Thursday 20 August 2015 13:52, UK
With Memphis Depay and Georginio Wijnaldum finding themselves on opposite sides when Manchester United host Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Saturday, which former PSV star will come out on top?
"Don't fight the Dutch. Imitate them." – King Charles II
With three Dutch managers in the Premier League, those words are still being heeded in English football and this summer two stars from Eredivisie champions PSV were among the headline signings. The early performances of Manchester United's Depay and Newcastle's Wijnaldum suggest there's still merit in looking to the Low Countries.
With the former team-mates in action against each other in the early kick-off this Saturday, we investigate the benefits of buying Dutch, their relative ability, potential, the merits of their respective choices of club and the two men's relationship with each other…
So what do you get from a Dutch youngster?
Newcastle boss Steve McClaren has a history of working with young Dutch players, even winning the Eredivisie title with FC Twente, and the former England manager believes that the average youngster from the Netherlands has a more acute understanding of tactics than his English counterpart.
My favourite expression about the Dutch is that when you say what you're going to do today, they say, 'Yes, coach, but'. And there was always a 'but'.
"My favourite expression about the Dutch is that when you say what you're going to do today, they say, 'Yes, coach, but'. And there was always a 'but'," McClaren told Sky Sports in an in-depth interview about his time abroad. "They would do anything for you but only as long as you could answer the 'but' clearly in their language.
"I remember one young lad I had who was a 21-year-old. We wanted to teach him a bit of tactics and a bit of formation work ahead of a game. He spent 20 minutes talking through what he would do against this team. It was in such an intelligent way and exactly what we'd been talking about.
"I told him that his presentation was unbelievable and that no English player I know could've done that. I asked him where he'd picked that up from. He explained that he'd been doing this kind of tactical work and intelligence work since he was about 11 years old. That's the difference between the two cultures."
Do they get along with each other?
The duo certainly had a good relationship on the pitch, scoring 36 goals between them as PSV stormed to the title. Both men were linked with moves away from the club for much of the campaign but that only appeared to add to their determination to succeed together according to Dutch legend Willem van Hanegem, a veteran of the 1974 World Cup final.
"Depay and Wijnaldum wanted to be champion with PSV and they succeeded," said Van Hanegem in his column for Algemeen Dagblad. "It was beautiful to see how these two celebrated the title. Wijnaldum was emotional and Memphis walked alone to cry on the field. They really enjoyed the success."
They also seemed to enjoy each other's success too and, of course, remain colleagues in the Netherlands national team. Wijnaldum was happy to praise his erstwhile team-mate upon the completion of Memphis's transfer to Manchester United. "Memphis has worked incredibly hard," said Wijnaldum. "He deserves this."
Who has inspired them to get where they are?
Memphis is known to have spoken to compatriot Arjen Robben before coming to England and even used to play as Wayne Rooney on the PlayStation. Wijnaldum, meanwhile, took inspiration from fellow midfielder Clarence Seedorf with whom comparisons were drawn given that both men broke into the first team of a major Dutch club aged 16.
But it is Louis van Gaal who gave both Memphis and Wijnaldum their international debuts before taking them to the World Cup in Brazil and the relationship between manager and players seems strong. Interestingly, it is the Newcastle midfielder who has been particularly gushing in his praise of the Manchester United boss.
He gave me a chance and opportunity to play in a World Cup after seven months out injured, and I am thankful for that. He helped me get my confidence back.
"Of course I would like to work with him again," Wijnaldum told Sky Sports in April. "He is a good trainer, and makes players better. I work really fine with him and he is a great man. He gave me a chance and opportunity to play in a World Cup after seven months out injured, and I am thankful for that. He helped me get my confidence back."
Who is the better player of the two?
In a summer interview with Sky Sports, iconic Dutch forward Marco van Basten was in no doubt that Memphis was the Eredivisie's stand-out performer. "He's a special talent," said Van Basten. "He's better than the rest. He's a very good player who is strong and has his own ideas, which I think is a good thing for a player. He's also a guy who still wants to learn."
However, for all Memphis's quality, Van Hanegem has an alternative view. "I think Wijnaldum - together with (Andre) Guadardo - are the key figures in this PSV team," said Van Hanegem. "They have kept things sharp. Depay and (Luuk) De Jong's goals have also been important but they can only function if the rest of the team support them.
"That's where Guadardo and Wijnaldum have been the outstanding players. They don't just give the thumbs up to their team-mates (when things are going well) but are also honest when things aren't going so well. I saw Wijnaldum having a go at (Luciano) Narsingh in the game where PSV won the title (4-1 against Heerenveen) - that's the way it should be."
Who will make the bigger impact this season?
While stressing the need for patience, Van Basten has no doubt that Memphis will flourish. "He now has to demonstrate that he can also play well in England," the former striker told Sky Sports. "He will show that (quality) to you. I don't know whether it will be quick and come in the first year but he has the skills to succeed in England."
However, perhaps Wijnaldum's Newcastle move could make the transition easier. "Dutch are often adventurous," said Van Hanegem in the spring. "Sometimes it works against them. I'd advise Depay and Wijnaldum to make an intermediate step and not immediately go to a really big club." Ultimately, don't be shocked if the moves work out for both players.
