Metgod hopes Derby County can benefit from his World Cup experience
JOHNNY Metgod is hoping Derby County will benefit from his World Cup experience with Holland over the coming season.
The Rams coach was part of a four-man scouting team that helped the Netherlands finish runners-up in South Africa earlier this month.
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Johnny Metgod
Metgod is an advocate of the 4-2-3-1 formation that Derby have been experimenting with in pre-season – the same system the Dutch employed on their way to the final.
And he feels he has gained valuable knowledge from his time away with the national team that he can share with Rams boss Nigel Clough, the rest of the coaching staff and the players.
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"I was very fortunate to get all the support I needed from everyone at Derby in order to go out to the World Cup," said Metgod.
"It was a treat for me and I do realise that it would not have been possible without the full cooperation of the people you are working with on a daily basis.
"They have done me a big favour and the only thing I can do for them is, hopefully, repay that favour.
"I'm sure I've learned more because you are seeing all sorts of players from different countries and you hear lots of different opinions about how you should play and what formation you should play.
"I have always given 100% to Derby County and I'm absolutely sure that I will repay what the club has done for me – and more."
Metgod, a former Dutch international, believes Derby's new-look formation will help to get the best out of the players at the club.
"In my view, the system suits the players that we had and, in particular, the players we have brought in," he said.
"In the long-term, I think it will give you a chance to control a game when you have possession of the ball.
"And even if you haven't got possession of the ball, it gives you a chance to more or less do whatever you want and what you are good at.
"It will take time to get it right and you may lose some games but I think once you have taken a decision to play a certain way, that's what you should stick at.
"Then you can work at it and, hopefully, progress and get better and better."
As part of his work for the Netherlands, Metgod would watch and analyse opposition teams, coming up with ways to cope with their strengths and exploit any weaknesses.
Bert van Marwijk's side came under fire for their physical tactics in the final against Spain, which they eventually lost 1-0.
Metgod, however, feels the criticism was not justified.
"I thought the criticism was unfair," he said. "The foul by Nigel de Jong really should have been a sending-off and not a booking but, apart from that, I think we tried to win a World Cup final.
"We're talking about the World Cup final – it's not a League game or a friendly – and I think if you want to win the World Cup, you've got to try to do everything you can to try to win it.
"We knew that the best chance we had of beating Spain was to make it a physical game, certainly in midfield.
"We knew that if we let them have the ball and pass it around, we wouldn't have had a chance.
"To say that we were over the top, I just think that is totally unfair. We didn't play the best football but we were very, very difficult to beat.
"At the top level, it's not all about playing nice football. If we had tried that against Spain, we would have been blown off the pitch."
Metgod is left with fond memories from the first World Cup to be held in Africa.
"It was unbelievable and the enthusiasm of the South Africans – and everybody there – made it like a big party," he said. "It was a great pleasure to be a part of it."
Comments
by WB, SE
Saturday, July 31 2010, 5:29PM
“Des - I have not made any comment about whether or not having Mr Metgod at Derby is negative! I will now - it is a very promising situation!
What I was doing was responding to the Mr Metgod's view of the cup final; even there I pointed out that I understood the point that he was making - that it was a big chance for his side to win the World Cup and therefore tactics had to be devised to try and make it possible. My view was that Holland - normally a fine side - were ugly in their efforts to win it. Spain are professional and all professional sides break the rules on a regular basis; it is just that the Dutch when beyond the pale in that one particular match. Spain are a far better team and Holland knew it. I think that has covered everything.”
by Des, Derby
Friday, July 30 2010, 6:38PM
“As much as Holland were guilty of over physicality in the final, the Spanish were guilty of diving and play acting. But we shall ignore that because the Spanish play some neat football right? Anyway, I am with ramfangazman on this. I see no way that having a coach who was involved a set up which reached the final of the world cup is negative.”
by ramfangazman, Spondon
Friday, July 30 2010, 4:44PM
“ffs, that was one challenge!
holland weren't nearly as "physical" in the world cup final as is made out.
All I'm saying is, how can one of our coaches being involved in a world cup final possibly be negative?”
by WB, SE
Friday, July 30 2010, 2:37PM
“Can ramfangazman be a little more specific? Did he admire the player that put his studs in the chest of the lad representing Spain? I did not. What a self styled 'tough' player he was.”
by ramfangazman, spondon
Friday, July 30 2010, 11:06AM
“yeah, holland were rubbish to get to the final weren't they?
I can't believe the moaning sometimes!”
by Andy, Mansfield
Friday, July 30 2010, 10:23AM
“Square Peg, boring, boring, boring. Go back to the Tricky Tree website.”
by Square Pegs, Round Holes
Friday, July 30 2010, 10:10AM
“Very true WB. I wonder if the Netherlands shocking football was in some way linked to Metgod.
After the dreadful garbage Derby served up last season maybe Negative Nigels bad Karma followed him to the dutch camp.”
by WB, SE
Friday, July 30 2010, 8:22AM
“Yes I understand fully what the coach is saying about the cup final; it was the big football event and one to win, if at all possible.Having said all of that the memory remains of a side noted for its football but playing in a very ugly way.You see youngsters on the parks trying to copy pro footballers; I hope they can blank out the wretched Dutch performance in the final.”