The Netherlands

Yeah this really young squad isn't all that surprising except for maybe a couple of names like Kongolo, Verhaegh and Promes. I wouldn't be surprised if Sneijder and/or Van der Vaart gets dropped, bringing down the average age even more. I'm hoping we can leave this tournament with dignity.

Apparently we will start playing a 5-2-3 formation. How Van Gaal envisions this isn't completely clear yet apart from the fact that he said he wants to hold on to the ideas behind the 'Hollandse school'.

BTW: Van der Wiel wasn't dropped by Van Gaal. He himself asked Van Gaal not to include him because he has been playing with a lot of pain at PSG and he really needs to give his body the necessary rest.

I'd be very disappointed for Raffie if he gets dropped ... same goes for Wes, though I don't expect he will (out of the two) ...

Strootman is doubtless a brilliant player, but it shows the lack of depth for the national team in the holding midfield role, as compared to his club, who were able to just plug Radja Nainggolan in ...

two things sum up van Gaal's trust (or lack thereof) in the work rate of the midfielders at his disposal: 1) talking about wanting to pick Matuidi and/or Pogba; 2) switching the system (OMG!) right before the start of a World Cup ...

Well Van der Vaart had a shit season and Van Gaal took away Sneijder's captaincy. Sneijder also did not feature all of our games during the last 12 months. Since Sneijder has been very professional at his club lately and... well he is still Sneijder, I'd prefer it if Van Gaal wouldn't drop him. He can definately be an asset to this team.

I've thought about the new formation. I expect it will look like 3-4-3 in attack and 5-3-1-1 or 5-4-1 in defence. I expect the fullbacks to hang on midfield to form a sort of diamond formation with one of the fullbacks (probably mostly Janmaat) coming up at times to do overlapping runs. I'd probably go with something like this for a starting 11:

----------------Krul/Vorm--------------
----------Veltman--Vlaar--BMI----------
Janmaat--------De Jong-----------Blind
---------------Sneijder----------------
--Robben------Van Persie-------Lens--

I am very worried because we don't have Strootman, and an altogether limited team.

HOWEVER, a lot of these young guys are potentially world class (I particularly rate Veltman very highly), and if Van Persie and Robben (especially Robben!) are on a roll, you have one of the best offenses in the world. And don't forget the power of Van Gaal!

I don't see us winning the group (except if Spain have a slow start), meaning we will hit Brazil right away. In that case, it would just be over and done.

What adds an extra flavour to the Netherlands' WC campaign is that Van Gaal is now the Man United manager, too. If the Netherlands fail at the World Cup - with their largely unproven team in a group that has Spain and Chile - that would certainly stir up some Man United related conversation, too.

^Being totally selfish, I would like them to go out of as early as possible. The earlier LvG can concentrate on us, the better.

No worries BB, we will deliver.  I only see us get past the group stage if we start off by beating Spain. I am really not looking forward to the game against Chile. I've been saying it for a while now, but that game is more likely to be a loss in my book than the one against Spain. Chile's game will really break our inexperienced team down with all of their aggressiveness and pressing. The climate isn't going to help us either. Spain is having some injury problems and might underestimate us. If we go guns blazing I give us a decent chance. If we don't grab 3 points against Australia it's over anyway. The only real chance of getting anywhere is if we dodge Brazil after the group stage.

Interesting you think the group will be decided by the game against Spain, not Chile. It really is a tough group though.

You guys will have the advantage that Spain will be playing away every match, but you lot will have to do you part.I honestly can't see your defense surviving their possession football with Van Gaal coaching.I wanted to face Netherlands in the round of 16 but Chile are too strong atm, I think they even have a chance vs Spain.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/3790/world-cup-2014/2014/05/28/4845398/van-der-vaart-ruled-out-of-world-cup?ICID=HP_HN_HP_RI_1_3

Van der Vaart ruled out from the World Cup with an injury. Strootman, van der Wiel, now VdV, this is too much for Netherlands   

VDV out is good thing anyway. Does not have much to do, would have rather caused discontent.

VDW out is also not a huge loss as Janmaat would have started probably.

Strootman out is a massive blow. LVG's favourite player is an amazing Box to Box Player

I'm curious - who will be Netherland's Nr.1? Jasper Cillessen?

rwo power wrote:I'm curious - who will be Netherland's Nr.1? Jasper Cillessen?

Yes.

Zoet is also a very promising GK of PSV who I think will be a Top GK as well very soon.

Vorm will probably the be the 3rd GK and Krul is also there to compete.

Steke is more or less frozen out. Rubin Ruiter is another proming GK.

Vermeer who is the current Ajax No.2 behind Cillesen used to Dutch No.1 for a while and he is a good Shot-Stopper.

There are a lot of very promising GK. Potentially there could be a golden generation like that of German GK's. However none of them are Van Der Sar level quality

Thanks a lot for the info! I have to admit that I sadly haven't seen much of the Eredivisie, so I'm not quite up to par with the Dutch GKs playing there, but I did read some good things about Jasper Cillessen. And yeah, I wondered a bit why Maarten Stekelenburg only sat on the bench in the last time as he was rather prominent with the Dutch NT in the past.

So it is now Jasper Cillessen as Nr.1 and Jeroen Zoet as Nr.2? In a way that's not a bad sign for Dutch football when the top GKs of the NT (still) play in the Eredivisie. ^^

rwo power wrote:Thanks a lot for the info! I have to admit that I sadly haven't seen much of the Eredivisie, so I'm not quite up to par with the Dutch GKs playing there, but I did read some good things about Jasper Cillessen. And yeah, I wondered a bit why Maarten Stekelenburg only sat on the bench in the last time as he was rather prominent with the Dutch NT in the past.

So it is now Jasper Cillessen as Nr.1 and Jeroen Zoet as Nr.2? In a way that's not a bad sign for Dutch football when the top GKs of the NT (still) play in the Eredivisie. ^^

Cillesen is No.1. I think Vorm is No.2 but I am not sure. No.3 is probably Zoet or Krul.

I rate Zoet highly and LVG has recently included him in the Shortlist.

It is a good thing as the Eredivisie is producing Top Players. Anyways it does not matter much if the play in the Eredivise or abroad especially for GK is the least important position which is important if the other players are Top Class or Not anyway.

It's a good sign as it shows the supply line is strong with good young talents coming up which shows good hope for the future. The talents abroad all grow up in the Eredivisie anyway.

Footyfan wrote:GK is the least important position which is important if the other players are Top Class or Not anyway.

Tsk tsk. That's something where I strongly disagree  ^^

rwo power wrote:

Footyfan wrote:GK is the least important position which is important if the other players are Top Class or Not anyway.

Tsk tsk. That's something where I strongly disagree  ^^

You've got it wrong again. Least with regards to quality of the league. Outfield players need to play with and against Top Quality players to develop.

GK - You can have Top Class GK's in a League which may not be the best and it easier for GK's to develop in an okay league

Ah, I see. Well, I'm always a bit partial where GKs are concerned, and so you can expect me to jump in whenever I have the feeling they get slighted

I'd have Krul or Vorm as number one because they play in England #premface

Selectie Oranje voor het WK 2014

Doel
Jasper Cillessen (Ajax)
Michel Vorm (Swansea City)
Tim Krul (Newcastle United)

Verdediging
Paul Verhaegh (FC Augsburg)
Daryl Janmaat (Feyenoord)
Joël Veltman (Ajax)
Stefan de Vrij (Feyenoord)
Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa)
Bruno Martins Indi (Feyenoord)
Terence Kongolo (Feyenoord)

Middenveld
Leroy Fer (Norwich City)
Nigel de Jong (AC Milan)
Jordy Clasie (Feyenoord)
Jonathan de Guzman (Swansea City)
Georginio Wijnaldum (PSV)
Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray)

Aanval
Arjen Robben (Bayern München)
Robin van Persie (Manchester United)
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke 04)
Dirk Kuyt (Fenerbahçe)
Jeremain Lens (Dynamo Kiev)
Memphis Depay (PSV)




Ku(y)t.  

Van Gaal

Clearly wants an early exit. Can't believe Van Aanholt was left out.

Jean-Paul Boëtius not there


felt that he could be 2010 elia.

Still find it baffling Van Dijk never made it. He is miles better than the likes of Ron Vlaar.

LVG ladies and gentlemen.. Very typical of his teams. A few older players he can control and young players he can mold to the style he wants to enforce.

not that we have too many players in the 'middle' to pick from age-wise.

I would be happy if we made it past the group stage but not holding my breath.

I don't get why so many people are pessimistic about our chances this WC. On paper this team is not worse than the one that went to the finals in 2010. It's just about stepping up when they need to. I would argue that there is actually more potential talent on this team than there was then. Obviously we can't rely on Sneijder to necessarily basically carry us into the final by himself again, but now you have RVP and Robben who are hitting the best stretches of their careers, and others that are just coming into their primes.

I would say don't underrate the Netherlands this tournament. If they can avoid the infighting (although Indi and Robben seem intent on carrying on that tradition) and the young players play to their potential this team can go far.

Compared to the last WC this team lacks dynamism, drive, and experience, as well as a singular cohesive mentality. Say what you like about van Marwijk, but he and Van Bommel had the midfield running well and very well marshaled. Since Strootman got injured I haven't seen that in the current side.

They still stand a strong chance of getting out of the group, but I would be quite surprised if they beat Spain or Brazil or any other major team.