King Van Gaal's Orange Army || 19 games unbeaten

VanDeBank

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Preliminary squad:

NameClub
Nathan AkéManchester City
Mitchel BakkerBayer 04 Leverkusen
Steven BerghuisAjax
Steven BergwijnAjax
Justin BijlowFeyenoord
Daley BlindAjax
Sven BotmanNewcastle United
Brian BrobbeyAjax
Jasper CillessenN.E.C.
Jordy ClasieAZ
Memphis DepayFC Barcelona
Virgil van DijkLiverpool
Denzel DumfriesInternazionale
Mark FlekkenSC Freiburg
Jeremie FrimpongBayer 04 Leverkusen
Cody GakpoPSV
Ryan GravenberchBayern München
Arnaut Danjuma GroeneveldVillarreal
Vincent JanssenRoyal Antwerp FC
Frenkie de JongFC Barcelona
Luuk de JongPSV
Davy KlaassenAjax
Teun KoopmeinersAtalanta
Noa LangClub Brugge
Matthijs de LigtBayern München
Tyrell MalaciaManchester United
Donyell MalenBorussia Dortmund
Andries Noppertsc Heerenveen
Remko PasveerAjax
Devyne RenschAjax
Marten de RoonAtalanta
Xavi SimonsPSV
Pascal StruijkLeeds United
Kenneth TaylorAjax
Guus TilPSV
Jurriën TimberAjax
Micky van de VenVfL Wolfsburg
Stefan de VrijInternazionale
Wout WeghorstBeşiktaş JK
 

Irwin99

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Outside chance of going far? I mean, some very good players there and a manager who has got to the semi final with a (probably) weaker side previously.
 

V.O.

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How have the Netherlands not produced a single decent keeper since Van der Sar?

Cillessen, Bijlow, Flekken, Noppert, Pasveer seems like such a dire bunch for a strong national side. They'd probably have taken fecking Stekelenburg again if he hadn't retired. :lol:
 

BerryBerryShrew

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Outside chance of going far? I mean, some very good players there and a manager who has got to the semi final with a (probably) weaker side previously.
Do you reckon? That Dutch side had good players throughout and the brilliance of Sneijder, Robben, and RvP.

This team has predominantly unproven youngsters & mediocre talents and it's star men (VVD, De Ligt, FdJ) are not of the quality of the stars of the previous side. And VVD has turned to shite this season.

I don't hold out much hope for them tbh.
 

AshRK

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They are fortunate to be in a comparatively easy group. Finish 1st in the group and they may face USA or Wales ir Iran. Even I would fancy their chance against England. So qf is a real possibility.
 

MUFC OK

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Not an amazing squad. Last 8 at best. No hope of winning the WC.
 

Irwin99

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Do you reckon? That Dutch side had good players throughout and the brilliance of Sneijder, Robben, and RvP.

This team has predominantly unproven youngsters & mediocre talents and it's star men (VVD, De Ligt, FdJ) are not of the quality of the stars of the previous side. And VVD has turned to shite this season.

I don't hold out much hope for them tbh.
Those were some fine players but they also made the semi-final with Ron Vlaar playing like prime Vidic/John Terry throughout the tournament...he really was that good :lol: . That was a gutsy Dutch side from what I remember but not a great one at an individual level besides those players you mentioned.

I look at this side and I see some real talent at their club level but admittedly I haven't watched anything of them with the national side.

I wish them the best of luck. It'd be nice to see LVG do well even if he isn't remembered fondly on here.
 

Andersonson

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Those were some fine players but they also made the semi-final with Ron Vlaar playing like prime Vidic/John Terry throughout the tournament...he really was that good :lol: . That was a gutsy Dutch side from what I remember but not a great one at an individual level besides those players you mentioned.

I look at this side and I see some real talent at their club level but admittedly I haven't watched anything of them with the national side.

I wish them the best of luck. It'd be nice to see LVG do well even if he isn't remembered fondly on here.
You make it sound like Ron Vlaar sucked.
 

Irwin99

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You make it sound like Ron Vlaar sucked.
I didn't mean to imply that, but I was genuinely surprised that he was one of the best players of the tournament that year, his performances were colossal and hugely influential.
 

arthurka

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How have the Netherlands not produced a single decent keeper since Van der Sar?

Cillessen, Bijlow, Flekken, Noppert, Pasveer seems like such a dire bunch for a strong national side. They'd probably have taken fecking Stekelenburg again if he hadn't retired. :lol:
Flekken is turning into a very very good keeper. Suits this Dutch team to a tee. But I get what you mean, that said keepers like VDS are a generational talents they're few and far between.
 

KirkDuyt

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Outside chance of going far? I mean, some very good players there and a manager who has got to the semi final with a (probably) weaker side previously.
2014 Robben alone is better than our entire current squad put together. We have no attacking talent to scare the top sides. Memphis is a flattrack bully and all other attackers are either unproven (Gakpo, Simons, Lang) or meh (Berghuis, Bergwijn).

Our defense is far better on paper, but it will be hard to top the level De Vrij, Vlaar and even Martins Indi achieved in Brazil that tournament.

Having said that, aside from demolishing Spain we were very sober that tournament and didnt score in the last 2 (serious) matches.

We are not winning this tournament either way. We never have before, so we sure as hell won't with this bunch.
 

NLunited

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The best team wins, says Van Gaal. We may not have the squad to win the WC, but can put in good team performances and see where we end up.
 

Dr. StrangeHate

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Why is there an LVG sack watch? He has done a great job with a very average team. He probably is the best coach at the world cup.
 

BlackShark_80

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So the line up probably would be:
Flekken
Timber---------------De Vrij-------------Van Dijk
Dumfries--------Koopmeiners---------De Jong---------Malacia
Bergwijn---------------------------------------Gakpo
Depay​
 

Irwin99

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2014 Robben alone is better than our entire current squad put together. We have no attacking talent to scare the top sides. Memphis is a flattrack bully and all other attackers are either unproven (Gakpo, Simons, Lang) or meh (Berghuis, Bergwijn).

Our defense is far better on paper, but it will be hard to top the level De Vrij, Vlaar and even Martins Indi achieved in Brazil that tournament.

Having said that, aside from demolishing Spain we were very sober that tournament and didnt score in the last 2 (serious) matches.

We are not winning this tournament either way. We never have before, so we sure as hell won't with this bunch.
They were pretty amazing. As i said to the other poster I wasn't being offensive about Vlaar it was just a pretty amazing defensive unit with no real star names.

I hope you guys do well. I like LVG and see him as a legendary coach... even if that opinion is enough to get you burned at the stake around here :nervous:
 

Lee565

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Can't wait for when van gaal goes full mad scientist at some point in the tournament
 

FootballHQ

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So many former prospects in that list from 2014-16 period. Jordy Claise was massively hyped around the 2014 world cup but it never happened for him at Southampton.

Berghuis and Bergwijn have had decent careers but neither really kicked on.

Davvy Klassen was looking good until the disastrous Everton move.

Not convinced by them in final third but range of CBs and CMs is pretty good and worth of respect and LVG will set them up as difficult to break down so will be intriguing last 16 game with England if they meet.

Will go for quarter finals.
 

VanDeBank

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Where the f*** are all the recent Ajax signups? You cant just register to tell us your players are worth £100,000,000 and then bail.
 

KirkDuyt

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Where the f*** are all the recent Ajax signups? You cant just register to tell us your players are worth £100,000,000 and then bail.
:lol: takes me back to the influx of PSV newbies who screamed Memphis was the new Ronaldo when he was about to sign for United.

Once the Glazers realize who the true Dutch bald genius is, I'm sure my fellow Feyenoord fans will all sign up as Red_Arne_1908
 

crossy1686

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:lol: takes me back to the influx of PSV newbies who screamed Memphis was the new Ronaldo when he was about to sign for United.

Once the Glazers realize who the true Dutch bald genius is, I'm sure my fellow Feyenoord fans will all sign up as Red_Arne_1908
They were no where near as intolerable as the Leicester and Tottenham fans who invaded after they had a couple of good seasons and United were doing badly.
 

NLunited

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So the line up probably would be:
Flekken
Timber---------------De Vrij-------------Van Dijk
Dumfries--------Koopmeiners---------De Jong---------Malacia
Bergwijn---------------------------------------Gakpo
Depay​
Aké for de Vrij, Virgil in the center.
 

Stadjer

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How have the Netherlands not produced a single decent keeper since Van der Sar?

Cillessen, Bijlow, Flekken, Noppert, Pasveer seems like such a dire bunch for a strong national side. They'd probably have taken fecking Stekelenburg again if he hadn't retired. :lol:
He isnt retired actually. He is Ajax their 40 year old second goalkeeper because 38 year old (next week 39 year old) Pasveer took his place while he was injured last season. Without that injury Stekelenburg he might have never lost his spot for Ajax. If Stekelenburg didnt lose his spot there is a good chance he would be in this pre selection.
 

VanDeBank

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Will Malacia start over Blind at LWB?
No chance, Blind has done better there (especially offensively).

He isnt retired actually. He is Ajax their 40 year old second goalkeeper because 38 year old (next week 39 year old) Pasveer took his place while he was injured last season. Without that injury Stekelenburg he might have never lost his spot for Ajax. If Stekelenburg didnt lose his spot there is a good chance he would be in this pre selection.
No, Stekelenburg announced his retirement from the NT over a year ago.
 

Stadjer

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No chance, Blind has done better there (especially offensively).


No, Stekelenburg announced his retirement from the NT over a year ago.
Must have missed his retirment from the NT so i thought the retirement was about Stekelenburg having retired as a player.

Agree with the Blind thing, i think Blind will be one of the first names van Gaal writes down when he decides his team.
 

VanDeBank

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Must have missed his retirment from the NT so i thought the retirement was about Stekelenburg having retired as a player.

Agree with the Blind thing, i think Blind will be one of the first names van Gaal writes down when he decides his team.
I think this is his last dance. My prediction is Koeman going back to 4-3-3 and Blind isn't the best fit there when he's 34.
 

King Kendrick

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I think this is his last dance. My prediction is Koeman going back to 4-3-3 and Blind isn't the best fit there when he's 34.
I could see a universe where Blind plays a Pirlo-esque role with runners in front of him if FdJ is unavailable to be selected.
 

NLunited

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Will Malacia start over Blind at LWB?
I think Blind is still first choice but probably not for much longer. He is getting on in years. I’m a big fan, but would slot in Malacia in ahead of him now.
 

BorisManUtd

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It's off topic but thread title made me remember when van Gaal started singing 'LvG's red and white army' while signing autographs for fans so thanks for that reminder :lol:
 

BrilliantOrange

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--------------------XXX----------------
-- Timber - Van Dijk - Ake ---
Dumfries---------------------Blind
------X/Berghuis--De Jong-----
--------------X/Berghuis------------
-----Bergwijn----Depay-----------

Above is fixed...

The keeper will be Cillissen of Pasveer..

Other holding midfielder could be Koopmeiners or Taylor or De Roon

Other attacking midfielder could be Gakpo or Klaassen



Not saying this would be my choice, but based on all previous games and Van Gaals statements, this is the current truth..
 

Andy_Cole

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--------------------XXX----------------
-- Timber - Van Dijk - Ake ---
Dumfries---------------------Blind
------X/Berghuis--De Jong-----
--------------X/Berghuis------------
-----Bergwijn----Depay-----------

Above is fixed...

The keeper will be Cillissen of Pasveer..

Other holding midfielder could be Koopmeiners or Taylor or De Roon

Other attacking midfielder could be Gakpo or Klaassen



Not saying this would be my choice, but based on all previous games and Van Gaals statements, this is the current truth..
Yeh that’s not looking great. Unles Gakpo is the real deal I can’t see them getting too far.