Nesta and Maldini are old. Theyre just being nice, leave them alone. Theyre never gonna say "im better than him".
Van Dijk revisited
- Thread starter Pexbo
- Start date
Soon? he's past his best. So he is going to be the best when he is no longet at his best.
This was a 2022 quote I think.
Former player quotes generally mean nothing, more importantly.
But, but Scholes....
Oh. Mods being snidey wankers. That narrows it down.
What's interesting is I've heard from some fans (not accredited journalists in any way) that Van Dijk is the defender that always avoids engaging with attackers and lets the other defender do the 'dirty work'. If the other defender has to engage more often then that of course will lead to more instances of mistakes and then looking bad, which is where Van Dijk then comes in to clean up and look better.
I looked at some stats and that's surprisingly accurate. Van Dijk's tackling, ground duel numbers etc pale in comparison in previous seasons to whoever his partner in defense is, Konate/Matip.
It's difficult to go back to the previous era to see if there are a similar disparities between other partnerships like Rio-Vidic. Rio seemed to have the Van Dijk role while Vidic was more aggressive. The more aggressive defenders usually aren't regarded as highly, which is unfair.
I looked at some stats and that's surprisingly accurate. Van Dijk's tackling, ground duel numbers etc pale in comparison in previous seasons to whoever his partner in defense is, Konate/Matip.
It's difficult to go back to the previous era to see if there are a similar disparities between other partnerships like Rio-Vidic. Rio seemed to have the Van Dijk role while Vidic was more aggressive. The more aggressive defenders usually aren't regarded as highly, which is unfair.
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That’s a good point and why I always rate the likes of Vidic higher than Rio - because they literally do the bulk of actual defending
Ramos injuring Salah really did a number on your fanbase didn't it
This is best player who has played in the premier league. It's not about how much the player has won.
I don't think many will agree with that, and we all love Rooney on here.
Ronaldo on the other hand absolute ripped the league up the year he won the Ballon D'or.
In my view, the best Premier League player should have the greatest body of work out of all players to have played in the league.
That's a different sort of award though, a legacy thing. Although Giggs doesn't have that for reasons we all know!
But i'll always separate the player and the character (within reason!)
Peak vs longevity is an interesting debate. Henry has decent longevity and a really high peak. It depends if 8 years of that outweighs 22 years of Giggs.
The reason people downplay him or mock his mistakes is because of the constant "best PL defender ever" narrative, which is going to attract ridicule at every opportunity because of how dumb it is.
You can make a thin argument for it, but players like Rio, Vidic, Terry, etc. were all also terrific defenders, who played in more successful teams, in an era where defenders were generally a lot better at defending than they have been during VVD's time. Yet we get to hear more about how great VVD is than we ever did any of those players.
He's been the best PL defender of his era, but partly because there really hasn't been anyone else who's even been that good.
I mean there was literally a thread on here where this is exactly what was happening, and I don't think it's an agenda by your fan base, I think it's the modern internet fan thing of needing to have weird takes like this to prove how much they know about football.
Take Sarah's contributions out last season and I'm not sure you even win the league. You'd have been up there, but he was what put you ahead of the rest of the pack. Take VVD out and sure you struggle more defensively, but I don't think it costs you the league. You'd have just won it by less points maybe.
And this season, take him out and I'm not really sure how much difference it makes, because every team seems to just open you up at will anyway, and you're relying almost entirely on your attacking players to bail you out.
I knew you'd reply like this! Anytime there's a chance to mock the Scholes quotes, you're always there.
Something that hasn't really been brought up is the over-saturation of football currently. We used to have football columns, Saturday morning Soccer A.M and the pundits at the actual games to help weigh up our decisions. We now have online columns, tiktok, youtubers, podcasters and everyone else desperate to get in on the action - this will obviously lead to current players being hyped to a level that we didn't really see in the 90s and 00s.
The "played in more successful teams" doesn't bear any weight in a discussion regarding player's abilities. And while defending might've been tougher (dunno), defenders nowadays are also tasked with things that (some of) those "oldschool" defenders would've likely struggled with, so that goes both ways.
I don't see the "best PL defender ever" narrative either; most sensible people just put him up there with the best but anyone in the media or on social media trying to convince you that he's definitely "the best ever" is just engagement farming or rage baiting.
It would make a gigantic difference. Like in the category of "you can't understate his importance" given how our other defenders have been playing. He's the one keeping it all together as best as possible.
Another goal again today where he just wanted to pass his man on.
The lad doesn't really like defending when he can't just stroll about preening
The lad doesn't really like defending when he can't just stroll about preening
Best defender ever? Seems nailed on to me. Lul.
It was also funny when he miss hit a clearance into Kerkez' face then started sulking and having a go at him for having the audacity to cover his back post.
Pretty sure there will be future videos of him "owning" Mbeumo by winning that header at the start but never one about how Mbeumo got past him so easily right after to receive a pass from Amad which led to a goal, it was his responsibility to track Mbeumo.
Where’s Jimmy TenHeads or whatever he’s called to tell us how good Van Dijk was against an invisible striker today?
Washed. Should just retire at this point.
Not even as good as Steve Bruce.
He's a spoofer Bill..
He's a spoofer Bill..
Maybe dont elbow your own players in the head then.
He's the Lukaku of CBs, isn't he? Always pointing fingers after passing responsibility, did it for the first goal and a couple of times at Kerkez as well today.
He’s in hiding recently on here for some strange reason
Ever since he declared him the bestest CB ever, they’ve been beaten 4 times in a row
He's incredibly arrogant. Thought he gave off a lot of distastefulness out there toward his teammates. Like a more than mild disdain.
Hopefully he does it again, and they lose their next 4 as well.
Best PL CB ever don't you know
I've never been particularly impressed by him. I look at Gabriel and Saliba at Arsenal with a bit of envy. I've never felt that way about this tosser.
Obviously a good defender but he's a level below the elite CBs in PL history.
Obviously a good defender but he's a level below the elite CBs in PL history.
Yeah a dislikable and a not particularly endearing character on the pitch.
That Van Dijk fella is a cod Bill!
@TenonTen your boy took a hell of a beating
Very good defender but vastly overrated by a lot especially when considering on an all time level.
Yes, absolutely loathe this about him. He's been like this for years at Pool. I can't remember if he was like this before at previous clubs or whether the arrogance has come with this 'best defender in the history of football ever' narrative.
He's an arrogant wanker.
Will be 35 going into next season, given he looks pretty much passed it, he's going to be a massive problem for them.
Will be 35 going into next season, given he looks pretty much passed it, he's going to be a massive problem for them.