Milestone Memphis Depay
That is why it is a great milestone that Depay has now obsolete Robin van Persie as the top scorer of Orange of all time and he will undoubtedly pass him. You only hope for Depay that he can start a big tournament with the Dutch national team once. That must be next summer at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and United States. Because actually Depay was only at his first tournament, the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, top fit. He was just 20 years old at the time, mainly reserve Van Persie, but scored the winning goal in the group stage against Australia, making the Netherlands the next round. If he starts physically fit at the 2026 World Cup, he may be able to show again how good he really is as a striker of Orange.
Memphis Depay forgets earlier tensions and speaks about Robin van Persie with respect
Wout Weghorst and Brian Brobbey
Behind him the rinse is thin with Wout Weghorst while Brian Brobbey has dropped out for now. You should therefore not think that Depay gets injured for the World Cup. This applies to more attackers with the Dutch national team. On the wings, Ronald Koeman has Cody Gakpo, Xavi Simons and Noa Lang with Donyell Malen behind it, while Jeremie Frimpong is of course not a real right winger.
If you look at the Dutch Juniors at the European Championship in Slovakia, it will not make you very happy. Million Manhoef on the right does his best, but the big orange is not going to be him. In Ruben van Bommel on the left is rack, but it is hard to predict where his ceiling ultimately lies. You don’t have to watch at the top clubs either. Ajax and Feyenoord have no one walking for the Orange and PSV plays a long time, but it probably leaves. Ernest Poku from AZ was nicely noticed at Jong Finland-Jong Oranje, but to put your money on it …
Michael Traveler about not selecting Mexx Meerdink for European Championships Juniors: ‘If you get an invitation, you have to show up’
Mexx Meerdink
It remains a shame that national coach Michael traveler Spits Mexx Meerdink from AZ left at home. We don’t have to do particularly overstrain, because next month he will be 22 years old. He manifests himself as an interesting player, who might mean something to the Orange in the future. He does have specific qualities as a striker. It is a pity that he is not allowed to come along under the guise of group continuity, because he once renounced.
The Dutch Juniors is not just about results, but also about the personal development of young players. They give luggage in case they grow to the Dutch national team and then it makes more sense to choose Meerdink than for Noah Ohio from FC Utrecht or Thom van Bergen from FC Groningen. Meerdink has something special.
The assessment of traveler, who was a stronger candidate for me for the trainers position at Ajax than John Heitinga, testifies to a kind of fear. It is the Louis van Gaal philosophy, group thinking, taking responsibility, the process goes for the development of the individual. Only with the Juniors the last should be paramount. Certainly with a large tournament like the European Championship. Then the qualification and the then started group process no longer counts.
Step Reijnders from Milan to City much larger than from AZ to Milan
Meerdink does not have to despair when he looks at the construction of the career of his former clubmate Tijjani Reijnders. Time and again he takes great steps in his career. From AC Milan to Manchester City is a giant step, in which it fades from AZ to AC Milan. In Italy, and certainly at AC Milan, no wonder football is played and now he comes to City with Pep Guardiola.
Tijjani Reijnders gets the special number four at Manchester City, fans already enthusiastically
Nice to see that Reijnders himself is also curious whether he can take that step. Or you can play in those small spaces and make the difference. Whether he can increase his speed of action because the difficulty level is high. It is hoped that he can surprise himself and me again. You have to come from good house to succeed.
It says nothing that Reijnders cost seventy million euros. If you don’t deliver, they will put you outside. Reijnders seems to me someone who knows exactly that it works at clubs like City.