Pass the Dutchie

Gregory van der Wiel (RB) wants to leave Paris Saint Germain this summer, apparently. Probably pretty expensive but worth an offer, I'd say.

Everton's last four games have been three losses and a draw. We should be able to win this and move up to 53 points. 0-2 (Van Dijk, Rodriguez)

(edited)

Using that I got a top 8 of: 1. Leicester 2. Arsenal 3. Tottenham 4. Man City 5. Man Utd 6. Liverpool 7. West Ham 8. Southampton Which would be a pretty good but at the same time also very disappointing result for us. At the bottom I got: 17. Newcastle 18. Norwich 19. Sunderland 20. Aston Villa

Pelle also set up Long for his goal. I think he had a pretty good game. Wijnaldum completely invisible this game. Would still want him for next season though.

"He could be out for up to three weeks, but Koeman is optimistic it won’t be that long." http://m.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/14411443.Long_fee_looking_great_business_for_Southampton/

He'll want to wait and see how many players leave again. I'm sure he'd love to win something with Saints, but he'll want to feel it's possible too. It will be despiriting for him (and us) if many of the key players leave once again.

Apparently Benitez is very impressed with him, or at least the idea of him "He is so good, he can play everywhere and do well." "“I’m convinced that he (Wijnaldum) will do well, because watching him in training he has been really good,” Benitez added. “He is one of the players that as a manager we enjoy to coach because he has pace, he has ability, and he is happy when he’s playing really well, is very positive. “I think he will do well for us." http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rafa-benitez-reveals-what-believes-11065287

Targett injured, apparently.

All Leicester in the first 10 minutes.

I wonder if them being named by some sources in the new doping scandal surrounding Mark Bonar will have unsettled some players. We can hope.

A journalist saw Mane shaking his head like we all did. Then he saw Tadic not smiling as much as you could expect. Top story!

...and lose.

It's hard to choose between Liverpool and Spurs, but with the table in mind I hope Spurs win tonight. This will also put the pressure on Leicester, which may (or may not) help us tomorrow.

He's doing alright.

This one belongs in this thread, of course: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpIOf4Z9Atw

Last year he was still playing for Almere City, in the level below de Dutch eredivisie. Junior goalkeeper at Almere City at that time was Ronald Koeman Jr... Should be enough of a connection! (probably not)

Koeman managed Ajax (1/4 finals), Benfica (1/4 finals), PSV (1/4 finals), Valencia and Feyenoord in the CL though.

I don't speak a word of Spanish, but I ended up watching large parts of this match anyway, fascinated. Koeman's goals is at 2h01m. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wSfG3W8AUI

Both VVD and Clasie are in the starting 11 tonight in the Netherlands' friendly against France in Amsterdam.

Reading all the pieces in the newspapers yesterday, all seem to agree that he was among the best players of the world, but that, unlike for example Pele or Maradona, he actually had a huge influence on the game besides just being a spectacular player to watch. Most great players entertain, stop, and stop being important. His legacy lives on. His philosophy (and especially his work as a coach with Barcelona) had a huge impact on modern football, and that's why he's still held in such high esteem by many.

I only saw Cruijf play in a benefit game in 1999, alongside old players like Ruud Krol, Johan Neeskens, Piet Keizer and Marco van Basten, but sadly never in his actual days as a player. He's an absolute legend in the Netherlands, and his death comes as a real shock today, even though we knew he was sick.

"Deeply saddened by the death of my best coach and good friend. Thanks for everything. Forever in our heart."

Player of the week @ The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/football/who-scored-blog/2016/mar/23/premier-league-fourth-place-manchester-city-united-liverpool-west-ham

There have been many attacks since Paris before now (in Turkey even several times). The French anthem was the only one played so far; don't expect it to change now.