Pre-match: Oranje vs. Luxembourg WCQ

His range of passing and long range shooting is remarkable.

 

It is Wes' record breaking day and he may score a goal as well so I'm not surprised that he will start. It will be a 3 goals or more win as this group seems to be hungry and rejuvenate. DA will play 4-3-3 as Lux will park the bus. Time to open a snack bar and enjoy.

 

As I said, Depay for Sneijder after 60 minutes. Who's gonna partner De Vrij? Veltman, Blind, Hoedt? Assuming BMI is LB & Tete as RB !

 

I think Blind will be LB. My guess is that BMI will partner De Vrij in the center. Veltman will be slotted back to RB (and kept in the starting line-up as a way to "reward" him after the two goals he scored last week). I don't necessarily agree with this, as I think Veltman is not quite fitting as RB, but hey after all, we're playing at home against Luxembourg so who cares about the defense

 

Well, if they're keeping with the 4-2-3-1 I'd like to see this:

Cillessen
Veltman - de Vrij - BMI - Blind
Wijnaldum - Strootman
Sneijder
Robben - Janssen - Memphis​

Promes should be a starter but what can you do. Plus against Luxembourg having Sneijder's unlocking passes and long range shots will be nice. Keep in mind Sneijder is still a very good player when fit. I wouldn't have Veltman or BMI in personally but I know they'll probably be included.

 

Since it is Luxembourg, perhaps we can live with Wijnaldum - Strootman - Sneijder as midfields, Veltman as RB and BMI as CB. By August I hope that we will have better options/adjustments in tactics and starting 11.

 

Agreed. Ideally, based on what I've seen I would like to see this as our squad if we're going to be playing high level matches in the near future:

Cillessen
Karsdorp - de Vrij - van Dijk - Blind
Strootman
Wijnaldum - Vilhena
Robben - Janssen - Promes
​

Though Memphis could play too I think Promes gets more involved in general and is a better player currently.

 

Bit too early to be saying this. If we win out we should be fine. Very tough task but it is doable

 

I'll actually stay positive and hope for the best even when things aren't looking good. I think things will change with new coaching

 

I had both matches on at the same time and I really can't believe this. A horrendous error from the French keeper in injury time, after France were pressing for the winning goal, and completely out of nowhere Sweden snatch the win. France took the lead too, were clearly the better team, and somehow still screwed it all up.

 

What the hell, Lloris.

 

I would hate to be you. Such a negative viewpoint in life.

We will beat France

 

Bad or good luck happens in games. Sucks for us but we got ourselves in this position.

(This has been said many times before but it needs repeating whenever possible because the problem-KNVB has not changed)
What is inexcusable and the direct cause for this disaster was the KNVB and their logic defying loyalty to their logic defying appointment of Blind as trainer who was a disaster from start to finish. Blind should have been ousted a long time before based on the horrible football played under him, the lack of any improvement made or the lack of lessons learned from his previous matches.

Heads should have rolled at the KNVB a long time ago metaphorically speaking. In not doing so we are setting ourselves up for futher future failure, since the people who set up this current cluster******** are still in charge.

 

Haha I realize the chances aren't great, but I also have faith in my team

If we go in with a lineup of:

Karadorp - De Vrij - Van Dijk - Janmaat

Strootman - Wijnaldum

Promes

Depay - Janssen - Robben

I think we have a decent chance.

The new coaching change will help quite a bit as we are finally trying to push the pace a bit more.

And yes I'll do a fun bet on it

 

It's absolutely true that it's first and foremost the KNVB and Blind between them that have somehow managed to bring us to the verge of failing to qualify for two major tournaments in a row. Absurdly unnecessary too. I mean sure we aren't at the level of the 2010 squad by any means, but still should have had easily enough quality to finish as one of the top three teams in our Euro qualifying group, or as one of the top two in our current group. But now our hopes are hanging by thread.

Anyway, Sweden have hardly been that impressive and have had a fair bit of luck go their way so far. We were clearly the better side when we played them in the opener (even with Blind as coach ). Such a shame about Strootman's defensive error and of course they were fortunate that Dost's goal was wrongly disallowed. And that gift from Lloris in injury time during their match today - when really France should have won the game comfortably (Sweden barely had a chance all game).. wow.

But ok, if their luck starts to even out then I can definitely see Sweden dropping points away to Bulgaria or Belarus. If they do that, then no matter what happens in Paris we still technically have it all in our hands.