Van der Sar: I’ll go to the WC2010!!

well said Marco .. the only thing vdSar lacked imo was charisma but that maybe made him a more ballanced goalie

thanks Edwin for everything

Posted from  Netherlands

To me he was the best in the world for quite some time now…maybe I´m biased but what orange fan isn´t?. Anyhow after checking some of the formations you guys propose, you have Khalid or Marcellis at RB, and to my knowledge that position requires some skill at buildup. Now the cannibal and Marcellis are both great defender, but their passing and running skills…..well. Maybe Marcellis is there because of his height but I still think that he would fare better at CB

Nothing but respect for EVDS. A true Oranje legend. Just wish he decided to stay around for 2010. He’ll still be at United by then, why not Oranje?

Every word Van Basten said about van der Sar is true. Truly one of the greatest goalkeepers and also one of the best Oranje players ever.

Posted from  Estonia

I should add, who signs a 4 year contract with Fulham after winning the Champions League with Ajax and basically fulfills the deal to the end?

EVDS is a true gentleman, that in this day and age certainly are far and few between. He came out for these 2 games to help Oranje in a pinch, and you know what, the Oranje defense with all its flaws looked better than in a long time. Drenthe and Sno, are you reading this or are you still too busy buying fake Rolex watches in China? They dont make them like EVDS no more, regardless of position. Class act, and I tip my cap to you.

Drenthe should listen up. He has talent. Sno is just average on his best day, so when it comes to oranje, who cares what Sno does.

Posted from  United States

As Ragnar, I’m also biased to talk about the Anne-Marie’s husband, Joe and Lynn’s daughter.

Not only because he’s a Holland player, but because he’s my favourite player in fact. As I told on my first comment on this blog, he’s sort of a cupid of my passion for Dutch football.

In a sport full of mercenaries, divers, dishonest people, VDS is a strong relief. As Finnster commented after the defeat to Russia on Euro, he could have claimed a lot about being a Fulham player for four years, with rare chances to play an European competition game. And he stayed at Craven Cottage. Not claiming.

Definitely, I’ll miss this guy.

But he could be back for the friendly against Sweden, couldn’t he? If KNVB had the idea of a farewell match…and Edwin deserves it. A lot.

Now, gotta watch if he’ll retire at the end of this season. I believe it.

About van der Sar I have nothing much to say..he is just a real star and will be remembered as the best Dutch keeper ever. He won the Champions League twice and although he didn´t win the Euro or World Cup he has been at the best clubs in the World and has shown his respect for Oranje colors for more than a decade. He shows the example of consistency and will always be missed. Stekelenburg has a huge challenge above him

About your comments guys ,yes , Sno is average and Drenthe should mature at Real or he will be like a van der Meyde who has lots of talent but never makes the real effort and prefers fashion, parties and stuff like that.

I think our defense is not bad at all but doesn´t have the best international level like Spain does. Heitinga needs to grow a lot, Mathijsen too and Ooijer for me should be dropped. And about Boulahrouz he is totally useless.

The best Dutch defenders in my opinion are: (not ranked)
Heitinga, Bouma, Vlaar, Kromkamp, Marcellis, van Bronckhorst, De Cler, Zuiverloom and then come for me Boulahrouz and Ooijer who are very poor defenders in my opinion but we have no more options. I can´t think of other defenders guys, perhaps you could help me but if u see the list you can prove that today we don´t have a player like Frank de Boer, Jaap Stam, Koeman or Krol. We have just good defenders but not quality ones and people in Holland need to work with the youth systems better developing talent in all positions.

I think that the teens and boys in Holland loved so much Johan Cruyff , Bergkamp, van Basten and Ruud that nobody really wants to be a defender in Holland and the youth systems haven´t been able to produce the talent in those positions and its their responsability to do so…it isn´t Bert van Marwijk´s task neither was van Basten´s fault.

Hopefully guys like Marcellis and Heitinga grow in talent in the next years and I´d like to see a new star in defense because we need a real leader back there and now that Edwin goes it will be more difficult to organize the defense.

Great comments all, but…who is Anne-Marie’s husband exactly???

Jan, it is Edwin… the name of his wife is Anne-Marie. More precisely, Anne-Marie van Kesteren…

(I know all you’re thinking “oh, how stuck-up is this Brazilian guy…”)

No Felipe…not “stuck up” now it’s just confirmed “you’re a SPY !

Posted from  Singapore

Felipe, if this is what you know about Dutch football, I hate to know what you know about Brazilian…

Felipe:

name the name of the wives of: Bert van Marwijk, Frank de Boer, Wesley Sneijder, Dirk Kuyt and Andre Ooijer!!

This is a test!

If you know them all, you are Goose

Good man…. great to have on board here…

Off topic again. Just watched highlites from Russia vs Finland (3-0, with 2 Finnish own goals) but check out Arshavin’s goal (or Arse Shaving as they call him in England).

Given the recent history, as much as I hate to admit it, this little fellow is unquestionably talented. Check it out. What a great first burst of speed!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6IybcUj-xM

Well, good people, as VDS is my idol, it’s not hard to imagine I try to know everything about him…

@Jan: Kuyt’s wife is called Gertrude. Boulah’s girl, Sadia. Sneijder’s, Ramona. Want more names?

@Finnster: I’m worried. I think I’m forgetting all I know about Brazil’s football by learning about Dutchies… I believe soon I’ll forget who is Branco, or who’s Ronaldo, but I’ll remember about Stanley Menzo or even Stan Valckx! And, about the YouTube link, I agree with you. Watching Russia-Finland and Arshavin’s goal, I thought myself “what a goal… just masterclass players can do something like that”. But, oh my, why do he chose just that night on Basel to make Oranje supporters suffer so much?! Why?!

Posted from  Brazil

The discussion got away from the topic a bit, unfortunately. Just want to add my tribute and say Thanks to the great van der Sar.

Well done Felipe…

Ok, what’s my wife’s name? I used to be an ok player once. Before color tv, that was… If you get it right, you will be made King of the Oranje Blog!!

I’m sorry, I just saw Arshavin’s goal and it was NOT special. At all!

He doesn’t really burst with speed. Come on lads! If you want to see a player accelerate while already full steam ahead, look at C Ronaldo, Johan Cruyff, Marc Overmars…

My analysis:

Arshavin is walking with the ball.
Two Finnish defenders are two or three meters away!!!
He lets them bite (together!!) and then he slips through.
They’re all at one line at the back there is no coverage from another player.

Just outright amateurish defending my friends. All our lads would have scored like that!!

This was not special. I am so sorry.

Jan, I think you are being a bit harsh on Arseshaving. The clip isn’t the best as it does not show what actually happened before. If you see the entire situation, he was literally just strolling along with ball and then all of a sudden picks up speed and steps up between the defenders and catches them completely out, and there is not much wrong with the clinical finish either. It is actually pretty classy in my book. Obviously Finnish central defenders aren’t Spanish, but he didn’t seem to have too much trouble taking the piss out of Oranje defense either. I think he will be playing for a Big 4 or Real/Barca/Inter/AC Milan come January.

By the way, trying to throw my hat into the “guess what Jan’s wife’s name is” competition. My guess is Adriana…

I think you are still having a bit of a Russian hangover. Lets move on, and kill those bastards next time we get a chance.

I wasn’t harsh on Ars. But on the Finnish defenders .
I agree the finish was great and his skills is tremendous, but these two sleepwalkers at the back really did pisspoor.

As for my wife: YOU ARE A HERO! Her name is Adriana .

ITS TRUE!

This is scary stuff man… Either Felipe told you this (he knows it all) or you are psychic. Which means you should have seen this financial crash coming and you made a billion shorting and you should share your wealth with all of us.

How about using Google and look for traditional Dutch girls names….?

It is not as impressive psychic job as you may believe. I didn’t even have to cheat and ask Felipe!

This link comes up first, and the first name on the girls list is Adriana…

http://blog.traceyourdutchroots.com/2006/10/traditional-dutch-first-names-for.html

So you go for the probability, stack the odds in your favour, just like in financial markets

No man! Adriana is NOT an oft used Dutch name. Really, it isn’t. It is in Italy and other Mediterranean countries but it’s a pretty unique name.

So, whatever the method, the odds of you being right are frightingly low.

Ok, I have two dogs. What breed?

(I am scared…help…)

Let me take a shot at the dogs: a labrador and a terrier… anywhere close?

Yes man!! 50%. I’ve got two labs. A yellow one and a black one.

Scary guys….

Haha, awesome. I love labradors, they’re great dogs.

Posted from  Canada