Van Persie leads Oranje to victory

So much for the rumors about a rift between these two…

The few fans that did show up in the Arena saw four wonderful goals and a handful of interesting moments. But, Oranje-Sweden (3-1) did end up in a somewhat lifeless end of a fascinating Oranje year.

Oranje had a great year. In 12 months, the Dutch team jumped from the 9th to the 4th spot of the FIFA standings. And in front of South American giants Brazil and Argentina.

In 2008, the world champs and the vice world champs were taken to the dry cleaners at the highest level and Oranje had basically one off-day, the EC quarter finals against Russia. It was the only real defeat in 2008, bar the losing friendly against the Socceroos.

No opponent will try to face Oranje with an open door policy. The Swedes had learned from the games Nederland played this year and had two four player-blocks waiting to take on the offensive players. It is a game tactics Oranje faced a lot this year. The only opponent that tried to play football against us was France, and they ran into the knife: 4-1.

Still, the fans sometimes can’t seem to be bothered to come out and show up. Is it the negative tactics of the opponent? Is it the frustration that we failed against Russia when we needed to step up to the plate? Despite the ambiance, Oranje wanted to fire on all cylinders. Lead by Wesley Sneijder, playing his first international under Van Marwijk as the shadowstriker behind center striker Dirk Kuyt. Van Persie scored twice, with an interesting detail concerning the first goal. Van Persie scored on a perfect assist from Sneijder. The two “rivals competing for the leadership of Oranje” embraced each other as two good old friends do.

The first half was good, and the second started well with the quick 2-0 and the 2-1 by Kallstrom. He scored from 18 meters after debutant Michel Vorm couldn’t control the ball too well.

All the subs in the second half didn’t improve the quality of play and at the end of the match, even the diehard fans couldn’t resurrect the dying vibe, although the fans did cheer in stoppage time when Kuyt scored the 3-1.

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Dirk plays the ball to Dirk. Bert ask Bert questions. We never had such an typical Dutch team as our current one. Oranje smells of “stamppot” again…

The Oranje of today reflects the vibe of province and meadows. The hotel where the players reside serves up Swedish meatloaf, otherwise it would have been stamppot (traditional Dutch dish, made of mashed potatoes, mashed carrots and onions… yech!!). Bert (Maalderink) asks Bert (Van Marwijk) questions at the press conference, while Kees (Jansma) looks on.

Is Henk (Timmer) fit? Will Dirk (Kuyt) replace Klaas (Jan Huntelaar). It maybe a detail, but it does sound like the kids’ book from the 1950s. Andre and Joris might be the central defenders duo. Dirk played with Dirk on the right against Norway. And Mark guards the balance in midfield.

The province makes way in the Eredivisie. Groningen, Nijmegen, Breda, Alkmaar and Enschede do well in the tables and so it does in Oranje. No more filmstars (Kluivert, Seedorf, Davids) and where our former manager had this cosmopolitan almost mythical persona, our current manager is like the guy you know from the pub around the corner: born in Deventer, living in Meerssen.

“Will you go to the cafe in your village after this press conference,” the question was, and Van Marwijk nodded with vigour. And Frank de Boer is known to spend his free time on the camping in Lutjebroek!

No more cosmopolitan team managers like Hiddink and Rijkaard. And Advocaat may have been the streetwise kid from Den Haag, he always fell back on the big name players. That Van Marwijk doesn’t have spot in the team for jetsetter Clarence Seedorf isn’t even a surprise or talking point anymore.

In a time of multicultured societies, Oranje is the reflection of an old fashioned sort of Holland. The only exotic players in our current group are Gio van Bronckhorst, Ryan Babel, Nigel de Jong, Orlando Engelaar and Khalid Boulahrouz. All the rest is born in Hummelo, Horst, Goirle or Katwijk.

As a comparison: of the eleven starters on the recent Olympics, nine were so-called immigrant’s kids. This ratio is similar in the other youth teams. This Oranje has a so-called Delfts Blauw color and it might well be the last time. Van Marwijk follows players like Leroy Fer, Georginio Wijnaldum and even selected David Mendes Da Silva for Sweden.

And the fans? The city fans were never big Oranje followers. They live and die for their clubs. The Oranje fans come from Stadskanaal, Almelo and Breda. The Feyenoord fans historically don’t have much time for Oranje and in the Arena tonight, there won’t be a lot of Ajax fans either.

And some twenty Koreans were part of the Oranje following today. They are students at the KNVB, doing a coach apprenticeship. Van Marwijk may not have Hiddink’s status in Asia, the Koreans all stood in line up for a photo-opp with the current manager of Oranje.

s position in Oranje

Dirk Kuyt’s goal last Saturday for Liverpool against Bolton was more than just a goal.

Kuyt has scored in the last three months in all possible manners. The balls hit the net, kicked with left, right…from crosses, dribbles… From inside and outside of the box. “A header was the only one missing. I told our physio right before the game against Bolton and wham…I score the 1-0 with my head.”

Seven goals for the Reds. He realizes he’s important in the team that covets the title after an 18 year drought. TV analists like Wim Kieft and BBC’s Alan Hansen said this weekend that Kuyt has settled more in the game in the EPL. More in control in the box. And the Liverpool fans voted the Dutchman the best player of the month October.

The big question is, will it be enough to secure Kuyt a spot in the center position against Sweden, now Hunter is injured.

Against Norway, Kuyt got the job, with his rival Robin van Persie on the right flank.

Van Marwijk did say this weekend, that Van Persie is still a candidate for the number 9, as is Ryan Babel.

Statistically, Van Persie and Kuyt have done equally well. Babel is a modest follower. Van Persie scores best at club level, he scored 7 times for Arsenal. Kuyt also scored 7 for Liverpool but needed more games to do so. Van Persie did score against Russia, earlier in the season, for Oranje and both Kuyt and Van Persie have an equal number of assists.

And we all know how lethal Van Persie can be and that he prepares goals as well. Interesting to see with Kuyt, though, is that whenever Benitez uses him as a central striker he services his teammates (twice) and he scores (twice again).

“Those stats tell me that I can still make the switch from winger to striker in the EPL,” Kuyt laughs.
“I moved to the right last season at Anfield, and many people now think that that’s my position. I was glad with the chance against Norway to demonstrate my striker performance. But, let me set this straight: I will play wherever the coach needs me. But still, it felt good to show my value as central striker. We’ll see what happens against Sweden. I’m fit, eager and full of confidence.”

Bert van Marwijk goes easy on Oranje players

Bert van Marwijk used his experience as club trainer Monday night, when he told the press he’d allow his players rest in the warm up for the Sweden game. The players did a 45 minute warm-up and were told to take a shower after that.

Van Marwijk decided to heed the warnings and requests of the diverse club coaches, to avoid unnecessary pressure on the players in these busy months. The medical staffs of the different suppliers of Oranje players have busy weeks and a friendly against Sweden shouldn’t be top priority.

Henk Timmer was the only international missing in Katwijk. The Feyenoord goalie injured his finger against Twente and went to the hospital for scans. They showed that the experienced keeper can play against Sweden.

Still, he might be rested as well. FC Utrecht goalie Michel Vorm is the other Oranje keeper and might get the nod. “Do I play against Sweden?” the goalie repeated the journalist’s question. “I don’t know. We need to wait and see. I think Dave van den Bergh was the last Utrecht player to wear the orange jersey.”

Van Marwijk is probably more occupied with the central striker position. Klaas Jan Huntelaar is Van Nistelrooy’s successor in Oranje, but the Ajax striker tore his ankle ligament and is out till January.

Dirk Kuyt is one of the most obvious candidates for the role. The Liverpool striker is in form and was selected player of the month by the fans. He scored this season more competition goals than in the whole of last season (5).

“Benitez has a lot of confidence in me. I play nine out of ten games and that feels great. The trainer uses me as central striker or on the right flank, just like Van Marwijk. I think I can be of value as central striker, but so could Robin (van Persie).”

Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart escape the madness in Madrid with this friendly. The Spanish champs only won one of the last four games. Ibrahim Afellay hopes to regain some confidence, being away from PSV. “I’m not too worried,” he says after losing against Ajax 4-1. “It’ll come good, I’m sure. We need a good win, hopefully Saturday against Heracles. I don’t want to talk about PSV and the number of strikers we need to play. We have a coach in Eindhoven who decides that and he doesn’t need me or anyone else to discuss that in public.”

Afellay had to bit his tongue when his own position was raised. “Do I need to play in the center of the pitch… Hmmm…. The coach decides that. Of course, I get more scoring opportunities when I play centrally, but I need to add value wherever I play. I do my utmost. That’s all I can do.”

Ruud van Nistelrooy clip

Man, we’ve got to miss Van the Man for months!!

So here’s the first “greatest hits” clip. Ruud in his PSV days.

The man can score goals. Solo dribbles, distant strikers, headers, sitters, everything… Look out for Genius Nilis and a young Van Bommel.

Oh…and only for adult viewers… the horrible injury (on the Herdgang during training) is on here as well…

Disturbing.

But, we know now he came back. And the avenger will be back once more.

I bet you all my Citibank shares that he’ll play for Oranje in South Africa!!!

Enjoy:

Ruud van Gol: nine months in fitness center?

His fighting spirit is bigger than that of most star players on this planet, but Ruud van Nistelrooy will have to move mountains this time around to maintain his spot at the firmament of greats…

In the last days, an elaborate operation has been executed by Doc Steadman in Vail, in order to restore the mess that we call his right knee. It will keep him off the pitch till next year’s summer and forms a serious threat to his career.

Wonder-doctor Steadman found a smashed outside meniscus, a tore in the first ligament and damages on the bone. And all that in a knee that already has been restored once, in 2000 by the same surgeon.

The scream on PSV’s Herdgang training complex can still be heard in the woods close to Eindhoven. The NOS cameras captured the injury while Ruud was recovering and the images are disturbing. His transfer to Man United was canceled (later appeared merely to be postponed) as his EC2000 in Holland was out of reach.

He did fight back after that and within one season he was the most expensive striker in England. That says a lot about the mentality of the favorite son of Geffen. But, he was 24 years old then and destined to become one of Europe’s biggest stars.

At the end of this season, he’ll be 33 years old and will have played 16 seasons of pro football! Years in which he worked every minute he played like a holding midfielder for Den Bosch, Heerenveen, PSV, Man United, Real Madrid and Oranje.

However, immediately after the operation, Van Gol stated he would go back to the fitness room for six months to fight his way back.

But Real Madrid’s management knows that this vulnerable knee will have to endure a lot if he returns to Champions League football and the ruthless defenders in the Primera Division.

Van Nistelrooy hopes the Gods will be kind: “Being back here, after eight years is not a good sign. I know that. But, Steadman is the best in the world and I trust him totally. He actually believes my knee could get stronger than ever.”

Van the Man injured his knee in the first match against Juve last month. After having rested for three games, he returned - again against Juventus - for the second leg game. Ten minutes before the end he was replaced. He’s not the only Real star to be out. Arjen Robben, Diarra and de la Red are also out for some time, while Cannavaro, Pepe and Metzelder aren’t totally fresh.

Coach Schuster is under a lot of pressure, while Rijkaard is already mentioned as his successor. Normally, a club like Madrid would immediately sign a new star in the winter break, but one of the main candidates - Klaas Jan Huntelaar - is also seriously injured.

It seems now, that after having failed to sign C Ronaldo, that Madrid set it’s sights on another Mancunian: Carlos Tevez.

Van Nistelrooy was on a roll in Madrid. He was the topscorer in Spain in his first season and won the title. He repeated that last feat and ended second in the topscorers’ list of the CL.

He had just retired from Oranje to focus fully on Real Madrid. But, when Henke Larsson visited Steadman with the words “my career is over”, the American made sure the Swedish star could add some wonderful years to his career.

Larsson still plays football, something that will give Van Nistelrooy hope.

Once in Oranje: Berry van Galen

A new series (we also have Wondergoals and Dutch Masters): players who only played one international. This time: AZ icon Berry van Galen. Formerly of Haarlem, Roda JC, NAC Breda and AZ.

Oranje at 17 Bovember 2004. Arjen Robben, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Edwin van der Sar, Philip Cocu, Dirk Kuijt and André Ooijer, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Danny Landzaat, Wesley Sneijder, Mario Melchiot and Barry van Galen.

In 1996, Berry van Galen is selected for an Oranje game for the first time. Oranje plays world champs Brazil, but Guus Hiddink keeps Van Galen on the bench the whole game.

Eight years later, the current AZ scout is in top form. The brilliant left footer steers AZ to top performances. The club plays in the top of the Eredivisie and is almost finalist for the UEFA cup under Co Adriaanse. Marco van Basten rewards the Haarlem-born player with a selection for the WC qualification match against Andorra. Van Galen is surprised. “I was 34 years then. You don’t really expect an invite anymore.”

Van Galen enjoys his second selection more than the first. “No one really knew me then. There I was, sharing the pitch with Dennis Bergkamp. In 2004 it was different, I guess I was someone by then.”

The training sessions and the tactical talks are a blur. “This was what I dreamt off. I didn’t realize I’d start even. I checked the benchsitters and I wasn’t on the list, so I figured I was on the stands. Mathijsen gave me a knock and said: hey oldie, you’re starting… I played with number 10 and was the man who kicked off. How cool was that?”

It was his only international and Van Galen isn’t satisfied. “Andorra did everything to stop us from scoring. They played like a handball team. There was no way through. I didn’t play too good. I wasn’t nervous or something, I just played horrible. Still, it’s the best game of my career.”

In the 21st minute, Cocu scores. “But it didn’t change the game. They kicked at everything that moved. A bunch of thugs. I remember Cocu having a really bad time with these guys.”

Ten minutes later, Arjen Robben scores a wonderful goal and the victory is there. Sneijder would score the 3-0 in the second half, but Van Galen is off the pitch by then. Pierre van Hooijdonk was put on as supersub to work on the score.

Van Galen was 34 years and 277 days old. The oldest debutant in Oranje. But Van Galen doesn’t feel special. “The record Van der Sar holds, that is special. That is something to be proud of. My record is more fun than anything else. Who knows, maybe in 30 years my name comes up at some random quiz show.”

Van Galen ended his career at AZ. The midfielder had numerous chances to move abroad to France and England, but it never felt right. He wouldn’t be able to settle abroad, he felt.

Bert van Marwijk solves the Seedorf puzzle

Attacking defense. That’s the term. That’s how team manager Bert van Marwijk wants to see Oranje play football. Tight organisation, forward pressure, taking possession and full on attack. Sounds simple.

According to the team manager, you can create space for your offensive game. Again, it sounds good. He was very surprised, he said in an interview, that the media were negative about Oranje’s game against Norway, while insiders were very positive.

Ronald de Boer had told bro’ Frank that it looked really good. I can’t get the image out of my head that radio DJ and imitation expert Edwin Evers called Frank to prank him around with his Ronald-imitation.

But no, it was real. There’s a difference between the experts and the media. So, the question now is: when is an insider also an expert? When you play left back at Cambuur, are you than an expert?

Is any media representative an outcast? Is there a committee somewhere? And will Mario Been, Willem van Hanegem and Jan van Halst be sacked from their expert status, because they also analyse matches on tv?

I think it’s a grey area, really. I think, that when you agree with Van Marwijk, you’re suddenly an expert.

Funnily enough, the media actually like Bert. He somehow earned a protected status. How different was it with AZ some time ago, when Hugo Borst wrote his column after PSV-AZ: “AZ has no spirit, no soul, no identity and no system. This is the end. There’s a coach there (Louis van Gaal) whom you feel sorry for. This is never going to work anymore.”

When I watched AZ-PSV yesterday, I just had to think about Borst’s prophesies…

And so, after Borst’s column, AZ started to swing. The curse of the columnist. Van Marwijk will never be attacked by the media. Why? I don’t know. Even last year, when Feyenoord resembled a drunken and over the hill boxer, the media never judged him.

Van Marwijk calls himself an offensive coach. But last year, I’d call Feyenoord’s game “defending defensively”. But Bert would never agree with me. The thing with Van Marwijk is, he always keeps his cool.

“A team manager needs to be indifferent to other people’s opinions,” he said in the same interview. But at Feyenoord, he was known to fly into the curtains whenever Pierre van Hooijdonk said something critical about him.

But, Bert gives the impression to have everything under control. About the “Issue Seedorf” he said: “Clarence is a too big a player to select for the bench.”

Genius! That is what I call an attacking defense…

By Wilfred Genee in www.ad.nl

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The joy of Real Madrid’s title in May has made place for dread. It’s only November and the C-word (crisis) has been used many times already.

The team is basically the same as last season’s, the club trails two points behind Barca and has all the trumps in hand in the CL.

But, the quality of play is below par, the defense is weak and Bernd Schuster is grumpy. This all became worse after their defeat in the Copa Del Rey.

Real Union, a third liga club, scored six times against the Royal Merengues. The same Real Madrid that copped 16 goals in ten games. That allowed Juve to take 6 points and score 4 times.

Any reporter worth his salt would have asked Schuster: how come Madrid is conceding all these goals?
“I don’t know.” Is all he says. Or…”The problem is that our opponent gets a limited number of chances and score while we create a lot and we don’t score.” And whenever a coach claims he “doesn’t know”, his resignation is being printed out.

Tuesday, the Madrid board gathered to talk about the future of Schuster. Chairman Calderon is the only board member to support the German coach. Apparently the message to Schuster is: get the team swinging against Valladolid, or start packing. Chief scout Portugal will take over and for the longer term Juande Ramos (ex-Valencia, ex-Spurs) and Frank Rijkaard (ex-Barca and ex..ehm…Sparta) are named on the short list.

Calderon supports Schuster because he realizes he ignored Schuster’s claims for new players, focusing on one C Ronaldo only. The only signing Schuster was allowed was Raf van der Vaart, as replacement for the seriously injured Sneijder. Oh, and Robinho was allowed to leave for Man City.

Schuster is criticized for stubbornly holding on to 4-3-3 while Real only has one winger in Arjen Robben. Who, by the way, is injured more than that he’s playing. And then there’s other injuries, of which Ruud van Nistelrooy’s seems to be the most serious one.

Higuain and Raul seem to take care of business up front, but the main problems are at the back and on midfield. Playing Sneijder, Guti, Vaart, Gago and recently Drenthe means there’s a lot of offensive thinking players.

Schuster doesn’t seem to worry: “I hear people are worried about my position here. Fine. Let them. I don’t worry about it.” That was one of the few real sentences he uttered. And that is another problem for Real Madrid. The club feels they need a coach who represents the club better. Mourinho and Van Gaal are not an option, therefore…