First I would like to address all the Ruud haters that have been doubting his play for oranje. All I have to say is... Hat Trick. Next, much props go out to Dickie for laying it on the line and going with a young aggressive lineup. On a personal note... Some friends and I went orange clad to a bar in orlando where we found a pub full of about 30 scotish fans and zero dutch fans. Everytime we scored the 4 of us would jump up chanting and yelling, "GOOOOOOOOL!", and "RUUUUUUUD!" I loved seeing the expressions on the faces of the Scotish fans as each goal went in for oranje. They felt what I felt in game 1 six times over, karma is a bitch scotties. I'd like to hear everyone's impressions of the game, the coaches decisions, and the Dutch team as a whole. Fire away oranje fans! "Today we showed we can play as a team." - Dick Advocaat
tomorrow i will post quite a few quotes of ppl bitchin after the 1st leg game of how bad holland sucks (holland fans that is) etc. and i didnt get to see the game (damn shizzle! lol) but it pisses me off how ppl automatically think this makes Ruud god. ppl jump to too many conclusions. holland loses so they suck, ruud gets a hat trick and he is god. ahh im off. too tired to moan about this crap. night.
I have believed in ruud from the get go. And I still think he is the right man up front for oranje. (he and Makaay) I'll add to my quote... What does Kluivert do for Barcelona against top-notch competion? Oh, that's right, not much. But wait, he has played well for Oranje. In the past, that is true. He and Bergkamp were a great duo. I also think he and Van der Vaart play very well together currently. So bring him off the bench. Ruud should start, he's consistently a great player for Man U. We need consistent future for Oranje, so lets try and find it. We all know that kind of future doesn't lie with Kluivert up top. If this was directed at me... I don't think Ruud is god. Although I do think Ruud is the best choice for oranje as a striker. He is a great player. A great player is a solid player for both his club and his country. Ruud has proven himself in Man U, and he no doubt will prove himself for Oranje given the chance. Also, I will never think Holland sucks. I don't care if they lose every game they play. I am an Oranje fan for better or worse, always have been and always will be. Hup Holland!
I'm an Oranje Man Too I was more confident about the game than I indicated but I've learned to set my expectations low, it's too painful orherwise.
no i definitely was not talking about you blue nor you trams. i was referring to ppl who posted originally in the 1st leg thread who said how bad holland sucked, etc and now they are the best team in the world. and i still dont believe ruud is anything special for holland. he did it against scotland, not that they are bad but they are not a top notch team. pk im sure could have done the same. its reminding me of how c ronaldo was the best player in the epl after his debut. wait and see, i still think pk should be starting. if there is only 1 person up top i think its pk's, but makaay deserves a chance so badly. i also like vHooijdonk over Ruud.
Asta Advocaat gave PVH credit by saying a lot of the younger players look up to him because he helps them in practice. I agree he should get a shot too.
van the man No reason to compare C.Ronaldo with Ruud I think. You shouldn't forget, Ruud has been top scorer of UEFA C.L for two consecutive years, golden booter of Pl and best striker Europe for this year. Even Dennis Bergkamps Can't achieve that much during 2 years. The only reason he couldn't score much for the national team is DA didn't find out the right combination. Now he knows the right formula. 3 Vans troop accompanied by Schnider has become the most lethal striking party in Europe. Pairing Ruud and Makaay should be given a chance. DA might do that in cases when wingers are not needed.
Ruud van Nistelrooy is not a hype but a player. And it looks like Im the one of the few who thought he wasn't contributing much to the match wensday. Yes he scored a hattrick but for an "in the box player" he did little in the box, the goals which he made could just as easily been made by a winger or an defender… if they were at the right place. Still Makaay would have been a better choice: Makaay can score from impossible angels, where van Nistelrooy cant, he just cant, ok, Nistelrooy needs just to much changes to score. When the Netherlands are matchted up against Portugal, France or Spain on euro2004 they’ll need a player who can score out of his first change, or even halfchange Makaay can do this, van Nistelrooy cant (often).
Uh Rutger. Ruud can score from impossible angles. He did so in the CL last year against Basel and he almost did against Scotland on Wednesay. He almost did against Real Madrid in the Second Leg. He did so against Juventus on the US Tour. What are you thinking?????
That was one of the best football games that i have ever seen. I just wish / hope that the Dutch can be consistant and go out and beat up more teams like they did to the Scots!