The international period is now over for the Netherlands with Tuesday’s 6-1 win over Turkey capping a very promising week for Oranje. Michael Bell shares his thoughts on Oranje after the draw against Norway and wins over Montenegro and Turkey.
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Van Gaal is the man for the job
Van Gaal’s appointment was met with a mixed reaction but the 70-year-old has proved this week that he still has plenty to offer as Oranje head coach. After only having days to work with the players, Netherlands looked excellent in the first-half against Turkey and far more entertaining than anything seen under Frank de Boer. Given more time to work with the players and get his vision across, Van Gaal can work wonders with this Oranje squad. From his press conferences to his training methods, Van Gaal is entertaining and it is great to see him back.
4-3-3 the way to go
Van Gaal may prefer the 5-3-2 formation but he didn’t have time to work on that with the players this week, meaning he set up in a 4-3-3. The formation is the one the players want and they pleaded their case with the big win over Turkey. A high press and pressure 4-3-3 worked wonders against Turkey and Van Gaal should be sticking with it for the upcoming games against Latvia and Gibraltar. Netherlands does have the players and now a coach who can make it work.
Memphis is a phenomenon in Oranje
Memphis Depay is in ridiculous form for the Netherlands at the moment and there is every chance that he is going to end his career as the top scorer and top assist provider in Oranje history.
On Tuesday, Memphis equaled Johan Cruyff on 33 goals after his first international hattrick and is now only 17 off Robin van Persie. At 27, Memphis still has plenty of time to break the record. 30 goals and 21 assists in his last 45 international matches, is a phenomenal record.
This week, Memphis proved once again that he is the most threatening Netherlands attacker and his link-up play with Davy Klaassen against Turkey was a joy to see. There is little doubt now that Memphis is a world-class striker.
De Ligt will have to get used to a role on the bench
The Netherlands currently has three excellent centre-backs which is a great problem for Van Gaal to have. Stefan de Vrij had an excellent international period and he now appears to be the right choice to start alongside Virgil van Dijk going forward. Matthijs de Ligt did nothing wrong against Montenegro, but at the moment it seems that Van Gaal is more than happy with a De Vrij and Van Dijk partnership at the back.
Bijlow can be number one for years to come
Justin Bijlow is the new Netherlands number one and he has made a name for himself in his first three internationals for Oranje. Commanding, good on the ball, and an excellent shot-stopper, the 23-year-old performed excellently in all three games and looked as if he had been playing in Oranje for years. The Feyenoord stopper may have caused the goal against Turkey, but that doesn’t take the shine off an excellent international period for Bijlow. At the moment, he is a much better option than Tim Krul or Jasper Cillessen.
Exciting times for Dutch talents
Justin Bijlow, Tyrell Malacia, and Devyne Rensch all made their debut’s in the international period and they all proved that they can handle this level. Cody Gakpo also proved himself with his first two starts for Oranje, scoring a wonderful goal in the win over Montenegro.
Teun Koopmeiners and Guus Til both impressed on the pitch, while Ryan Gravenberch appeared for a short time against Turkey.
It is an exciting time for young Dutch talents with Van Gaal a head coach who is willing to give them a chance to impress. Van Gaal also watched the U21 squad and allowed Quinten Timber the chance to train with the squad.
World Cup qualification now in Netherlands hands
This was a crucial international period for the Netherlands and they have come out of it with seven points from nine available, which puts the group in their control. Yes, Norway is on the same number of points and Turkey is only two behind, but this is now the Netherlands to lose with four games left, due to their far superior goal difference. Oranje can tighten their grip on the group when they face Latvia and Gibraltar next month.
Van Gaal is looking for goalkeepers and wingers
Straight after the win over Turkey, Van Gaal was asked if any players were on his radar for the next international period and he chose Freiburg goalkeeper Mark Flekken, and Aston Villa winger Anwar El Ghazi. Van Gaal knows the Netherlands is short on goalkeepers or wingers at the moment, and any in form will come into view with Oranje. Jasper Cillessen will be keen to get his place back, while Noa Lang, Arnaut Danjuma, Calvin Stengs are also options on the wings. There is a month for players to impress Van Gaal and earn a call-up.
Is Wijnaldum’s suspension a good thing for the Netherlands?
One player who had a difficult international period was Georginio Wijnaldum, who struggled to make an impact against Norway or Turkey. He also picked up a yellow card which means he missed the clash in Latvia next month. That could be a good thing for Van Gaal, who can now look at some other midfield options. Ryan Gravenberch, Teun Koopmeiners and Guus Til will all be hoping to get the nod. Some competition may then lead to an improved performance from Wijnaldum when he returns against Gibraltar.
The positivity around the Netherlands is back
It has only been a few months since the frustrating loss to the Czech Republic, but the Netherlands are looking refreshed under Louis van Gaal. The win over Turkey has really brought positivity and it is great to be excited about the national team again after some drab performances under De Boer. It is a great start and the future is bright under the new boss.
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Well listed Michael and certainly we can now feel more positive and pleased after this ‘break’.
Let the Louis III metamorphosis continue in the coming months!
Louis van Gaal’s Oranje Army!!!!
De Vrij is better now than de Lit.
Netherlands are doing well with 4-3-3 but I think against top teams LVG will change to 5-3-2.
Bakker and Karsdorp are good options for the left and right back.
Thanks for the thoughtful analysis, Michael. It will be interesting to see what other players Van Gaal calls up in October. He did say he needs a 2nd RW to backup Berghuis and that El Ghazi was on his radar for that, but I wonder if there will any anyone else. They are must win games, but they are weak opposition and Gibraltar in particular is a match where he could experiment a bit.
Not to harp on De Ligt too much, but he did make an error in the Montenegro game, where he failed to deal with a long ball (twice) and it eventually led to a chance. Yes it was just one incident, but the problem is that every other game he seems to have 1-2 moments like that. Things can change, but for the present LVG definitely has got the CBs right.
If Van Gaal can find the right midfield then they’ll qualify and have a real chance at the WC. More so because there aren’t any outstanding wingers like so many Oranje teams of the past.
Id argue Wijnaldum and Klassen don’t work in the same side.
There’s the flip side of what happened against Turkey. Against a good performance, Wijnaldum becomes integral and Klassen goes missing.
Van Gaal will probably question who best suits Depay. On the Turkey performance you’d pick Klassen. But what about against better teams, better defences, better attacks?
Klassen can’t keep up with the defending the counter attack. If you compensate with another player, the whole team ends up compensating.
Wijnaldum playing to a certain level of opposition makes him the best of a era of Oranje football…and its not over.
Klassen was good with Tadic and Ziyech and is still better with one in Depay. And the movement towards the better with one is withstood by the best defences.
Ziyech and Tadic played unbelievable football. As is Depay who is enjoying the freedom Barcelona is allowing him to play with. He’s amongst his type of players as a team. He moved with harmony at times against Turkey.
Wijnaldum and Depay need the four. Frenkie to Depay. The missing player must come out of Frenke to ? to Wijnaldum to Depay; or Depay to Wijnaldum. We miss the stable conjurer to let the other three free. De Roon was not the player for these. The closest seemingly is Koopmeiners.
Koopmeiners may work because of Wijnaldum’s speed and athleticism. With Koopmeiners playing either side of Wijnaldum’s spine. Frenkie’s free like Johan. And Depay finds the harmony.
The wings will defend this. And support the freedom. Rensch may have come at just the right time. And Stengs has made himself more of the total footballer that position will require. The right wing has potential.
The left needs to be considered further.
Van Gaal, I thought the wrong call. But must marvel and bow at the Barcelona and Eredivisie he can see in that side.
I like to see Stengs get more time, hopefully he is past the bewitching of the long pass game and has focused on his stock football. He has the potnetila to play in the De Bruyne role that gives the side another potnetial, even if Stengs does not play to the same level as De Bruyne.
No question that this was the best performance by a Dutch team since the 2008 Euro when we dismantled France and Italy back to back and the 2014 WC -especially the first round- under Louis. I am still unconvinced by the goal keeper Bijlow who does not radiate confidence. On that point, i strongly disagree with Michael Bell’s assessment. The goal conceded against Turkey confirms this very point. He is not good with his feet which in the modern game is a real problem. It is therefore not surprising that Louis is looking at other options including the GK from Freiburg. I have to confess I do not know him at all. But in my view, it is one position that we could improve. I also think that Grevenberch should be the first one subbing into the midfield. Til is another version of Klaassen but clealry not as good, which is not saying much. As you can guess, I am not a big fan of Klaassen even though I have to admit he was extraordinary against Turkey, with some Bergkampesque moves. I also agree that Bergwijn is a better option than Gakpo in front as he provides speed and his link up play with Memphis is top notch. The team is overall very well balanced with reasonable depth all over the pitch. Very encouraging for the remaining qualifying campaign and the WC beyond.
The dutch team deserves a lot of praise this is not the time to look ahead right now to more attacking teams.When we play the likes of italy france the team just have to be more cautious and pinned back when the opposition has the ball.Gini klassen de jong have something special going dont mess with it.