Netherlands vs Scotland - Tonight

[Sam_b]

Scotland will be absolutely destroyed.

Discuss.

[Wanted Man]

I'm afraid it will just be a clinical 1-0 or 2-0. :(

[Sam_b]

The last time the two countries met, it was an emphatic 6-0 to the Dutch. This time round i'll be going for a conservative 4-0 victory.

[Wanted Man]

:lol: I remember that. It was in the play-offs for the Euro 2004 qualification. People were pretty fed up with the inability to finish first in the group (due to losing to the Czechs), and then, to make matters worse, we were also beaten by the Scots in the away match. So the 6-0 was a pretty big turnaround back then, and it was absolutely necessary to win that match emphatically.

Wouldn't mind seeing something like that again, to be honest. Qualification matches tend to be dreadful.

[Sam_b]

Scotland team to face the Netherlands (4-5-1)

McGregor

Alexander Naysmith Berra Caldwell

Teale Brown Ferguson Fletcher McCormack

Miller


--

My, what a crap team. Kenny Miller is les than hot right now, as is Ferguson, and I disagree with McCormack going straight into the starting eleven: I think he's pretty lacklustre.

[Wanted Man]

Netherlands team will probably be:

Stekelenburg

Van der Wiel, Mathijsen, Ooijer, Van Bronckhorst

De Jong, Van Bommel

Robben, Sneijder, Van Persie

Huntelaar

No complaints there, I guess. But I still think that it's a waste to play either Robben or Van Persie on the right, given that they are left-sided players. I'd like to see more of Kuyt on the right, just like at Liverpool. And maybe Van Persie on that attacking midfielder spot, but of course, he has competition from Sneijder and Van der Vaart there.

Ah well, it's just a luxury problem, IMO. Many opponents don't have that luxury (but often have a more solid backline).

[thejambo1]

its not the netherlands game tonight that worries me as we will lose and i hope not too heavily. what worries me is wednesdays game against iceland, i fear we might not win that one either.:( world cup dreams over for another four years.:(

[Wanted Man]

Apparently, the manager listened to me, he made the squad that I had in mind too. :p

Anyway, Scotland are shiiiite. :( I know, you can't really expect them to attack or anything. But I didn't expect them to shut up shop so much. A few days ago, some pundit guy was trying to be funny when he said: "It's okay if we lose the ball to the Scots, they don't want it, so they'll give it right back", but it's actually kind of true.

I would have liked to see some more challenge, because I really don't like the jingoistic atmosphere whenever the national team do well.

[Sam_b]

It was ridiculous, and shows to me that Burley's tactics are all wrong for the national team. Its one thing playing defensively and trying to hit on the counter-attack, but as you correctly say, it different to shut up shop completely. We didn't use the tactics last night to beat France on two consecutive occasions, so why would we use them against the Netherlands?

However, Jambo, its maybe my ridiculous optimism at these sort of matches, but I think we'll beat Iceland, only by one goal mind.

[thejambo1]

sam you are dead right,we should play to our strengths and we didnt! it was shocking!! im glad the dutch didnt really bother as it could have been a whole lot worse. i just dont share your optimism we might scrape a draw.:(

[Wanted Man]

Ah well, hopefully you guys will get your break. :) I think both you and Norway are prone to slip up against a country like Iceland or Macedonia, so it will take some good luck. But making the play-offs should be possible if everyone is fit and some realistic tactics are played.

[Killfacer]

Ouch, 3-0. In fairness even the best defences in the world would struggle to deal with Huntelaar, Van Persie and Dirk Kuyt.

[Wanted Man]

It's great to see Huntelaar doing so well. He has a great goal average, no matter if it's at Ajax or in Real, or in Oranje. I was worried when he joined Real, but no more. People have long said that he is too slow, blah blah. But I think he's becoming an increasingly complete striker. Of course, he ain't no Kluivert in that regard, but he's certainly more complete than most people suggest.