'The Boss': Marco van Basten

[GangstaRiB]

Willem van Hanegem better not think.....

[aveslacker]

Co Co and Co

Who has already said he's happy in Austria and won't come back to Ajax because of how he was treated.

[Kowalczyk]

Marco van Basten has added Frank de Boer to the coaching staff of the first team.

Good move.

K.

[Kowalczyk]

Frank de Boer will specifically focus on working with the defenders.

Meanwhile, Van Basten himself has stated that his "approach will be different" from now on.

"Several people I talked to have suggested that certain things could be done in a different way. I will try to change, wherever it's possible. For example in my approach of the group. It's a good thing to try and understand the individual player. One word is not always enough."

In an interview with newspaper De Telegraaf Urby Emanuelson added: "the coach was always an exceptional football player, who did not require many words from his coaches in order to understand things, and to deliver. He was so good that no-one needed needed to express their faith in him. He never needed an arm around his shoulders. I don't really need that last thing myself, because I've played for Ajax for quite some years, but some of the other guys are more sensitive. There must be something that makes them underperform at the moment. Miralem Sulejmani, for example: he only just arrived, he cost Ajax a lot of money and now that the results are disappointing, people start to look at him. If you look at what's almost constantly coming down on Luis Suárez... you really have to be tough if you want to deal with that. Most of the foreign players need a bit more of a personal approach and some warmth. Don't get me wrong: the coach is already paying a lot of attention to us, but his main concern was always the team, so far. He's been focusing on the group process."

Marco van Basten is not too proud to admit his mistakes, I have to give him that. He has the courage to be vulnerable and I respect that.

On the other hand: a bit of personal attention for the players... How in the name of God can a professional coach ever think that his lads don't need that? Strikes me as a bit 'autistic', to be honest, and I find it rather painful that we gave all the power to a man who (apparently) still needs to discover things like that. It's just cost us another season - and I would say that's a f**king expensive little experiment...

K.

[SE6Ajacied]

Marco van Basten is not too proud to admit his mistakes, I have to give him that. He has the courage to be vulnerable and I respect that.

On the other hand: a bit of personal attention for the players... How in the name of God can a professional coach ever think that his lads don't need that? Strikes me as a bit 'autistic', to be honest, and I find it rather painful that we gave all the power to a man who (apparently) still needs to discover things like that. It's just cost us another season - and I would say that's a f**king expensive little experiment...

K.

All a bit strange and sad. Surely everyone should know that there are two sides to the job, to suceed you need good coaching skills which is why a store manager or whatever won't generally make a good football manager but you also need some "people skills". It seems a bit arrogant to me as well, perhaps he didn't need the comforting arm and is maybe an aloof type of person but not everyone is like that.

The only interaction at all that I've had with him btw was taking his picture as he walked out to training at the ground one day and he deliberately looked the other way. It didn't bother me and perhaps he's fed up with being photographed but if he treats the players in that way as well then we are bond to have these types of problems.

[bryan]

I've never been to impressed with Van Basten's man management. Look at the Van Nistelrooy/Van Bommel saga with the Dutch team, for example.

Man management is such a basic part of being a football manager. Coming out and admitting you're no good at it is like an airline pilot saying this: "Hi, this is the captain speaking, we're currently coming into land. There's a lever marked flaps and I have no idea what it's for. I'm new at this. But I'm willing to learn. So I hope you all will have some patience."

[aveslacker]

Funny analogy.

All I can say is that it shouldn't be a surprise, given how little coaching experience Marco had, that he might have to learn something on the job.

It's fair to blame Marco, but the club is to blame for hiring a guy with so little experience as well.

[bryan]

Everybody knew that he didn't have the experience of managing a club, and that he'd be learning on the job. You'd think they'd have learned their lesson after Wouters and Blind, but noooooooooooo....

I swear, why does this club have to do things so difficultly.

[SE6Ajacied]

Interesting Article From todays Times newspaper

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 740517.ece

[aveslacker]

Everybody knew that he didn't have the experience of managing a club, and that he'd be learning on the job. You'd think they'd have learned their lesson after Wouters and Blind, but noooooooooooo....

I swear, why does this club have to do things so difficultly.

Particularly after the Coronel report said that the club hired coaches and staff based on their playing career with (and connections to) the club rather than their actual coaching ability.

Like, uhm, you know, Marco.

[Philippe]

.........the club hired coaches and staff based on their playing career with (and connections to) the club rather than their actual coaching ability.

Like, uhm, you know, Marco.

He was not that bad with the Orange selection, was he ?

[SPL]

Thanks for the article SE6. It was very interesting

[aveslacker]

.........the club hired coaches and staff based on their playing career with (and connections to) the club rather than their actual coaching ability.

Like, uhm, you know, Marco.

He was not that bad with the Orange selection, was he ?

Perhaps I should have said experience rather than ability. And his start with Oranje wasn't great. It was only until he ditched the 4-3-3 that Oranje got good.

I'm on record as saying Marco can become a good coach (and I'm certainly hoping that he succeeds), but it's not ideal for Marco to have to learn on the job. I do believe he will continue to learn as he goes along. The problem with a club like Ajax is that a coach is expected to come in and win the league and go deep in Europe in his first season. Given that, it may have been wiser to hire a more experienced coach.

However, Marco is the coach we have, and I'm behind him 100%.

[Philippe]

Given that, it may have been wiser to hire a more experienced coach.
(...)
However, Marco is the coach we have, and I'm behind him 100%.

If that's so, maybe you should change your avatar. But that's entirely up to you of course.

I think MvB is more a gambler than a chess player. Very different style from van Gaal for instance.

[aveslacker]

Given that, it may have been wiser to hire a more experienced coach.
(...)
However, Marco is the coach we have, and I'm behind him 100%.

If that's so, maybe you should change your avatar. But that's entirely up to you of course.

I think MvB is more a gambler than a chess player. Very different style from van Gaal for instance.

I'll turn the avatar back over if we win the home leg against Fiorentina.

And just because I support him 100% doesn't mean that I can't be skeptical or critical. It's all out of love, of course.

[martinkohout]

Yikes! Leander really rips MvB in his latest (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog ... basten-psv).

[gordonvandekamp]

Yikes! Leander really rips MvB in his latest (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog ... basten-psv).

A bit harsh, but not entirely off base. I think Marco's made some very odd selection changes and still don't know why it wasn't a priority to fix the defense when he started. The article also fails to mention the injury problems we've had, which I think played a big part in the overall standings.

I haven't lost complete faith in him yet, and am willing to give him another year, but I won't be too hopeful if there aren't some big squad changes this summer. I do think he'll be on his way out early into next season if things fall apart again. We really need a coach that can bring stability and inspiration, and sadly, I don't think that's Marco.

[Cedric]

Yikes! Leander really rips MvB in his latest (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog ... basten-psv).

A bit harsh, but not entirely off base.

Well... For me it's an utter piece of crap, but then, maybe I'm also a bit harsh. It's sooo negative that it destroys any sense of seriousness, when it's not wrong or 'dishonest' (?). The worst part being the summary of Ajax - AZ. I'm not really impressed by Van Basten as a club coach so far, but I just don't see why this guy needs to be so unfair.

[gordonvandekamp]

Yikes! Leander really rips MvB in his latest (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog ... basten-psv).

A bit harsh, but not entirely off base.

Well... For me it's an utter piece of crap, but then, maybe I'm also a bit harsh. It's sooo negative that it destroys any sense of seriousness, when it's not wrong or 'dishonest' (?). The worst part being the summary of Ajax - AZ. I'm not really impressed by Van Basten as a club coach so far, but I just don't see why this guy needs to be so unfair.

I agree, I didn't even comment on the quality of the article, which I think is a bit poor and factually inaccurate, not to mention biased or frustrated.

I don't think Van Basten's season can be summed up in the PSV game, which the article tries to do. The reality is that we're still fighting for 2nd place in the league and the Champion's League spot. I know Ajax and Ajax fans demand a lot, and the last few years without winning anything have made it worse, but in perspective Van Basten has the team in a position many clubs would aim to be at. I'm still undecided on Van Basten, and while he could have done some things better, he's got us in a position that isn't all that bad, especially considering he devoted most of his summer to Oranje.

[Orange14]

Yikes! Leander really rips MvB in his latest (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog ... basten-psv).

Utter nonsense. Leander must not have actually watched the AZ match and seen how Vink missed two clear penalties, one on Suarez (which he never gets because of his rep) and the second on the hand ball by AZ. Schaars challenge is a Red card in any league under FIFA rules. Can't go in from behind with studs up, dumb Schaars!

As for Marco, he learned a lot this year and brought some good young players into the team. The Oleguer and Wielaert transfers were needed to shore up the center defense but with Alderweireld and perhaps Vertonghen, neither might be in the starting 11 next year. He also inherited a lot of garbage players, some of whom he was able to move out, others not. He made a real tough choice in staying with Vermeer when Stek returned and faces a tough off season choice about what to do. Tactically, some matches were top notch (Twente away) and others not. He gets another year in my book and, if Suarez stays, this is going to be a very good club.

[martinkohout]

if Suarez stays, this is going to be a very good club.

That's certainly the way I feel - though that's a pretty big "if."

[Kowalczyk]

Yikes! Leander really rips MvB in his latest (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog ... basten-psv).

Utter nonsense.

Quite.

I'm not a Van Basten fan and I am very negative about the state of my club at the moment, but this article is - indeed - utter nonsense.

Bollocks.

Shite.

K.

[Blind3]

I JUST WASTED 7 MINUTES OF MY LIFE READING THAT UTTER PIECE OF CRAP. TEN MINUTES I CAN'T GET BACK !! F*** !!

[SE6Ajacied]

I certainly don't think he watched the AZ game - we all agreed that the second half at least was an inspiring performance, exactly opposite of what this guy felt, if ever there was a stats only based "match report" then that was it.

He's obviously Dutch, writing in an English paper, what's his profile like in NL? This just strikes me as someone desperate for publicity (and a contract at home?) and trying to make a "controversial" name for themselves......

A bit hash maybe, but I think he'd sympathise after writing this piece of crap!

[SPL]

Very negative and far too critical of a coach in his first season. I am not convinced with Marco and certainly not over keen with some of his signings.It will be interesting to see who he brings in this summer.Finishing second will be a boost and hope being in the CL may keep Suarez for 1 more year.If we
are struggling by December then I think Marco will go. This club made a hugh mega mistake 4 years ago in letting Van Gaal go and not making him coach.