Oranje vs italy and paraguay

This friendly is on wednesday 12 august in the Amsterdam Arena.

What do you expect? Can the light-footed orange machine outplay also England like they did with their opponents in the qualifying group? Or has Capello already improved the England team significantly so the Dutch has to be warned?

The Dutch team was the first European team to qualify for South Africa. England are almost certain.

From the Dutch point of view, Marcus Von Bommel (Bayern München) and Gio van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord) are injured. Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar) is still a big doubt.

How about the England squad? is that a bit representative for what we can expect in South Africa?

Prediction 2-1 (Robben, Huntelaar)

Who are your defenders, can they face the mighty Heskey/Carlton Cole.

Doel: Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht)

Verdediging: Edson Braafheid (Bayern München, Dui), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), John Heitinga (Atlético Madrid, Spa), André Ooijer (PSV), Dirk Marcellis (PSV), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburger SV, Dui), David Mendes da Silva (AZ), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax)

Middenveld: Ibrahim Afellay (PSV), Mark van Bommel (Bayern München, Dui), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City, Eng), Stijn Schaars (AZ), Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax)

Aanval: Ryan Babel (Liverpool, Eng), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (AC Milan, Ita), Dirk Kuijt (Liverpool, Eng), Robin van Persie (Arsenal, Eng), Arjen Robben (Real Madrid, Spa).

Our back 4 are:

Van der wiel/Heitinga (RB) Ooijer (CB) Mathijsen (CB) and Braafheid (LB)

What's our predicted line-up ?

Squad : Doel: Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht)

Verdediging: Edson Braafheid (Bayern München, Dui), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), John Heitinga (Atlético Madrid, Spa), André Ooijer (PSV), Dirk Marcellis (PSV), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburger SV, Dui), David Mendes da Silva (AZ), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax)

Middenveld: Ibrahim Afellay (PSV), Mark van Bommel (Bayern München, Dui), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City, Eng), Stijn Schaars (AZ), Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax)

Aanval: Ryan Babel (Liverpool, Eng), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (AC Milan, Ita), Dirk Kuijt (Liverpool, Eng), Robin van Persie (Arsenal, Eng), Arjen Robben (Real Madrid, Spa).

I think Van Marwijk will opt for :

Stekelenburg

Heitinga - Ooijer - Mathijsen - Braafheid

De Jong - De Zeeuw

Kuyt - VDV - Robben

RVP


That means the back four needs sorting out, the rest is good to go

final score 2-2.

A bit slow back 4 isnt it, specially the CBs.

Attacks looks good but it will be against Rio and Terry, would be interesting to how RVP do and how VDV (who hasnt played in ages) support him.
I think Robben is your main threat, specially with English RBs.

Would be an interesting game.

DS wrote:Who are your defenders, can they face the mighty Heskey/Carlton Cole.

If we play far off the goal, they can't come close in front of the goal....

DS wrote:A bit slow back 4 isnt it, specially the CBs.

Yep, but they do have De Jong, De Zeeuw and Vleminckx Kuyt to help them out

WTF is the point of this friendly, the season just started ffs! And why always against England, Russia or Australia..at least pick Germany, Belgium, Brazil or Italy as opponents for a change!

That squad looks really poor btw!

Yeah, seems a pointless time for friendly. Except for those desperate to impress to establish self in squad, players will be mostly concerned about not getting injured.

I predict England will line-up:

Green
Johnson-Terry-Ferdinand-Cole
Walcott-Lampard-Barry-Gerrard
Rooney-Heskey

SWP, C.Cole, A.Young, Beckham and Upson will probably get some time.

England squad is probably close to what you'd expect for next yr, but I'd say there's still around 6-8 squad places that are undecided - particularly strikers, wingers and keepers.

Is Ooijer better than Marcellis?

I imagine the England side will be as debaser suggested, though I'd like to see Lennon in place of Walcott.

Every time is a pointless time for a friendly apparently. International teams should beg for a few minutes with their players.

Considering the number of competitions as well as their length (carling cup, Champions league, europa league). If there is congestion it is because of clubs not the international calendar.

Calidad wrote:Is Ooijer better than Marcellis?

I imagine the England side will be as debaser suggested, though I'd like to see Lennon in place of Walcott.

definitely

Fey wrote:WTF is the point of this friendly, the season just started ffs! And why always against England, Russia or Australia..at least pick Germany, Belgium, Brazil or Italy as opponents for a change!

That squad looks really poor btw!

october 10th we play Australia...

Anyway for a change we also play against your favourite Honda (sept 05) and against Paraquay (nov 14)

and of course against Scotland (09-09-09)

Calidad wrote:Is Ooijer better than Marcellis?

I imagine the England side will be as debaser suggested, though I'd like to see Lennon in place of Walcott.

Lennon ain't even in squad. SWP & Milner are other options on the right

Every time these two nations play each other, it is a very weird feeling for a complete neutral like me. On the one hand, you just ask yourself why the English didn't invent a mode in which both teams could lose. On the other hand, it's rather uninteresting, because it more or less always is a friendly match between the axis of evil.

debaser wrote:

Calidad wrote:Is Ooijer better than Marcellis?

I imagine the England side will be as debaser suggested, though I'd like to see Lennon in place of Walcott.

Lennon ain't even in squad. SWP & Milner are other options on the right

Bit disrespectful to Lennon. He was great back end of last season how the fuck is he now behind Milner

Milner was your best player in the U21 Euros.

Nothing against Milner but Lennon is on another level to the bloke. Then again capello prefers Downing to Young so i guess he likes the more hard working crossing type to a fast dribbler.

Isn't Lennon injured? Anyway why is SWP still in there? And why does Capello keep playing him on the left

blutgraetsche wrote:Every time these two nations play each other, it is a very weird feeling for a complete neutral like me. On the one hand, you just ask yourself why the English didn't invent a mode in which both teams could lose. On the other hand, it's rather uninteresting, because it more or less always is a friendly match between the axis of evil.

England-Nederland would be the best WC-final everrrrrrrr! But you are right, this is always a friendly between the two most civilized nations on earth! Hence I dont really like this fixture..a friendly against Germany on the other hand..

But like I said before, we are only playing Australia, Russia and England for some reason in friendlies.

Anyway Gerrard is injured for tomorrow!

blutgraetsche wrote:Every time these two nations play each other, it is a very weird feeling for a complete neutral like me. On the one hand, you just ask yourself why the English didn't invent a mode in which both teams could lose. On the other hand, it's rather uninteresting, because it more or less always is a friendly match between the axis of evil.

You once told me you secretly admire the Oranje team, so deep in your heart you know who's your favourite

Fey wrote:

blutgraetsche wrote:Every time these two nations play each other, it is a very weird feeling for a complete neutral like me. On the one hand, you just ask yourself why the English didn't invent a mode in which both teams could lose. On the other hand, it's rather uninteresting, because it more or less always is a friendly match between the axis of evil.

Anyway Gerrard is injured for tomorrow!

The papers have their excuse already if England loses!

Ricardo Wetzel wrote:

Fey wrote:

blutgraetsche wrote:Every time these two nations play each other, it is a very weird feeling for a complete neutral like me. On the one hand, you just ask yourself why the English didn't invent a mode in which both teams could lose. On the other hand, it's rather uninteresting, because it more or less always is a friendly match between the axis of evil.

Anyway Gerrard is injured for tomorrow!

The papers have their excuse already if England loses!

Doubt they will lose, this Dutch team is so poor! Hell I think our U-21 aint much worse!

Jong Oranje: Anita, Blind, Van der Heijden, De Jong, Donald (all c**ts ), Wijnaldum, Leerdam, Fer, Biseswar, De Guzman (allen Feyenoord), Kuiper (FC Twente), Krul (Newcastle United), Nienhuis (FC Groningen), Janmaat (Heerenveen), Pieters (PSV), Van Eijden (NEC), Bruma (Chelsea), Strootman (Sparta), Barazite (Arsenal), Emnes (Middlesbrough), Van Wolfswinkel (FC Utrecht).

Will Queen Beatrix watch the match? And what about Queen Elizabeth? And what do you think will be more appropriate while watching the match, a fine cup of Earl Grey or some greasy Bitterballen? What will be the more adequate metaphor?

blutgraetsche wrote:Will Queen Beatrix watch the match? And what about Queen Elizabeth? And what do you think will be more appropriate while watching the match, a fine cup of Earl Grey or some greasy Bitterballen? What will be the more adequate metaphor?

You can wash down the bitterballen with some earl grey.....and that should also give you a nice and complete metaphor

blutgraetsche wrote:Will Queen Beatrix watch the match? And what about Queen Elizabeth? And what do you think will be more appropriate while watching the match, a fine cup of Earl Grey or some greasy Bitterballen? What will be the more adequate metaphor?

No Joke, She burned herself last time when she wanted one, instead of using a small cocktail stick she used her fingers. Of course she went for the biggest and most greasy one, and that on felt apart when she wanted to take a bite from it. There was bitterbal all over her face! I never knew her Majesty could make me so excited

L r dd wrote:Nothing against Milner but Lennon is on another level to the bloke. Then again capello prefers Downing to Young so i guess he likes the more hard working crossing type to a fast dribbler.

Spot on.

In terms of technique and dribbling with the ball, Young and Lennon are the 2 best wingers in the country (if you accept that Joe Cole isn't strictly speaking a winger in the traditional sense);

for a more hard working reliable pair - Downing and Milner are the options which Capello appears to favour.

Lennon's ommission makes a little more sense seeing as his final ball still needs to improve, but with Young there is less of an issue with his crossing so it makes you wonder if it might be something about his character that Capello doesn't like (webcamming young girls and showing them his scrotum for example).

I expect both Young and Lennon's time will come. It wasn't so long ago the same accusations were being thrown at Joe Cole and his treatment by Sven (ie never picked him) ; by the end of the Swede's reign Cole was a regular on the left and arguably the best player in the side for most of it

If Lennon would just spend time on his crossing like I keep suggesting then he would be an England regular and one of the best players in England.

Instead he plays for Spurs, whose fans tell him not to improve, they'd rather he stay mediocre and one day we can all look back and say "if only".

Quite pleased to be able to watch this one. Think I might just wear my new bright orange Robin "A Dutch of Class" T-shirt, if only to piss my German friends off.

BITTERBALLEN

Wot about the U21 game, is that not on TV?