Feyenoord - The Dutch Big 3's Unsung Talent Factory
Ajax and PSV may catch all the headlines but a mix of talented youngsters and wily veterans means Feyenoord are perhaps the most interesting side in the Dutch big 3
The UEFA Europa Conference League, whilst not a marketing dream with a name like that, is perhaps one of the most interesting competitions in Europe this year. Started as a tertiary competition to facilitate more European representation for clubs and countries down the European pecking order. For the most part, it has been a success. Sides from Estonia, Armenia, Kazakhstan and even Gibraltar all found themselves in the group stages, whilst sides from Azerbaijan, Norway and Israel managed to make a go of it in the knockout stages. Of course teams from the bigger nations were present, this is UEFA we’re talking about after all, but even still it is not the traditional powerhouses but rather feisty up-and-comers here, and also Tottenham I guess.
We are now faced with a semi-final featuring 4 interesting and historic teams from across Europe’s big leagues, but not currently amongst the elite. Marseille, winners of the inaugural champions league, have the most historical success amongst the four. English FA Cup winners Leicester City just about scraped past PSV Eindhoven. Jose Mourinho’s Roma, who were almost put out by Norse minnows Bodo/Glimt, have stellar history but like Marseille have not much in the way of recent success. The most recent domestic title success amongst them is not Leicester’s miraculous 2015/16 Premier League campaign, but rather Feyenoord’s almost as miraculous run to the 2016-17 Eredivisie.
Five seasons on, Feyenoord haven’t yet repeated the feat, however, this current side are on the sort of trajectory that could see them challenge PSV and eternal rivals Ajax at the top. Don’t get me wrong this season they have been very good, winning 19 of their 29 games so far, but to best Ajax, you have to be better than good. Their run to a European semi-final however indicates that this side can make that leap.
If De club aan de Maas are to challenge for the title over the coming seasons, then bringing back Guus Til permanently might be crucial. The on-loan Spartak Moscow striker has been red hot since returning to the Netherlands after a couple of so-so seasons in Russia and Germany. Til is second in the Eredivisie scoring charts with 15 goals and has also pitched in with 2 assists. The 4-time Dutch cap is still only 24 and has a lot of growing to do, but averaging better than a goal every 2 league games is no small feat. A domineering aerial presence, Til knows how to use every inch of his 6’1 frame. The stats paint a picture of a very efficient striker. With a goal every 4 or so shots, Til is the best in the Eredivisie amongst any striker with more than 60 shots. In fact he’s scored only 5 fewer goals than league top-scorer Sebastian Haller on 23 fewer shots. If his .22 average were to hold up he’d be only one goal behind Haller on the same amount of shots. Roughly that is. Til is outperforming his xG (thanks EredevisiePlots.com), however only by three goals.
What strikes me about Til is his penalty box instinct. He always seems to know where the ball is or where its heading as soon as it enters the box. He’s quick enough to make use of this and absolutely adept and finding space from opposing defenders to slot away finishes. It’s safe to say i’m a fan of his and Feyenoord should look to secure him for the long term because he could be a crucial asset for them.
It helps that he’s had some excellent players around him. In Luis Sinisterra Feyenoord have an accomplished dribbler with an eye for goal who’s bagged 11 goals and 5 assists so far at only 22. Younger still, Turkish international Orkun Kökçü has everything you would want in someone in the middle of the park. Combative, Kökçü possesses explosive pace over short distances and is a silky dribbler. On top of this he has expansive vision and a deft touch that lets him place the ball wherever he likes. Only Dusan Tadic ranks above him in terms of key passes and expected assists. The Dutch-born midfielder is the real deal. If Feyenoord can keep him around then they will be an excellent side to watch, and a tough one to beat.
It isn’t just going forward that Feyenoord are replete with young talent. At the back they have a wealth of developing players that could become the core of a future title winning side. Justin Bijlow is a prime example. At 24, Bijlow was at the club when they won their previous title, although he was way down the goalkeeper pecking order. Now though he is undisputed #1 between the sticks and is drawing attention across Europe. Already 6-times capped for his country, the academy product already has 10 clean sheets for the season. Although his save percentage has dipped slightly in comparison to last year, he only played 14 games in 2020/21 due to injury.
It does help that Bijlow hasn’t been called on too often to make saves. Feyenoord’s defence is 2nd best in xG against. 22-year-old left-back and academy product Tyrell Malacia ranks 3rd in the league for tackles won. Malacia is the type of defender every manager wants, one who seems to genuinely love defending. He gets stuck in at every opportunity and very rarely doesn’t come out on top. He was rewarded last year with a Netherlands call up, and this year has featured in every single league game, clocking up more minutes than anyone else in the squad. Malacia is an indispensable talent but isn’t alone here. Lutsharel Geertruida is another prodigious academy talent making himself at home in the first-team squad. Much like Malacia, Geertruida relishes the physical battle and excels as a 1-on-1 defender. He’s also comfortable enough on the ball to really make it as a modern defender, with good passing and dribbling skills, hence why he has filled in at right-back during his career too. Marcos Senesi (24) and Marcus Pederson (21) add to a defence that is quite literally overflowing with young talent.
Every team needs it’s veterans obviously, but across the whole squad only 3 outfield players over the age of 30 have actually played. Such is the level of young talent in this side that the oldest of the ‘elder statesmen’ is 32-year-old captain Jens Toornstra, the only other remainder of their last title winning squad. Sitting in the centre of midfield, further back than in his youth, Toornstra is a constant standard-bearer. The standout of the ‘older’ players however has to be Bryan Linssen. Linssen has been a man reborn this season, notching a career best 12 goals and 8 assists so far at 31 years of age. Linssen is an attacking fulcrum through which everything can run. It is a true credit to manager Arne Slot that he is finding such form this far into his career, unlocking potential that has not been seen before.
Speaking of which, it takes a truly great manager to bring together so many young pieces in a way that is so cohesive and natural. That man here is Arne Slot, one of Europe’s best young mangers. Much like his squad he is young for his profession at only 42, but you wouldn’t know from the way his side carry themselves. Under Slot, the Club of the People play a slick, beautiful passing style where every movement is based around getting the ball into an attacking position with style and grace. They press out of possession as a unit, and they attack in possession as one too. At times its as if the team si run by a hive-mind. The understanding between the front four is effortless.
That it took no time at all for Slot to instil this style and leave any notion of last season’s mediocrity in the dust is impressive. That he did it after losing 19 goal talisman and captain Steven Berghuis and midfield anchor Leroy Fer with a reliance on only academy graduates to replace them? That’s downright astonishing.
It speaks not just to his expertise but to the legendary academy set-up at Feyenoord that they can continue to build and rebuild the squad this way. Kökçü, Geertruida, Malacia, Bijlow all stepped up from the academy to be vital cogs for this team. Sinisterra too was signed at 19, Senesi at 22 and Pederson at 21. They have gelled together and made De Kuip a fortress this year, and more is to come too. Patrik Wålemark and Ramon Hendriks (both 20) have forced their way unto the squad this year and doubtless others wait in the wings. The Feyenoord strategy is not simply making do with what you have, but developing it, expanding it and maximising it. If this sset of players continue their upward trajectory, then the sky is truly the limit.
All photos courtesy of Flikr/Football Pictures
All stats courtesy of FBref unless stated otherwise.