Badger Posted 25 March, 2016 Share Posted 25 March, 2016 Thats good. I just read this on the BBC - seems utterly bizarre to me to stop a game because someone died, no matter who it was. "The Netherlands' friendly against France will be stopped after 14 minutes for a minute's silence to remember Dutch great Johan Cruyff. Former Ajax and Barcelona star Cruyff, who famously wore the number 14 shirt, died of cancer aged 68 on Thursday. The decision to halt Friday's friendly was announced by the Dutch football association (KNVB) following the death of their former captain and coach. Both the Dutch and French teams will wear black armbands in tribute. There will also be a minute's silence before kick-off in memory of the 34 victims of the Brussels bomb attacks in Belgium on Tuesday." What? they are doing a minutes silence during the game that's just weird. Get some perspective on this. Cruyff is the Netherlands outstanding iconic player, the match is a meaningless friendly. Normally I'd agree about stopping the game, or a minutes applause after a specific minute of the game for an individual, but in these circumstances think the Dutch have probably got this right, especially as the pre-match has been given to the Brussels tragedy. The only time I remember this is after the Bradford City fire when the Saints v Liverpool match on the following Tuesday was stopped after 11 minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nta786 Posted 25 March, 2016 Share Posted 25 March, 2016 To be fair, they've improved in the 2nd half after subbing Clasie and Van Dijk at half-time. Clasie/Van Dijk off on 46th minute... Now 2-2- good game tbf. EDIT: France back in the lead: 3-2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
van Hanegem Posted 28 March, 2016 Share Posted 28 March, 2016 This is possibly the weakest Dutch team in their history. They even lost at home to the USA and in the Euro qualifiers they lost at home to Iceland and were thrashed by Turkey. So, I'd expect England to beat them too. Nah, we lost at home against Luxemburg back in the '60s before Cruyff changed some things. But this team and the way we play comes close to the worst ever. We lack some talent (and Robben off course) and to make things worse: we still have to make do with that idiot Danny Blind as the manager. Hopefully England will destroy Oranje so Blind will be sent away, opening the door for someone who is able to make things better. I have to admit that I don't like to see van Dijk play for Oranje. I know he's doing a good job for the Saints but he's just too limited to play as a central defender, especially when things get better and a new manager is going to try to make the Dutch play like they used to do in the past. I do have my hopes for Clasie for the future... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Munster Posted 28 March, 2016 Share Posted 28 March, 2016 Nah, we lost at home against Luxemburg back in the '60s before Cruyff changed some things. But this team and the way we play comes close to the worst ever. We lack some talent (and Robben off course) and to make things worse: we still have to make do with that idiot Danny Blind as the manager. Hopefully England will destroy Oranje so Blind will be sent away, opening the door for someone who is able to make things better. I have to admit that I don't like to see van Dijk play for Oranje. I know he's doing a good job for the Saints but he's just too limited to play as a central defender, especially when things get better and a new manager is going to try to make the Dutch play like they used to do in the past. I do have my hopes for Clasie for the future... Oi, hands off our Ronald! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graffito Posted 28 March, 2016 Share Posted 28 March, 2016 Nah, we lost at home against Luxemburg back in the '60s before Cruyff changed some things. But this team and the way we play comes close to the worst ever. We lack some talent (and Robben off course) and to make things worse: we still have to make do with that idiot Danny Blind as the manager. Hopefully England will destroy Oranje so Blind will be sent away, opening the door for someone who is able to make things better. I have to admit that I don't like to see van Dijk play for Oranje. I know he's doing a good job for the Saints but he's just too limited to play as a central defender, especially when things get better and a new manager is going to try to make the Dutch play like they used to do in the past. I do have my hopes for Clasie for the future... In what respects is Van Dyke too limited to play as a central defender? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hypochondriac Posted 28 March, 2016 Share Posted 28 March, 2016 In what respects is Van Dyke too limited to play as a central defender? He's been absolutely superb for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADutchSaint Posted 28 March, 2016 Share Posted 28 March, 2016 In what respects is Van Dyke too limited to play as a central defender? He never played for one of the big clubs in Holland and then in the eyes of the general audience, journalists and everyone else that expresses their opinion about football on TV, you suck cause they never see or seen you play. Its a joke but Dutch people are a joke really when it comes to football nowadays sadly. I cant make anything else of it. And all because we listen too much to nonsense thats coming from old football players who totally missed that the game of football has evolved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
van Hanegem Posted 28 March, 2016 Share Posted 28 March, 2016 In what respects is Van Dyke too limited to play as a central defender? To be honest: the Dutch do not have great central defenders like Jaap Stam anymore and I can understand why Virgil is selected. He's big, a good header and he does have a the occasionally good long ball. But he does make mistakes which show he's not the central defender the Dutch desperately need. Look at his mistakes in the game against the Czechs and you'll know what I mean. It's not just this game, I remember some games with Southampton also. Wasn't it against Spurs when Koeman was angry with Virgil? Off course I do hope that van Dijk will be the central defender the Dutch can rely on but at this moment he is not that man. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiESksXFh58 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
van Hanegem Posted 28 March, 2016 Share Posted 28 March, 2016 He never played for one of the big clubs in Holland and then in the eyes of the general audience, journalists and everyone else that expresses their opinion about football on TV, you suck cause they never see or seen you play. Its a joke but Dutch people are a joke really when it comes to football nowadays sadly. I cant make anything else of it. And all because we listen too much to nonsense thats coming from old football players who totally missed that the game of football has evolved. You couldn't be more wrong, the so called pundits on dutch television said that van Dijk should play for the national team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VectisSaint Posted 28 March, 2016 Share Posted 28 March, 2016 I have to admit that I don't like to see van Dijk play for Oranje. I know he's doing a good job for the Saints but he's just too limited to play as a central defender, especially when things get better and a new manager is going to try to make the Dutch play like they used to do in the past. How odd, but you're entitled to your opinion of course. Seems to me Van Dijk is ideally suited to the way the Dutch want to/used to play (not how they play at the moment). Very good central defender, but also very good on the ball, and excellent at playing out from the back. Reminds me in many ways of Koeman. One of the least limited (most complete) central defenders around from the experience of watching him at Saints. Not even sure that CB is his best position, could be developed into a midfielder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simo Posted 28 March, 2016 Share Posted 28 March, 2016 Saw an article today saying his rating makes him the highest placed Cb in Europe ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redslo Posted 28 March, 2016 Share Posted 28 March, 2016 How odd, but you're entitled to your opinion of course. Seems to me Van Dijk is ideally suited to the way the Dutch want to/used to play (not how they play at the moment). Very good central defender, but also very good on the ball, and excellent at playing out from the back. Reminds me in many ways of Koeman. One of the least limited (most complete) central defenders around from the experience of watching him at Saints. Not even sure that CB is his best position, could be developed into a midfielder. I'd make him a striker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghq Posted 29 March, 2016 Share Posted 29 March, 2016 You couldn't be more wrong, the so called pundits on dutch television said that van Dijk should play for the national team. It's all Greek to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simo Posted 29 March, 2016 Share Posted 29 March, 2016 Saw an article today saying his rating makes him the highest placed Cb in Europe ! http://m.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/14387614.Southampton_s_van_Dijk_one_of_Europe_s_best/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
van Hanegem Posted 29 March, 2016 Share Posted 29 March, 2016 How odd, but you're entitled to your opinion of course. Seems to me Van Dijk is ideally suited to the way the Dutch want to/used to play (not how they play at the moment). Very good central defender, but also very good on the ball, and excellent at playing out from the back. Reminds me in many ways of Koeman. One of the least limited (most complete) central defenders around from the experience of watching him at Saints. Not even sure that CB is his best position, could be developed into a midfielder. Like I said Vectis, I know he's doing a good job for the Saints but it's totally different with the Dutch national team. Not that the other defenders are any better but Virgil has been a source of unrest too many times now with weak defending while there aren't any others to correct his mistakes. The defence is really shaky and the Dutch are desperate for a central defender who can organise the defense and keep the door shut. Thus far Virgil is not that CB though I have to admit that I don't know which Dutch defender should take his place at this moment. Maybe van Dijk can add something to the national team when they start playing better and there's need for Virgil's qualities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjii Posted 29 March, 2016 Share Posted 29 March, 2016 He does make a lot of mistakes but the good aspects to his game generally make up for most of the mistakes when you look at the overall contribution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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