Below the Radar Analysis

Image Credits: Eric Verhoeven By: Kees van Hemmen On Sunday I wrote about Wout Weghorst , and why he shouldn’t be replaced by Donyell Malen in the Dutch national team's first XI. Yesterday the Dutch beat North Macedonia, and Malen played quite well in Weghorst’s place. For completeness, I’ve decided to do some quick-ish hits on how Malen played, and what, if anything, it changes. Disclaimer: I’m only looking at clips up until Oranje switched to a 4-3-3. Here's Malen’s first major involvement: At the beginning: And in the middle (which is actually the end) To start this move, Donyell is high and makes a run wide of the two centrebacks to get in behind. This is where he’s most comfortable – many of his best moments in Eredivisie play were in transition. Notice he’s outside of the two defenders, not between them. This is a departure from Weghorst's positional tendencies. Donyell doesn't like to occupy defenders, he prefers to elude them. On to the next example: Where th...

By: Kees van Hemmen      The Dutch national team has not struggled to create chances from open play to start this year’s European Championship. This is not only a departure from form under Frank de Boer, but it’s also wholly uncharacteristic of the side since their renaissance in 2018 under Ronald Koeman. Even at their best, Oranje have been a side focused on controlled, patient, almost defensive possession paired with an immense set piece threat.  To some extent this was by design, but it was also an Achilles heel caused by personnel dynamics in the final third. Overwhelmingly, Memphis Depay has been deployed as a lone centre-forward for Oranje since 2018. In this role, he’s been incredibly effective – an elite creator and orchestrator, the newly minted Barça man would often drop deep to receive, then turn a man and drive at the last line or look to switch play. On either flank, Memphis was typically joined by two of Quincy Promes, Ryan Babel, and Steven Bergwi...