Wesley Sneijder Dirk Kuyt Shocking! And... Edwin vd Sar Cocu Overmars vd Vaart ...are some of the other players that are selected for this game (I can't find the full list ) but these were the surprises and also given that these players can't make it: Seedorf, v Bronckhorst, Stam and Waterreus...you can guess who the other players are. Portuguese line-up can be found HERE
Oscar, can you give us a scouting report on the two youngsters? Unfortunately we can no longer follow the Eredivisie on TV in the States and I've never seen either one play. By the way, here's Advocaat's complete selection: Keepers: Edwin van der Sar (Fulham) Sander Westerveld (Real Sociedad); Defence: Frank de Boer (FC Barcelona) André Ooijer (PSV) Michael Reiziger (FC Barcelona) Fernando Ricksen (Glasgow Rangers); Midfield: Ronald de Boer (Glasgow Rangers) Mark van Bommel (PSV) Paul Bosvelt (Feyenoord) Phillip Cocu (FC Barcelona) Edgar Davids (Juventus) Andy van der Meyde (Ajax) Marc Overmars (FC Barcelona) Wesley Sneijder (Ajax) Rafael van der Vaart (Ajax) Forwards: Jerrel Hasselbaink (Chelsea) Pierre van Hooijdonk (Feyenoord) Patrick Kluivert (FC Barcelona) Dirk Kuijt (FC Utrecht) Roy Makaay (Deportivo) Ruud van Nistelrooij (Manchester United) Boudewijn Zenden (Chelsea)
I think it was said on the news that Advocaat will take those 2 youngsters along so they can experience what it's like to be in the NT or something, as a reward because they're having a good spell at their clubs. If not, there's no point in bringing Kuyt. He's good, but not even on the level of van Persie, vd Vaart and Robben much less of Kluivert, Ruud, Makaay etc. Same with Sneijder, looks like he'll be a big one some day..but right now he probably wouldn't even be a sub in the Oranje midfield. Damn, now that I think about it, what a fu©king disgrace it is that the bald freak didn't select van Persie and Robben..both who are having a better season than those other 2. This makes me sad
How could he not take van Persie or Robben? that's foolish. As for Kuyt: The man scores goals, takes a decent free kick and works his ass off for a decent team. Have to give rewards for that, plus he just signed for Feyenoord and this is just another bonus to going to a big club. RvP should be there though. I want to see him in action.
i agree, i have never had the honor to see Robin play, yet all I ever hear about him is how good he is and how great he can be. It seems he has gotten screwed at times with his club's selection and now with the national team. I have also heard good things about Robben, albeit to a lesser extent, but I would really liek to see some more of him.
My views of RvP are cloudy, as I was watching him on feyenoord TV via their website. He looks like the real deal. As for Robben I've heard reports from quite a few of my buddies in Holland who think he is ready to step up to the big squad. Plus he is playing for the league champs, that has to be worth something.
Uhhhmm.....it's actually a little offensive.... You guys remember a thread about the use of the nickname 'jews' for Ajax fans , right? guess where the 'J' stands for..... The whole point of the 'KNJB' thing is that supps from other teams think that the KNVB is pro-Ajax instead of the neutral party they should be..... Wether this is the truth or just paranoia i don't know. It probably is the latter, but sometimes i can't help myself thinking the KNVB is biased toward Ajax........ in this case is doesn't make sense 'cause both Advocaat and Van Hanegem have nothing to do with Ajax...I think it's just temporary insanity on their part
My dad always called him "wiggy" when Advocaat was at Rangers. And my dad doesn't exactly have flowing locks. It was reported that Advocaat had a hair transplant while he was at Rangers! Seriously, some weird selections there - doesn't Holland have any defenders? Frank de Boer is past it, Ricksen is a midfielder, Reiziger is crap and Ooijer is ok-ish. Unless he plays Zenden at left-back, like he did for a bit of the game with Czech Rep. Wiggy seems to have a bit of an obsession with playing midfielders in defence, he used to sometimes play v Bronckhurst at left back and Ricksen at right back at Rangers. Bizarre.
I have definitely seen Ricksen play RB for Rangers and GvB play left back at Arsenal. And unless if I read it wrong you made it sound like Zenden is a defende...And no Reiziger is def not crap. In the middle or on the side and he'd be fine, i'm pretty sure he can even play left side. Just wondering guys, maybe he has always had good games when I have seen him and he isn't really that good, but why doesn't Melchiot get called up anymore?
I know they have played there, the point is that they are played there despite it not being their best position. Both Ricksen and v Bronckhurst are MUCH better midfielders than defenders. For instance, one of the major criticisms of Arsenal this season is that when Ashley Cole was injured (during March) v Bronckhurst had to play left-back, which weakened their defence massively. The criticism was that Arsenal should have a specialist left back covering Cole, not v Bronckhurst. No, the smilie expressed my shock when I saw Zenden playing at left back in the match vs Czech Rep. OK, "crap" was an exaggeration, but he is not as good as he should/could have been.
It's true When Hofland comes back from his injury they'll have a solid centre defense with him and Stam. Reiziger isn't that bad. But yeah, Zenden shouldn't even be allowed into the same stadium to watch the Dutch selection, much less (much less) play for them. That's actually been his spot in the Dutch squad since Advocaat took over all those months ago. Because he's not that good.
R de Boer, Reiziger and van Bommel have all bowed out because of injuries. It's not sure yet if Kuyt or Hasselbaink are healthy enough to play.
Yeah Melchiot is crap. What's the deal with Kevin Hofland (PSV)? I really hope he can come back, seems like he's been injured constantly for the past 2 years. He was the next great hope on the Oranje's back line, a fine player. Also, I agree that RvP and Robben should have gotten call-ups.
what about Landzaat? what's the deal with him? where's he now? I happened to like his play the couple times I saw him suit up for Holland. any opinions? Bring Numan back!
Landzaat is still at Willem II. He's solid from what I've seen but quality mids are a dime a dozen for the Oranje. It's at the back that we're hurting.