Matthijs de Ligt image 4

Matthijs de Ligt Netherlands flag

2024-25 Performances

View full 2024-25 profile

5.9 Season Average Rating
Appearances
39
Clean sheets
10
Goals
2
Assists
0
Yellow cards
5
I didn’t understand some of the criticism on here during the season to be honest. He’s performed reasonably well despite us been rubbish and has stayed fit all season . I think he missed a game recently and that was his 1st
 
Both him and Maguire are best as central of 3 defenders. One is 25, other 32 so nice cover there we've got. LCB would be same as well if our 2 players there weren't injury prone (well Martinez turned into that and Shaw you can't count on him anymore). But you'd hope Heaven can become option there. Yoro and Mazraoui obviously for RCB.

On de Ligt: must be really cool to be only 25 and you've played for Ajax, Juventus, Bayern and now United already. Hopefully he'll be good for us and stays for many years, no need to go to a giant club in Spain or to PSG.
 
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Red00012 said:
I didn’t understand some of the criticism on here during the season to be honest. He’s performed reasonably well despite us been rubbish and has stayed fit all season . I think he missed a game recently and that was his 1st
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Completely fair to criticise him if he makes mistakes - he did get sold by Gakpo for that goal as an example - but generally he's been good and is a successful transfer so far in my book. I think it's fair to say he's already cemented that central CB spot away from Maguire if both are fit.
 
Man Utd 4:1 Real Sociedad New
Wish he could eliminate the clumsy mistakes from his game. Dude concedes so many "bad luck" penalties.
 
That was a shithouse penalty. The Spaniard put his leg there to be kicked and the ref bought it. I was so delighted to watch the same guy give out to the ref at the end of the game. Perfect Karma
 
Never a fecking pen. If anything more a foul on other player. You can't just throw a leg sideways out to block a clearance and then scream pen
 
So clumsy for the penalty. He's a proper old school defender with the good and the bad. Was hoping he could kick on after some promising recent performances but aside from the penalty did ok I thought. Opposition wasn't particularly hard to deal with.
 
criticalanalysis said:
So clumsy for the penalty. He's a proper old school defender with the good and the bad. Was hoping he could kick on after some promising recent performances but aside from the penalty did ok I thought. Opposition wasn't particularly hard to deal with.
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What should he do in that scenario?
 
Olecurls99 said:
That was a shithouse penalty. The Spaniard put his leg there to be kicked and the ref bought it. I was so delighted to watch the same guy give out to the ref at the end of the game. Perfect Karma
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When we got the first pen he went straight to Oyazarbal and I swear was trolling him.
 
Ollie Derbyshire said:
What should he do in that scenario?
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I'll need to see a replay again but my thought was one of several things 1) you're in front of the attacker, therefore hold your ground i.e don't let them get ahead of you 2) meet the ball earlier instead of trying to clear it from there 3) don't use the outside of your right foot and/or 4) use your left foot.

It's quite fundamental basic stuff. He got caught on his heels and went awkwardly with the 'wrong' foot.
 
criticalanalysis said:
I'll need to see a replay again but my thought was one of several things 1) you're in front of the attacker, therefore hold your ground i.e don't let them get ahead of you 2) meet the ball earlier instead of trying to clear it from there 3) don't use the outside of your right foot and/or 4) use your left foot.

It's quite fundamental basic stuff. He got caught on his heels and went awkwardly with the 'wrong' foot.
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I’d have to see it again as well, I just think the attacker was a just a little bit quicker and planted his foot a split second before De Ligt could clear it. I think trying to hold him off might have been the only thing he could have done.
 
Ollie Derbyshire said:
I’d have to see it again as well, I just think the attacker was a just a little bit quicker and planted his foot a split second before De Ligt could clear it. I think trying to hold him off might have been the only thing he could have done.
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It's as I said really. He was in perfect position and 9/10 it's a routine left footed clearance. Instead, he stepped off on his right foot and then tried to clear it with the same foot, which means you're basically taking an extra step. Hence why the attacker 'got there quicker'.

Edit: I don't want to be too critical of Heaven but he could have dealt with that. As a one-off it's fine but he had issues with that last game as well. Too many crosses going past because he didn't position himself fast enough to block a square cross/pass.
 
criticalanalysis said:


It's as I said really. He was in perfect position and 9/10 it's a routine left footed clearance. Instead, he stepped off on his right foot and then tried to clear it with the same foot, which means you're basically taking an extra step. Hence why the attacker 'got there quicker'.
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Yeah good spot.
 
Really growing into the team. Another big performance at the back. Even Scholes said he’s been exceptional.

Showing why Bayern fans didn’t want him to go.
 
Very likeable player and has a great attitude. We need more lads like him in the club.

And now his performances are getting consistent.

Hope it continues
 
For me the penalty was really soft, the attacker basically sacrificed any balance in order to get a touch on the ball (and throw himself over), but De Ligt could have done better, and should have been a bit stronger to keep the attacker behind him.

Other than that, he played OK, his distribution was a bit spotty. I'm a fan, but felt he was the weakest of our defenders tonight.
 
Good CB. Not helped in his English career by having coach changing halfway, different playing styles, and constantly different centreback partnerships including Maguire, Yoro, Martinez, etc. has been the only constant presence
 
He's a top drawer CB. Genuinely one of the best in world football. It will take him time to settle, get used to the league, and Amorim's system; but you can already see that he is emerging as a leader in this team. The criticism of him is wild. He will be at the heart of our defence for years to come. Love the guy. He has it all really, except scintillating pace. I am a big fan. Excellent signing at a really good price.
 
simonhch said:
He's a top drawer CB. Genuinely one of the best in world football. It will take him time to settle, get used to the league, and Amorim's system; but you can already see that he is emerging as a leader in this team. The criticism of him is wild. He will be at the heart of our defence for years to come. Love the guy. He has it all really, except scintillating pace. I am a big fan. Excellent signing at a really good price.
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Not sure if he’s currently anywhere near one of the best but he has the potential to be. Hoping once the back 3/5 gets sorted and more stable minutes together, he gets even better in that central of the back 3 role. Change in formation (mid season), position and partners each week can’t be helping anyone.

No nonsense defender and seems to have a lot of qualities the squad lacks - leadership, and always giving 100%.

Him and Maz have been very good additions for us IMO.
 
Definitely think there’s something there and he’s capable of becoming a very good player for us. Staying fit for the most part this season (same with Mazraoui) will have helped and hopefully next season we’ll see the benefit of him having had a full season in the league behind him and he’ll kick on further.
 
Standout defender, been one of the best buys this summer. Between him, Zirkzee and Maz it's good business.
 
Those saying ‘why bring him in, he is no better than Maguire’, have to concede now. Maguire is fine, but de Ligt is absolutely quality and leads by example in games. After he has settled into the team, he has been transformative. A proper leader and a real warrior.
 
What really impressed me tonight was his carrying on when clearly injured. Ok it's a very fine line with being the 'Hero' and making an injury worse. That said there has been plenty of players in recent years how have nowhere near the character. Slightest injury and they are rolling their arms to get back on the nice warm bench.
 
I think I'd give him MOTM - his block was as good as a goal and far more important than us getting a late 3rd, and after Heaven went off he was carrying the defence all by himself.
 
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