Review: 2018 WC Qualifying - Towards winning our first WC title: А дело бывало -- и коза волка съедала.

we should have gotten all 3 but getting 1 pt away is ok

 

Should not even been a call. Just look at the dude's face. Played the victim card even before there was contact.

 

such a pity three points would mean two draws against france and winning out would guarantee position numero uno

 

Bulgaria 4-3 Luxembourg. Surprise leaders in group A.

 

All in all very pleased with the game. We still lack talent in some areas but were the much better team tonight. Created a lot of chances but just couldn't finish and the Swedish goalie was very good. Plus it should have been 2 1 as that goal at the end should have never been waved off.

Should have been 3 points but a lot of positives to build off of. Strootman should only get better as he shakes off the rust. Van Dijk was a rock back there. I would love to see Van Dijk, Blind, De Vrij, and Janmaat as the back 4. Seems very solid to me.

Wijnaldum is still so inconsistent for the NT. Looks good one game and then invisible the next. I liked Klassen quite a bit. Janssen is awesone. We still need some more attacking options but don't know who else there is.

Pretty awesome to know I'll be at the next two games. Coming from Canada for them. Haven't been this excited for something in a long time.

Hup Holland

 

No suprise to me that in the couple of minutes that Janmaat started going forward and taking innitiative the goals and oppertunities came. As if having an attacking fullback actually getting to get into the opponents half with space is benefitial to breaking down a bunker with the middle stacked.. Who knew...

 

lol

 

Been like that for every clubteam too bar perhaps PSV where I didnt follow him so much.

 

Strootman had some great passes, two potential assists to Klaassen and Dost, but he is just not a good DM. Too slow with the ball, and in his challenges too. Therefore, I don't know how to use this player. I think we have better 8's than him and better 6's. And obviously he is no 10.
Nigel was stronger defensivly and able to spread the ball a way quicker than Strootman.

 

I think you're being a bit harsh here. Keep in mind he's just coming back from what was considered to be a potential career ending injury, and it was almost 2 years of no football. He's strong defensively, he's smart, and he'll get some more speed and turning back as he continues to heal and get gametime. He's a very good option to have in midfield -- certainly our best right now.

 

Just need to be sure to win at home. We both will lose points against France. Not the greatest starts, but there were some positives.

 

As far as fullbacks go I think definitely in a game like against France or a good offensive team that won't bunker up we should be playing Tete and Blind as our fullbacks and in a game against teams that will bunker up and try to hit on the counter we need creativity out wide so I would say Janmaat or Karsdorp and Willems/Blind.

The midfield should always be anchored by Strootman, but I still feel that we need a player capable of carrying the ball out of midfield and not just passing it. Maybe Ramselaar or Sinkgraven can mature into that player but right now they're not there yet. I'd probably go with a Propper - Strootman - Sneijder midfield with Wijnaldum better suited to the wing. Though as has been suggested before I wouldn't be opposed to trying Willems as a winger.

 

Zei hij nou "Zoals de hazen lopen in het voetbal" ?

 

We will have to agree to disagree. I watched it again and Dost hardly touches him. The post game show back here in Canada also said that should have never been called back. I really dont think there was enough contact there to warrant the whistle. But I can see why some people may think there is.

 

Nope, he was already slow and bad defensivly even before his injuries.

The mistake he did on the goal tonight is something he has done many times in the past..Remember his game against Germany under Van Marwijk (lost 3-0), he was the worst player on the pitch, just too slow and losing so many balls like the ones he lost tonight, so bad that Van Marwijk didn't use him again while he was a potential starter for Euro2012.

Remember his -21 euro in 2013, was letting big avenues in the midfield because of his slowness, he is just too easy to beat in 1vs1, he is always late in his interventions. Some slow players can compensate with great anticipation like Mathijsen, but Strootman isn't great at anticipating neither.

 

Liked the way Oranje played with a sense of urgency.
Good pressing and faster movement which has not been happening lately enough for my liking.
De Vrij for Bruma and adding Robben will be nice.
Shame we drop 2 points but prior to the Greece debacle Oranje were on a bit of run getting results again after the dreadful Euro Qualifiers.
Some questions to be asked but really should have won today much better then Sweden.

 

The Orange team isnot a revalidation centre, especially not in the current circumstances. So you are either in form and shape and play in Orange or you stay away from it.

 

So .... in a way you are saying LvGaal was saved by his injury and because of that almost made it to the finals 2014?

 

Elk nadeel heb ze voordeel.
I wish more coaches would think like that, LvG included.

 

Good that the Dutch played with much more sense of urgency and created a lot more chances (compared to the match vs. Greece). Not-so-good news is that they couldn't convert those chances and as a result a 2-point loss. The call on Dost was a 5o-5o in my opinion, it could have been given either way. Dost, on an earlier occasion, wasted a golden opportunity that could have sealed the match. Klaassen should have had also at least one goal.

I think this was probably the most sensible starting lineup Blind Sr. had put together, given the player availability that he had. Virgil Van Dijk is a lock going forward, he's settling nicely and getting calmer/more comfortable. He had a really great defensive header despite losing balance, and was unlucky not to score from Sneijder's free kick. I would have replaced Bruma (who contributed nothing in attack, and always increased my blood pressure anytime he was near the ball) with Stef De Vrij when he's back in fitness. Daley did fine. I wouldn't mind Janmaat at RB. Defense is never his forte, but at least he lit up the attack. Strootman, aside from him mistake, had a solid all-around match. Klaassen, Wijnaldum and Sneijder were somewhat "position-less" - they didn't look too shabby. Probably could argue that Propper should be in the conversation as well, but for now I'd prefer Davy and Gino... both are tireless runners and goal-scorers, they just need to take their chances cleanly. Janssen is still in progress, but he can only get better. His movement was quite fluid and he could hold up the ball really well. I love his confidence taking shots from distance and on the volley. Promes is hot and cold... serviceable but I am hoping that Robben will come back with enough juice in the next matches.