Ibrahim Afellay thinks it’s great that Daley Blind always keeps up with the Dutch national team despite all the criticism. The former international took it on Sunday evening Studio Football up for the Ajax player, who is given a place in midfield by Pierre van Hooijdonk in his the Dutch line-up. Theo Janssen expressed his doubts about Blind and mentioned his lack of speed.
Van Hooijdonk put together his favorite line-up of the Dutch national team for the football talk show for the coming international match. He chooses Blind in midfield, along with Georginio Wijnaldum and Frenkie de Jong. “Blind in midfield, I’m very curious about that”, responded Janssen. “Really very curious. I think Blind is a good player, but I prefer that he has everything in front of him. When he plays in midfield, it often goes too fast. Especially when walking distances.”
Van Hooijdonk noted that he has put Blind in midfield because of his passing. Janssen acknowledged that the passing of the the Dutch international is ‘fantastic’. “He has played a lot centrally, while he used to play a lot in midfield. In my opinion, as a midfielder you don’t just go backwards. This often involves speed of action, but for him it has to do with walking ability,” said Janssen. “Distances must be bridgeable. He already struggles when he is in the last line.”
Afellay chimed in: “I totally agree with you, but I think it’s cool that he forces him to get away with it. Many other players would have been removed from the team long ago. He is the only player who lacks so much speed, but despite that his footballing qualities are showing…”, Afellay said, when he was interrupted by Janssen: “The Netherlands are not so good that we can dominate a match in possession. That we are so attached to the ball to impose the will on the opponent. So we will also come into switching moments and then you will fall short with Blind in midfield.”
The the Dutch line-up of Pierre van Hooijdonk
the Dutch line-up Van Hooijdonk: Bijlow; Timber, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Malacia; F, De Jong, Wijnaldum, Blind; Mountain House, Memphis, Gakpo