Oranje gets Big Dick

blog WC2018
by Jan

And it needs it! In order to really have a go and reach the World Cup, we need good potency. I always felt Advocaat is a big of a dick, with his greed-oriented behaviour. He disappointed so many clubs and nations (PSV, Australia, Belgium, Sunderland, KNVB) and all for a bigger pay-check.

But, he does get things done and we do not have many highly experienced and willing coaches left in Dick’s age-category. Van Gaal isn’t interested, Van Marwijk is happy in the sandbag, Van Hanegem and Jansen not willing, Stevens not willing, Michels is dead… Time for a new generation (Ten Hag, Bosz, Cocu, Gio, De Boer) but all these guys are happy to work with players on a day by day basis.

Big Dick will join the squad later, with assistant Ruud Gullit. Until he does, Fred Grim and Frans Hoek will keep the reigns and manage Oranje past the two upcoming friendlies… Morocco first. Ivory Coast on Sunday.

grim marok

The Dutch squad is becoming complete today. Wesley Sneijder traveled late from Turkey, directly to Agadir. Grim already stated that he’ll give the 32 year old captain playing time. Wes only needs two more games to topple Van der Sar as the most capped Dutch player ever. He’ll get that record, with two friendlies on the roster. The Ivory Coast game is actually on his 33rd birthday. What an accomplishment for the little playmaker!

Jesper Cillesen came late to the camp too, as he had to play (and win) the Spanish Copa Del Rey with Barca. A look at three players who had an exciting but not necessarily good first season at greener pastures…

nathan marok

Nathan Ake – Chelsea:

“It’s fun to be part of the Dutch team for the first time. I’ve played in all Oranje rep teams as off under-15 and now it’s an honour to be part of the big Oranje. Marc Wilmots is the team manager of Ivory Coast, who called me as well. He wanted to know if I was happy to think about playing for the country where my dad is born. And I said, yes I will. But Holland is my first choice and I think Wilmots understood. I still have family in Ivory Coast, by the way, but I’ve never visited. My mum is Dutch, we’d go to Ivory Coast when I was 18 years old but I’m 22 years old now and it hasn’t happened. Should I get official playing time versus Luxembourg, the decision will be made. My parents support me fully.

This was a good and interesting year. I was loaned out to Bournemouth. I didn’t play a minute in the first months but I got my chance and took it. Coach Conte called me personally to say he wanted to get me back in the winter. I think I can now determine myself, what will happen. Next season, I will get my chance and I want to play as much as possible. I can play on several positions but my favorite spot is the left central position. But we’ll see whether Chelsea will offer me playing time… Time will tell.”

vince marok

Vincent Janssen – Spurs

“My first season at Tottenham is behind me now. I don’t think it was what I hoped for, in terms of playing time. That is quite clear I suppose. But I do notice I have grown as a player. Last year around this time we had an Oranje camp in Portugal as well, and I can feel I’m much stronger and quicker in my handling the ball. The last few months I was much more settled at Spurs but hey, we won 12 out of 13 games in the EPL and were in good form, so the coach didn’t have much reasons to give me more time. The team was doing so well. What will happen the next season? I am not sure. It’s not just me who determines this of course. The coach didn’t do a personal assessment with all the players, he basically just thanked the group. Individual talks is more a Dutch thing I suppose.

I hoped the KNVB would have gone on with Danny Blind. This is the first time in career I deal with the sacking of a coach. And I still owe a lot of gratitude to Danny Blind for his confidence. He allowed me my debut and he let me play ten international games. I spoke to him after he was let go. I haven’t spoken to Mr Advocaat yet, but i worked with him earlier, when he was assistant and he’s very present, dominant and had numerous tips for me.”

jesper

Jesper Cillesen – Barcelona

“I’m happy that I could finish the season with Barca winning a prize I actually contributed to. The cup tournament became my tournament. And I do like some more of that taste. It will be an interesting summer, you never know what to expect in the summer. Anything can happen now, with Valverde coming in as the new coach. It’s been really intense. The step from Ajax to Barcelona is quite big. On the pitch, but also off the pitch. In terms of tactics, mentally… I had times where I hit a wall.

But I have become a better goalie. I’m dealing with the best forwards on the planet. When I first started in practice, Messi would hit the target with a venom and precision I didn’t get at Ajax. In those first weeks I felt like I was in 2011, when I became part of the Dutch squad while still at NEC! But, I do stop shots by Neymar, Messi, Suarez on training. I am used to the pace now. I’m ambitious though, I want to become the #1 goalie here. Even though Ter Stegen has just renewed his contract, I’ll will go head to had with him. I feel good about it.”

oranje training lagos

Frans Hoek (right) amazed by Martins Indi’s haircut
Daley Blind, Davy Klaassen, Jeremain Lens, Arjen Robben, Kevin Strootman, Stefan de Vrij and Gini Wijnaldum also made it later to the squad due to obligations elsewhere.

In total, Oranje has 28 in the group to prepare for the friendlies. Dick Advocaat: “We decided on a bigger group as some players will come to the training camp later due to obligations. We don’t know how fit they will be. We need to prepare for the worst and at this stage it won’t be harmful to have a bigger group with some younger, fresher players as Oranje is in transition.”

By the way, Hakim Ziyech (Ajax) will not be part of the Moroccan squad. The playmaker who could be so potent for Oranje decided to go for Morocco but the relationship between him and the French coach of Morocco is troubled. Renard first ignored the former Heerenveen talent for the Africa Cup, now Ziyech decided to sit the NT out until Renard is removed…

grim toornstra

New boys Jens Toornstra and Sergio Padt (goalie Groningen)

Other “Dutchies” in the Moroccan squad: King Karim El Ahmadi (Feyenoord), Nordin Amrabat (Watford), Mimoun Mahi (FC Groningen), Sofyan Amrabat and Yassin Ayoub (both with FC Utrecht).

There is one player not selected who did make some headlines. Ryan Babel (ex-Ajax, ex-Liverpool) is now 30 years old and found his second wind, winning the title in Turkey (under Big Dick’s nose!) with Besiktas. The former Oranje winger tweeted: “Disappointed that Oranje doesn’t seem to need my services”. He said later: “Somehow in Holland people think my career is over. I’ve been under the radar too much probably, but I’m back at my best now. I think I am able to support Oranje in these crucial times.”

babel marok

Ryan Babel screams “Whyyyy Dick???”

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49 comments

  1. Well given its friendly It would a good option to give players like Toornstra,Ake, Hoedt, Vilhnea, Ramselaar,tete as much time as possibly. this guys need to tighten their grip at international level.

    also Ake needs to start at DM. this has to be instructed down by DA if he is not there.

  2. I can see some potential at Erik ten Hag to be good coach, even more than van Bronckhorst as he’s just lead a mediocre team but get successful.

    So for new generation of manager we can count these guys:

    Bosz, Boer,Cocu,ten Hag, Bronckhorst,Stam, Bergkamp, Seedorf, Hasselbaink, Kluivert, Winter

      1. Yes Jonker for sure. Bergkamp, I don’t think so. Won’t fly. Too hard when you play CSKA Moscow in the Europa League semis….

        I rate Alex Pastoor as well

        1. Wow, Andries Jonker is good coach but i don’t count him in our new generation as i see that he’s not that young, almost same age with kind of generation of Rijkaard, Koeman, Blind, Gullit

  3. Some potential on these guys too, so hope they can make a breakthrough to be come the top of manager in near future 🙂

    Zenden,Bommel,Wim Jonk

    1. Most of these guys will need to get some serious first team experience and experience some setbacks. Van Bommel might well be a top coach moving forward.

      Wim Jonk is currently with the JC Foundation and might not ever return to coaching, who knows?

      1. One more guy, Pepijn Lijnders he’s too young just same age as Persie, was born 1983 and now he’s working with Klopp at Liverpool as coach assistant, Klopp ‘s also appreciate his intelligence & talent. So bright future for our lad in management career?

  4. I seriously don’t think you want to test new players now??? We have 5 matches to win to get to the WC.

    Dick will pick the best team and probably have Ake make some minutes to secure him for Holland.

    Otherwise, no experiments and kindy football please!

    Solid, consistent and lethal.

    Dick will use practice and friendlies to see Janssen vs Dost and Memphis vs Promes etc.

  5. We have plenty of good defenders some of the are still young and need more experience like Ake, De Ligt but we’ve enough quality in our defense. I think De Vrij, Van Dijk, Hoedt, Bruma, Blind, Tete, Karsdorp, Tete are really good.

    The main problem is our midfield. We don’t have a real holding midfielder in our team or at least not a world class holding midfielder. Therefore Advocaat needs to build the team around a system that protects our defense.

    I believe there are some players that’d be very valuable like Clasie and Fer. They could help a lot.

    Also why Karsdorp wasn’t called? injured?.

    1. I was wondering about karsdorp too??? Also I totally agree with the DM situation. I really hope they figure that out. I’m sick of the 433 formation. It’s not working. I agree with Jan too. Can’t test players out. Need to put out the starting players. But it’s too bad a lot of them won’t be at the game today.

    1. I usually go for wiziwig. I don’t have too much trouble using that site. I resort to it if my android box isn’t loading anything.

  7. Don’t know what their source is, but just saw a tweet on Football Orange, that the lineup is:

    Zoedt; Veltman, Ake, De Ligt, Hoedt, Vilhena, Toornstra; Berghuis, Memphis, Promes; Janssen

    So, if accurate, Ake at lb. And the formation could be anything: Vilhena as the lone DM with Promes playing deeper in MF; or, more likely, its 4-2-3-1, or the more defensive variation of 4-3-3. Suppose it could even be 3-4-3 with Ake joining the MF.

  8. Keep in mind that we are still awaiting the arrival of Robben, Wijnaldum, Blind and my favorite, Jermaine Lens. We are also withholding Sneijder to start out, but he may see some action later.

    We will give the youngsters a go today and see what they can do.

    1. Memphis with some outstanding skills on the ball. Despite his large thighs, he made two Moroccan defenders appear completely incompetent…

    2. Andrew:

      As you may recall, I spent some time recently with Gio at Feyenoord. During that time, I came to really appreciate the quality of these two and was hoping to see if they could combine for the Netherlands as well. So far, so good 🙂

      Plus it is said that gentlemen prefer blonds!

      1. Yes, I’ve heard that—gentlemen prefer blonds—not that I necessarily agree, but vive la difference…but, sir, isn’t the question: With or without body paint?

        1. Ha ha! You must be referring to the picture of me with van Gaal.

          It was PSV v Ajax I believe. We were quite surprised when we came in. I can remember it. They were already painted unfortunately.

    2. Morocco has won 4 of 5 matches so far this year, losing only to Egypt.

      We (under prior management of course), have managed only 1 victory in our last 5…

      I am here now though, so you should see immediate progress 😉

  13. VI.NL writes: “1 – Matthijs de Ligt has the highest pass completion (97%), duel win % (100%) and the most clearances (3) so far for the Netherlands. Beast”

  22. De ligt! RED! NO!

    By the by, when I try to run my translator, it changes de Ligt to “they lie”! They must mean the referee in this match!

    And now a goal for Morocco!

  25. Morocco now has 57% possession and I have not had a drink in some time now. Should I ask Fred to insert BMI for Ake just for the chaos that would ensue?

  27. At last! That was completely nerve-wracking and I wasn’t even in the dugout.

    That team has more players with names beginning with Y than any I’ve ever seen — Younes, Youssef, Yacine, and another Youssef and two more Yassinces on the bench

    No Yolanthe though

    1. Jan:

      Here is the deal. Dutch players need a strict coach who can provide discipline and organization — only then can the players play creatively.

      Michels, Happel, van Gaal, me, van Marwijk — we have taken Oranje quite far in the WK and Euros.

      The others — Zwartkruis, Rijvers, Beenhakker, van Basten, Hiddink — not so much. Danny unfortunately was headed in that direction. Cruyff? Never even tried…bah!

      But now that I am back….

      We have the tools. We have the talent.

      It’s qualification time!

  30. —————–zoet————
    Karsdorp–van dijk-de vrij-ake
    ———vilhena–wijnaldum—–
    —robben—sneijder—promes
    —————janssen————

    4-2-3-1 gives better protection to the defense than 4-3-3!!!
    Unfortunately we haven’t been able to have all the above players available, at least 4 of the above were always not available due to injuries, the team above is a very solid and competitive team!!!

  31. this should have been done long time ago go. good decision by the management to give game time to new faces.

    toornstra is better than Klaaassen.I won’t be suprised if he also surpasses wijnaldum at NT level.

    Hoedt, like other CBs who were unpolished and had a slow start should get a tighter grip with more physical and quality opponents. I would go De Vrij and Hoedt at this moment as they have being playing and training together. this could be also be huge boost for him in terms of competition when he goes back to Lazio.can’t really rate him from this game but had a good game.

    Ake just needs to be unleashed at DM.

    the three players I had a lock on from sometime now.excluding others who didn’t make it.

    Janssen

    Depay-Toornstra-Promes

    Ake -Strootman

    Blind -Hoedt- DeVrij- Tete

    Zoet

    vs Ivery coast.

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