First Rule: No negative posts until Oranje lose their first qualifying match. Second Rule: Find a new Manager Third Rule: Find some players who can put the ball in the goal Otherwise, let's have at it!!!
Too many things to fix... but in the half-glass-full spirit, as a starter, I think the back four needs a total makeover. It is just way too unreliable to the point of comical. I am crossing my fingers that LVG's experiment with Danny Blind at CB will turn out to be a genius move. That, with the progress of Stef De Vrij gives me a glimmer of hope. Blind to me is ideal at CB not because of his defending prowess, but rather due to his ability to build up the attack from behind and direct traffic. This is what the team needs, done is the day of horizontal or back passes. De Vrij is too soft at times to my liking, hopefully he will continue to gain strength and become more mean. Seems like he's heading into the right direction. The importance of both is really in the leadership department. We need strong veteran presence in the back that doesn't crumble like a cupcake when it matters the most. I have no problem with the up and coming CB's thrown in to the mix every so often... the likes of Sven Van Beek, Rekik, Kongolo etc. For RB and LB, we need attacking-minded players who can join the attack. J. Willems and Janmaat are a must. I am giving a ton of credits to Tete and Riedewald who played bravely given the circumstances, but I think both have a lot of growing to do in the next few years. Agree with some of the previous comments about Riedewald at LB, looks like square peg in the round hole situation. He looked completely lost, and gave zero contribution in attack. Maybe LB is not his best utilization after all.
I wouldn't put Tate and Riedewald in the same basket.. Though not perfect, Tate obviously did better than the other debutants. Also, isn't this thread one year too soon?
Something positive? Hmmmm...... Ok, the qualifiers will be great for the youngsters to gain experience. That's about the only positive I can think off right now.
Respecting the first rule. Blind to CB, Clasie fit, Strootman fit and the U17 champs coming to age. I feel sorry for Sweden.
An NT coach who can organize a squad in a short time frame will make a massive difference. If the team remain compact the results should improve, because even in the disastrous EC qualifiers we had at least as much individual talent as our opponents. The team breaking up in two blocks of five cannot continue. Van Marwijk for example covered Sneijders lack of defense rate with 2 destroyers and use a lopsided 4-2-3-1 with an attacking right wing and a defensive left wing based on the quality and weakness of his squad. I'm not saying we should copy his system but he got the organization part down. Take PSV's attack of last year, you see a similar logical structure. Narsingh and Arias as a classic winger/defending right back pair on the right. Depay as an inverted winger the left, overlapped by attacking fullback Willems. Willems and Narsingh feeding De Jong. Wijnaldum as penetrating midfielder while Maher and Guardado cover midfield. The team remains compact and sits back to cover it's relatively fragile back line while making use of the speed up front. The team isn't amazing on the individual level but it worked because tactics used individual strengths while collectively covering for any deficiencies.
@Antario2 - good thoughts. Of course the manager does have to adopt to the players at his disposal and we have to acknowledge that in the last two WCs both managers did great organizational jobs. Of course each had several players of world class quality who were able to make something out of nothing. It is likely that for WC 2018 qualifying this will not be the case. Sneijder has lost speed and quickness and Robben's injury history is always troubling.
In accordance with my second rule at the start of this post, who should be the new manager of the NT. There is pretty much consensus that Blind is not up to the job. What are the views of current club managers in Holland? Are any of them up to snuff to take over this program? I don't want FdB as that would just extend negative football for another 2 years. Gio is too inexperienced and I'm not sure that Cocu would want the job right now. What about Peter Bosz or Ron Jans (only because he seems to do a decent job with lesser quality players)? Are there others? Would Ronald Koeman take the job if offered and would he represent the type of change needed. Are there any foreign born managers who are interesting (my fave is Marcelo Bielsa who did wonders with Chile)?
Koeman wouldn't do it right now. And Bosz and Jans have no authority. I really wouldn't know who to put in front of the group right now. Best I can come up with is Rijkaard again. A Spanish speaking coach also isn't ideal imo.
No inverted wing system No Box strikers Efficient and productive engine Room Dynamic backline A coach with no Ajax History.
I can't think of a Dutch coach other than Foppe de Haan, but he's retired. I have a soft spot for Zeman but the language barrier would be a problem. Preud'homme maybe as he has experience in the Dutch league.
I would like to add another rule: Don't talk about the 1997 generation and certainly not about about the two Ajax talents (do that in the youth thread). Players who have have yet to make their debuts shouldn't be talked about here.
Good One Fourth Rule - Let's only discuss players who have made or been selected to the NT. A separate thread already exists for discussing Jong Oranje and other youth NTs.
For me Koeman or Cocu would be the ideal candidates at the moment of Dutch managers available. Others will emerge over time this year, but the only thing that is certain is that the whole organization should be overhauled at the National level...from the coach to the assistants to the director, etc. Also there's obviously Lijnders as well: http://daswunderkind.net/liverpools-pepijn-lijnders-is-a-big-deal/ Though it would be conflicting for me since I love Liverpool, but to bring the NT back to life it would be worth it to lose him.
I think Cocu would be the ideal choice. He used to lead a young team and he has the experience of high level as a player . In any case , we need a coach with fresh ideas . Roger Schmidt is my dream choice. But I do not think the old glories of the Dutch football to agree with the arrival of a foreign coach .
Re: Rule #2. Rijkaard with Van Basten as assistant coach. The two will complement each other. Rijkaard played stylish attacking football (when he was with Oranje and Barca - can't comment on his latest appointments). He is quiet but seems to gain a ton of respect from his players. Van Basten had a decent success working with youngsters, and building the team almost from scratch when he took over the NT in 2004. Exactly the kind of situation the team is now... a load of inexperienced newbies coming to the fray.
Rutten would be an excellent assistent, he just not a man for the main job, bit like Ten Cate. Good field coach, poor manager.