I don't understand the Pickford ending the prime comment. It's not just physically that VVD has looked bad in but absolutely everything regarding his game has been shite.
Internationals September (Euro Qualifiers)
- Thread starter Samid
- Start date
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
I bet Wout will come on and score the winner to disappoint me once more after watching him play like shit for half a year.
I dont think that during his prime he was any worse than some of the other 'best ever defenders'. I know he is a Liverpool defender so praising him is a sin but he reached a very high level during his prime.
Jason Knight looking pretty decent for Rep. Ireland. 22, plays for Bristol and looks like he has a little bit of quality
Yet he was undeniably the best CB in the world for a few seasons. I don't think another EPL CB has ever been the clearly best CB in the world. Ferdinand, Vidic, Terry, etc. were great but they weren't better than Maldini, Nesta or Stam. Van Dijk on the other hand was clearly a level above all his contemporaries.
Yet Ferdinand/Vidic/Terry > VVD so being the best in the world for that period of time doesn't really matter much.
What is up with Italy?
It seems the Euro win was their last gasp, Donnarumma is (probably) the only WC player and it's not like they are compensating with elite tactics on the pitch. They just look pedestrian. Do they qualify for the Euros as things stand?
It seems the Euro win was their last gasp, Donnarumma is (probably) the only WC player and it's not like they are compensating with elite tactics on the pitch. They just look pedestrian. Do they qualify for the Euros as things stand?
We're fecking shite man. Again. Had really hoped Koeman could get us back on track but it doesn't look like it so far.
During that prime he had great protection built around him by Klopp, jury out on the new players brought in as to whether they can give the same protection
Most decent sides would be leading at half time but I'll be surprised if Ireland don't end losing. Can see in that 1st half alone why you lost 4-0 to France.
Danny Blind irreversabily destroyed De Ligt's international career during his debute. He is shockingly bad in Oranje.
San Marinese coach has the best hairstyle seen in this qualification by far.
Ho! Wout on! Duffy vs Wout is like one of those Godzilla match ups.
Yes finally Blind off.
We need Dwayne Johnson as referee.
Really? The guy was always a mess. Only Feyenoord supporters have some love for him for coming in second(!) in the Dutch league. The guy is a natural born loser.
So just coincidently, the quality of CBs dropped massively worldwide when van Dijk reached his prime? Nah. I'd say being a CB was much easier in the 00s.
On what basis?
Fcuk that fcuking Donkeyhorse anyway.
Dumfries might just be our most influential player of the last 4 years.
Why couldn't he do that for us.
It would have to be that useless fecking bastard.
That useless feck 
a goal form Weghorst is surely final nail for Kenny
Looks like weghorst scored again. If McTominay is being made out to be a great player because he plays well for Scotland than weghorst should have been kept around.
Can't think of a single reason that backs up what you've said. It's not like we have 50 Messi's and Ronaldo's tearing defences apart across Europe. The overall depth of world class forwards seems to have plummeted, so if anything I'd say defenders have an easier time of it now than they did during the 00's
Or just maybe Weghorst was not used right? I honestly dunno but since he came back to the NT he has always been important.
The CB role is more demanding today. They have more responsibilities in the build up, they get pressed more intensely and they are exposed more often. The fact that most top teams play a high line also has it that they have to have pace.
I don't think this has been said enough times before: international football is slow AF compared to club football most of the time. Weghorst had his share of chances at United but his conversion rate on goalscoring opportunities was just that bad (and I mean Lukaku kind of bad).
I think the quality of CBs at the time VVD was good compared to when Ferdinand etc. were is lower yeah. Also watching both primes I rate Ferdinand/Vidic/Terry more and they all also had far more longevity compared to VVD.
It's almost like we are much better playing 433.
How should he have been used? Baring in mind he was rubbish at pretty much everything during his time here
You’re playing a team mostly compromised of championship and league one players. Wout doing well here is hardly advocating for him being used wrong at Utd ffs
He put easier chances than that wide or over.You’re playing a team mostly compromised of championship and league one players. Wout doing well here is hardly advocating for him being used wrong at Utd ffs
It works for mctominayYou’re playing a team mostly compromised of championship and league one players. Wout doing well here is hardly advocating for him being used wrong at Utd ffs
Ireland are just incapable of creating anything. Feckin useless for years
Poland are a bit naff aren't they.
Santos been a terrible pick. Will surely be sacked after this.
Lewa might aswell retire from NT and that will spell a 90s type spell in the wilderness for Poland from major tournaments.
In a completely different environment in a much faster and high pressure league.
Frenkie is a better midfielder AND defender that all others we have.