Euro 2016 Qualification Games: Netherlands vs Iceland & Turkey

Beating Iceland home with Robben, Sneijder and Depay on the pitch sounds obvious for me. There will be goals for sure.

I worry more about the away game in Turkey, and I have the feeling Sneijder/Robben/Depay will be injured for that game.

 

Yep. This is what I've been saying. In terms of chemistry I've always found the NT to look better without RVP who wants to be 'the guy' on the team but he doesn't work well with our best creator (Sneijder) nor our best direct threat (Robben).

I wouldn't be opposed to seeing what Promes could do given a bit of a bigger role for the NT, or trying out Luuk de Jong (which I know people are really against, but he's played very well since moving to PSV). Huntelaar and RVP are both getting older and I think by the time the Euro rolls around we might want to have another striker in place that is familiar with the set up and is getting some confidence.

 

Perhaps only a bit Ajax biased? If Blind is Ajax biased, he would pick and start Veltman over BMI, starting both Tete and Riedewald over VDW and De Vrij. Instead, on defense he goes with more experienced. In midfield one could argue that he is a bit biased there with current and former Ajax players as I think Wijnaldum's current form should be enough for him to earn the starting spot. Up front is definitely form/fitness over experiences. I'd prefer Dost over L D Jong as the 3rd striker for these 2 games but my read is that if Huntelaar does not perform well, you may see RVP coming in the last 20 minutes or so. I just hope my favourite team end with "lands" rather than "land" coming out victorious today!

 

Completely forgot about Dost. He's not a bad shout either, and he's been in good form in the Bundesliga. Again, not a great technical player but knows how to score and is a big presence in the box.

 

Ajax Biased? Probably a little. But Klaassen has also had some really good games for the NT. And Wijnaldum plays more as a SS than a midfielder for Newcastle, and that probably doesn't fit with how Blind wants to set up the team

 

I think you need to pay a little more attention to who was making the space for Sneijder's shots or Robben's runs inside the 16.. Take a look at what Van Persie is doing inside the 16. He is very clever inside the box, I'd say RVP is very much a team player. And I never got the feeling that he wanted to be the star of the team, even when he was the captain and the best player in the team, he didn't present himself any differently.

Keep an eye on this for the next game: RVP is always double marked. That comes with his notoriety, which he utilises to make space for others. He is always keeping two players busy. With Hunter you don't have that.

 

I'm fine with Huntelaar getting a starter once again, but I don't have a lot of faith in him. so far when he starts for the NT he has been pretty shit.. As a starter he seems to lacks the focus and the poison that he has as a sub.

It's Robben and Depay who have to make things happen in front, but I'll be happy if Hunter proved me wrong.

 

I think I owe you an apology. I was a little bit edgy this morning.

Cheers!.

 

I don't even really like stats, but if this wasn't obvious enough.. Ziyech and Propper really should have been selected.

A comparison between some of our midfield options:

 

Ziyech and Propper definitely should have been called up, but I think Klaassen is a bit more of a defensive player (even though he's being used more advanced this year) I added Afellay and Sneijder to the comparison to show just how good Propper and Ziyech have been (Afellay is such a waste on the team and I have no idea how he earned this call-up):



A little harsh on Afellay perhaps having just joined Stoke, but it's what is available. They should have called up all of Ziyech, Sneijder, Wijnaldum and Propper really, especially when you look that they play with three midfielders, and only called up 4 (since they're using Blind at LB). Also, taking a look at the less creative midfielders I think maybe it's a bit of and oversight on De Jong not to have him there (I know Clasie is injured):



I think for the Netherlands right now, with Strootman a non-factor moving forward I would like to see a midfield three of:

(6) Klaassen/Clasie
(8) Propper/Wijnaldum - (10) Sneijder/Ziyech

or

(8) Propper/Wijnaldum - (6) Klaassen/Clasie
(10) Sneijder/Ziyech​

I think it's a good combination of everything. With Propper/Wijnaldum providing a strong 'box to box' presence with my preference for Propper since he is a better passer and Sneijder/Ziyech already like to get forward more. Meanwhile Klaassen and Clasie both in a controller role bring tenacity and running, but also an eye for an incisive pass to go with their defense and energy. Finally Sneijder/Ziyech are pretty self-explanatory.

Also here is some great news: http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/sto...sie-with-robben-as-netherlands-captain-082815

I would be ok with Robben or Sneijder as captain, but I'm glad they took it away from RVP.

 

You can find plenty NEC or ADO players with good stats, does it mean they're NT material ? You can compare players stats when they play in the same league, at the same level, at the same club...

Ziyech played against Zwolle, Ado and Heracles this season, Afellay played against Liverpool and Tottenham...

 

I think you will get 4 points, but I think you will draw Iceland and beat Turkey.

Robben will score against Iceland with his pace 2 minutes before half time. Sigurdsson will equalize around the 80th minute with a hat trick. Final Result: 1-1

Against Turkey, Sneijder will make a huge assist for Depay to tap in in the 25th minute. Then Robben will double the lead in the 55th minute with his pace getting behind the defense. In the 77th minute Robben will get fouled resulting in a penalty which Huntelaar will convert. Final Result: 0-3.

 

How is this possible? A hat trick is 3 goals...

 

I mean a free kick, or some kind of skill

 

Oh sorry, I will change it to 4 pts. It was an accident. I guess I can't change it. Pretend I voted for 4 pts.

 

Blind really shaking things up:

Cillessen
VdW - De Vrij - BMI - Blind
Wijnaldum - Klaassen
Sneijder
Robben (C) - Huntelaar - Depay ​

Midfield and back line hardly inspire confidence. Lets hope they can just get the ball to Robben

 

And also that Robben is at his best, because if he is tired, he will fail against the organized icelandic defense.

 

I wonder if Holland can be able to keep possession with this very attacking midfield, it will probably be an attack/defence game, I predict a win.

 

I wonder if we can manage to hold Iceland with this midfield

 

Opstelling Oranje

Cillessen; Van der Wiel, De Vrij, Martins Indi, Blind; Wijnaldum, Klaassen, Sneijder; Robben, Huntelaar, Memphis

Opstelling IJsland

Saevarsson, Sigurdsson, Árnason, Skúlason; Bjarnason, Sigurdsson, Bödvarsson, Gunnarsson; Gudmundsson, Sigthorsson

 

#Heart_Attack.

That was close.

 

I'm ok with this line-up actually, from what we have called up right now. Hopefully they perform.

 

Oranje looking tentative and flat early on.

Players should be fined 100 Euros every time they pass the ball back