Virgil van Dijk | Performances
- Thread starter Samid
- Start date
-
In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
What's the point in spending £75m on a defender if the team is not coached to be able to defend at all? Does Klopp think simply shoving a slightly better CB in the team will magically make an ultra attacking team defensively solid?
Yeah true. He’s clueless in that regard
On second thought this is very true. My bad, Chris!
Not a go at Smalling at all, it’s a go at Liverpool for how stupid they were to pay such a ridiculous fee for VVD. One which will never be justified...there’s nothing wrong being labelled Dutch Chris Smalling if you cost let’s say 40 odd million euros or so. £75M? Get the feck outta here
What they meant is, being a Dutch Chris Smalling is actually a praise for VVD and an insult for Chris Smalling.On second thought this is very true. My bad, Chris!
Not a go at Smalling at all, it’s a go at Liverpool for how stupid they were to pay such a ridiculous fee for VVD. One which will never be justified...there’s nothing wrong being labelled Dutch Chris Smalling if you cost let’s say 40 odd million euros or so. £75M? Get the feck outta here
Of course. No defender might be able to justify 75m fee. Liverpool paid it because of the summer drama and January.He’s not bad but he’s by no means anything special either.
The latter true maybe but you’re speaking hypothetically. Fact of the matter is, VVD is definitely overrated, especially for the price he went for. That will forever be linked with him and truth be hold he’s not capable of playing up to that standard - ever. AKA Liverpool fecked up big time here
How did Smalling agenda get into here?Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
£75M for Dutch Chris Smalling
Couldn't make it up even if you tried...Liverpool
This guy almost cost a Pogba, let that sink in.
This guy takes Liverpool to the next level though remember... guy is average as feck.
Very unfair to drop him straight into the system in January especially when the defenders are constantly exposed to 1 on 1's. Should've bought in the summer and given him time to bed in.
Honestly he's being made to look worse than he is because of the system being used, he was overpriced, but not many defenders would look good the way Klopp has them playing.
That’s how I see it.
I hope you aren't serious.
Weren’t Liverpool unbeaten in 15 when VVD joined or something? They have now lost 2 of the 3 games he’s played in.
I still believe hes not what Liverpool needed. Liverpool needed a Terry or Vidic type defender, they went for a ball playing CB which is the last thing they actually needed.
Hes a good player and i'm sure will improve them but in the system that Klopp plays hes going to be exposed a hell of a lot
Hes a good player and i'm sure will improve them but in the system that Klopp plays hes going to be exposed a hell of a lot
And he didn't feature in the only game they got an impressive result
They broke the world record for a defender on a player who has played for Groningen, Celtic in the Scottish league, a mid-table PL club and for a second rate national team. It’s simply laughable.
How much did we pay for Rom again?
Someone tell me, just so I can hear it...
Someone tell me, just so I can hear it...
Last edited:
Bank transfer mostly I'd imagine. Why?
Not a fan of VVD but can't fault him. Blame should go to klopp. Give this defence to Jose he will make them hard to beat and get the best out of their side. Heck even pulis, allardyce, Sean dyche would make this defence look far better. Truth is klopp cannot organise any defence.
Agreed, Klopp just isn't good at coaching defenders. His biggest failing is not utilising a DM to cover his frailties in defence, they'd be a better team if they sacrificed one of their current midfielders for a good DM. Fabinho would be a good signing in place of someone like Can.
Smalling is a good defender so this is a bit harsh..Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
£75M for Dutch Chris Smalling
Couldn't make it up even if you tried...Liverpool
To be fair to VVD he's always been a bit shite.
Yeah, and I don’t really see the similarities. In terms of defending, Smalling is much more capable, but VVD is much better with the ball. Are their similarities both are fast and black?
I don't think it was meant that they are similar style defenders. Saying VVD is the Dutch Smalling was basically saying VVD is as crap as Smalling is. But I think Smalling is a far far better defender than VVD could ever hope to be.
He is an excellent defender and it will be a great transfer for Liverpool with time.
He's fine, but he's not even slightly in the "one of the world's absolute best defenders" bracket that you'd expect when spending seventy-five bloody million on a defender. I mean, really! They paid the world record fee for a defender for someone who last played for Southampton and isn't generally named in any sensible person's top five defenders, or even top ten. When you pay that kind of money on a defender, you'd expect to get one of those once-a-generation specimen. Not someone who's probably decent.
Didn't see him tonight but every time I've watched VVD (only about 7 games, granted) he has looked great. I expect him to do well but hope I'm wrong.
Hopefully tonight will have shattered his confidence.
Virgil van Dijk is very good, although a bit nonchalant.. often too relaxed on the ball, often going into challenges he should stay away from... like when they conceeded the other day vs. Swansea. He might be a good reader of the game, but by definition he’s not when he does stupid things like that.
Many good defenders in the league, but is he really better than let’s say Chris Smalling? A better passer for sure, but not a better defender at all. 75M is ridiculous no matter how you look at is, especially as he is neither young nor exceptional.
Many good defenders in the league, but is he really better than let’s say Chris Smalling? A better passer for sure, but not a better defender at all. 75M is ridiculous no matter how you look at is, especially as he is neither young nor exceptional.
A good defence is more about collective organisation than individual ability.
He is good on the ball but never worth £75 million.
Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
He doesn't read the game very well for a £75m defender.
Always thought you could tell a top defender because they are always already where they need to be. Whether they're the type to defend aggressively or by sitting off and readinng them game, you don't see them getting caught in no man's land or arriving on the scene at the last minute to try and make a llast ditch save of some kind.
VVD makes poor decisions about when to go for the ball. He's often in completely the wrong place on the pitch or seems unaware of where opposition players are. I mean, there are very few if any top level CBs in the PL these days. They are nearly all guilty of doing these things...but he's definitely no exception.
Even if he did cut it out it would only help Liverpool so much as it's the midfield that leaves the team so exposed and poor organisation from every player at set pieces. You can only solve so much by bying better defenders. Liverpool's style of play relies oon dominating the game to the point the other team can't mmount effective attacks. THere is no real plan for actual defending...problem is ullike City, they aren't good enough to pull this kind of thing off. Moments or spells arrive in games where defening is necessary.
Always thought you could tell a top defender because they are always already where they need to be. Whether they're the type to defend aggressively or by sitting off and readinng them game, you don't see them getting caught in no man's land or arriving on the scene at the last minute to try and make a llast ditch save of some kind.
VVD makes poor decisions about when to go for the ball. He's often in completely the wrong place on the pitch or seems unaware of where opposition players are. I mean, there are very few if any top level CBs in the PL these days. They are nearly all guilty of doing these things...but he's definitely no exception.
Even if he did cut it out it would only help Liverpool so much as it's the midfield that leaves the team so exposed and poor organisation from every player at set pieces. You can only solve so much by bying better defenders. Liverpool's style of play relies oon dominating the game to the point the other team can't mmount effective attacks. THere is no real plan for actual defending...problem is ullike City, they aren't good enough to pull this kind of thing off. Moments or spells arrive in games where defening is necessary.
It was strange for Liverpool to be so hellbent on getting him and only him of all defenders, indeed going so far as to pay a world record fee. Always thought it was an ill fit.
What Van Dijk is arguably world class at (for a CB) is his distribution from the back. He's also very good in the air. But he's average in 1v1 situations and gets caught off position way too much for a defender of his age and experience.
So you would've imagined him to be the perfect CB for a team that were already defensively solid, but struggling to start quick counter attacks/keeping possession. So pretty much the opposite of Liverpool. It actually seems as he's been detrimental to their attacking play by slowing them down, because their players seem to constantly look to play it back to him to ping a pass forwards, whereas they used to pour forwards at lightning speed with the midfielders keeping the ball and looking to release the forwards (granted, this might be the effect of Coutinho leaving and not so much to do with VVD)
What Van Dijk is arguably world class at (for a CB) is his distribution from the back. He's also very good in the air. But he's average in 1v1 situations and gets caught off position way too much for a defender of his age and experience.
So you would've imagined him to be the perfect CB for a team that were already defensively solid, but struggling to start quick counter attacks/keeping possession. So pretty much the opposite of Liverpool. It actually seems as he's been detrimental to their attacking play by slowing them down, because their players seem to constantly look to play it back to him to ping a pass forwards, whereas they used to pour forwards at lightning speed with the midfielders keeping the ball and looking to release the forwards (granted, this might be the effect of Coutinho leaving and not so much to do with VVD)
He's a good player but Liverpool's problem's run deeper. It's about proper tactical organisation and structure, this comes from klopp and his staff. A poor goalkeeper and full back's don't help either. Vvd needs to build up a partnership with his fellow CB. He can't work miracles straight away. Klopp's team can't really win 1.0, it's about trying to blow them away with his press. When teams sit in, they struggle. West Brom basically equalised straight away, that's a concentration issue. The amount of times we have seen this klopp team switch off is scary, it's not about a player unable to head the ball or run, it's poor attention and instinct. VVD can only do some much. He's came into a team that basically have one way of playing. The gaps between midfield and defence are horrific when they lose the ball. You can't hope to win any trophies like this. Jose gets ridiculed but he knows how to see out a game, it's really entertaining beating city 4.3 but sometimes it's about building from the back with a 2.0. Confidence goes both ways, attacking players get from scoring. The back line get it from clean sheets, it builds trust. When you can't decide who your first team keeper is because they are both shit, you know the backline are in trouble.
I am a dutchie and i have been following Van Dijk since his Fc Groningen days. No way this guy is a 75m defender. He has potential to be a solid defender, but not a world- class beater. That is just my opinion and time could prove me wrong.
That is why you don't spend 75mil on one defender when the rest are mediocre.
An ex-player was talking about Van Dijk, can't remember who, and he was saying he was surprised they went for Van Djik in the system they play. He reckoned their system requires a quicker defender as they push high and leave themselves exposed in behind.
One of the almost cliche like soundbites that come out from most pundits about Van Dijk is that he is quick. He's not quick at all. He turns very slowly indeed.
One of the almost cliche like soundbites that come out from most pundits about Van Dijk is that he is quick. He's not quick at all. He turns very slowly indeed.