Oranje for the cup?

Whereas Sol Campbell is never injured?

 

en what do i have to do with Sol Campbell? is he dutch?

 

Sol Campbell is a world class defender who happens to be injured now and again. I thought an Arsenal fan might know this. Silly me.

 

Is this going to evolve into an all-out England vs Oranje discussion?

because if so, I want to do my part.

Position for position, all England has on us is the left back (ours is a starter at Barcelona, BTW) and one central defender - of whom we are not too sure how he fairs without a player like Makalele in front of him - in Terry. I like both Gerrard and Lampard, but good luck playing them both, which name-wise, you have to. Unless Sven starts making choices you have every bit as much a chance as Peru, i'm afraid.

If this squad keeps on developping like it has, we have an outside shot...nothing more, nothing less if you ask me. With Kromkamp and Mathijssen - who are injured not solely because of their efforts in Oranje but due to a much heavier season than anticipated, next year they're ready for it - Bouhla and Gio in the back, defense is finally one of our stronger points

 

I think Roffa knows who he is, just pointing out that he's got nothing to with the poor man.

and World Class? In the premier League, he is. He shouldn't be playing for England.

 

Funny, i thought this was the dutch section, not Arsenal. Silly you.

 

HAHA so true mate. in the past luck or star players having down games on the day has cost the dutch dearly in big games.
for the poms its much like the italians. they scapegoat a single player or the coach when in fact they have only ever played good football at euro96(in recent history).

to address the original post. i think it will come down to 5 things. rvn, robben, van bommel(will he finally be given a fair crack at a major tournament), the new blood in the defense and van der sar.

 

yea true but how can u mention holland and not mention a certain dutchman-s who plays for the arsenal.

 

.......................

Seriously I think we're pretty good defensively. Esp when Cocu plays in midfield and helps out a bit at the back.

 

The point is that if you don't rate Matthijsen because of a long-term injury, then why rate Sol Campbell.

 

well, to be fair, i think campbell has a bit more on his resume than mathijsen - still, i assume he doesn't rate JM because he has hardly seen him (if at all)

 

Fair enough. It's just that notably judging on that friendly England played against Holland with a B-team full of debutants, the footballing ability of the Dutch is better in general than that of the English. I know the English will say 'but it was a meaningless friendly', but even in a meaningless friendly you can judge basic football skills if you ask me. When a footballer stops the ball he's not going to think 'well it's only a friendly so let me do this really poorly'. The Dutch simply are better on the ball than the English. What they've got over the Dutch is physical strength.

 

Fair enough, I'll use dutch players. Do you think Van Basten was a poor player because he was injured and couldn't play for a while? Robben? Van Nistelrooij? Stam?

 

Good god, you whoreland fans are a disgrace!

The only positions you guys are even remotely better than us is GK, RB and LW.

To even compare your defence with ours is a travesty! At the moment we have the best defence in the world.

 

better on the ball, yes. what's your point?

 

How do things change in the squad now that Davids will be playing first team football? Do you think he will come back and take the captaincy, let alone make a solid contribution to the squad?

The plot thickens...

 

One needs the ball to score a goal?

 

davids is past his prime but that doesnt meant he is not good anymore. he'll b there. count on it. just like rijkaard was at wc94 and this time the heat wont b as dramatic like it was in orlando(where ever it was rijkaard was exhausted) that day.

 

since you're also an arsenal fan i won't be too harsh, but do you really think that england has the best defense? i dunno, it seems to me that they have a hard time being the best for a full 90 minutes (or longer). it's a case of wasted talent when it comes to the english. i still think the dutch will be better prepared. unless michael owen takes over (which he very well could), i don't see england making it too far.

 

Ashley Cole > Gio
Carragher, Terry, Ferdinand, Campbell, King > Bouhlarouz/Mathijsen
Kromkamp > Neville

When it comes to 3 out of 4 positions, yes.

 

I think neeskens has a point, though. England appear to have the better individual defenders with a far greater pedigree, but Holland as a unit have played very well, possibly better than England's defense in their qualifiers thus far. BTW neeskens, from what I remember, you always use that response (2 minutes of highlights) . We do have access to a fair amount of full Eredivisie and Holland international matches now in the US.

 

That's not a serious question is it.

 

Let me put it this way. Do you think players like Terry, Ferdinand and Campbell would stand out at FC Den Bosch? Do you think Bouhlarouz and Mattijsen wouldn't succeeed at Chelsea or Arsenal?

The point being that yes the English have good defenders, but they're not going to make that much of a difference that they actually win games for England, and again I seriously think that on pure football ability, our lot are not worse than their lot. What they've got over on our defenders physically, ours more than make up for in the football department.

Also let's not forget Ron Vlaar.

 

That, and we have quality defensive midfielders.

 

Great talent, but let's not pretend he's world class yet. Otherwise the english may do the same with Ledley King. Oh, hang on....