News: Dutch players at home and abroad worthy to be tracked in connection with the Dutch NT - Part 4

Orange14 · Dec 1, 2012

PuckVanHeel said: ↑

In the past Holland has produced many excellent players. Why is that? Unless I have misunderstood him wrong but DRB300 (and I) think it is related to environmental factors - which are now crumbling.

By the way, the running example is a good one. Kenyans and Ethiopians are strong in running because of genetics but also because of the environment. In short: the Western nations are basically too lazy while the Africans developed an efficient running style due to environmental factors - which also became imprinted in the genes.
Click to expand...

I think Holland are still producing good players but other countries with much greater populations are producing good ones as well. You cannot beat the numbers game in the case of Germany and Spain.

Kenya and Ethiopa runners both grow up at high altitude and their utilization of oxygen (important for distance runners) is optimal compared to those raised at sea level. We do know that when distance runners train at altitude their performance improves. The US has several high altitude training sites for runners. It doesn't make a difference for sprints.

TFC Ajax · Dec 1, 2012

All humans have the genetics to be able to run long distances. Those that didn't died out a long time ago because the ability to run for a long time was essential to our survival. distance running is a matter of practice.

Orange14 · Dec 1, 2012

^except there is a boundary for every individual as to how fast they can go. I could have practiced all I wanted to (and I ran about 5 miles a day when younger) but my times reached a plateau which I could not break through.

TFC Ajax · Dec 1, 2012

True, but the ability to run long distances isn't something that people in one area of the world have and others don't. We all have the genetic ability to run long distances. The difference is that people in some areas of the world grow up using those abilities and those in other areas don't.

Orange14 · Dec 1, 2012

TFC Ajax said: ↑

The difference is that people in some areas of the world grow up using those abilities and those in other areas don't.
Click to expand...

But starting in 1968 when the Africans won the first Olympic medals in distant races, they have won a disproportionate number of them. I don't think this is because non-African distance runners don't train hard, they do. There are other factors such as living at high altitude that may select for increased oxygen utilization.

PuckVanHeel · Dec 2, 2012

Orange14 said: ↑

I think Holland are still producing good players but other countries with much greater populations are producing good ones as well. You cannot beat the numbers game in the case of Germany and Spain.
Click to expand...

Well, I have a different idea as you know.

I know that absolute world stars are scarce but even players of the Ronald de Boer, Cocu and Bryan Roy caliber are not coming through.

feyenoordsoccerfan · Dec 2, 2012

PuckVanHeel said: ↑

In the past Holland has produced many excellent players. Why is that? Unless I have misunderstood him wrong but DRB300 (and I) think it is related to environmental factors - which are now crumbling.

By the way, the running example is a good one. Kenyans and Ethiopians are strong in running because of genetics but also because of the environment. In short: the Western nations are basically too lazy while the Africans developed an efficient running style due to environmental factors - which also became imprinted in the genes.
Click to expand...

No, research has pointed to a physical aspect that explains the reason why they are such good runners. It has to do with the thickness of the ankles of the best runners. If a runner has "fragile/thin" ankles they are better endurance runners than fellow country men with more robust built feet. Translated to non Kenyans and Ethiopians it was the same story. White people with the same ankles were better endurance runners than sturdy built runners.
I forgot what the explanation for this ankle effect was. May be extra weight.

PuckVanHeel · Dec 2, 2012

feyenoordsoccerfan said: ↑

No, research has pointed to a physical aspect that explains the reason why they are such good runners. It has to do with the thickness of the ankles of the best runners. If a runner has "fragile/thin" ankles they are better endurance runners than fellow country men with more robust built feet. Translated to non Kenyans and Ethiopians it was the same story. White people with the same ankles were better endurance runners than sturdy built runners.
I forgot what the explanation for this ankle effect was. May be extra weight.
Click to expand...

The most efficient runners live in Nepal.

BOSNAINTER · Dec 2, 2012

PuckVanHeel said: ↑

You know, you mentioned Isco and I agree but you can also look at the distant past.

For example, has any current striker the technique of Kluivert? I don't think so. His superb technique was even visible at PSV when he played in shabby condition but he had really glue on his boots.
It is not only that others have moved on but also that Holland had degenerated.

Click to expand...

kluijvert was good but you also have to bring into consideration that most of those countries in this video have improved so much and have good technical players that would not alow kluijvert do what he was doing then

JC-14 · Dec 3, 2012

Nonsense.

windycity · Dec 3, 2012

yeah, that's complete b.s.

DRB300 · Dec 15, 2012

Anita was man of the match on Newcastle's and probably from both teams, tough City won the game 1-3. In fact he was probably the best player over Newcastle's last 3 games so far. Works hard, chases all second balls, fast passing and moving on to make himself available again. He creates football around him all the time, which is not easy in a team like Newcastle. Aguaro went alone to the keeper and no defender was even close to getting him, so Anita made a 50 meter sprint to put just enough pressure on him to miss his big chance. 5 seconds later he is back at the front. He is a Mini Cooper with a Rolls Royce engine .... not the one they put into cars, I mean the one they put into plains.

TFC Ajax · Dec 15, 2012

The only thing he didn't do right was that his set pieces were shit, but he was never a set play specialist, and its not his fault that Newcastle has no real skilled players other than Ben Arfa

DRB300 · Dec 15, 2012

TFC Ajax said: ↑

The only thing he didn't do right was that his set pieces were shit, but he was never a set play specialist, and its not his fault that Newcastle has no real skilled players other than Ben Arfa
Click to expand...

Well 50% of his set pieces were below par indeed, but I have seen quite some set pieces that could have created a goal attempt or even a goal. I felt that he choose the wrong kick technique too often. First I thought that is just the only way he likes to take them, but then I saw a free kick with a lot of speed and curve and asked myself why not do that more often? After that one ball he was back on hitting the ball from really under it and skying the ball into the air, letting it hang longer and coming slower at the attacker. Probably to give the attackers a chance to head through. I prefer free kicks with a lot of speed and curve that only have to be touched lightly to get a goal from.

I actually like him getting this practice. Nice game to develop this dimension as he took like 15 (?) set pieces. Good stuff.

KPSmit · Dec 22, 2012

Rekik starting for Man City today.... looks like at LB too?

DRB300 · Dec 22, 2012

Did not do a bad job Rekik. Left a dependable impression on me. He is a good header and kept the game simple. I did felt he could have done better offensively. He always passed the ball to the man in the middle and only threw in 1 cross over 80 minutes. Maybe those where instructions, but when Dzeko came on he should have at least tried to benefit from the Bosnian's length. His locomotion is a bit cumbersome, which also leads to a bit of a slow acceleration. I would not call him slow though. Nastasic and Lescott are the left center backs and the more I see this Nastasic, the more I like him. I saw Rekik getting past Lescott in time, but Nastasic is another cup of tea. Will be very hard to become a first team starter with him in the squad along Kompany who plays right center back (Kolo Toure replaced him the last games on that spot due to injury).

Congrats to Rekik on his EPL debut.

TFC Ajax · Dec 25, 2012

Sneijder to Tottenham rumours are gaining momentum. Latest report out of Italy is that they've agreed to terms, but the teams have to agree on a fee. If Levy has half a brain, he'll quickly pay the 12-15m they want, and lock him up ASAP.

BOSNAINTER · Dec 25, 2012

TFC Ajax said: ↑

Sneijder to Tottenham rumours are gaining momentum. Latest report out of Italy is that they've agreed to terms, but the teams have to agree on a fee. If Levy has half a brain, he'll quickly pay the 12-15m they want, and lock him up ASAP.
Click to expand...

you think we will give him for that cheap please schalke also want him and they wat to pay 25 mill so if tothenham wants him pay up biaches

JC-14 · Dec 25, 2012

Since Inter don't seem to have enough money to even continue paying his salary I don't think Inter have much leverage...

BOSNAINTER · Dec 25, 2012

yes we do but we just don't want. we will sell him to schalke if tothenham doesn't give us what we want

JC-14 · Dec 25, 2012

You seem to forget that Sneijder has a say in it. Similar to the club you support btw.

TFC Ajax · Dec 25, 2012

Teams generally don't get huge transfer fees for players that they won't even play. And have fun selling Sneijder to Schalke if he doesn't want to go there. You could probably also get more money from Anzi Machacablablalala, but what if he doesn't want to go to Russia?

Orange14 · Dec 26, 2012

This may not be the right thread to post this but here goes anyway. There was an interesting article in today's New York Times on the resurgence of German football and how they invested in youth academies following the Euro 2000 wipe out. Interesting that it notes that they picked up ideas from the Ajax academy in structuring their program. Lots of money has been spent on this and the results are striking in that all Bundesliga clubs in Europe are still playing (unlike the Dutch teams unfortunately).

Regarding Sneijder, he will go wherever Yolanthe wants to go!

thatkid · Dec 26, 2012

This never get's old! note how he starts to measure his steps just before hitting the ball..
beautiful! He is the only Dutch player right now from whom we can expect magic.

The funny thing is that I'm so used to seeing him score from such ridiculous angles that I got mad when he only hit the post.. man.. how much I'm going to miss this guy when he hangs up his boots.

PuckVanHeel · Dec 26, 2012

Orange14 said: ↑

This may not be the right thread to post this but here goes anyway. There was an interesting article in today's New York Times on the resurgence of German football and how they invested in youth academies following the Euro 2000 wipe out. Interesting that it notes that they picked up ideas from the Ajax academy in structuring their program. Lots of money has been spent on this and the results are striking in that all Bundesliga clubs in Europe are still playing (unlike the Dutch teams unfortunately).

Regarding Sneijder, he will go wherever Yolanthe wants to go!
Click to expand...

As said before, the bad thing is that Holland cannot protect their knowledge while others can.

Anyhow, hope the German panzerfaust will turn out to be a shallow hype.