Can Ronald Koeman Lead the Oranje Crush to Victory

Will he revert to 4-3-3 or stick with 5 defenders??

 

Attacking 4-3-3 all the way. To eternity and beyond!!!

But Koeman needs a dynamic attacking midfielder… none available at the moment. (Gini has passed his expiration date).

Maybe Simons will make a gigantic leap and surprise us, but that’s too much to expect from a teenager. Or Lang gets a transfer out and starts playing AM. Can’t build the team around the oldies like Klaassen or Berghuis.

And please, some clubs with European ambitions buy out Noppert… PSV? Ajax? Would like to see him excel and get even better!

 

... and need quality Right Wingers as well. Bergwijn this season playing LW at Ajax is somewhat a misfortune. Maybe switching side was a factor contributing to his lack of production and confidence in the NT lately. Back in his PSV days, he was very good in RW (had a really good understanding with Dumfries) -- obviously his time at Spurs was a waste.

Malen needs to make a strong come back as well. He is a hybrid winger/striker, but seems to be capable playing across the front line. His pace could certainly be useful.

Gakpo and Danjuma are all set for LW.... throw Lang in there as well as backup.

Though I really think Lang should be playing centrally, behind a striker. He has enough creativity, and strong skills to operate in tight spaces.

 

Future is bright Orange I firmly believe.
Good players and prospects as always.
Noppert future will be very interesting.
Koeman must be assertive and play with proactive attacking tactics, faster ball possession, and pressing defensively, which is the formula for winning football.

 

• It will start with players selection for Euro qualification March 24 in Paris vs France then March 27 in Rotterdam vs Gibraltar. Is Koeman going to keep the same players, make a few changes or make many changes? Next will be who will start, tactic/how they play, which player he will sub and give playing times then we can tell. It will not be an easy game vs France so I would expect a more experienced starting 11 maybe with the exception of Frimpong but for Gibraltar, I hope he can try younger players and demand the players playing with intensity, hard-work, mobility, humility and please no more talk about opponents before the game (like Van Gaal did before Argentina game or that Canada coach before Croatia game; no need to give your opponent motivation or ammunition to their unloaded guns). I will not be happy if I see Blind, Pasveer, Rensch, BMI, Teze, Hateboer, Janssen, Luuk De Jong, Klaassen, Berghuis again.
• I'm tired and sad of being the "greatest underachiever team of football", 2 quarter finals, 2 semi finals, 3 finals in World Cup; 3 semi finals and 2 quarter finals in Euro. Even when there was a great generation of players Netherlands just cannot get over the top (except Euro 88). The first was 1974-1978; the second was 1990, 1992, 1994; the third was 1998-2000; the fourth was 2008-2010 + 2014. Van Gaal "undefeated record in regular and extra time) at the World cup" does not mean much to me, same as 2nd place or less. As comedian Seinfeld said "‘Congratulations, you almost won. Of all the losers, you came in first of that group. You’re the No. 1 loser. No one lost ahead of you.” Win title first then can talk/criticize/comment all you want.
• I really hope Koeman can change this and does a good job to the end this time. I still has not forgotten how he left this team to Frank De Boer with unfinished business and to me, he has to "make up" for that mistake.

 

Agreed. Both have to prove with their performances first. They had not showed enough to earn call up or showed that they belong when given a chance. They still have time to prove.

 

Van Gaal thinks there is plenty of quality, “That’s why we haven’t lost twenty games since we started together last summer. That’s not for nothing. Only we don’t have a right and left striker as I had at Ajax. No Overmars, no Finidi George. If we play with wingers playing football, it can only be done in plan B or C. But setting up two long strikers and pumping balls into the box as quickly as possible, you won’t always do that. You don’t want to play opportunistically all the time.

“You need wingers who pass a man. Our football doesn’t have that at the moment, not for the very highest level of a World Cup and the battle with top countries. That’s why I started playing differently. And we’ve come a long way. Just short of a semi-final. Out on penalties.”

(https://www.football-oranje.com/van-gaal-netherlands-lack-wingers/).

I hope Koeman can use Danjuma, Gakpo, Lang as wingers. Maybe Malen too, if he can improve. Danjuma and Lang can pass a man (and Gakpo) while Berghuis and Bergwijn on the other hand, often cannot.. One is given little chance while one is not given much chance during qualification/Nations League where Van Gaal preferred to stick with Berghuis, Bergwijn for a period of time, so Lang and Danjuma do not have much chemistry/gel with other team members.

You know who else can dribble, Frimpong (check this out: ).
If Koeman and his staff pushed Van Djik to play striker (remembering Nations League thrilling come from behind 2-2 with Germany?), I'm sure Frimpong can be tried as a winger. Alphonso Davies did that for Canada. I saw Frimpong warming up in the Argentina game and nothing. So if no option, Danjuma, Gakpo, Lang and Frimpong as wingers to support Memphis/Weghorst. He deserves a starting spot vs France and he can be as good as Dumfries if not better.

 

"Speaking to Algemeen Dagblad, Van Gaal reflected on what he is now leaving behind, “What I leave behind with the Orange? A good, close-knit group with a lot of football ability. But without wingers who can pass a man at the highest level.”

“You need wingers who pass a man. Our football doesn’t have that at the moment, not for the very highest level of a World Cup and the battle with top countries. That’s why I started playing differently. And we’ve come a long way. Just short of a semi-final. Out on penalties.”

this is an absolute disgrace. apart from Noppert , the rest of the players were already in the spot light even before him arriving and to say that he is leaving behind a good group of players again shows how shellfish and egoistic bastard he is. utter disgrace man. the reason for danjuma omission precisely was that he was not involved in the build up to his 3-5-2 change of formation and now he saying we need wingers who can pass man. did he really needed this given he has been playing in the same formation at Villarreal. I really dont know when on earth the jury will be able to nail the selection. the biggest problem with van gaal is he never gives opportunties to players to prove themselves. he said there is no quality right wingers. what about kluivert? simple but a very technical winger. he had a very good season at lille before siwtiching to valencia where he had the same impact playing on the right mostly. he may be not clinical from the right but his runs and crosses are really effective. remember Ronald De boer but a faster version of his. this is the biggest problem with van gaal, he wants to show what ever he does is always right and if he doesnt like any player then he aint not good enough. if you look back at koeman era (Nations League) , he called up players like Dilrosun and Villhnea even though they were playing for not so big clubs but they did bring more dynamics to the team. Villhneas experience could have been big factor in this world cup and in especially in the midfield. its a sin when it comes to selection and if you play for a small club and this is what is when it comes the jury and selection for NT.

i think the biggest task for koeman would be to sort out the midfield. the forwards and backline there aint much to to do but rotate and try different combos. dilrosun, kluivert, Brobbery, are probbaly the only forward players that needs to come on board .

 

Justin Kluivert... wow, that's one name I haven't heard in a while! I just looked up his stats in La Liga this season, gulp - he really needs to step up his game to be relevant! 5 starts and 5 subs for a total of 550 minutes, only 2 goals to his name. He hasn't played full 90 minutes at all this season. Did score in the last round before W.C. break, maybe he can pick up where he's left off when the league resumes. Still only 23 years old. I am not super impressed with him from his Ajax days, he seems a one-trick pony, but that was a long time ago-- maybe he has improved now.

Another Right Winger who's trying to rebuild his career is Calvin Stengs... I like his creativity, and his techniques on the ball are very decent. Too bad he doesn't have the explosiveness to beat defenders. Not a dependable scorer (likely to pass). Maybe he will end up more like "Berghuis 2.0." I read a while ago on a scouting website that his game analysis resembles that of Bernardo Silva. Whoa, that's a crazy pipedream, highly unlikely he'll ever approach that level, but you never know. Also still 23 years old. Moving to France (Nice) proved to be detrimental for his development, his time now with Royal Antwerp has been okay. Not exactly earth-shattering, but at least he gets playing time.

 

Am reading that Ajax are interested in Noppert (with Gorter going the other way on loan)… would be a really good scenario as he will be tested playing in Europa league

 

He is tested at the World Cup already, except for PK. Netherlands need a PK saving goalkeeper in order to win title, maybe Bijlow? Someone as good as Krul in 2014. It took Van der Sar a while until he won PK in Champions League for MAN U, and Netherlands (98,00 losses ….06 won in Euro).

 

I would start with the following players:

Noppert/Bijlow/Flekken

Frimpong/Dumfries, Van Dijk/Botman, Ake/De Ligt, Malacia/Struijk

Timbers/Koop, Frenkie De Jong/Gravenberch, Lang/Simons

Gakpo/Bergwijn, Memphis/Weghorst, Danjuma/Malen

Provisional squad:

Scherpen

De Vrij, Van De Ven, Bakker, Wijndal, Geertruida, Ki-Jana Hoever

De Roon, Quentin Timbers, Taylor, Reis, Van De Beek

Brobbey, Zirkzee, Summerville, Stengs, Kluivert, Boadu, Dilrosun

If Rensch and Teze improves I will include them in provisional squad. If there are injuries to the starter or their forms are not good, I will call up provisional squad like De Vrij, Q. Timbers, Brobbey first. One may argue about De Vrij but between him and De Ligt I will choose the younger player for now.

I probably missed some names but these are what I can think of at the moment.

Flexibitily:
I can move Ake to LB or Struijk to LCB, Frimpong can play right wing if needed. Gakpo can also interchange with Lang or Lang with Danjuma. If choose to cross long ball from both sides, I will sub Weghorst in, push Van Dijk up, if not enough then sub De Ligt in and push him up if needed. There is no need to have Jansssen or Luuk anymore.

Depth:
Midfield is still the biggest question mark as we need a better sub/alternative for Frenkie as we do not have one. Timbers can be tried at defensive but Koop and Gravenberch are not really the engine like Frenkie but there is no other option so I just use these 3 for now. Why no Wijnaldum? His injury and age and fitness worry me unless he can prove otherwise. Bergwijn and Malen as sub but hopefully they step up or other in provisional squad can step up. I'm ok with the rest.

My starting 11 vs France:

Noppert
Frimpong Van Djik Ake Malacia
Timbers Lang Frenkie De Jong
Gakpo Memphis Danjuma

If falling behind I can sub Memphis for Weghorst, put in Simons for Danjuma, push Lang up and sub Gravenberch in for Timbers (and possibly De Ligt for Ake) if we need to attack aerial.

Noopert
Frimpong Van Dijk Ake Malacia
Gravenberch Simons Frenkie
Gakpo Weghorst Lang

 

Oranje's central defense is all set for a few years down the road...!!

I thought J. Timber did a very admirable job during the tournament (for a 21-year-old, I must add!!) Many doubted Timber because of his height, or lack thereof, but he didn't show any weakness defending aerially. If anything, the fact that Ake (who has the same height as Timber, +/- 2 centimeters) was the stand-out performer in Oranje defense was extremely encouraging. It proves the point that lack of height should not be a major disadvantage. It can be overcome with better positioning, speed, etc. Obviously Ake is a lot stronger and more physical (but he's also 6 years older than Timber).

Timber is a representation of a modern defender who is skilled and comfortable with the ball, perfect for a team that has a high-percentage of possession (which Oranje should always aspire to be).

So to me, the first pairing for the CD's, barring injuries and loss of forms, would be Virgil and Ake. They are 31 and 26 years old, respectively -- prime age!

Virgil will eventually hand the reign to Timber in a couple years or so.
De Ligt and Botman will challenge/backup Ake for the LCD.
De Vrij is still going to be around for another 2-3 years, so he's in the mix as well.
Then there's Van de Ven from the JO rank who could push up (already in the WC provisional squad).

 

Incredible that FIFA has not looked at the video and no suspension from Argentina. What a pathetic joke.

 

Curious about a couple you listed.
Ki Jana Hoever?
Has to be said he’s been disappointing and rides bench at PSV.
Big prospect but he did not get anything done at Wolves.
He’s running out of time if he plans on making it at the highest level.
MF development is needed badly.
Reis, Taylor, and Van De Beek are uninspiring for me.
In attack I’m really hoping that Brobbey takes that step soon.
Not helped up until now by the disease of Ajax named Schreuder.
That said he has real strength, pace, and athletic quality.
Zirkzee is another intriguing prospect.
He needs to just be consistent and score, but he’s big and has the tools in my opinion.
Depending on his recovery I wonder if Gini Wijndalum will have a potential role?
He adds work rate, goal scoring, tactical flexibility, and leadership qualities.
Was badly missed at this World Cup, but the idea is to develop the younger talents as soon as possible.
With so many teams playing hybrid like systems of play I wonder what Koeman will deploy for Oranje?
Perhaps the 4-3-3, but perhaps a 4-2-3-1
4-1-2-3-1.
For all of Van Gaal’s 3-5-2, 5-3-2, 3-4-1-2, or 3-4-3 it’s all about speed of play.
Conservative pragmatic play at this World Cup was really dumb, as was his player selections so we sadly live with this unfortunate result and it’s history now.
Koeman Part 2 I want to see immediate press defensively, but the attack based on quick positive possession with lots of movement off the ball.

 

Are you serious man. Kluivert has already played in Serie A ( Roma) ,Bundasliga ( Leipzig), ligue 1 ( Nice) and now La Liga with ( valencia) and you are saying he is not quick enough to play at elite level. Look at Noppert. I mean we have to starting using him as argument point now going forward. Was he ready to play at the world cup.

Did you really have taken a look at him lately or are just assuming from his days at Ajax.



I think Dilrosun is more technically and given he is a lefty operating on the right,he could well develop in robben esque.

I have said this before, this has to be next golden generation for the dutch and koeman needs to rotate, build healthy competition and mould the best team.

 

In the midfield, I'm hoping it will be Reis who can the become the perfect partner for frenkie. I have been following him at Hamburg. He can play anywhere in the midfield but in order to be called he needs to play at a more competitive level. Or unless he leaves Hamburg for a bigger club.

I was also thinking about Azor Matusiwa. He is in the mould of davids and seedorf. Robust, hard tackling and creative as well



Having said this I just hope koeman doesnt waste time with Taylor. There is a need for some aggressiveness in the midfield.

 

I'm not saying he is danjuma esque player but definitely he is quick enough to play at a top level contray to what you speculated.



Roma is playing the hard ball to his transfer.

 

Also ki Jana is on loan at PSV and behind Teze and Mwene. That why he is used sparingly but when ever he has played for PSV, he has given good performances.
Hopefully karsdorp gets called up again by Koeman. He can offer something different especially ariel balls in the box. Weghorst, brobbery etc. He is still 27

 

Ki Jana? He's horrible, simply horrible. I cannot even say anything positive about him. He at times looks like an amateur player.

I do think we are fine, we just need 1 good scoring/creative midfielder and 3 attackers.

Gakpo could be one of them, Danjuma too. Besides that, I can't see anything arriving.

Also, play 433. Timber - De Ligt seems very complementary and can survive the next 4 years. Wingbacks we are okay with Malacia, Frimpong, Dumfries. Frenkie is fine, and then hopefully Xavi Simons continues his development. With those two, a simple player such as Koopmeiners (only 24!) is good enough.

Attack is our weakness, I see very little arriving. Gakpo might make it, but he's already 23 and has a lot of weaknesses besides his obvious qualities. Malen is still only 23 and might one day make it at subtop level.

Rijkhoff is 17 and seems promising. Brobbey, I just don't see it. Danjuma, Kluivert and co, you never know what level they have in a few years. Stengs and Boadu are forgotten, but especially Boadu is still very young (21) so I wouldn't write him off for over 4 years.

Huge uncertainty. But the positive thing is that our good aspects (defence/Frenkie) are young and will probably stay good for another 4 years. Our weak aspects might get better with some luck.

And this year we were actually very close to a final. If we scored that first penalty, we might have been on our way to our fourth world cup final and Van Gaal would have been God.