Comments on: Curing nightmares, forgetting Ronaldo, and Netherlands-Portugal: Sunday’s Euro 2012 B-Side

By: footballer4ever

footballer4ever — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 01:14:10 +0000

@ Richard Farley- after WC2010, CL 2012 fallout and now Eurocup2012, his confidence level is affected one way or another. He should really consider a change of scenery/club before Bayern Munich does it for him which would be worse for him.

By: Richard Farley

Richard Farley — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 21:57:50 +0000

I agree. I also agree with those who hypothesis his confidence was shattered in Champions League, and he keeps going back to old reliable because it’s what he’s most comfortable doing. I wonder if this will eventually lead him out of Bayern in a year and to a slightly lower level where he’ll regain his confidence before the final phase of his career. Is that Germany? Italy? A place like Spurs? Dunno … just spitballing.

By: Richard Farley

Richard Farley — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 21:55:21 +0000

The right side of defense seemed exploited a lot (I was long casually watching as I had the Germany game – I’ll catch up soon). Did they miss Heitenga? He’s been there only decent guy this tournament.

I didn’t know how to respond the drmonkeyarmy comment because I didn’t know if it was to me or just said based on general perception. I don’t think anything we do here is guided by scoreline exclusively. The posts pretty much speak to that.

By: passerby23

passerby23 — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 21:49:44 +0000

The perceptions turned out to be true as the Dutch looked poor defensively again. Another perception is that good goal-scoring ability overshadows overall team quality. The Dutch look good upfront, but have a porous backfield. Portugal could’ve had 4 or 5 goals in this one. They inexplicably handed the ball over where Postigo missed a gimme.

Overall, poor defending – not matter how many good chances you get on offense – will come back to bite you. Netherlands showed they were one of the poorer defensive teams in the tournament and deserve to go home, which they would have even if they had beaten Denmark.

By: footballer4ever

footballer4ever — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 21:14:32 +0000

Robben has been the “black” sheep at the club and national team. He’s a great player, but when you are predictable then your greatness is overshadowed. Heartbreak at the CL final and now a disappointment at the National team level can only mess up with his footballing psyche at some point.

By: danny136200

danny136200 — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 18:02:59 +0000

Just seen the starting lineups (or at least I think they are official), Bert van Marwijk dropped van bommel, and left the destroyer in, he also dropped Afellay. dont necessarily like the Afellay being dropped as I believe that he has played better than Robben at the Wings.

By: danny136200

danny136200 — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 17:58:09 +0000

I agree with you Steve. Every time Robben gets the ball, all he does is cut back to his left foot and sky rocket the ball over the stadium. Even though the Dutch are full of egotistical characters, Robben has dragging his team down with his performances and greediness with the ball. I will say drop him and either place Hunterlaar as a second striker. And also, drop one of the holding midfielders (either van Bommel or Nigel de Jong) and place in van der Vaart. Expect to see a plethora of goals in this one.

By: Steve Davis

Steve Davis — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 15:06:30 +0000

Robben … I feel I’m in the minority, but I just wonder if the Dutch aren’t better without him? He’s WAY too predictable and sure seems to be in it for himself. They have great goal scorers inside (whichever way they go with the choice of strikers). So would it kill Robben to try to stay wide a little more often as he moves to toward goal, looking to play provider rather than scorer? Apparently he thinks so.

By: drmonkeyarmy

drmonkeyarmy — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 13:21:28 +0000

They didn’t play poorly against Denmark….they created chance after chance. Just so happens they didn’t convert. These things happen. Furthermore, there is no shame in losing 2-1 to the Germans. It’s funny how perceptions are guided by scorelines. Convert a couple of the plethora of chances they had in Denmark…or even against the Germans (they were not dominated at all) then those exact same criticisms rendered above will have magically faded into oblivion.