Pre-match: 2022 World Cup Oranje qualifying matches

IMHO, we need to tweak and tune this team to find out what it can do/improve so it can do well against stronger opponents, especially in knockout rounds. As you can see the core remains the same, and it is healthy to have competitions at positions and to line up/plan for Oranje beyond WC.

 

Agreed. Playing against minnows can give you a distorted picture of what this team is actually capable of, and what it’s not. There’s always room for improvement and we should always explore those and never get too complacent.

If we start resorting to blaming the weather/pitch against the likes of Latvia then you know that tweaks can/should be made.

 

Wait... are you sober?

 

What exactly are you watching?

Firing on ALL cylinders?

That is categorically not true, the team has been quite inconsistent.

One fantastic night against a poor Turkey team who were tactically negligent does not mask the up and down performances.

I believe there is a lot of potential to do very well on a consistent basis, but changes of personnel needs to happen.

There is no limit on what this team could possibly achieve in my opinion based on the fact that there is no powerhouse or true dominant team in World Football at this moment in time, but greater success will not occur without making changes to some of the players who have been picked and played in recent times.

That said the formula for winning football comes from playing faster in possession, dynamic attacking football with great movement off the ball while pressing, and squeezing the opponent when not in possession.

Oranje XI does not play this way consistently, and if anything we have clear holes to fill to achieve that success.

In recent times the starting XI is not going to get it done. Blind, Klaassen, Berghuis, Luuk De Jong won’t get it done, (and I Love my Ajax guys) but the proof is in the pudding, and these particular players have serious limitations to succeed in the bigger matches against the best competition.

 

LVG said that the goal this time is to win the WC. Another semi final, not good enough. Time to reach for the star.

 

Van der Beek scored vs Spain. 1-1. Danjuma scored vs Belguim 1-1. Which game you are talking about.

Ihatraren is struggling with fitness.

 

I cant see them reaching SF this time around. Argentina will be a solid team this time around and they would also wanna farewell Messi with a win. Brazil will heavy favourites as always. England wont win under Southgate but will go far with the squad and depth they have. France again winning the Nation League and surely will be top favourites as well.

Then there are others like Beligum and portgual who I think are better squad than NT.

 

This is why I said we have to pass on this world cup. They simply dont have the right ingredients. The goods, take it over to the next phase which is 2024 and 2026 and and usual suspects to be flushed out. Plus there will be more options avaliable to who ever the coach will be.

However if they do gets a favourable group / draw, then Van Gaal has expertise to drag them to the to the knock out rounds.

 

Then he should start with assessing players himself for selection and not take the list of Blind and Fraser without questioning. LvG is far better at assessing the capabilities of players available atm. I dnot trust Blind in any way to be fit for that specific part of the tasks of the staff.

 

I truly don’t believe that there is a significant gap between these sides and Oranje although I would not discount any of these teams.

With the right players on the pitch and on form Oranje will be very difficult opposition.

Just a general statement here I don’t agree with any opinion that you just go to a tournament to participate or make up the numbers, but to win every match no matter who you are playing.

Mentality must be to win every match, and not label it any other way.

From your list I don’t think Belgium are difficult opponents after watching their recent Nation League results.

Old and slow in the back and their newer generation of players is a big drop off from the recent performers.

Talented indeed but their stars are fading.

 

Netherlands XI confirmed:

Bijlow, Dumfries, Blind, Van Dijk, De Vrij, Frenkie, Wijnaldum, Klaassen, Berghuis, Lang, Memphis

Once again, Blind over Malacia is mind-boggling... Would LVG have done this if Blind Sr. wasn't on the sideline? Hmmm

Virgil is definitely not needed... De Ligt or Ake should be able to handle the mighty Gibraltar forwards. Virgil can use some rests given the packed club schedule, and we need him on top of his game up against Haaland next month in a decisive final group match.

Lang is already giving Malen run for his money... this early. Malen will really need to step up now.