Subject: [U21] Netherlands

Hello,
we are going to play friendly U21 match with Netherlands quite soon and as I have promised you, you have the chance to read the interview with Pauleta86 (the Dutch coach). That's just the first piece of information before the match - others will come tomorrow :)

First of all, what are your ambitions for the upcoming season? What do you think your chances in the World Cup are?

My ambitions are always going for the top, thus winning the World Cup. However I am not completely confident we have the material to reach this goal, but Sokker is just like football; you always have a chance of winning a match. We lack some defensive quality and the number of strikers which are at the desired levels are short in numbers also. However, we have some great goalkeepers and midfielders! So we'll see ;)

Do you have any idea of Cypriot national team (have you observed it a little)? What do you expect from this match? Do you expect you will have some problems to win or it will be an easy win?

I did not do much observing, since I am quite busy writing my Project Proposal and Literature Review for graduation at University. But I expect a win from our side of course, but not an easy win. We will not play with first 11, but with B-squad. My forecast is 2-0.

Do you prefer an attacking football and the risky game or more defensive one which minimizes the chance of loss? Do you have any particular skill preferences?

I definitely prefer attacking football! However, in my country I have to play counter-football since I am in the top league and lack quality in contrast to many teams in out top league. But if the situation allows I like attractive football with especially midfielders with high passing skills, which in my opinion gives some extra value to watching a match.

Big thanks to Pauleta86

really nice match, i could only watch first half because i dont have much time now but i really enjoyed it, attractive offensive football from both sides with many goals, what else would you want ? :)

Ιt wasn't supposed to be a u19 from their side or I don't remember correctly?
Nice try with our young players (many 19-20 year olds), a respectable defeat, this leaves big hopes for a good result next season, when they will be 21 maybe ?:)))

Their winger raped us by the way :P
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No... Netherlands played their B-squad as we have agreed :) I think that our players (especially midfielders) played a really great match... Next season they will be even better than now and that could be pretty good! :)

Yes their winger was really a problem... First of all I was thinking of covering him (just by using 5 defenders) but as I was doing the tactics, there were more problems than solutions and I didn't like it... So I decided to "ignore" him but he made a match on his own :D I didn't think he would be so good. But still I think it was quite good to leave him as it allowed us to play much more than we could have done when we tried to cover him really well :)

it is interesting that i observed almost whole first half and that winger didnt get in any chances there ..
btw our biggest problem will be always striker position, btw i thought about another position of cagatayli, it seemed that at def mid he could not use his biggest advantage, im quite curious how would he play as attacker though it may seems pretty crazy as he is born def

Yes man! This was a great match. Although we lost, we create chances and made some shots. I prefer to play this way rather than 5 defenders. To face a better winger you always need one extra player as a back up which right now is very difficult as I can understand. Anyway, very good try!

I think that the game was after all very nice! Our tactic actually worked as we thought, and 5-3 is not so bad beat, depending on that Netherlands is still a bit better, even if they play with their B-squad.

But as ostulc said, our first thinking was to use 5 defs. Finally, with his idealizing, we decided to play with 4 defs and with Cagatayli kind of a very low def-mid, and so on to ignore their winger. But as ostulc said, their winger was a lot better than was expected. I'd say that Netherlands didn't control the game, their winger did. ;)

But yeah, next week Czech U19 - Cyprus U21. Let's see what happens. =)

Best regards,

Mysi

Cagatayli as striker... Nice idea! I haven't thought about it at all but you are right that with his very high pace he could cause a lot of problems over there :)

Thank you :) It's nice to hear it :)

Or as a winger? =)

No matter if he has low passing, he'd run through everyone! ;D
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