But you wouldn't take out those players, because those are the players who were available to be picked.

Why do people keep using this argument to defend England? You could say that about any team. Take away their best strikers and they're nothing. You could say that about England when they've had decent teams. Take away Lineker and England were nothing.
The fact is that teams do have those sorts of players in the first place, that's what picking a team is all about.

Everything must reflect back to England because that's what our press are fixated on which is why they will constantly ask foreigners about their opinions on something which must be very far from their mind normally. I'd be more interested in hearing his opinions on his own team to be honest.

Personally I think if you take out Robben and RvP you still have a top international side. I'd replace them with Huntelaar and Delpay. Maybe not like for like but still top players. Goalie is ok. Vlaar is ok. Martens Indi is a top prospect and only going to get better. Ditto De Vrij. Janmaat and Blind are both top players I think. De Jong is a top player and a dying breed - a natural ball winner. De Guzman is decent if not quite at Strootman's level. Sneijder has been a superstar and might be on the way down but is still skillful. Robben and Van Persie are superstars. All the back-ups are good quality internationals.

More importantly, they are playing well and winning as a team which is what it is all about, after all.

Anyway, as the comment above says, you could say "take out him and him and that team isn't so special" about any team. A couple of individuals always stand above the others whether it's the Brazil 1970 team or the Runcorn reserves 1985 team.

They have a winning mentality though. It would be very hard to imagine England overturning a 1-0 deficit against a good Mexican team at the end of a game and winning 2-1.

I doubt it was a random attack. He was probably asked a loaded question about which of his players he would replace with someone from England.

And he said none as you might expect of a manager who supports hie team. He's hardly likely to go on record saying he'd get rid of so-and-so for Rooney or whoever is he?

It probably all changed in 1970-71. Just as the great English side was coming to its end, the Dutch revolution was well under way with Feyenoord winning the 1970 European Cup.

They're fortunate to have two great players in Robben and RVP carrying them.

'Carrying them' would be a bit harsh. They've won four from four and have beaten very strong Chilean and Mexican sides.

I wish England had had two great players carrying them. Or one.

Don't we all!

Good call. The world cup I remember most warmly, 1974, when the Dutch concept of total football joyously arrived on the world stage, I was supporting a very fine Scotland team as England didn't even qualify.

Rooney of course.

Well that was the only scenario where I'd imagine anyone would care, that's why I said it. If he was asked about England, then said he wouldn't have any of them in his squad, then my response to that would be; 'no shit!' DId anyone expect him to want England players in this odd, hypothetical squad?

If people are getting wound up over this then they're going to be foaming at the mouth by the end of the next PL season with Van Gaal there.

And I for one can't wait

Holland did well to beat Mexico, they looked dead and buried but never gave up. It says a lot that a player of the quality of Sneijder can pop up with a well taken goal and he`s hardly been mentioned. I think they are definite contenders as they are on a long unbeaten run (like Italy in 2006) and have quality players in the team. A nice mix of youth and experience. They had a dreadful Euros two years ago but that was a temporary blip.

Rooney.


It was a penalty. 'Stake their claim', because the English love to hype players. But none of them get anywhere near that team. The English love their individuals, LVG has created a team. That is why they are still in the World Cup and the English are at home playing on their complimentary Xbox Ones. This ain't rocket science, it's football.


Journalist asks question, person responds, media and the public focus on the response and not the context. It is what is known as the 'The Sun syndrome'. It's pretty epidemic.


Because he was anonymous and was playing up front by himself in unholy heat. It turned out to be a good substitution.

Not after he guides United to a safe 5th position finish.

The Dutch don't really have a winning mentality. Hence only one title compared to the stack of trophies for the Germans despite the Dutch often having more individual talent.

Sorry, but to me, Cahill prove during this tournament, what I have always suspected. He is NOT an international class defender.

I'm fully aware of that, thanks. It was an analogy, nothing else.

And at no point in my post did I use my point to defend England. Even without those two, they're still a better team than us. But it can't be denied that this is probably the weakest Dutch team in a good few years, particularly now the likes of van Bommel and van Bronckhorst aren't around anymore. It isn't good enough to seriously contend to win this tournament, unlike in previous years.

'Tis a shame that some people turn to pedantry to try and make a point though...

A win is a win. Doesn't matter if it was one player holding the team together or a dodgy referee decision. Holland have progressed further in the WC than England. Simple fact - one goal more than the other team equals a win.

I reckon a weaker Dutch team could still out perform an English team.

Of course he will have a vested interest in how the Man U players would get on..

For example would he try Rooney on the left given the backlash Hodgson got for it...not that Van Gaal would care what the press think.

Not sure why Cahill gets the hate, he was the only one of England's back four in this tournament that can actually defend.

They have to beat Costa Rica to reach the semi finals. That is something they have only done twice since 1978. I don't quite know where you are coming from with this.

I don't hate him and only mentioned him because it was suggested he would get in the Dutch team. I have said since England qualified that Cahill, Jagielka, Baines and Johnson are not international class defenders IMO.

What's an "international class" defender though? Gonzalo Jara looked alright in the Chile defence but is a free agent after being released by Nottingham Forest. Another of their defenders was Gary Medel (a midfielder by trade) who got relegated with Cardiff. Commentators and pundits like to push the idea that international football is on some higher plane compared to all other levels of football, but it's just not the case.