Dutch Football 2011/2012

Van gaal said he wants in shape players. Kuyt scored twice for Fenerbahce in his last CL qualifier. Don't know about De Jong's shape.

Think Martins Indi showed v Kiev v top strikers he is in shape. Wouldn't be surprised if he makes big steps in his development in a short time. Could well be van Gaal will prefer him over Mathijsen in the not too distant future.

When it comes to Feyenoord, I would have preferred it if the Mathijsen money would have been used for a striker. That's our first problem. Martins Indi and our defence in general is doing fine.

I take it you're a Feyenoord fan; what's your take on Achahbar? Talked to a Dutch friend few months ago, he rated him very highly.

I am also a Feyenoord fan. Agree with your friend. He's the best striker we have at the moment. Not sure how Koeman rates him, he would have had far more playing time if I were in charge and be a sure starter now. Still Feyenoord should have another (more experienced) striker. Not a fan of Fernandez, hope he proves me wrong. With Guidetti we would have beaten Kiev. Such a waste talents like that are unused elswhere.

One of the reasons mentioned for buying Mathijsen was that the team (mainly 20 year olds) needed an expereinced player. Understand that, just would have liked that experience in a position we lack quality/cover. Defending isn't our problem (Koeman did a great job organising our defence, in central defence De Vrij, Martins Indi and Kongolo are top class talents), scoring goals is.

Van Gaal's 1st Dutch squad (in bold players with no Dutch caps yet):

Goalies
Tim Krul (Newcastle United), Maarten Stekelenburg (AS Roma), Michel Vorm (Swansea City).

Defenders
John Heitinga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (Feyenoord) , Bruno Martins Indi (Feyenoord), Jetro Willems (PSV), Ricardo van Rhijn (Ajax), Nick Viergever (AZ) en Stefan de Vrij (Feyenoord).

Midfielders
Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Wesley Sneijder (Internazionale), Kevin Strootman (PSV), Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham Hotspur), Urby Emanuelson (AC Milan), Adam Maher (AZ).

Attackers
Ibrahim Afellay (Barcelona), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke 04), Dirk Kuijt (Fenerbahçe), Luciano Narsingh (PSV), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Bayern München), Bas Dost (VfL Wolfsburg), Jeremain Lens (PSV).

I do think Clock, that Van Gaal is capable of getting our flair back.

So do I.

Great results at the 1st matchday:

RKC Waalwijk - PSV 3-2 !
Utrecht - Feyenoord 0-1
Twente - Groningen 4-1 (Chadli 2 Tadic 2)
Ajax - AZ 2-2 (Altidore brace)

Twente start well after investing most money (part of it from the De Jong transfer), signing a.o. Castaignos (Inter) and Tadic (Groningen, good winger, scored 2 and had 2 assists today).

Twente, my favourite Dutch team, played highly impressive. They finally bought some decent defenders and Tadic and Chadli are two of the best wingers around in the Dutch League.

Let's hope Castaignos can find his goalscoring-form and Twente will be serious contenders.

Was very impressed by Twente too. Like you say top wingers, must be paradise for Castaignos; expect him to score a lot.

Van Gaal has already revealed his 1st starting 11 (for the friendly v Belgium in Brussels):

Stekelenburg - van Rhijn, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Willems - N De Jong - Sneijder, VDV - Narsingh, Huntelaar, Robben.

1 DMF is my guess.

I usually dont watch friendlies, as they are so utter boring, but i'm curious about this one.

Don't care about friedlies either, usually watch with one eye and switch it off if it gets too boring. Mainly interested in how Holland will play tactically and what kind of shape Mathijsen is in.

Too much Ajax in this Dutch team anyway. Hope that's not a sign of what's to come with van Gaal in charge.

Poor defending by Mathijsen lead to Belgium scoring (Stekelenburg should have saved it); Martins Indi comes on in the 2nd half and creates 2 goals in a few minutes with great passes.

Shocking defending from the Dutch. Glad to see some good movement from Belgium though, they've been lacking in that department. Mertens is having a cracking game.

JAJAJAJA!!!!!!!!!!!

I was at the BELvNED game. What a game!! Shame my evening is destroyed by the snake but atleast I can say we destroyed his country.

Witsel, Mertens and Courtois were fantastic IMO.

The dutch defense was horrible! Have fun RVP!

To be honest, I couldn't care less about this loss. Actually, I kind of like the Belgium team; you have a bunch of amazing players.

Didn't bother watching the game, missed it. Might download it later on if I could find a link for it, and yeah we have a terrible defense.

To Belgian people this is so big, the chants in the stadium about Holland, it even made me smile on this horrible evening. I really can't be bothered with todays result though. Belgium has great players they only have to make sure it becomes a great team.

You should be bothered though, the Dutch defense looked absolutely dogshit. In both the first and the second half.

More concerned about other issues than our defense.

Van Gaal prefers (former) Ajax staff and players above others. Seems he wants to prove he should be Ajax manager.

Apart we still couldn't get the ball to our striker. Huntelaar was a waste of space. If van Gaal keeps playing him, the Mancs will not have to worry about RVP getting injured on international duty.

We were awfull, I dont understand why Huntelaar is infront of RVP unbelievable choice, defensivly we were amateurish, specially Matthijsen who is over his prime, should be time for a young player to take his place.

What a beauty!

Achahbar's Madjer (behind standing leg) v Sparta Peague:

Even more impressive because he scores with his right foot. He's left footed and calls his right his chocolate leg.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6rvlC_LsTk

Tricky start for van Gaal's Holland at home v Turkey.

Will hardly be a home match with lots of loud Turkish fans in the stadium. Holland usually play less well in Amsterdam and the season has just started. Could well be an upset.

Mind you when van Gaal messed up qualifying for the 2002 WC, we started with f-ing up a tricky home match too. Remember van Gaal saying prematch "we only need 2 defenders v Ireland". Hope he'll have learned from it.

Hope he'll tempt fate by not starting Huntelaar. Some karma is a b*tch would be very funny.

Van Bommel broke a new record in the Dutch league. He did get a yellow card in all of the 5 macthes played so far, so he'll be suspended for the match v Feyenoord.



PSV lost 1-0 away v Utrecht. They're now 6 points behind runaway leaders Twente, who had a perfect start. Vitesse are 2 points behind, Ajax 4 & Feyenoord trail by 5.

Altidore(AZ) had a great start of the season scoring 7 in 5.

any gems coming up that the boss might be interested in? how's eriksen doing?

Eriksen is still full of promise. For a real top talent he delivers too little. The Viktor Fisher kid is supposed to be better.

Don't know what the boss would be looking for. Fer would be a good one. Unfortunately he just got himself injured.

Alright lads off topic but I was advised by Clrc to point out that I have set up a Last Man Standing Tread in the Games section which is rarely visited deadline is 12.30 to enter.

Check out the first 3 posts to know what to do.

Cheeers!

Maher is also a top talent, very impressive whenever I've watched him.

Match of the weekend was played last Friday. Feyenoord U18 v Ajax U18. Ajax scored the opening goal, but thereafter it was mainly Feyenoord: 4-1. Achahbar scored one of the goals. Feyenoord top the table.

Match of the weekend was played last Friday. Feyenoord U18 v Ajax U18. Ajax scored the opening goal, but thereafter it was mainly Feyenoord: 4-1. Achahbar scored one of the goals. Feyenoord top the table.

Any trouble with the fans?

Not that I want there to be, I'm just curious.

5 Danes playing for Ajax, what the ****

Not complaining though. Our players playing in the Eredivisie usually play well for our NT.

Still though, it's quite remarkable that FIVE Danes are playing for a single team outside Denmark.

Dutch clubs have always liked Danish players. They adapt easily, and nowadays they've even have been brought up with a similar football philosophy. Ajax probably top the list when it comes to signing Danes started with Arnesen and Lerby.

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Nothing happened uncle mike. They do about everything to make sure nothing happens, no away fans, ridiculous kickoff times during weekdays, etc.

5 Danes playing for Ajax, what the ****

Not complaining though. Our players playing in the Eredivisie usually play well for our NT.

Still though, it's quite remarkable that FIVE Danes are playing for a single team outside Denmark.

Six Danes even, if you also count the 18-year old Lucas Andersen from Aalborg who Ajax bought in the summer. He is not in the first team squad yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if he makes his debut this season. I don't know him very well though, have you seen him play in the Danish League?

He scored a nice goal playing with the reserves last week:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXxHOwtUmqc