Think this should be an interesting discussion. Who would people rather have in the current united set up? Ronaldo pretty much guarantees goals, and Van dijk pretty much guarantees to stop leaking as many stupid ones whilst providing the commanding personality lacking from the squad.
Ronaldo or Van Dijk
- Thread starter DVG7
- Start date
-
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?
Ronaldo. Ronaldo will get you goals in most half decent teams but for VVD to be VVD of Liverpool he needs a stable system. We would improve if we had VVD in our defence but we would still manage to concede silly goals.
Ronaldo.
Not sure why anyone would pick VVD when our defence is pretty solid (look at the stats).
It's the weakened midfield that isn't helping and places more pressure on them than needed.
None of them would change much with an incompetent manager.
I take Van Dijk. Partly so Pool can't have him. If we get him for free even better.
Ronaldo is 34 so VVD. At their peaks, it's a no contest. Ronaldo every single time.
I assume you mean the current players, rather than in their respective primes? That would be no question. I would still probably take Ronaldo though for the influence and drive he would give to the team. We would have VVD shaking like a shitting dog in no time with our lack of anything resembling a midfield.
Ronaldo is arguably the best footballer of all time.
Past it Ronaldo on exorbitant salary who has never shown to care about league titles or an in prime VVD? I would pick VVD. But if we were picking between peak Ronaldo and peak VVD then obviously Ronaldo as there’s no substitute for goals.
If this is past it Ronaldo I can’t imagine what retirement Ronaldo will be like!
What is that 12 straight games scoring and 19 in his last 12? The old fecker is still better then 98% of the players in the world and he is 35.
Tough one. Maguire and Van Dijk is some partnership, it's like a Mourinho wet dream or something. Ronaldo is obviously still world class, but he needs service, and we don't have a lot of that going round at the minute. I actually think our main problems lie in other areas neither of them play in.
The second best attacking player in the world will always be more valuable than the best defender in the world.
Jeez, hows this even a question. You get to chose the best player ever (yeah along Messi) above an player who just had one world class season- easy?
Don’t be silly. We have players who lack movement and that has been EXACTLY the same under the previous three managers.
Peak Ronaldo would have this team finishing 3rd guaranteed.
In my opinion our attack needs addressing more than defence anyway.
Ronaldo's mentality > Van Dijk's mentality, and that is without any bias. Don't forget VVD was coasting in his career until he met Klopp at 28.
Ronaldo still has a good 5 years in him as a top 10 player, I’m not convinced Van Dijk does.
Some great coasting that not only Liverpool would have comfortably made him the most expensive defender around.... being fooled by his clubs.
Ronaldo again and again. Scoring is so underrated sometimes. We would comfortably be top 3 if we had someone who would put away the half and quarter chances that we create in every game
As the legendary Johan Cruyff put it: "To win you have to score one more goal than your opponent".
A great defender helps you not lose, a great attacker helps you win.
Oh yeah also, Ronaldo is arguably one of the best players to ever play the game.
A great defender helps you not lose, a great attacker helps you win.
Oh yeah also, Ronaldo is arguably one of the best players to ever play the game.
I do mean the current versions. So with VVD you have your central defence sorted for 5 years, but with Ronaldo you have maybe 2 more years but him teaching Rashford/greenwood etc.
I’d choose Ighalo.... sorry, Ronaldo
I’d choose Ighalo.... sorry, Ronaldo
I think that's overlooking one of van Dijk's best qualities personally. I reckon he's comparably arrogant to Ronaldo, really acts like the dogs bollocks, while being incredibly composed in all phases of the game. Ronaldo absolutely leads by example but van Dijk does that while also giving the entire defensive unit a sense of calm. He definitely would be more exposed here, but Ronaldo would also be a lot more subdued. We're shite at protecting the defence and supplying the forwards - no matter how good the individual is, they'll always suffer in those conditions.
I think I'd have to go for van Dijk just for the longevity, but man it would be nice to have someone capable of scoring goals from anywhere at any time.
What chances is Ronaldo supposed to convert?
He could convert Sandi Toksvig. He's that good.
Look at how many Rashford has scored. How many do you think Ronaldo would get?
Ronaldo every time. We’d win most of the easier games we dropped points in with him in our team.
Ronaldo - how is this even a question. He's as quick, fit and lethal as he's ever been.
For defence? Van Dijk. Would definitely pick Ronaldo as a striker though.
Would have been more balanced if the thread was -
Would you take a 23 year old Cristiano or Sadio Mane + VVD + Fabinho?
Would you take a 23 year old Cristiano or Sadio Mane + VVD + Fabinho?
Is football as simple as that? We create a small amount of chances.
Ronaldo is a year away from joining my old timers league. Is this really a question???
Yep. You can probably extend that as far to the top 10. Especially in the modern game.
Remember when we had Ronaldo and 2 of VVD?
Ronaldo is exactly the kind of player we need. An effective attacker that's great at making runs and can actually be on the receiving end of a cross. We already have a defense that lets in the 2nd or 3rd fewest shots in the league.
Ronaldo. At this age. Van Dijk is a final piece in the puzzle player
I would honestly pick Van Dijk. I simply think he’s that good. We would still need lots of other things in both cases.
Quit bringing Messi into this.
Cristiano, without a doubt.
We are in desperate need of a goalscorer so Ronaldo.