Hi my friends, the last months on the blog were quite….quiet. My dear friend Tarcisio is having some IT issues and as our boys will be playing for the title soon, I thought it prudent to get back here and commentate on the Oranje games.
Word of warning: I will not go into the deep end for other national teams. Focus will be Oranje and their games.
And a big ASK: I have had to spend more money into getting the site back up and running.
After years of offering this platform, there have always been just a handful of committed fans who would support the blog with some digits. You probably know the cost of running this sortathing?
At the same time, I do see some people really getting a lot of joy/mileage from this platform so I need to ask all who can, to chip in a bit for the opportunity I offer people to share stories, their comments, their comical banter and at times their less than friendly banter.
If we value this orange community, please share a bit of your materialised energy so we can keep it going.
A proper post, soon! For now, please use the link below:
Thanks once again for keeping this blog alive Jan!
PS, I hope we are treated once more to the insights of Aloysius, Hendrikus and Nicolaas during this tournament.
Dear Jan,
It is great that you have been called up and returned to action. I’ve been called up as well! I am now coaching the Curacao national team in an effort to qualify for the upcoming World Cup. This is now my 28th managerial appointment and the eighth nation I’ve led internationally! So even at 76, it is still important to build your CV. And the weather here is great! I’ve been boning up on my Papiamentu, but it’s wonderful to be able to communicate with players once again in my native tongue.
Most importantly, we are maintaining the Dutch managerial Wheel of Fortune. I have followed Guus here, Aloysius will follow me, and then perhaps Mr. Koeman will take his turn! No directions are truly needed — It is just lather, rinse, repeat!
Sadly, I was hoping Ruud would carry on as my assistant manager, but it seems that he feels I am now too old to help him with the ladies (and since Luuk de Jong is no longer on international duty, I can no longer impersonate him while Ruud pretends to be Ake) :(((( Surprisingly, Ruud has recently befriended an American football coach — Bill Belichick — and it seems Ruud’s influence is already paying off.
Anyway, it is wonderful to have you back, Jan! And Hup Holland in these Euros! And speaking of comebacks, if Gini Wijnaldum can still be brought into the fold, has anyone considered Jeremain Lens? He is still merely 36 and starred for me at both Sunderland and Fenerbahce! Or was it Besiktas? I can’t even remember at this point…
Met hartelijke groet,
Nicolaas
ear Jan,
It is great that you have been called up and returned to action. I’ve been called up as well! I am now coaching the Curacao national team in an effort to qualify for the upcoming World Cup. This is now my 28th managerial appointment and the eighth nation I’ve led internationally! So even at 76, it is still important to build your CV. And the weather here is great! I’ve been boning up on my Papiamentu, but it’s wonderful to be able to communicate with players once again in my native tongue.
Most importantly, we are maintaining the Dutch managerial Wheel of Fortune. I have followed Guus here, Aloysius will follow me, and then perhaps Mr. Koeman will take his turn! No directions are truly needed — It is just lather, rinse, repeat!
Sadly, I was hoping Ruud would carry on as my assistant manager, but it seems that he feels I am now too old to help him with the ladies (and since Luuk de Jong is no longer on international duty, I can no longer impersonate him while Ruud pretends to be Ake) :(((( Surprisingly, Ruud has recently befriended an American football coach — Bill Belichick — and it seems Ruud’s influence is already paying off.
Anyway, it is wonderful to have you back, Jan! And Hup Holland in these Euros! And speaking of comebacks, if Gini Wijnaldum can still be brought into the fold, has anyone considered Jeremain Lens? He is still merely 36 and starred for me at both Sunderland and Fenerbahce! Or was it Besiktas? I can’t even remember at this point…
Met hartelijke groet,
Nicolaas
And Julian, mijn vriend. How nice of you to remember me! How do they say? “Great minds think alike, though fools seldom differ…”
How old are you these days? Any chance you have dual citizenship status with Curacao? I am still looking for left wingback and a holding mid…
Alas, I am of no use to you and the good people of Curacao being one year older than Patrick and Rutgerus, and an Australian citizen no less.
Dear Jan,
I hope you received my earlier letter. However, it does not appear to be showing up on your internet website. Perhaps this is due to “content moderation”? Do I need to contact Meester Elon to discuss?
When I try to re-post the same message, it tells just “Duplicate Post Stommerik”
Groetjes,
Nicolaas
Perhaps my earlier language was “offensive” in some way? It is difficult to know in this era how to speak without triggering the gun. I will try to send once more, with additional postage this time…
My first message read as below. I am now preparing to watch the match between Spain and Croatia.
Dear Jan,
It is great that you have been called up and returned to action. I’ve been called up as well! I am now coaching the Curacao national team in an effort to qualify for the upcoming World Cup. This is now my 28th managerial appointment and the eighth nation I’ve led internationally! So even at 76, it is still important to build your CV. And the weather here is great! I’ve been boning up on my Papiamentu, but it’s wonderful to be able to communicate with players once again in my native tongue.
Most importantly, we are maintaining the Dutch managerial Wheel of Fortune. I have followed Guus here, Aloysius will follow me, and then perhaps Mr. Koeman will take his turn! No directions are truly needed — It is just lather, rinse, repeat!
Sadly, I was hoping Ruud would carry on as my assistant manager, but it seems that he feels I am now too old to help him with the ladies (and since Luuk de Jong is no longer on international duty, I can no longer impersonate him while Ruud pretends to be Ake) :(((( Surprisingly, Ruud has recently befriended an American football coach — Bill Belichick — and it seems Ruud’s influence is already paying off.
Anyway, it is wonderful to have you back, Jan! And Hup Holland in these Euros! And speaking of comebacks, if Gini Wijnaldum can still be brought into the fold, has anyone considered Jeremain Lens? He is still merely 36 and starred for me at both Sunderland and Fenerbahce! Or was it Besiktas? I can’t even remember at this point…
Met hartelijke groet,
Nicolaas
Hahaha so good to have you back, Dick. As we love to call you in Australia. We can definitely use your wonderful insights. I hope you’ll stick around?