The Eredivisie has lost it’s edge, and the gap between The Dutch top league, and the Dutch national team is too great, according to Netherlands boss Guus Hiddink.
- By Spencer Steevensz
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The new Netherlands boss fears the Eredivisie no longer provides the development it used to, and players must leave the league if they want to continue they’re growth and become world-class players. Citing Stefan De Vrij, who just moved from Feyenoord to Serie A’s Napoli, as an example of a player who will gain more out of the more intense competition in Italy than Holland can provide.
The Netherlands survived for a long time on their famous youth academies, especially Ajax, which consistently produces top talents. However, other big clubs in Europe have adopted the same system, taking away that edge. Eredivisie clubs have gotten into a pattern where teams like Utrecht and Groningen promote teenagers to their first team, sell them to Eredivisie giants like Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV, who then sell them to major European clubs in England, Spain, Italy and Germany.
While this has been extremely financially beneficial to the clubs, it has made the league a selling league, not a buying league. And, not a league that challenges in the Champions League like it used to.
KNVB director Bert Van Oosteren agrees saying, “We have to be innovative… Big money has become increasingly important in European Football, where we previously made the difference in knowledge, that’s no longer sufficient.”
Hiddink gave a subtle nod to previous coach Louis Van Gaal, hailing his decision to stir the pot. He said, “We must be very critical of ourselves… we must not lose sight of our knowledge and principles, but realism can be a very beautiful thing.” Dutch football has been consistent for too long, with the staple 4-3-3 attacking formation. Van Gaal changed to a more defensive 5-3-2 system for the World Cup, focusing on counter attacks. This proved vital in winning tough games against Chile and Mexico. However, he could switch back to a 4-3-3 with one substitute, giving the team the versatility it required to win against a surprisingly tough Australia.
This isn’t a surprise. The real question is what to do about it. There are several options of course. But until Dutch teams have the money they will not have/keep/buy the players needed to compete in the Championship or even the Europa tourney. Only when the teams are capable of doing that will the reputation improve.
if you look at the per capita levels in Europe it becomes very clear what the issues are. France and Italy both have 20 teams at their top levels and each country has a population around 60 million. That is 3 million per team. Germany has 20 teams and 80 million people-4 million per team. England, Spain, and Portugal have huge overseas areas that their games are broadcasted in. But for Dutch football there are 18 teams and under 17 million potential fans. of course population is but one piece of the puzzle, but a very important piece. private ownership is another, TV money, etc… all come into play.
I agree with Rich but the problem is still greedy agents. If all of the talented Dutch players stayed until they were 24-25 in the league they might have become better and the league would be stronger too. But letting players leave younger than that is the REAL PROBLEM or going to a team they have no chance of starting at is just as bad. Hiddink is right but its the process not the league or lack of talent or money. Letting players go too early is the problem. Only one young player has left Holland in the past 5 years and succeeded and that’s Strootman who got injured. Castaignos, Luuk De Jong, Fer, Ricky V, Buttner, Van der Weil, Afellay, Bas Dost, Elia, Drenthe, Ola John and I’m sure there are more all did not live up to expectations. They may be making money but not one has done well after leaving. So if you ask me its the players and the agents fault. Look at Chelsea they buy tons of youth and then waste them or buy more seasoned players because they can’t wait for their younger players. Fabergas over Van Ginkel As for De Vrij, Janmaat and Indi we will see. Nobody knows Dutch football players better han the Dutch and also how to develop them. Why does England fail so much, top money league but can’t develop their own players. They buy from others and that’s why they will never compete for a major tourney. Holland could fall into the same trap but because they let their own players go to early and everything they get taught is undone. I said enough.
Greedy agents and population are part of the challenge, but the root is simple economics. Players, like most people in any profession, go where the money is. Fort the Eredivisie to become a “buying league” and retain its top talent, teams like Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV must becomes more profitable. They need to grow. They need to be able to pay their top players more. I don’t think consolidating the league is the answer.
I guess Mike is unfamiliar with the Bosman ruling.
If a club keeps a player to the end of their contract, they lose out on any transfer fee. Players with the record and reputation to move to the bigger leagues will still do so, and the club won’t have the money to finance the youth academies that finds such fantastic talent.