I'm not sure when the switch was made to inverted wingers as a tactic. Once that was done, crosses had to come from somewhere else (Arjen Robben would never be able to deliver a cross from the RW). That became the job of the full back. My first recollection of this was in 1998 with Artur Numan on the Dutch NT (there may have been earlier examples but here in the US there was a real lack of telvised Euro soccer). As a LB he was always going forward. Roberto Carlos at Madrid was a good club example of his. IIRC, Phillip Lahm was left footed but played on the right side.
Im tired of this type of delusional and one sided critics who turn blind eye on factual side as to whether its legitimate or just preference. Ake, van dijk, de ligt all can cover on the left then where does the need arise for hato to provide cover up for two positions. Ake already can provide cover up at LB, now timber comes into the picture and hato all being defensive minded, just doesn't make sense or justify the need for all defensive minded Fbs. And no attacking wingback if needed. Secondly how many games has hato played at LB and vs who and what has he done to get a call up. And koeman comments that he wants to give him( maatsen) a little nudge is just ridiculous and utter disgrace. Eredivisie for epl, again this shows how this clown doesnt has long term plans or goals and doesnt want to acknowledge the fact that maatsen playing at epl level will have a higher trajectory than hato This is really sad and I think we all know why hato has been selected. Business as usually and again this raises the eye brow and questions the integrity of coaches and where it lies. And for maatsen, again in which game has maatsen shown that he is defensively weak. Again the critics are delusional here for slamming his mistakes and labeling it being his weakness which again is defematory and trying to build a case for hato. As if hato has not being exposed in any games has being playing exceptionally well. When will there be light at the end of the tunnel
115471 I already mentioned young CD Wouter Goes, who defends like a Sout American, when he debuted for AZ as a 17 yo and how he like South American defender gets under the skin of strikers he faces this season. Attackers this season are moaning and complaining about his dirty tricks and sometimes boil over and get a red card for kicking him. Wouter Goes and AZ's armoured defence Never before has AZ started the season stronger defensively than now, with four clean sheets and the fewest shots against. An important role is reserved for youth product Wouter Goes. Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro will have imagined a busier start to his life as AZ's first goalkeeper. In the opening game of the season, the youngster had to watch injured as Jeroen Zoet did the honours, then Owuso-Oduro took his permanent place under the bar as planned. Both kept their goals spotless, which means that AZ has conceded zero goals for the first time in club history after four Eredivisie matches. The last club to do so was Ajax in the 2015/16 season.
Baas, Janse, and Bouwman (still only 17 but played with the first team) from Ajax are all talented as well.
Baas indeed is an interesting prospect. Some times it takes a crisis for a reset towards youth talents you have. Feyenoord had to make that reset for lack of money towards the youth about a decade ago and AZ had the same with the recovery from almost going bankrupt (actually they were bankrupt, but the curator in charge didnot think it would be a good thing to have all those people lose their jobs, so facilitated a start from scratch) and focused on their youth development and with success. FC Groningen is the most recent example rising from the ashes by their youth. Hope Vitesse takes these lessons by heart and follow these examples.
Nathan Ake is out for at least a month… until the next international break. Rough start of the season for him, hope he recovers quickly! He has only registered a handful of minutes at club so far. In hindsight, should have not have been forced to carry the load in Oranje given his lack of fitness, but Koeman did it anyway (already without Van der Ven and Hartman).
115635 Nathan Aké out for months: 'Every time he goes to the national team, he gets injured' Nathan Aké is likely to be out with an injury until the next international period, according to Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola at the press conference. It is not the first time that the Dutchman comes back injured from an international period. "We're unlucky with Nathan," Guardiola sighed. "Every time he goes to the national team, he gets injured." At the European Championship in Germany, Aké also regularly suffered from hamstring problems and he was therefore substituted prematurely in several matches. At his club, he has only played two minutes in the Premier League this season. The bolded section shows the irresponsible way Koeman manages players. Not selecting LW defenders, so not able to sub Ake in our out, thus putting risk of harm in his way.