Dutch football does not receive enough credit. After the trade rumors about Ryan Babel and Luis Suarez I decided that this blog needed to discuss the Dutch Eredivisie (the professional football league in the Netherlands).
The Eredivisie has never been competitive with leagues like the EPL or La Liga in the actual competition between teams. However, Eredivisie is by far the best league for the development of football players.
The Dutch style of training and development is true genius. Youth players do not play 11v11 until they are at least 15 years old. This means that youth get many more touches than if they were playing larger sided games like they do in most countries. The youth learn how to control a game, passing and moving and then are able to better translate that to a game with more players.
Dutch development also focuses on the football psychology of players more than any other country. They work to develop a strong understanding of all the variables in football, an understanding of the cause and effect relationships on the field. This allows for the players to be best suited for intelligent play and use their skills most effectively.
There is a reason that talented Brazilians, Portuguese, Spaniards and players from all around the world go to the Netherlands to develop their football skills. It is the Mecca of football development. Dutch football should get more credit for the great teaching they bring to football.
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I need help choosing an EPL team. After the World Cup, I needed to feed my soccer beast! I choose the Wolverhampton Wanderers because the name matched my initials. Poor choice. I’m looking for a young, exciting team in the vicinity of London. Any feedback? Manchester United has the history and roots, but I already have that as a Yankees Fan. I’m looking for a team that will have me smiling one minute and cursing the next.
My father is a Wolverhampton fan so I know what you have been going through. My suggestion would be to look at the Tottenham Hotspurs. They play a very aggresive style of soccer, one that creates many oppertunities but also can leave them vunerable in their defensive third. They have some young talent and give teams like Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal a real run for thier money. Tottenham is a team that will have you jumping out of your chair in excitement one moment and have your head burried in your hands the next.
Is it appropriate to wait until next season to start rooting for Tottenham? It seems like many of these teams play almost the entire year with international tournaments,etc. Does Tottenham visit America to tune up for their season?
With their current position in the league and how well they are playing I think that now is a perfect time to jump aboard. There is a “break” during the summer months but teams as large as Tottenham play many exibition games. Tottenham visited the US last year and played games all over the country including in San Jose, that being said it is doubtful they will return two years in a row.