After another disappointing performance by Netherlands against Turkey, the KNVB’s decision to give Guus Hiddink the coaching job is proving to be a big mistake.
- By Michael Bell
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When the KNVB appointed Guus Hiddink as Louis van Gaal’s successor last March it was seen as a safe option, compared to giving the job to Ronald Koeman who was doing an admirable job at Feyenoord. Hiddink was a tactical genius and a motivator, who would no doubt steer Netherlands effortlessly to Euro 2016, before bestowing his wisdom upon Danny Blind who would take over after the tournament in France.
A year to the day of the Hiddink announcement, Netherlands needed a 92nd minute strike from Klaas jan Huntelaar to avoid their fifth defeat in seven games under the 68-year-old. The 1-1 draw with Turkey was another shocking performance by the Oranje side who finished third at the World Cup, and participation at Euro 2016 is under threat. The KNVB’s plan is lying in tatters, and fingers need to be firmly pointed in Hiddink’s direction.
The usually tactical astute Hiddink has made countless errors with his team selections and formations since his appointment, and the football played against Turkey was a far cry from the total football craved by the Dutch faithful. Incredibly slow short passing and a lack of spark in midfield caused by the inclusion of Nigel de Jong was changed to a kick and rush 4-4-2 in the second half, with Daley Blind and Gregory van der Wiel sending aimless long balls towards Bas Dost and Klaas jan Huntelaar. Only a lucky deflection off Huntelaar from a Wesley Sneijder’s strike rescued a point, and probably kept Hiddink his job.
After the draw Hiddink admitted his struggles and baffled by saying he was happy with a draw, “Of course I can get this team back to its best, but at this moment I don’t know how yet. It wasn’t a good game from us, but I’m satisfied with the result. In the end, this can be a very important draw.”
Hiddink then went on to state that Netherlands should no longer be described as one of Europe’s top sides, “We shouldn’t talk too big about ourselves, because we are not one of the top teams in Europe. The third place at the World Cup in Brazil was fantastic, but you have to look through that result. Look at the reality.”
These weren’t the words frustrated Netherlands fans wan’t to hear and many are starting to feel Hiddink should be shown the door before he can do any more damage. A lack of potential replacements will probably see the KNVB stick with Hiddink, but another defeat in the remaining five qualifying games is unthinkable.
Luckily for Hiddink, Robin van Persie, Ron Vlaar and most importantly Arjen Robben should be back by the time Netherlands face Latvia in June, and with the coach lacking ideas, it may be up to the trio to drag Netherlands to Euro 2016.
We can’t wait for another defeat we been struggling in qualifying what a shame for Holland third in world cup few months ago same players but different coach . The KNVB what are they waiting for they know the reason of these defeat so immediate action change the coach either Norman de Boer cocoo . I was depressed yesterday so much why every new game we have to be under stress
Hmmm…Its hard to see why Hiddink can’t get them playing better. The players might not just have the right focus at the moment. This could be because of the effect of the transition from club football, which is incredibly intense, and the poor structure of the timing of the qualifiers.
It may also be because players who are affected by the above can still be effective if they have leaders in the team to fall in behind and follow their direction on the pitch. The problem is we don’t these players. Strootman and Robben are the exceptions and they didn’t play against Turkey. We can’t just rely on them.
Sneijder is an interesting one. He was the leader last night but is more of a lieutenant. He is like Iniesta in this regard. But we don’t have Xavi, Busquets and Messi and Puyol.
Vlaar is also important, seen by the way he led the backline in the WC and showed SDV the way. There are better players than Vlaar but not yet the confidence and leadership skills. Maybe Bruma is an option, but definitely not BMI who is too slow, gets caught out of position too often and makes the central partnership with SDV look awkward and amateurish at times. And as has been done before,putting BMI on the left in a back three is just stupid.
I think whats needed is a rethink of what Oranje is doing. As Hiddink said we have to look at the reality not the WC third place. The reality is we performed much better than we had a right to expect in the WC. If we had performed badly we would have been going through a regeneration phase right now. But do we have to fail first to do this? And are we wasting a good opportunity by not doing it now?
It might be said that regeneration is happening.
But bringing through new leaders under old ones takes longer and are our old leaders the best ones to mentor them? Its not as if they don’t already get mentoring in their club teams and Oranje coaches.
Strootman is undeniably one of the new leaders and it might be that he needs to be there if a complete regeneration is going to start to happen.
Of the old guard only Robben should be guaranteed a position. He is the only world class player in the team.
RVP for all his class is hot and cold and often is injured and the Oranje should learn from the past by only playing him when he’s in true form. Others should be given a chance and new ways of looking at the no.9 brought in. Sneijder for example should be seen as an option up front.
WS as much as I love him needs to make way so a new midfield partnership can develop.
RVP and WS should only be considered as ‘filling in’ when needed.
The left side is looking good with Depay and Willems and they should continue to get as much time together as possible rather than favouring Blind.
The main issue going forward is who is going to fill the 6,8,10 roles going into the next WC and beyond. This should start to happen now.
While Strootman should take one of them, we need someone to fill in as he’s obviously injury prone; maybe Wijnaldum. I think Clasie needs to be given a decent chance at least until other contenders prove otherwise; we can do better than Blind.
No one is really stepping up in the no. 10 offensive playmaker role but we won’t know unless given the chance. Maybe we don’t need to have a traditional 10 if playing with a false 9 which opens up a bigger group of players to choose from. But we have to find one or two players to play there and the way Oranje and Hiddink appear to be going that won’t be during these qualifiers.
I’d say thats a big opportunity missed.