Direction of Oranje under Hiddink?

With Guus Hiddink now in charge of the Dutch team for the next two years,what will the direction of this team be when he hands over the reins to Danny Blind. Will he be able to get them ready to win Euro 2016 or will he be laying the ground work for World Cup 2018?

• By Ibrahim Ayyub
• Follow Ibrahim on Twitter

Guus Hiddink announced his first Netherlands squad recently and it did not contain any big surprises. All the usual suspects were back along with players such as Gregory van der Wiel and Rafael van der Vaart who missed out on the last World Cup because of injuries. Yet, is this the correct approach to move this team forward by still relying on the old guard?

With Euro 2016 two years away and Holland’s first match under Hiddink set for September 3rd in a friendly against Italy, is it not time to start planning ahead for World Cup 2018 and start relying on younger players? Vorm, Verhaegh, van der Vaart, Sneijder, Robben, Kuyt, van Persie, and Huntelaar are all 30 or older and were called up for the Italy friendly. They won’t be any younger in two years and one wonders how many can be still effective in four years’ time.

The team seems to be in safe hands when it comes to goalkeepers. Fortunately, the biggest concern I had of the Oranje prior to the World Cup, was how their young defenders would do. Low and behold, they managed to do well in the presence of 29 year old Vlaar. The midfield though still seems reliant on the old guard if Sneijder and van der Vaart are still getting called up. Sneijder had a horrible World Cup while Memphis Depay was introduced to the world as an up and coming star. One can hope that the likes of Kevin Strootman and Stijn Schaars can overcome their injuries and return to form and get called up for the Oranje along with Adam Maher if he can get back on track and live up to expectations. There’s also van Ginkel if he can ever find playing time so the midfield seems to be well stacked for years to come if the time comes to bid the veterans goodbye.

Up front is another story altogether. I don’t expect Kuyt to be starting in Euro 2016 but then again, he is like the Energizer Bunny and just keeps going and going. Robin van Persie, Huntelaar and Robben are all in the 30 age group. Robben shines for both club and country while van Persie never did perform well enough for the Oranje to be enshrined with the greats such as Cruyff, Rensenbrink, van Basten, Gullit or Bergkamp when it comes to scoring in knockout stages of competitions. Moreover, Huntelaar just never got enough starts to prove himself in these tournaments as he has for Schalke. Unfortunately, it appears that the youth movement in this area is basically slim pickings.

Besides Jermaine Lens, the pick of the litter is rather unimpressive. Ricky van Wolfswinkel doesn’t seem worthy of being called up while the jury is still out on the likes of Luuk de Jong, Luc Castaignos, Jürgen Locadia, Ola John, Quincy Promes, Jean-Paul Boëtius. None of them stood out like Huntelaar did at the youth level and the only other Dutchman to be top scorer of the Dutch League since 2008 was Bas Dost and he too is playing in Germany. Which one of these men will be leading the charge in four years’ time?

The Netherlands is a small country compared to its footballing rivals but they always find a way to stay competitive. The road ahead is uncertain but this nation always finds a way to get it done. Euro 2016 is only two years away so some of these veterans can help them win this title for the first time since Euro 88. However, would that serve a proper purpose or would it better to start relying on the youth to prepare them for the World Cup in four years’ time? One hopes that Hiddink lays the ground work for Blind when he takes over in two years and not have Blind go through this situation with only two years to prepare. At least I will end this on a positive note, and that is there is hope.

Xavi Must Embrace New Role.

The hearts of the Blaugrana faithful were relieved when Xavi announced that he would be staying with Barça. It has been a very difficult season for Xavi who found himself on the bench for both club and country at the bitter end of both campaigns. As Barça enter a new era, Xavi must also come to grips to his role with the club as the leader, on the pitch and on the bench.

I was very glad, and so were many others, about Xavi staying with Barça and not heading off to the Middle East or the Big Apple.  His recent press conference indicated his frustration and disappointment of how last season ended coupled with the unpleasant World Cup that ensued right afterwards. One can’t blame him for thinking about leaving the club after last season. Yet, he made the right choice by not leaving the team.

Back in December 2013, I discussed how the likes of Puyol and Xavi should see their minutes reduced in order to lengthen their careers and give more minutes for the younger players. Sadly, Puyol decided to retire at the end of last season and not subject himself to go through another season of pain and disappointment. Xavi now has to start accepting that his role with the Blaugrana will be different. He cannot play 60-70 matches a year anymore and be counted on to start in the big matches anymore. It wasn’t a surprise that he suffered a minor injury after a Barça friendly recently. In other words, he has to take it easy.

I am a still firm believer that Xavi should also start the occasional odd game. However, I think his importance can be parlayed into the role of that of a closer coming off the bench.  Xavi can still be an asset in games where Barça would require his presence to protect a lead with his calming influence and control in the final 15-20 minutes of a match. That would not interfere with Barça’s philosophy that a good defense is a good offense and having his presence on the pitch to keep things from not going out of hand would be a smart move by Luis Enrique.

Furthermore, Xavi can also influential to the players as a leader, now that Puyol and Valdés have left the club. Xavi is now the father figure for the players and a mentor to the new and young midfielders too. The big question is whether Xavi can accept that role or will he opt to exit the club the winter. One can hope that Xavi remains with the club because legends like him should retire as a Barça player and not for another team.

Cautiousness Regarding Barça Reboot.

 

Last season culminated with Barça’s cycle coming to a crashing half. The system was in dire need of a reboot with someone new to take over command of this team. Thus, Barça fans will see their beloved club managed by a new manager yet again this upcoming season. Hopes are high while Barça attempt to reboot this club like Hollywood does with a movie series. The problem is, much like Hollywood, rebooting is no guarantee of duplicate success and fans need to be realistic with their expectations.

As the old saying goes, “Sequels Suck”. FCB is embarking on a sequel, or a reboot of a successful franchise that had lost its appeal. Barça struggled last season and lost two leaders, Puyol and Valdés when the season was over. Tata Martino’s era was brought to an end after one season and Barça went back to their roots by hiring a former Barça player, and their former Barça B manager, Luis Enrique to be their manager. Seems similar to Laporta’s era when the team made numerous changes to the squad after appointing a new manager.

I was a big fan of Luis Enrique “Lucho” when he played for Barça. I loved his spirit and his never die hard attitude. However, I think it is a bit naïve that people think Barça hiring Luis Enrique to manage the team means he is going to be another Pep and we’re heading back to the glory days. Just because Pep and Lucho played together for Barça doesn’t mean you’re getting the same type of manager; Far from it.

Lucho will bring back the discipline and intensity that was lacking last season under Tata. However, Lucho comes from a different school of thought than Pep. Pep had the luxury of playing under Johan Cruyff. Lucho played under another Dutchman, Louis van Gaal and he also played under Bobby Robson and other, and less, successful managers too. So it was no surprise to me when Barcelona sport dailies were reporting that Lucho might go with three at the back or five at the back, like van Gaal did with Holland this summer in Brazil instead of the traditional 4-3-3 we are used to seeing from the Blaugrana.  

I also noticed that many fans were excited about Barça signing Luis Suarez and proclaiming that the front three of Neymar, Messi and Suarez would be akin to the days of Messi, Henry and Eto’o. Everything always looks great on paper but let’s not jump the gun and think this those three will score 100 goals between them and make this team a force to be reckoned with. We still don’t know how many matches Suarez will miss and the fact that he won’t have a normal preseason with the team, let alone train with the team, obviously will affect him getting assimilated with his new teammates and manager. We also have Neymar recovering from a back injury too so these three will have to find their chemistry on the pitch and probably won’t be hitting on all cylinders soon.

I hope the Blaugrana faithful will show more faith in this team that has a new manager and new players and give them time to adjust and gel. However, I do not have much faith in this inept board. Nevertheless, veteran players and new players will be introduced to new roles and positions under a new manager. Let’s not forget that even Pep’s treble team stumbled out of the gate at first and I expect Lucho’s team to also start slow. The season opener is just a few weeks away and it would be best to be cautious about our expectations with this team and get carried away. This is not Pep 2.0, but a cheap version of it so let’s not expect a treble and just take it game by game like Lucho and his team will. Just hope the board don't muddy things along the way and further complicate things.

Spain have been Defeated but not Beaten.

World Cup 2014 was a train wreck for La Roja. The defending champions were embarrassed by Holland in the opening match and never recovered from that sucker punch that knocked the wind out of their sails and saw them exit the World Cup after just 3 matches. Many were ready to announce La Roja’s era was over however those talks are premature. Spain has been defeated but not beaten and the talented youth players for Spain ensure a bright future for La Roja.

 All good things must come to an end and Spain’s run came to a grinding halt in Brazil. Losses to Holland and Chile brought down the curtains on any chance of Spain repeating as World Cup champion.  I had previously written that history was not on Spain’s side and sure enough, Spain became the third consecutive European World Cup champion to crash out of the World Cup during the group stages while they attempted to defend their crown.

France won the World Cup in 1998 and crashed out in 2002 World Cup group stages while Italy won the World Cup in 2006 and crashed out in 2010 in similar fashion. Italy would pull off an encore performance in this recent World Cup, while France would get back in the World Cup Final in 2006. World Cup 2018 will be Spain’s opportunity to rebound with a strong showing like France did in 2006 or fall flat on their face and revert back to their disappointing selves we had seen prior to 2008.

Since Del Bosque will remain in charge for Euro 2016, it’s time for him to start the new project with the talented youth he has available. The days of Xavi, Torres, Villa and others is over and it’s time to focus on the likes of Thiago, Jesé, Isco, Deulofeu, Koke , De Gea, Bartra and others to supplement the veterans still representing Spain. The talent is there and Del Bosque didn’t suddenly forget how to manage a team, just made some glaring mistakes in terms who he called up and who he started. I still can’t understand him omitting Fernando Llorente.

His faith in the veterans backfired after an entertaining but grueling Spanish league season that left many players hurt or exhausted for the World Cup. Now, he will have the chance to make amends for that mistake if he does not squander the talented players available present. Not many managers get a to stick around after an embarrassing exit which is why Del Bosque better make the most out of the talent he has available. The talent is still absurd and he has the right ingredients for another competitive team; just as long as he chooses wisely his ingredients.

Messi Is Mortal After All.

It was disappointing to see Messi come up just short in his quest for the World Cup trophy. He helped carry his team all the way to the Final but in the end; his pursuit of matching Maradona’s World Cup feats was sadly similar to Maradona’s 1990 World Cup and not 1986. Messi will now have a few weeks to recuperate and get ready for the upcoming season and hope he has the support from the fans and the board as Barça begins a new chapter in their history.

Not often many athletes can reach the status of immortality. Michael Jordan did it when he helped lead the Bulls to the NBA title to be considered one of the legends along with Magic and Bird. Messi had been one of the many Argentinians to be considered as the “Next Maradona” but was the only one to actually be a genuine contender for that title through his performances. The only thing missing of course was a World Cup title on his resume. Sunday could have been his coronation into immortality status along with Pele and Maradona.

However, it was not to be. Nevertheless, being associated with the likes of Johan Cruyff, Di Stefano, Eusebio, Puskas, Van Basten, and Raul is not bad company either. For years, we heard that Messi could not be compared with the likes of Pele and Maradona until he won the big one. Unfortunately, Messi’s performance was not good enough, along with his supporting cast for that matter, to beat Germany in the final.

Yet, it is ludicrous to believe that Messi cannot be considered one of the greatest of all-time because he did not win the World Cup. People make it seem that it was Pele and Maradona and 10 other men that won those titles. Pele had Garrincha and other superb players by his side.  Maradona had Jorge Valdano, Burruchaga and Ruggeri in 1986 and then Canniggia in 1990 on the national team among others. They are all-time greats but to say that those two players won it on their own is farfetched to say the least. It was a team effort and that’s why people need to cut Messi some slack. Messi did not have the talent, healthy or injured, that those two players had. Messi only had Mascherano that was dependable throughout the World Cup. Messi bossed the attack and Mascherano bossed the back.

This whole World Cup, everyone expected Messi to mimic Maradona and lead Argentina to glory. He sure did play that role early on in the group stages but his role changed in the knockout stages. He went from being Messi/Maradona and then played the roles of other World Cup winners. When Di Maria suffered an injury against Belgium, Messi became Zidane and Pirlo on the pitch and bossed the midfield and pulled the strings for Argentina while being hounded by two to three players at a time. It’s no surprise that he looked slow and sluggish against Germany. He looked human when he missed that golden scoring chance early in the second half. He has been carrying the team, and the expectations of his country and the world, on his shoulders with Mascherano but in the end, it seemed to be too heavy for his back and legs to pull off one last golden moment.

Messi will now have some time off to regroup before he rejoins Barça for another season and chapter in the history books. He’s been through a lot with the injuries, the loss of teammates, managers and the death of a manager he knew for many years. It is with the upmost importance that the club be on his side and support the man and also protect him. Messi has never been the same since his injury against PSG back in 2012-2013 season and the club needs to ensure he is getting the right treatment and reunite him with Juanjo Brau to be his personal trainer again. The club also needs to protect him when the Madrid media attack him and by all means, not allow a repeat of club directors to insult him either. This is not just a team but a family where they should have everybody’s back.

Hopefully we are not seeing the beginning the end of Messi, but rather, just watching a minor blip in his career. He has given so much for the club and for football and we should have his back. Of course, Messi also needs to realize that he is not 22 anymore and cannot play every day. We saw how Raul played himself to the ground and Messi is close to doing the same to himself. He is only 27 but the mileage on those legs is probably those who of one who is 32. However, that’s going to be easier said than done what with Copa America taking place next summer, followed by Copa América Centenario in the summer of 2016 and perhaps Confederations Cup in 2017 (if Argentina win the Copa America) and then the World Cup again in 2018.

Messi will not retire from playing for Argentina now but he has to start avoiding playing in meaningless matches such as international friendlies for Argentina across the globe, early rounds of the Copa del Rey, Champions League group stage where qualification and first place has been reached. He also should not play a full 90 minutes in games where the outcome has been decided by a four goal margin after 60 minutes. We are witnessing one of the greatest of all times who may play himself into early retirement if he keeps playing at this pace.

We do not know what the future will hold for Messi. However, it is time to stand by Messi in these difficult moments. If anybody has given us Barça fans so much glory and happiness in our long history, that no one else, not our beloved Kubala, Cruyff, and Pep could during their playing days. We will always be grateful and remember him for his legacy, for the trophies, and for being an overall good human being. If his best playing days are behind him, then so be it. In the end, we will still enjoy the magic for years to come even if he is not at his best and hope for more success.

So Close Yet So Far Away.

Ibrahim Ayyub gives his opinion on Netherlands World Cup run which ended in the semi-finals.

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They came, they played and they were vanquished in the Semi-Finals. The Oranje gave us another memorable but yet heart breaking tournament. Sure, it was disappointing to see the Oranje fall short of winning a World Cup again, however, this was the team many thought wouldn’t even make it out of the group stage. We should enjoy the good, the bad, and the ugly of this tournament and keep our fingers crossed that Guus Hiddink can pick where van Gaal left off for Euro 2016.

It is somewhat bitter sweet to see Holland play in the 3rd place match of the World Cup. Van Gaal hates it and I don’t blame him. Playing this game is just a reminder that these players were one game away from another World Cup final. This had the makings of a Hollywood vigilante movie; Death Wish / Kill Bill style. Holland avenges every World Cup Final loss with wins in this World Cup against Spain for 2010, then Argentina for 1978 and then Germany for 1974. Well, the script had a major rewrite and Holland found themselves coming up short and playing for Bronze. They were so close yet so far away from the promised land after being knocked out by what else, a penalty shootout.

Ultimately, there will be “What Ifs” with this exit as there were in other exits. Why didn’t van Gaal drop van Persie and start with Huntelaar instead against Argentina? Why did he continue to stick with Sneijder even though he was not the same player that he was four years ago? Why did he not learn from other managers and not go with a defender early in a penalty shootout (Euro 2000)? Sadly, those and other lingering questions that will forever be in the back of the minds of many who were hoping for a better ending.

There were some positives from this World Cup. The biggest question mark for me was how strong would the back four do in this World Cup and they actually performed well. A new star was born thanks to Memphis Depay who is a finalist for the Best Young Player Award. Most importantly, the mood around this team is much better than it was at this time two years ago.

Here’s hoping Holland end this World Cup on a good note with a win to finish third and not exit this tournament with back to back losses. Here’s hoping that Holland can continue to take steps forward without any steps back. The first positive step would be to get over the pain of falling short and beat Brazil today.

Holland 2-1 Mexico; The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

With the recent passing away of the legendary actor, Eli Wallach, who played the role of Tuco Benedicto Pacífico Juan María Ramírez (The Ugly) in one of the greatest movies of all-time, The Good, The Bad & The Ugly. I decided to dedicate my latest column in his memory, by looking back on Holland’s win over Mexico that featured all three aspects. Holland will now face another CONCACAF opponent, Costa Rica.

• By Ibrahim Ayyub
• Follow Ibrahim on Twitter

The Good

Holland’s never quit spirit. Kuyt was the perfect example of a player who did everything that was asked of him to do on the pitch. Sneijder, even though he continued to struggle and failed to step up, as noted by Adrian Bucher on this website not too long ago, also didn’t sulk or hang his head low and kept fighting and scored the equalizer. Mexico eased up after they went up a goal and Holland were determined to keep looking for that equalizer which they deservedly got. Depay and Huntelaar coming off the bench were great moves by van Gaal. Huntelaar scoring on a penalty, after missing his last few with Schalke, under such pressure was great and also a boost for this team. After so many expected a group exit for the Oranje, a return to the Semi-Finals seems very possible.

The Bad

Holland’s performance in the first 60 minutes was something to forget. De Jong’s injury hurt the midfield, as Blind struggled to fill in that role while the fullbacks were getting exposed constantly by Mexico. Cillessen looked shaky at times while Blind and Vlaar could have done more to block Giovanni Dos Santos’s effort that resulted in a goal. Perhaps the heat played a part in it but they cannot afford to start another match like this again. Sneijder without De Jong and Depay struggles and hopefully Depay can start besides Sneijder, but at whose expense in the starting lineup? Can Depay replace De Jong even though he is not as defensive savvy or will van Gaal prefer to go total football against Costa Rica?

The Ugly

The heat was one of the ugliest factors in this game for both, the players and the spectators in attendance. Good thing FIFA allows water breaks, which van Gaal used to his advantage by giving Sneijder a chat about tactical changes and rightfully so. It’s foolish to believe managers can’t talk to their players during these water breaks. What next? Players can’t talk amongst one another as if they’re in school?

Robben’s diving along with his subsequent confusing apology was not needed. We all know Robben likes to make a meal out of most tackles and Rafa Marquez did foul him for that penalty. Robben’s dive in the second half when he intentionally tripped over Layun’s legs was embarrassing and not needed. Obviously, he should have been awarded a penalty in the first half and perhaps his reputation played a role in the referee not to point to the spot. The Tale of The Boy Who Cried Wolf comes to mind and I wouldn’t be surprised if referees doubt if he is being fouled or diving. I also wouldn’t be surprised if the referee gave the Robben penalty either after he realized he should have given one in the first half. Sooner or later, a referee will book him and the last thing we need is a player like Robben to be sent off, like Gheorghe Hagi against Italy in Euro 2000, in a knock out game. We need our best players on the pitch. His apology afterwards was confusing and just prolonged the controversy even more.

Costa Rica has impressed at this World Cup by advancing from a group that featured three former World Cup champions. Holland will be playing a later kick off when they face Costa Rica so perhaps the heat won’t be a factor in this matchup. However, Holland better avoid another Good, Bad and Ugly performance against Costa Rica if they want to book a ticket to the Semi-Finals where they await the winner of Argentina-Belgium.