Edgar Davids

[Gilps]

Has been left out of the provisional 28 man Holland Squad. He's had a great few days hasn't he?

 

Van Basten's picks:

 

Holland 28-man pre-World Cup squad:

 

Keepers: Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Henk Timmer (AZ Alkmaar).

 

Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (Hamburg SV), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Barcelona), Tim de Cler (AZ Alkmaar), Kew Jaliens (AZ Alkmaar), Jan Kromkamp (Liverpool), Joris Mathijsen (AZ Alkmaar), Andre Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven), Johnny Heitinga (Ajax) and Barry Opdam (AZ Alkmaar).

 

Midfielders: George Boateng (Middlesbrough), Mark van Bommel (Barcelona), Phillip Cocu (PSV Eindhoven), Nigel de Jong (Hamburg SV), Denny Landzaat (AZ Alkmaar), Hedwiges Maduro (Ajax), Wesley Sneijder (Ajax), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg SV).

 

Strikers: Ryan Babel (Ajax), Romeo Castelen (Feyenoord), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax), Dirk Kuijt (Feyenoord), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Chelsea), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (PSV Eindhoven).

[Guest Scot]

As always that's a great squad on paper

[Benitez]

no surprise.

 

He's been pretty poor for Spuds.

[Stevie H]

don't think davids has really played at all under van basten has he? same goes for seedorf, kluivert etc?

[CarraLegend]

Has been left out of the provisional 28 man Holland Squad.

 

Not surprising, he's been pretty s*** for months.

[nvdm]

How old is Cocu already? He's been playing for ages.

[matty]

Midfield looks a bit weak though.

[Gilps]

He might not have set the world alight for Spurs, but you'd still think he'd be a better bet than George bloody Boateng.

[Guest Red Mist]

That's got to be the weakest Dutch team in years. I think Argentina will trounce them and they'll be lucky to get out of their group.

[Guest Scot]

He might not have set the world alight for Spurs, but you'd still think he'd be a better bet than George bloody Boateng.

 

Boateng's a top player I reckon.

[Benitez]

Boateng is a very consistent player, and he's had a very good season for Boro. Whereas Davids has just been poor! Makes far more sense for Boateng to be in the squad, and credit for picking the form player not the star player

[Guest Anders Honoré]

As always that's a great squad on paper

 

really? I recognise only Bronckhorst, Kromkamp and Heitinga in defence and there aren't really any proven top class midfielders in there save perhaps Van Bommel (whom Van Basten is no fan of). If anything, I think it's a very brave squad of him to pick by leaving out established names like Stam, Seedorf (why is he not picked, btw) and Davids.

 

Really looking forward to seeing them at the world cup. Van Basten's philosophy is possibly the most controversial among the top teams at the tournament. It has bore dividends for him so far. It will be interesting to see how he can get them to perform on the big stage.

[Guest Scot]

really? I recognise only Bronckhorst, Kromkamp and Heitinga in defence and there aren't really any proven top class midfielders in there save perhaps Van Bommel (whom Van Basten is no fan of). If anything, I think it's a very brave squad of him to pick by leaving out established names like Stam, Seedorf (why is he not picked, btw) and Davids.

 

Really looking forward to seeing them at the world cup. Van Basten's philosophy is possibly the most controversial among the top teams at the tournament. It has bore dividends for him so far. It will be interesting to see how he can get them to perform on the big stage.

 

It's at least as good as any other squad I'd say. You're confusing top class with star name. Boateng, Cocu and Van Bommel are very good.

[Gilps]

Never really rated Boateng I'm afraid. Decent Premiership player, but not sure he's international class. Could understand ditching Davids and Seedorf for a classy younger player, but that's hardly Boateng is it?

[Guest Anders Honoré]

It's at least as good as any other squad I'd say. You're confusing top class with star name. Boateng, Cocu and Van Bommel are very good.

 

Cocu is a million years old by now though, isn't he? Boateng and Van Bommel are quite good though Van Bommel hasn't really reproduced his form from PSV for barca. Add to that, it is only recently he has even been called up as Van Basten apparently felt that Holland's best midfielder lacked a few facets to his game.

 

I have no idea how good their defence is, tbh. Up front is as good as ever. Lots of these players are farily untested at the highest level though.

 

As said, think it will be interesting to see them play. I find it very hard to gauge their actual level.

[Swipe]

Really weak looking squad that.

[Swipe]

Why, because you dont recognise some of the names?

 

Sigh.

 

No, because I think its very ordinary. IMO.

 

Understand?

[CarraLegend]

Sigh.

 

No, because I think its very ordinary. IMO.

 

Understand?

 

Dont get all defensive, it was just a simple question. Do you watch much of AZ etc, what are their defenders like?

[Swipe]

Dont get all defensive, it was just a simple question. Do you watch much of AZ etc, what are their defenders like?

 

Mate, i made a f***ing comment that, by their recent standards, that squad - to me - looks fairly ordinary.

 

Don't have to f***ing justify it to you, pal.

 

This is a forum. If you had posted something which was the exact opposite to me, I wouldn't start challenging you to prove your knowledge of European football.

 

Jeusu christ.

[CarraLegend]

Mate, i made a f***ing comment that, by their recent standards, that squad - to me - looks fairly ordinary.

 

Don't have to f***ing justify it to you, pal.

 

This is a forum. If you had posted something which was the exact opposite to me, I wouldn't start challenging you to prove your knowledge of European football.

 

Jeusu christ.

 

Yeah, let's not bother discussing anything on a discussion forum. Or have you dug yourself a bit of a hole because you're basing your judgement on how recognised their names are?

[Swipe]

Yeah, let's not bother discussing anything on a discussion forum. Or have you dug yourself a bit of a hole because you're basing your judgement on how recognised their names are?

 

Belive whatever you want, oh great forum memeber.

 

I don't think that a great squad. The Dutch have always had great squads. I don't think that one has enough top class players.

[Guest 70400]

Has been left out of the provisional 28 man Holland Squad. He's had a great few days hasn't he?

 

Van Basten's picks:

 

Holland 28-man pre-World Cup squad:

 

Keepers: Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Henk Timmer (AZ Alkmaar).

 

Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (Hamburg SV), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Barcelona), Tim de Cler (AZ Alkmaar), Kew Jaliens (AZ Alkmaar), Jan Kromkamp (Liverpool), Joris Mathijsen (AZ Alkmaar), Andre Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven), Johnny Heitinga (Ajax) and Barry Opdam (AZ Alkmaar).

 

Midfielders: George Boateng (Middlesbrough), Mark van Bommel (Barcelona), Phillip Cocu (PSV Eindhoven), Nigel de Jong (Hamburg SV), Denny Landzaat (AZ Alkmaar), Hedwiges Maduro (Ajax), Wesley Sneijder (Ajax), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg SV).

 

Strikers: Ryan Babel (Ajax), Romeo Castelen (Feyenoord), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax), Dirk Kuijt (Feyenoord), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Chelsea), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (PSV Eindhoven).

 

 

Hmm... no Davids, Kluivert, Stam, Makaay, Seedorf.

 

Marco is going with a pretty young team. Expect them to do better now that the old farts are not around to start fights with each other.

[Stevie H]

Hmm... no Davids, Kluivert, Stam, Makaay, Seedorf.

 

Marco is going with a pretty young team. Expect them to do better now that the old farts are not around to start fights with each other.

 

think that's dead right. fewer egos than usual for a dutch squad. pretty surprised that makaay isn't included though, he's always looked quality.

[Swipe]

think that's dead right. fewer egos than usual for a dutch squad. pretty surprised that makaay isn't included though, he's always looked quality.

 

Is he injured?

[Guest Anders Honoré]

Had a poor season for Bayern though. And Van Basten only picks in form players. More surprised at the exclusion of Seedorf.

Edited May 8, 2006 by Anders Honoré