Tag Archives: PSV

FEATURE

Contrary to the Dutch philosophy; the Oranje backline seems evident for silverware

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The key to being successful in ‘The Beautiful Game’ is defense; as the old saying goes “Offense wins games, Defense wins championships”. For ‘Oranje’, the latter seems to always take a back seat, but with defensive clubs such as Chelsea and Juventus having remarkable success, maybe it is time for the Netherlands to change their perspective. With talented young defenders moving up through the ranks of their respective clubs, there could be a new horizon for the Netherlands. So here is a look at a few promising defenders that could take Holland from contender to champions.  Thomas Tittley writes…

VIRGIL VAN DIJK

The 23-year-old defender for Celtic has flourished in the Scottish Premiership and is now ready to move on, as he has been linked to both Everton and Southampton. Van Dijk has dominated the Scottish league and while some sceptics will claim it is a rather weak league, he has proven his talents by playing exceptionally well in Europe.  Van Dijk is a tall 6-foot-3 (1.93m), and is a bull on defense, using his size and strength and athleticism to overpower attacking players. Capable of muscling strong center forwards off the ball, while having the pace to keep up with quick and shifty wingers, Van Dijk averaged 0.7 tackles a game in Europe. Virgil has also shown his aptitude tactically as well, averaging an outstanding 3.4 interceptions a game in. To put that into perspective, Chelsea, one of the top defensive teams in England, averaged a total of 9.8 per game. Hopefully for Van Dijk, and Dutch fans, he will soon get his first international cap and be a part of a winning culture.

STEFAN DE VRIJ

The young central defender from Lazio has been a part of the Netherlands senior squad for a number of years now as the 23-year-old has already made 27 appearances, even wearing the captain’s armband during Holland’s friendly against Spain on March 31st after Sneijder left the pitch. He impressed during the bronze medal World Cup run as he appeared in every match that Holland played, even scoring the third goal of the 5-1 thrashing that the Netherlands handed Spain in the first game. This is proof that De Vrij is highly respected within the dressing room and by the coaching staff. Fortunately, it is not only his leadership and poise that are his desired attributes, his skill on the football pitch is evident. Like Van Dijk he is also rarely caught out of position, averaging 3.6 interceptions a game and 6.1 clearances a game, comparing that to the legendary Sergio Ramos, who only averaged 2.4 interceptions and 3.9 clearances, De Vrij’s numbers are extraordinary. If Holland are to succeed, De Vrij will have to continue to show his skills on the pitch and in the dressing room.

JETRO WILLEMS

If you could create a left-back in a simulator, it would be Jetro Willems, a player with dynamic pace able to bomb forward and harass defences, while still able to track back and help his own back line. It is that dynamic pace that leaves managers around the world salivating over his potential. Not only does the young man possess vast amounts of pace, but the ability to pick a pass. The electrifying winger linked up well with now former teammate Memphis Depay to create a devastating left wing attack, and when able to get by a defender, possesses great quality in his left foot and whip in crosses to devastating effect. Willems accumulated a staggering thirtheen assists this season in the Eredivisie, second most behind only Hakim Ziyech. To put that into perspective, the closest defender to that assist total was Bart van Hintum with 7, which put him tied for 14th in the league. But with his partner Depay gone, there is much speculation that Willems could also be headed out of the Eredivisie. Young Willems surprisingly made the 2012 Euro cup squad and even played in a handful of games, although nothing extraordinary. He has improved drastically since then, particularly attacking-wise, and will look to be the long-term left back for the Oranje in the future.

DARYL JANMAAT

Janmaat was a Dutchman who had a bit of a coming out party during the 2014-2015 season with Newcastle United. The 25-year-old right back moved from Feyenoord last season and struggled early on trying to adapt to the pace and physicality of the Premier League, but he eventually settled in and became one of Newcastle’s only consistent players. A very attacking right-back, Janmaat is strong in the tackle and has a sharp eye for making key passes that dissect opposing defences. Daryl totalled six assists this season, impressive for a right-back, particularly one that had an incredibly stagnant offense like Newcastle. Something Janmaat specializes in is the long pass, making 2.1 long passes a game, crucial for a team trying to attack when transitioning from defence to offense. This type of pass is particularly effective when wingers who possess immense amounts of pace are on the receiving end of the pass. With players who possess this type of speed such as Arjen Robben, Memphis Depay, Quincy Promes, Eljero Elia and Jeremain Lens available, the long pass could be the difference between winning and losing. Fortunately, Janmaat also takes care of his defensive responsibilities, tallying 2.8 tackles a game, tied for 20th in the entire Premier League, remarkable for a player more known for his ability to dribble at defenders and attacking flare. Janmaat could be the key that unlocks the treasure chest of trophies available for the Netherlands in the years to come.

These young men will have to continue to develop and improve if Holland wish to become truly elite and finally win that ever elusive World Cup.

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FEATURE

Total Dutch Football 2014/15 Manager of the Season

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Awards-Header

The votes proved that there was only one manager worthy of our first annual ‘Manager of the Season’ award. All staff were asked to name their top three managers. Each first pick received three points, second place received two points and one point was awarded for the third pick. The results are below…

Awards-ManagerOfTheSeason

Sticker-PhillipCocu

Winner – PHILIP COCU (PSV) 15 points

Great players, do not make great managers right? In only his second full year as coach, former international midfielder Philip Cocu guided PSV to their 22nd Eredivisie championship title. As an inexperienced manager, Cocu has led a team with an average age of 23, to an emphatic league victory winning by gigantic 17 points over bitter rivals Ajax.

Next season perhaps sees Cocu’s biggest challenge, a Champions League campaign and trying to retain the Eredivisie shield without some important cogs in this season’s wheel. Memphis Depay has already departed, whilst big money moves for Georginio Wijnaldum and Jetro Willems are surely round the corner. Cocu will have a large amount of money to spend, but former international team-mates Frank de Boer and Giovanni van Bronckhorst will be building squads themselves for a title fight.

2nd – EDWIN VAN DE LOOI (FC Groningen) 8 points

The 43-year-old from Huissen, clinched his trophy for the Pride of the North defeating PEC Zwolle in the KNVB Beker final earlier this month, the first time in the clubs history. A eighth place finish was a great achievement after losing many big names last summer, and another punt at the Europa League next season is to look forward too.

3rd – RON JANS (PEC Zwolle) 3 points

The beginning of the season was a great start for Jans and Zwolle, defeating Ajax in the Johan Cruyiff Schaal. A KNVB Beker final defeat was not to be shamed of, and finishing in the top six, the highest in their history is an unbelievable turnaround from the little team that couldn’t a few years back.

OTHERS

HENK DIJKHUIZEN (Excelsior) 1 point

JURGEN STREPPEL (Willem II) 1 point

FRED RUTTEN (Feyenoord) 1 point

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FEATURE

Total Dutch Football 2014/15 Player of the Season

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Awards-Header

After yet another set of entertaining Eredivisie and KNVB Beker campaigns, the TotalDutchFootball.com workforce has been voting all week and we are now ready to dish out our prestigious first ever ‘End Of Season’ awards.

All staff were asked to name their top three players. Each first pick received three points, second place received two points and one point was awarded for the third pick. The results are below…

Awards-PlayerOfTheSeason

Sticker-MemphisDepay

Winner – MEMPHIS DEPAY (PSV) 15 points

Like his manager, Philip Cocu, Depay was a unanimous winner picked first by all five voters. Over the past season no-one can doubt that without Depay, PSV would not have experienced the success they have this term. Depay notched 22 Eredivisie goals along with five assists that earned him major plaudits across the globe and a four-year deal at Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United next season.

His superb free-kick technique led to seven of those goals  – leaving most goalkeepers stranded as he lined up the set pieces from the edge of the area.  The flamboyant winger hit an average of 5.4 shots per game (according to Opta) and three assists (from 2.1 key passes per game).

With his tremendous determination, speed, skill and awareness, Depay has linked up well down the left with Jetro Willems (our runner-up). Connecting with the left-back has helped the 20-year-old create 13 goals in the league (an Eredivisie high).

This cocky youngster is heading to the Premier League, to a team who used to try and contain the cockiness of one Cristiano Ronaldo. He has all the attributes and swagger to hold his own in comparison to the now-Real Madrid star.

PSV and Eredivisie watchers will thank Depay for the memories this season and it is sad to see him go abroad but I’m sure all, including all the readers of this website, wish him good luck and keep chasing those dreams.

2nd – JETRO WILLEMS (PSV) 6 points

Depay’s team-mate is runner-up after a successful season appearing in 30 out of the 34 leagues games for PSV. Willems was a vital part of the Eindhoven set-up this year under Philip Cocu and they will be hoping to hold onto him as long as they can.

OTHERS

JASPER CILLESSEN (Ajax) 2 points

GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM (PSV) 2 points

LUUK DE JONG (PSV) 2 points

MICHIEL KRAMER (ADO Den Haag) 1 point

HAKIM ZIYECH (FC Twente) 1 point

MARKO VEJINOVIC (Vitesse) 1 point

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FEATURE

The next big thing at PSV – Jetro Willems

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Jetro Willems has long been destined for great things in Holland and this season he has kicked on at PSV in their title winning campaign. The left back has been a key part of what the side do in both halves of the pitch and is very much a modern day full back, with the quality to create in the final third. He has an incredible engine which allows him to get up and down the pitch, which is a key part of a wing back’s game. After first coming onto the scene at Euro 2012 when he became the youngest player to appear at a European Championships, but he hasn’t progressed as he would have liked since then.

This season has been a positive one both personally and professionally for the left back as he has performed brilliantly for a side which has won their first Eredivisie title since 2007. He has been key part of the side, scoring twice and getting twelve assists which is a great achievement for a left back. At the age of 21, Willems will be beginning to look towards his next move and PSV will be worried about losing their left back in a summer which could see them lose a lot of their big players.

Willems has been linked with clubs such as Manchester City and Real Madrid in recent months, which highlights how well he has done this season. The defender will have to be careful when selecting his next move as many before him have rushed to leave the Eredivisie and have found their careers regressing outside of Holland. The PSV player has a huge future ahead of him and could develop into one of the best attacking full backs in the world, but he needs regular first team football to achieve that.

It is easy to see why many clubs are looking at Willems as he is a modern day full back who adds an extra edge to his side when going forwards. He is quick, direct and is capable of beating his opposite number to put in dangerous crosses into the penalty area. His crossing and passing are both excellent as he has the technical skills that people come to expect of Dutch footballers. Meanwhile defensively, he is very good in the air, and his concentration and reading of the game are both excellent as he often intercepts passes before launching his side into attack with lung bursting runs forward.

The main concern surrounding his game is his discipline as he fouls often, as can be seen by his tally of 9 yellow cards and one sending off this season. The red card was actually the quickest ever in Eredivisie history as he was dismissed after just 29 seconds against NAC Breda. This is an area he can work on and if he improves it, he has the attributes to develop into a fine left back.

This summer is going to be key for both PSV and the Eredivisie as the league has benefitted from having a side other than Ajax topping the table. PSV must hold on to the majority of their current side and sign some new players so they can challenge for the title again, as Ajax will be going all out to regain the championship. Willems is an example of a player who is likely to move to another European league in the near future, but at the age of 21, he has time on his side, and would benefit from another year in Holland. Especially as PSV will be playing Champions League football in the 2015/16 season.

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FEATURE

How does PSV replace Memphis Depay?

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The announcement last week of the transfer of Memphis Depay to Manchester United has left PSV with a significant hole to fill.  Luckily for PSV, they have money in the bank now in order to try and fill this hole.  We all know and appreciate Memphis’ talents and he might be one of those once in a generation footballers but PSV need to ask the question “How do we Replace Memphis”? Even with Memphis leaving, PSV still have a very talented side but they will certainly miss the X-Factor that he provided.  Replacing Memphis will be a hard task but there are some options at PSV’s disposal.  Rogier Waalder looks at the candidates:

Jesus Manuel Corona (FC Twente)

One of the only players in the Eredivisie this year who catches the eye as much as Depay does, is the Mexican winger Jesus Corona, who plays for FC Twente.  A very tricky and skilful winger, he certainly has the ability to turn a game like Memphis does.  He has scored 13 goals in his 32 games this season and his dribbling, first touch and technique are in the same class as Memphis.  He does lack the power and free-kick abilities of Memphis but is only 22 years old.  FC Twente will be holding a fire-sale in the summer to clear their debts and so Corona is very much on the market.  A big stumbling block, though, is his wage demands with a recent poll showing that 85% of PSV fans do not think he is worth the reported 1 million EURO salary that he is after.

Sam Larsson (SC Heerenveen)

Swedish international Larsson is a new arrival to Heerenveen this season, after joining from Goteburg in the off-season.  He has proven to be yet another potential Scandinavian jewel that the Heerenveen scouting team has delivered over the years.  Has all the same hallmarks as Corona but represents a more powerful, cheaper option.  Larsson has contributed 8 goals and 6 assists in his 20 games this season. Heerenveen have already offered him a new contract, but he has refused to consider this at present.  He has a contract until 2018 so Heerenveen aren’t in any rush to sell but PSV might be tempted to make them an offer they can’t refuse.

Ricardo Kishna (Ajax)

Yes he plays for Ajax presently and yes this is probably the biggest obstacle in Kishna going to PSV, but transfers between PSV & Ajax are not unheard of.  Kishna is a year younger than Memphis and despite his young age has already proven that he can light up the Eredivisie.  His flair, trickery, dribbling and pace are very comparable to Memphis and he has a return of 5 goals and assists from 20 matches this season.  This current Dutch youth team player only has 1 year to run on his Ajax contract, so he could force the issue if PSV make a serious play for his services.

Elvis Manu (Feyenoord)

Plays for Feyenoord, so again some question marks surrounding a desire to sell him to PSV but he also has the hallmarks of someone who could replace Memphis.  A 21-year old natural Left Winger, Manu has had a good season for Feyenoord with 14 goals in 34 matches, including some great performances in the Europa League.  Manu has great pace and strength but his overall technique and consistency would need some improvement to reach Memphis levels but definitely a great raw talent.

Steven Berghuis (AZ Alkmaar)

Berghuis has been a standout performer for AZ this season with 10 goals in 22 appearances.  The former Twente youth player can play on either wing or as Striker and has excellent technical and passing abilities.  He has a strong desire to succeed (much like Memphis does) and would arguably be the cheapest of the options presented thus far.  He probably isn’t quite at the standard that Memphis is but would be a good squad player, in conjunction with another big name signing.

Bilal Ould-Chikh (FC Twente)

If PSV are looking at a longer term prospect that they can bring up to Memphis’ standard then Ould-Chikh might be their guy.  Only 17 years old he has already played 15 full games for FC Twente this season.  An out and out winger with great technique, pace and dribbling abilities Ould-Chikh certainly has the potential to rival Memphis one day.  FC Twente might be needing cash to satisfy their creditors at the moment, but surely they’ll want to hang on to their star prospect and try and build a team around him.

Adnan Januzaj (Manchester United)

Januzaj has been on the outer at Manchester United since Van Gaal’s arrival and was rumoured to have been offered as part of any deal taking Memphis to England.  It doesn’t look like this has eventuated but a cashed up PSV could do a lot worse than taking the talented Belgian to Eindhoven, even if it is on loan.  Even though he has not scored in the Premier League this year, the footballing world is very aware of Januzaj’s abilities with a ball at his feet and his technique and flair do rival those of Memphis.  He is on a massive salary at Man Utd and this is why a loan move but be the best for both teams, particularly as Memphis will certainly be a direct rival for Januzaj.

Serge Gnabry (Arsenal)

Another potential loan option is the Arsenal youngster, Serge Gnabry.  Like Januzaj Gnabry burst onto the scene last season before injury curtailed his plans and has had limited game time since.  He may be best suited to a spell in the Eredivisie, whilst also getting guaranteed Champions League action.  Gnabry has fantastic physical attributes and his attacking tendancies would be very well suited to this PSV side.

Ola John (Benfica)

For a 22-year old John seems to have been around for a long time, and certainly his club movements would indicate the same.  Currently at Benfica, the lure of returning home to PSV may be one that suits John as he looks to break back into the Dutch national team setup.  Another out and out pacy winger John could be the perfect provider for Luuk de Jong.

Filip Kostic (Stuttgart)

22-year old Serbian Kostic played 2 seasons in the Eredivisie with Groningen before earning a move to Stuttgart in the off-season.  He has played reasonably well in a struggling side with 3 goals and 7 assists thus far.  He has tremendous cross abilities and is also an accomplished finisher.  If Stuttgart do get relegated this season this might be enough to convince Kostic to return to the Netherlands and the lure of Champions League football.

There are some options available internally at PSV at present headlined by the wantaway Zakaria Bakkali and the raw but very inconsistent Florian Jozefzoon.  A long term potential replacement is the exciting young Steven Bergwijn, who made his Eredivisie debut on the weekend at the age of 17. Bergwijn is very highly thought of at PSV and has tremendous pace and acceleration.  If his technical abilities continue to develop over the next few seasons he is definitely one to watch.

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FEATURE

Unveiling four emerging stars of the Eredivisie

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One of the positives of not being one of Europe’s biggest leagues and having relatively small finances is that the Eredivisie is a fertile ground for bringing through young players. A lot of the clubs rely on the money that they receive for their youth graduates to run their clubs.

FC Groningen are well known for their ability to bring players through and have seen the likes of Arjen Robben and Luis Suarez develop at their club in recent years. Although the latter was brought in from Uruguay, it would be wrong to suggest that the club didn’t have an impact on where he is now.

After the news that Depay will join Manchester United, clubs have been reminded of the rewards that come with producing talented players and in this article Jake Jackman talks about some of the young players coming through who may not be well known yet.

Steven Bergwijn (PSV)

An obvious place to start is with a player who is at PSV with the reputation as the next Depay, and that is Steven Bergwijn, who made his debut at the weekend to become the youngest player to feature in the Eredivisie this season. The winger’s style of play has been compared to both Depay and Arjen Robben, which is high praise indeed, but the 17 year old has a long way before he can truly be talked about in the same breath as either. Last summer, he played an integral part in the Holland U17 side as they made the final of European Championships and Bergwijn won the award for the tournament’s best player. The winger is quick and direct which makes him difficult to play against, while he has a very good shot on him. Next season will be key to him as his chances in the first team will increase now that Depay has left the club.

Riechedly Bazoer (Ajax)

Ajax are well known for their ability to produce their own players and one of the most promising coming through at the moment is Riechedly Bazoer. He has been talked about as the future of Dutch football by Frank de Boer, while he has been compared with Clarence Seedord, Frank Rijkaard and Patrick Viera, which is big praise for an 18 year old. He is a complete midfielder as he can pass the ball well and he is more than capable in the tackle. As you would expect from an Ajax player, he has excellent vision on the pitch and has the ability to play defence splitting passes from deep. He has featured in a handful of games this season and showed his ability against FC Twente when he scored a wonderful volley to give his side the lead. He is seen as a key part of the new look Ajax side and it will be surprising if he isn’t a regular in the Eredivisie next season.

Bilal Ould Chikh (FC Twente)

The Twente player is another very talented attacker coming through and like Bergwijn, he is only 17 years old. He has been linked with a move to Manchester United in recent weeks after Louis van Gaal was impressed with the winger’s performances at the U17 European Championships. He has already featured for the first team at Twente, managing to score his first goal against Heracles in January. He is a very good dribbler and has already showed that in the Eredivisie, which is impressive given his tender age. He is another quick and direct attacker, who likes to run with the ball in the final third, which Holland have a lot of. Ould-Chikh is very mobile and stands at only 5’6” which makes him difficult to mark at times as he likes to weave in and out of defenders. He is set to leave FC Twente this summer which could be a mistake given he is already featuring for the first team.

Richairo Zivkovic (Ajax)

Many believe Ajax forward Richairo Zivkovic to be Holland’s next number nine, which is a big claim, but this 18 year old has already made his mark on the Eredivisie. He is another player developed by Groningen before moving to Ajax last summer. In his first season in Amsterdam, he hasn’t featured much for the first team, but he did make his Champions League debut, which was a huge achievement for the striker. He has also opened his league account for the club, although last season he managed to score 11 times in the Eredivisie for Groningen. He will be eager to feature more for Ajax next season as he attempts to make his mark on the league. He likes to run with the ball, and has the pace and strength to beat defenders when he does. The striker is very good in front of goal when the chances come his way and once he has been embedded into the Ajax style, he could be a very clinical forward for them.

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TRANSFERS

PSV wish to sign Man City youngster

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PSV sporting director Marcel Brands has stated that the Eredivisie champions wish to make the permanent signing of Manchester City loanee defender Karim Rekik when the transfer window opens on June 1st.

The defender, still only 20 years old, has been loaned to the Eindhoven side for the last two seasons and in that time Rekik has formed a strong central defensive partnership with former Chelsea youth Jeffrey Bruma.

After just clinching the Eredivisie title, PSV are looking to use the money from the sale of Memphis Depay to Manchester United to build a squad to compete in the UEFA Champions’ League group stages next term.

Brands speaking to De Telegraaf on Friday, the director confirmed that PSV wish to keep Rekik for the foreseeable future: “Karim simply has three options for next season. Firstly, he stays here and we buy him. That would hopefully be practicable for both parties. Another option is that he stays at Manchester City, however that is the least likely option. And last, another club buys him.”

He added that City were looking to loan the young defender out again, however that is an option that the defender has rejected:  “Karim wishes to breakthrough to the Dutch national squad and Manchester City wished to loan him into a different league, but Karim refused. At PSV knows he better chance of playing in the European Championships next summer. But for now, he has a choice to make.”

One would presume that the defender will make a statement on his future soon after the season ends next weekend, so if staying at PSV is not an option, the club can look elsewhere to help build the team for next year.

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TRANSFERS

Can Man Utd’s new boy live up to his expectations?

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Memphis Depay. A name which suits this 21-year-old, because it has strength, grace and you just can’t forget him. And the media makes sure this won’t happen with their numerous articles around the wonderboy based on Facebook-likes and vague social media posts. After all, the odds are looking good for the United fans. Mainly because of his connection with fellow Dutchmen and ex-coach Louis van Gaal writes Martijn Hilhorst.

‘LvG’ worked with the right-footed left winger at the World Cup in Brazil, in which Depay became the youngest Dutch scorer ever (at a World Cup). However, Louis van Gaal only made inquiries over the player’s availability last summer but decided to keep track of his progress rather than make a move. After 21 goals in the Eredivisie and his rising star we could state that his was a costly decision by the United manager.

The self-titled ‘Dreamchaser’, which is tattooed on his chest, have been compared to Cristiano Ronaldo and he could one day live up to this standard. According to Ed van Steijn, the man who scouted Ronaldo for United, he is better than the Portuguese was at his age: “If I compare him to a young Cristiano Ronaldo at the time, then Depay has more strings to his bow. I like him better’. And his coach Cocu also adds on the pressure by comparing him with his colleague at the Dutch squad: ‘Whether he can be as good as Arjen Robben? I think so.”

But can he live up to these expectations? When it comes to football ability, you can never tell for sure at this age, but mentality-wise without a doubt. In this aspect of football he is right up there with Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo. Constantly improving his technique and physique and being highly frustrated when it won’t go his way.

Memphis on the ball and beginning to to dribble is truly a heart raising event. His physical superiority does not limit his technical abilities which is rare – akin to his eagerness. But those moments of magic are often replaced by losing possession, shooting from impossible corners and being too irritated. His consistency is something Depay needs to work on. In the Dutch competition it’s okay to have an off-day, but not on the level he sees himself playing at.

The semi-finals of a WC, single-handedly making PSV champions after this seven years with winning the competition and on his way to become top goal scorer in the same league. Depay is only 21 years old, but he has been extraordinary and magical in many games for the Netherlands and his club PSV. Who wouldn’t want a young mix between Arjen Robben and Cristiano Ronaldo for around £25m?

To hear more of my views on Depay, watch the latest edition of Stretty News TV below…

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TRANSFERS

Van Gaal clinches Depay’s most coveted signature

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Premier League giants Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign Memphis Depay from Eredivisie champions PSV Eindhoven subject to a medical which will take place this weekend. The right-footed left winger will sign until the summer of 2019 with the option for another year. It’s believed that PSV received around £22 million for the Dutch international reports Martijn Hilhorst.

Depay have been playing wonderfully this season for PSV and is currently the top scorer in the Eredivisie with 21 goals (two more than colleague Luuk de Jong). ‘Memphis’ is just 21-years-old, but has already been compared to big stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Arjen Robben.

Depay was heavily linked with moves to Liverpool and Paris Saint Germain, but eventually choose Manchester United instead, where he will play under his former coach at the Netherlands, Louis van Gaal.

Depay on his move: “Time to set my goals again on winning trophies with Manchester United. I always say; dream, believe, achieve. I was dreaming and believing of becoming the champions of the Eredivisie with PSV and we achieved it. I’m extremely grateful towards PSV and all the fans for believing in me”.

Depay started at PSV when he was just 12-years of age, he made his debut in 2011/12 and scored 38 times in 88 Eredivisie matches since then. He also played fifteen times in the Dutch national squad, including the World Cup of 2014 in Brazil. His new coach, Van Gaal, let him make his debut for ‘Oranje’ in October 2013.

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NEWS, TRANSFERS

BREAKING NEWS: Depay opens talks with Manchester United

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It was revealed from AD Sportwereld tonight that PSV winger Memphis Depay has already had talks with Premier League giants Manchester United in regards to a summer move to Old Trafford.

20150419 - Memphis Depay

In what seems may be the biggest transfer move of the summer, Depay has been linked with moved to Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Louis van Gaal’s Red Devils over the past twelve months. It is now understood that the player and agent Kees Ploegsma have already held discussions with officials from the Premier League side regarding a potential move.

The news was released in the tweet below at 11.32PM this evening.

For more news as it is released follow our twitter feed at @TotalDutchFB

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FEATURE

Champions PSV could pay for their success… next season

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PSV Eindhoven have reaped the rewards of the hard work they have put in over the last few years to win the Eredivisie for the first time since 2008. A combination of good recruitment, investment in youth development and placing faith in a young exciting coach have seen PSV rise to the top of the Dutch game. Everybody has played their part in the club’s successes, from the directors to the players, but the hard work starts now as they must build on this season. Clubs in the Eredivisie are always vulnerable to clubs from bigger leagues coming in to take their best players and PSV will be aware of this as they begin to look to next season as Jake Jackman discusses exclusively for Total Dutch Football.

20150419 - PSV Champions 2

Before this season started, many people were tipping PSV for success after a very productive summer, but Ajax were still favourites as they sought their fifth successive league title. However, PSV have ran away with the championship and as things currently stand, they are an incredible 14 points clear of Frank de Boer’s side.

They have been successful for a variety of reasons, with the main one being the attacking quality in the side as they have been far away the top scorers with 87 goals at the time of writing, which is 22 more than Ajax who have the second best attack. The combination play between the attacking trio of Georginio Wijnaldum, Memphis Depay and Luuk de Jong has been scintillating at times, when you also add in Adam Maher and Luciano Narsingh, it could be considered on the best attacks in Eredivisie history.

Championships are also won on the back of great defences, and although they have conceded more goals than Ajax, the PSV backline has been very good this season, conceding only 29 which is less than a goal per game. The loan signings of Karim Rekik and Andres Guardado have been central to that, with the latter signing on a permanent deal in recent days. Guardado has played in midfield for the majority of the season, but his role is to help the back four, which has added some stability to a side filled with attacking talent. Unfortunately for PSV, it is unlikely that Rekik will be back next season as he is set to return to fight for his place at Manchester City.

Another key part to their Eredivisie win has been the development of players who were already at the club. Both Jeffrey Bruma and Jetro Willems have started fulfilling the potential that has been talked about for years in Holland. They have been a key part of the club’s success and both could become regulars for Holland over the coming years. Meanwhile, Maher has been a player overlooked by some, but he has been brilliant this season. His play deeper on the pitch is pivotal in bringing the best out of Wijnaldum, with the two striking up a good connection this season.

PSV will be going into this summer feeling vulnerable as rumours start to circulate about Memphis Depay and Georginio Wijnaldum, who have been the standout players this season. The former built a reputation last summer at the World Cup, and PSV managed to keep him for another season, but it will be hard to retain him this summer with rumours regarding a move to England increasing every day. His direct style of play will suit the Premier League, with his pace and skill on the dribble and his quality in front of goal making him similar to Eden Hazard. Both Liverpool and Manchester United have been linked to the attacker who has 21 league goals this season and is on course to be the top scorer this season.

Meanwhile, Wijnaldum has been linked with Newcastle United this week and there will be a lot of other clubs across Europe looking at the talented playmaker. At the age of 24, Wijnaldum is developing into the top class midfielder that he has been tipped to become since breaking through at Feyenoord. He is starting to become a regular for the national side and his contribution of 13 goals and three assists is really good for a midfielder. Like Depay, he is very good when running with the ball, while he is also very creative with through balls being one of his strengths. A lot of PSV attacks this season have been created by a Wijnaldum through ball to either Depay or Narsingh. He has been one of the best players in the league this season and it might be time to test himself in another league as he has the potential to become a world class midfielder.

Like Feyenoord last summer, PSV could lose a significant number of their side to foreign clubs. Depay and Rekik are almost certainly not going to be at the club next season, while there will be interest in the likes of Wijnaldum, De Jong, Willems, Jeroen Zoet, Maher, Bruma and Narsingh, all of whom have been regulars in the PSV side. It’s difficult not to admire the work done by the PSV directors and Phillip Cocu as they have brought in and developed a lot of young talent into champions of the Eredivisie. However their success could be the reason for their demise as clubs come in for their best talent. They will get a significant amount of money for them, but they will have to rebuild again after creating one of the most exciting sides in the club’s history.

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FEATURE

Three Eredivisie stars that could make an impact in the Premier League

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After the successes of Graziano Pelle, Dusan Tadic and Daryl Janmaat to name just three, Premier League clubs may opt to look at players in the Eredivisie to strengthen their squads before the deadline. It is an attractive league to buy from due to the technical ability on show, but there are always risks as the physicality is nowhere near the levels of the Premier League. There have been successes and failures from the Eredivisie in England. It remains a gamble that clubs, especially in mid table, will make as the finances involved make it attractive. There still remains the opportunity to sign a potential star for a very modest fee. In this article, Jake Jackman discusses three players who could be on the radar of Premier League clubs.

Luc Castaignos (FC Twente)

Luc Castaignos has featured in numerous gossip columns over the past year. Although they aren’t the most reliable, it’s evident he is on the radar of English clubs. He was once regarded as one of the brightest talents in Holland, but a move to Inter Milan at the age of 18 stunted his development. A move to FC Twente saw the striker return to playing first team football, and he is now ready to leave the Eredivisie for a second time, with England an attractive possible destination. This season he has been more consistent, scoring 10 goals in 14 matches across all competitions.

His football intelligence is arguably his best attribute, as his positioning and off the ball runs often see him get the opportunity to shoot. The majority of his goals come in the penalty box, highlighting his ability to find space in the final third. He can also beat a man with his pace, while Castaignos is very effective when playing as a lone front man, with the ability to bring midfielders into play. Several sides in the Premier League should be looking at the forward. Swansea were rumoured to have agreed a fee for the Dutchman in the summer of around £6.5m. That is good value in the striker market and the likes of Newcastle, Southampton or even Swansea might be tempted with all three lacking in depth in the striking position.

Jeroen Zoet (PSV)

Holland have had an embarrassment of riches when it comes to goalkeepers. Tim Krul and Michel Vorm have both come to England and had success, compatriot Jeroen Zoet could be the next to do just that. His size is more suited to England, than that of Ajax keeper Jasper Cillessen who impressed in the World Cup. Zoet has been on the fringes of the Holland squad, but is yet to make his international debut. After a successful period on loan at RKC Waalwijk, he returned to PSV and has been their number one for 18 months, it’s clear to see he has the potential to move onto a bigger league.

The goalkeeper is a very impressive shot stopper, with a save percentage of 79.41% before the winter break, which was up there in the top ten goalkeepers in world football. In some matches this season, Zoet has shown his concentrations, pulling off crucial saves in games which his side have dominated. Several clubs will know about the PSV goalkeeper and could be looked at by Liverpool or Tottenham, if Hugo Lloris leaves in the summer.

Joel Veltman (Ajax)

Joel Veltman has been consistent for Ajax this season at the heart of their defence. At the age of 23, he has already forged a reputation in the game, having played in the World Cup. This season he has shown his ability to contribute at both ends of the pitch, with three goals to his name. He has averaged 2.6 tackles and 2 interceptions per game, highlighting his ability to read the game and win possession back for his side.

As a Dutch player, it might be unsurprising to hear that he is good with the ball at his feet, and he likes to bring the ball out of defence. He is also capable in the air, although he may initially find the physicality of the Premier League difficult, given he is only 23 years old. Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal are all clubs in which he would fit in well, with a route into the first team mapped out, as none of those clubs have defensive strength in depth.

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NEWS

Five Things To Expect In 2015

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The year of 2014 is over, and it was undoubtedly a year to remember for Dutch football. A largely unfancied National Team finished 3rd place in the World Cup, demolishing Spain 5-1 on the way, Frank de Boer won a fourth consecutive title with Ajax, becoming the first manager to do so, and Louis van Gaal took on one of the biggest jobs in management when he when he was appointed as the Manchester United manager. 2015 is sure to be another big year, but just what can we expect?

Frank de Boer will leave Ajax

In 2010, off the pitch, Ajax was in turmoil, with Johan Cruyff clashing with the board. On the pitch however, Frank de Boer was on his way to his first eredivisie title with the Dutch giants. He has gone on to win three more league titles, playing the “Ajax way”, focusing on developing the club’s youngsters and playing an attractive style of football. He has gained many plaudits for this and has attracted the interest of some of Europe’s top clubs in recent seasons, but has always claimed to be happy at Ajax, saying that he wants to do well in Europe with them before he leaves. However, yet again his Ajax side fell at the first hurdle in the Champions League, and at the age of 44, with his stock higher than ever, it’s looking more and more likely that he’ll leave for one of Europe’s major leagues. As for his successor…

Jaap Stam will take over the reigns at Ajax

Due to the revolution of 2010 at Ajax, the majority of staff now are former players, that include the likes of Marc Overmars, Dennis Bergkamp, Edwin van der Sar, Wim Jonk and Jaap Stam. When Frank de Boer leaves, it is likely that Ajax will appoint someone within their ranks to replace him. Overmars and Van der Sar both have roles off the pitch, whilst Bergkamp has stated that he never wants to become a manager. That leaves Wim Jonk and Jaap Stam, and whilst de Boer has stated that he thinks they could both do a good job, Stam seems like the more likely option.

Ronald Koeman will win Manager of the Season

At the end of last season, Southampton lost their manager, Mauricio Pochettino to Spurs, and also lost many of their star players to bigger English clubs, so by the time Ronald Koeman had taken charge, many pundits tipped them to struggle, and some even said they could be drawn into a relegation battle. However, Koeman brought in two players who had been excellent in the Eredivisie for the past two seasons in Dusan Tadic and Graziano Pelle, and has lead the team to an impressive start in the league, currently sitting fourth in the table, and if they can hold on for a top four finish, Koeman will surely be crowned the Premier League’s manager of the season, surpassing the achievements of his predecessor, even after losing many key players.

Memphis Depay, Georginio Wijnaldum and Jordy Clasie will leave the Eredivisie

2014 was the year that many of the biggest Dutch talents left the Eredivisie after impressing at the 2014 World Cup. Daley Blind moved to English giants Manchester United, Bruno Martins-Indi moved to Portuguese powerhouses Porto, whilst Stefan de Vrij and Daryl Janmaat moved to Lazio and Newcastle respectively. However, Jordy Clasie, Georginio Wijnaldum and Memphis Depay all decided to stay at their Dutch clubs for another season. All three have continued to impress in Holland and are attracting the interest of Europe’s biggest clubs. Clasie and Wijnaldum have both performed well on the pitch and have demonstrated good leadership skills in captaining their respective teams. Both have been linked with teams abroad, with Italy looking like likely destinations for both of them. With 10 goals and 3 assists in 13 appearances, Depay is clearly too good for the league, and is destined for much bigger things, with the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United showing interest.

PSV will break their seven year title drought

PSV were the dominant team in Holland from 1999 to 2007, winning seven league titles, and even reaching the Champions League semi-final in 2005, narrowly missing out on reaching the final. However, since then, Louis van Gaal has led AZ to the Eredivisie title, Steve McClaren did the same with FC Twente in 2008-09 and Frank de Boer’s Ajax have dominated since then. This season though, Phillip Cocu has built a young side capable of reclaiming the title. With the likes of Depay, Wijnaldum and Willems leading the charge, it looks like Ajax’s four year reign is about to be over, and with a four point lead at the top of the table, PSV hold their fate in their own hands, and come May, should be champions.

Ron Vlaar will join a bigger club

Ron Vlaar, the Aston Villa captain, has been linked with a move away from Villa Park for the last year, due to his contract expiring at the end of the season. Vlaar’s stock rose due to impressive performances at the World Cup, including a semi-final performance in which he silenced Lionel Messi. It is likely that Vlaar will want to seek a move to a bigger club, it is just a question of when. Villa can either cash in on him in January or choose to keep hold of him until the end of the season and let him go on a free transfer. Arsenal and Liverpool have both been linked with him, but with Van Gaal at the helm, and the side in need of defensive reinforcements, Manchester United looks like the most likely destination.

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