Welcome all…
The fact that you are not put off by the screaming orange colors in your face probably means you bleed orange like we all do, here….
This is where the fans of the Dutch National Team, or “Oranje”, hang out. This is the second coolest spot on the planet. The coolest spot being the pitch if the team is on it…
Here, you can find anything on our team. Match reviews. Interviews. Opinions. Cool pics. Historic videos. Games. Polls. Predictions. But, more relevant, cool likeminded people. Friendships. Laughter. Shared passion. People to cheer with…and people to cry with… People to make fun off. And people to get angry at.
But most importantly, an outlet for the passion of the game. The Beautiful Game. Our game… Total Football.
Because you bleed orange….
SPECIAL MESSAGE:
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Oh, and to be totally open about it: I write original posts but I also get inspiration from the AD newspaper (Dutch) and the VI voetbal magazine (Dutch as well). So you know… 😉
Hi Jan
Love this site, as an English fan of Oranje since my childhood in the 70’s I remember telling my mates before England played Holland in euro88 they were all confident, and i said be careful Van Basten is starting and of course in the pre internet days, they had never heard of him! the rest is History!
I have a question: from 83-88 who would be the third choice goalie? (after Van Breukelen and Hiele) I guess Menzo from 86/87? what about before that? Many thanks Craig
Sorry bro, somehow this new blog format has comments on the home page :-). Sorry, I am a bit late in responding! Most comments come under the more current posts… Anyway, great to see you here and I will answer your question.
the 1988 squad only had two goalies: Van Breukelen and Hiele. Van Breukelen got the nod as he was a great vocal presence and he played for successful PSV, with Van Aerle and Koeman also from PSV, so that was seen as a natural fit.
Hiele was probably the better shot stopper of the two. More talent and technique and amazing reflexes. Van Breukelen was a made goalie, working hard, strong mentally and like I said: a personality.
Before that, Piet Schrijvers of Ajax (and PEC Zwolle) would be part of the squad. Fiercely courageous, big, strong. No striker enjoyed going one v one with him, he’s smack you to the ground and eat you for breakfast.
Hi everybody. Happy to join this community of oranje lovers. Enjoying the France Portugal game
I am hoping for LVG to re-jig the NT. Honestly, we have never settled down on a formation, structure and starting lineup. Curious to see how LVG looks at the NT and who he will call up and drop for Sept qualifiers which are do-or die.
Where is danjuma???
How can van gaal did this to us.
Danjuma memphis lang
Bergius
Frenkie klassen
Malacia van dijk de virj Dumfries
Billow
Van gaal u really didn’t this team??
Van de Beek proving that he can’t be on the bench at Utd any longer. I figure whoever replaces Ole will give him a chance.
Hopefully Ole’s out quick so that Donny doesn’t have to move in Jan.
Pushing for spot in the main team.
https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2021/11/19/pl2-report–leeds-united-chelsea-
Has being training with the main team as well. Future prospect.
AZ, PSV, Feyenoord, Vitesse all the 4 Dutch clubs go thru the Euro conference league!
Am I the only one here that feels so excited abt it ? I know it’s a 3rd tier but still so nice to see 4 Dutch teams together in the knockout stages
Hopefully more coefficient points to gain
Last night I’d say I’m more impressed with Vitesse the way they pressed the opposition
@Goose
Re: I dont see too much italian football so i have no idea how he plays for his club. Anybody here can share some thoughts about that?
In regards to de ligt, that you ask of, your doubts and reservations are absolutely on point and justified.
De ligt is a good defender, far from a great one. His level of anticipation and positioning are sub-par for this level and it shows.
You would think that playing around greats like chiellini and in Italy of all places would have worked wonders on him, but the benefits, as far as I am concerned, have been negligible.
He seem to be caught completely off-guard a lot and that may be what translates in the clumsiness you speak of. And yes, he is big and clumsy.
De ligt saving grace is his power and pace. As far as the art of defending is concerned, the trickery and legitimate hardness of the top-tier defenders, he lacks. And it will remain so because he is not a natural.
And Jan , I do respect your football opinions but putting de ligt over de vrij is a travesty.
The jury did it over Bulgaria but that can be excused by his youth. But they continued on in subsequent managements. We all know how that went.
At some point we have to learn to call a spade a spade. If ever oranje goes 4 in the back, de ligt should be where he belongs; the bench.
Re: I dont see too much italian football so i have no idea how he plays for his club. Anybody here can share some thoughts about that?
In regards to de ligt, that you ask of, your doubts and reservations are absolutely on point and justified.
De ligt is a good defender, far from a great one. His level of anticipation and positioning are sub-par for this level and it shows.
You would think that playing around greats like chiellini and in Italy of all places would have worked wonders on him, but the benefits, as far as I am concerned, have been negligible.
He seem to be caught completely off-guard a lot and that may be what translates in the clumsiness you speak of. And yes, he is big and clumsy.
De ligt saving grace is his power and pace. As far as the art of defending is concerned, the trickery and legitimate hardness of the top-tier defenders, he lacks. And it will remain so because he is not a natural.
And Jan , I do respect your football opinions but putting de ligt over de vrij is a travesty.
The jury did it over Bulgaria but that can be excused by his youth. But they continued on in subsequent managements. We all know how that went.
At some point we have to learn to call a spade a spade. If ever oranje goes 4 in the back, de ligt should be where he belongs; the bench
Xavi Simons to PSV is a done deal now.
For all their unprecedented success, I do not believe that Ancelloti nor Zidane has the tactical astuteness and keen eye for scenarios as the Dutch master, Louis Van Gaal.
An unmatched three in a row by Zidane and five, over the laid-back Italians impressive career, of Europe’s most coveted trophy, is impossible to make a case against, if winning is all that matters. And in a lot of ways it is.
But when you see the brilliance of the mid-nineties Ajax team which defeated a star-stacked AC Milan team, not only to claim the trophy, but twice in the initial stage, you would come to appreciate what teamwork and tactical savvy is all about. That LVG Ajax team of teeming saplings, I contend, is a better team than Zidane’s triple winners and could rival any team Ancelloti has ever put forward.
In terms of personnel, that Ajax team was a gift from the gods. Every minutiae of instruction had the physical outlet to execute LVG’s vision. And this took a lot of time. And youth who haven’t been corrupted by other systems and trappings of luxury.
But herein now, I believe, lies the gift and the curse. LVG is strictly a tactician. And the 10 yard rule, the left-footed centre/left-footed right winger, Blind etc and things of that nature are all very dear to him in his attempt to compose his classics. Even sometimes to the obvious detriment of the team one would think.
LVG , though, would never see this. Everything he does is geared towards a way he wants to play and how he thinks the game should be played. He is a slave to his tactics and practicality only consorted after everything else might have failed. And this is most times a little too late.
This is why also you see these head-scratching decisions not only from LVG against Ireland but Advocaat versus the Czechs. Both decisions are uniquely Dutch. And as you would guess, both coaches, to this day, would still stick to the validity of their call.
The bigger point I am trying to make here is that Dutch coaches are not near enough practical and way too clever for their benefit. Playing a fullback who can’t really run or defend is going to be good until you face an opponent of a similar level, then exploited. Using players as cogs in this extreme sense will always backfire if the system is not as practiced and perfected as the mid-nineties Ajax team.
Now, what Zidane and Ancelloti have been able to achieve is heavily dictated by practicality relative to LVG’s stance. They both play to their players strength and their game-time adjustments is near impeccable. See the changes Ancelloti made against Liverpool. How purposeful…
That’s because do not try to force their plans(tactics) so much on the game but duly respond in real time as the match unfolds. LVG and generally dutch coaches lack this practical insight as all and every thing is thought out on a delicate level. What other coach in Europe would have taken out Malen again against the Czechs? It was so clear for anyone to see that his pace and potential to run behind was the only thing keeping the Czechs honest and at bay. But leave it with a student of the Dutch school to overthink it and try to impose his savvy against all practicality and common sense.
Football is a game of moments. In that regard, exploiting the opponents weaknesses and driving at the heart of any mistake, in real time, will always trump hours and hours of work on the chalkboard.
Richairo Zivkovic is also returning to eredivisie and will play FC Emmen.
Fc Twente also looks to be in good rhythm. They will meet Portguese side Gil Vicente in the final qualification rounds.
Philippe sandler has joined NEC. Injuries just didnt help him in his development other wise he showed good attributes with minutes he played. One of the reasons why feyenoord let him go.
I’m looking at Brazilian transfers.
Richardlison- spurs
Raphinha- Barcelona
Antony- Man United
Casimero- Man United
Bremer- juventus
Jesus- Arsenal
They look on course with the rest of their compatriots who are active with their parent clubs.
Growing list of CB to look out for. Mickey van de ven now has shifted to CB from LB at Wolfsburg. Still adpoting to bundasliga, nervy moments but looks full of potential at 21.
Sep Van der Berg is off to schalke on loan. Good move for him as well.
The only transfer that I was looking forward too and which didn’t eventuate is to that of ludovit Reis at Hamburg. I think he will be a long term project and Frenkie’s best partner given xavi’s esque style of play. He needs to make a move to get into contention.
Kluivert to Fulham also confirmed. Good move for him as Fulham looks to be in a grooving mode
Also the arrival of Nicolas pepe at Nice has forced stengs to go out loan. He joins the dutch contingent at Royal Antwerp.
Quincy promes seems to be piling up goals in Russia. 8 goals in 10 games.
Berghuis is truly going to STAR against Qatar 🙃🤣