????he played all the matches X 90 minutes still he was unable to help the team.how about that????.

By Finnster01 | April 5th, 2011 at 9:26 am

@Tiju: Because Kuyt doesn’t spend all day on Twitter but instead focuses on scoring a hat-trick against the evil empire called Manchester United.

Caroll has started only twice in the EPL for Liverpool, so don’t give him any credit for the table position. Jury is still very much out on him.

You need to watch more Liverpool games mate before you start complaining. In fact Carragher has been totally shit this season.

By Alex | April 5th, 2011 at 10:08 am

LOL, Carragher is shit… he cant play football if his life depended on it.. Id dare say Heitinga ten times of a better footballer. lol

Posted from Netherlands

By Abhirup | April 5th, 2011 at 11:14 am

Here we go again.. Van persie vs Kuyt..

Posted from India

By Steve | April 5th, 2011 at 1:01 pm

Actually vanderveil & Elia are tweeting lots as well – followed by rvp AND Kuyt who like to tweet about their families, training and charities (ESP Kuyt, love him) etc.
Heitinga VDV every once in a while…
Sneijder and de zeeuw hardly ever.

Mr dependable, dirk Kuyt has been the lonely consistent liverpool player if u ask me, and he was injured a bit at the start too.

By Tiju | April 5th, 2011 at 1:05 pm

@finn i mean Cara was very good in foul and pullling ,he is using all the dirty tricks in defence.really i hate him but its good for liverpool.this bloody man had nasty foul on NANI.
@Against Manu ,if Suarez was not there Manu would have easily won the game…
@Babel was and is a lazy shit,he never had impact in pool,spoiled brat..he never had any role in pool’s success and failure.

By balaji @ Dominos India | April 8th, 2011 at 6:37 am

Nice blog you posted comment easy for understanding. world most viewer sport is football is first. i know. good keep it up…

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