Rode Duivels ep. V: Will somebody bloody save us already? [R]

Historically no. Right now they are though. Juve is a top five team, but they are currently in the relegation zone.

And why wait to give him a chance? Isn't the reasoning for playing Lukaku at his young age that we have no real alternatives? Well the same applies to both fullback positions. We've been playing centerbacks there for an eternity now.

 

Boyata playing as a (make-shift) fullback as well today for Man City.

Is there another European team with so many players playing for big teams that is as rubbish as us?

 

There is a huge disadvantage to playing people out of position. I think we are better served in the long run by putting actual fullbacks there instead of always playing CBs there.

Gillet isn't a real fullback, even Gabriels would admit that. They can get away with him at the Belgian level, but not internationally. And Ciman was a total failure at Club Brugge. He has since redeemed himself at KVK, but lets see how he manages at a club where the expectations are more raised.

Vanden Borre (when he finally plays again) might be our best option in Belgium for that RB slot. But until then, I wouldn't mind seeing this kid get a chance. I'd agree that we have to bring him more slowly if we had a ton of alternatives for the fullback positions but we don't! Again, the same reasoning is applied to why Lukaku is starting for us at CF at the age of 17. There is no one else.

 

Jacobs. Sorry, huge brainfart on my part.

 

I've no problems with Leekens selection apart from one thing: why did he not call up Chadli? We're not that deep on the leftwing that we can ignore a player who plays in the league and the CL for the Dutch champions! With Dembelé out injured, this was the perfect time to bring him into the squad.

 

Has this been confirmed? I thought Gerets had just given him a call.

 

[LINEUP-4-3-3]Mertens, Vossen, Hazard, Vertonghen, Simons, Fellaini, Deschacht, Lombaerts, Van Buyten, Alderweireld, Bailly [/LINEUP-4-3-3]

I assume this will be our starting eleven for Kazakhstan, unless Leekens still opts for Lukaku over the in form Vossen.

I wouldn't mind seeing Mignolet getting a call-up as well.

 

*giggles*

 

Crap, does this mean Legaer will start on the left?

 

[LINEUP-4-4-2]Lukaku, Vossen, Van Damme, Simons, Fellaini, Witsel, Deschacht, Van Buyten, Lombaerts, Alderweireld, Bailly[/LINEUP-4-4-2]

Tonight's line-up according to Sporza. A 4-4-2 instead of the 4-3-3 we used in the last few games. Well, I guess 4-3-3 was also the system we mostly used under Advocaat.

I hope Leekens isn't outsmarting himself by keeping Vertonghen and Hazard on the bench.

 

Poor first half.

Our entire left-hand side is utter pants. Throw on Boyata and Vertonghen I say.

Fellaini, Witsel, Vossen and Lombaerts are the only ones who are playing near their normal level.

 

Marvin!

Will be interesting to see what Leekens does. He has to start the Genk duo vs. Austria now, doesn't he?

 

I have more issues with Vertonghen being on the bench. Apparently Hazard has spent a lot of time on the bench for Lille as well, so I imagine there's some attitude problems behind that decision.

But with Van Damme being so pants and Vertonghen almost always being one of our more solid performers, I can't see how he can justify starting Jelle over Jan.

Van Buyten, well, it wouldn't be a game for the NT if he didn't have a huge brainfart again. I agree, we were lucky with the ref. Especially on that equalizer.