Watch list Attackers Orange team

Europe's Top 3 players for expected assists I'm short circuiting pic.twitter.com/apm5NxhAJs

— Kees van Hemmen (@HemmenKees) December 29, 2020

 

^^^^ what the heck is an "expected assist"??

 

Depay scored 2 yesterday (one a PK).
He has 7 goals in 10 matches.
Lyon now in first place 3 points ahead of PSG

 

Calvin Stengs with a stellar performance as AZ defeated PSV today. Played more of a no. 10 than a traditional forward. Easily out-shone his counterpart Mo Ihattaren.

In the first half, Stengs produced two excellent through-balls to Boadu. On the first occasion, Boadu was brought down in the penalty box and Koopmeiners converted the resulting PK. His second through-ball, also to Boadu, forced a corner kick that Koopmeiners (deservingly a MoTM) brilliantly flicked to the net to score his second. Stengs then grabbed a goal in the dying minutes to confirm the victory.

All is all, really impressed with Stengs. His movement was excellent throughout, and able to take advantage of the open space.

Ihattaren was a bit disappointment tbh. It just wasn't his day. Touched the ball a lot, and tried to get involved - but he was suffocated by AZ compact setup in the back. Held on to the ball too long and too slow too many times, looking for ideas. That said, to Mo's defense, his PSV teammates surrounding were absolutely horrendous today. Static and unimaginative. Zahavi, Rosario, Sangare - and even Malen were underperformed. Ryan Thomas was a complete disaster (duly replaced after the break).

Great to see Van Ginkel back on pitch... after 1000+ days of non-competitive games, said the commentator. Wow, didn't realize it was that long.

 

This is what I have been saying for a while now. Stengs is better as a AM/No.10 than on the wings imo. With that being said, I still think that Mo, especially in last season’s form, is the better player and/or has the most potential.

Thing is, this isn’t about potential or last year’s form, so Mo has to step it up or he will rightly get snubbed.

Surely Koopmeiners is cementing his spot in Oranje with these performances. He’s so good and so consistent, even when the rest of his teammates aren’t. Good to see. He also has a knack for scoring goals.

11 goals in 16 games for a midfielder who isn’t played in an advanced/attacking position.

 

Totally forgot he was their guy for pennos. Even so, most aren’t penalties, seems 5 of those 11 are pk’s. So most are actually field goals. Even taking those away, he’s still AZ’s top scorer with 6. Still very impressive.

 

I wish Frank de Boer was a little more experimental now while it's still possible. I'd love to see how the Oranje midfield performed with players like Koopmeijers and Gravenberch as the third options. Now we're just kind of guessing, but what's to say Koopmeijers can't bring the balance of Klaassen or de Roon and some?

 

Fully agree with this... the evident has been pretty clear in past few weeks, at least for the fanbase. The question is whether, for Oranje's sake, FdB would recognize, and can take advantage

Right off the bat, I think the dilemma is... if Stengs does indeed occupy the no. 10 role in Oranje - who would be slotted to flank Memphis upfront on either side? Malen is a pretty obvious choice to me given his pace and directness. I am not sure who else can step up. I think another ball-dominant (slower, less-direct) player, like Berghuis and/or Ihattaren (and El Ghazi to a certain extent, if he does make a comeback) would take the sting out of Stengs

So we need Boadu to really improve, or Bergwijn to make a massive comeback. Or will have to get used to see Babel. Sigh. Gakpo must be tried. Would hate to see Memphis banished to the wing, and Luuk de Jong taking the central role (it has been tried, and didn't work!)

 

I agree. I mean, last season’s Ihattaren was a sight to see, at only 17. Last season’s Ihattaren is an instant starter at the no.10 spot for Oranje.

This season’s Ihattaren is a whole other story. He’s unfit, uninspiring and seemingly taking forever to get into top form.

However, I feel we have to consider the fact that he’s still so young and has gone through a lot recently. I mean he’s only 18 for crying out loud.

He went through the stressful period of having to pick Morocco or the Netherlands, then his father passed away, then he was injured for a while.

Those are all tough things for anyone, let alone a 17/18 year old. I hope he has the mental strength to get passed this. He’d be the absolute star of Oranje if he does.

 

To be honest I wouldn’t mind seeing Depay on the wing and putting Malen in the middle. The other wing remains a question of who can step up. Both Ihattaren and Stengs can always play there if necessary. Hopefully El Ghazi can keep his form going and Gakpo can regain his form. Options galore.

Anything but having Luuk as a starter.

Why is Luuk even the undisputed second option? He’s not even an undisputed first team starter for Sevilla anymore with En-Nesyri getting the nod.

7 starts in 17 league games but coming on as a sub in most, if not all of the games he didn’t start afaik. Only 2 goals. What else is there to say?

 

Kluivert is back from injury and starts on the bench today against Wolfsburg

 

Weghorst just scored a nice header. He now has 11 goals in 16 games. FdB needs to call him up for the next Oranje matches

 

Well, he scores quite a bit and plays with/against players of a higher age group. Also for Oranje under 15 he is scoring.

Now he leaves for free. Dirty Germans.

 

Luuk de Jong has recorded a single goal since October (last international break), and has not completed 90 minutes since mid-November.

OTOH....

Wout Weghorst, in the same timespan, has scored 13 times along with an assist. Played full 90 minutes in all matches, except for one occasion (when he was subbed out on the 89th minute).

Wow... such a stark contrast #luukout #woutin