He appears to be declining before our very eyes. There’s a real imbalance on the side with VVD and Kerkez and I’m not entirely convinced it’s down to Kerkez anymore.
Same with Salah on the right wing, but that’s another story for another thread.
Van Dijk revisited
- Thread starter Pexbo
- Start date
Same with Salah on the right wing, but that’s another story for another thread.
Van Dijk just says stupid shit when Liverpool lose and has an unfounded arrogance about him, but he's likely a good captain. Bruno is certainly a good captain, and once again you're falling for the same flaw in your evaluation by just looking at performances. Even if you did do that, it's completely insane to suggest he's not a good captain from them - he runs until his legs fall off, he's always getting stuck in, he's always trying to make things happen, he's rightly winding up refs and the opposition and is extremely productive.
I think VVD is extremely extremely overrated though. He's an aura defender and has been for some time. It's only now the crab defending is being called out, but he's actually a good to very good defender. I don't think prime VVD is any better than how Saliba has been, or how Gabriel has been.
Him twatting the ball into the face of a new teammate with low confidence and then blaming him for it is peak captaincy!
Even just reading the thoughts of others on here about Fernandes, I think there's a lot of frustration with him. I agree he runs himself into the ground but I've seen plenty of examples of him going missing or not performing like you'd expect a captain to. Just my opinion.
I don't need Van Dijk to be put alongside Ferdinand, Vidic, Terry etc. but I think he's one of the most transformative signings we've ever made and has been central to our success. Saliba and Gabriel are very good but they also play in a more structured team. Arteta's set up hardly allows the opponent to have a shot on target at the moment. Van Dijk is playing alongside an out of form Konate and underperforming full backs. Swap either one of Arsenal's CB's and put them into our current set up and they'd be all over the place.
Considering his current level, you'll feel his departure in a positive way, most likely. And he's not shown to be one of the best CBs of the league this season.
I think you're using Sunday as a yard stick for how he's been this season. For the most part he's still playing at a very high level.
We'll see what happens when he's gone, but he's a huge part of why we've been so competitive since his signing in January 2018. 2018 CL final, 2019 CL winners and 97 point season, 2020 PL winners, 2021 he's out for the whole season pretty much, 2022 he comes back from an ACL and we almost win everything, 2023 awful season and his worst with us but there was a lot going on there. 2024 pretty good, captained us brilliantly in the CC final against Chelsea, 2025 PL champion as captain.
In the PL era he's been an ever present in our most successful period.
I'm not. I'm using how he's played this season as a yard stick for how he's been this season.
Ok, agree to disagree on that. For the most part I think he's been decent.
You're just like Van Dijk, as soon as you're actually challenged, you back off!
This is why captains are usually CBs or more defensive minded midfielders. Obviously some very notable exceptions.
You watch VVD more than I do, and I watch Bruno more than you do. Bruno can absolutely look petulant, but he leads by example more than he doesn’t. Have you seen any interviews with the guy? He’s an all around great guy. Leadership is much more than body language on the pitch.
I also didn’t say he was one of United’s best players, he said he was one of the leagues best players. Salah, KDB and Haaland are the only players while he’s been here that I would unequivocally put above him. Kane, probably too, but for others the comparison is difficult given how shit a team Bruno’s been in.
You’re preprogrammed to dislike Bruno, and I’m supposed to dislike VVD. I accept I won’t change your mind about him, and leave it at that.
You United fans, so stuck in the glories of your past
2-1 mateHe's alive! We hadn't seen you praise Van Dijk in the past few days for some reason. I was beginning to get worried.
Give it up, he's not gonna have sex with ya.
VVD gave away one cheap penalty and elbowed Thiago which should've been another penalty for Brentford. VVD looks completely lost and it might be the start of his decline. He was easily the worst player on the pitch tonight. Liverpool has already conceded 14 goals in only 9 games. For example Arsenal conceded only 3 goals while City has conceded 6 goals. Their defense looks shocking and it's so leaky. He looks even worse than Salah on the pitch.
I think it’s time to stop visiting him.
I see the team meeting went well..
At fault for the 1st and 3rd.
Best ever PL CB La.
Best ever PL CB La.
I said last week that it would be a good idea for him if he tried actually defending for a bit. Turns out I was wrong
Didn’t take long for that smug grin to be wiped off his face.
He's one of the most overrated players in the modern game. A decent-to-good centre back, but the best centre back in the history of the PL? Give over. There are 5-6 players who are ahead of him in that conversation.
He's massively benefited from the lack of elite strikers during his playing time, the way he likes to do his defending (which results in the stats merchant showing how he rarely gets dribbled past) and the overall Liverpool hysteria in the media.
He's massively benefited from the lack of elite strikers during his playing time, the way he likes to do his defending (which results in the stats merchant showing how he rarely gets dribbled past) and the overall Liverpool hysteria in the media.
He’s been a great player for Liverpool and a top all time for the league no doubt.
He’s not the best ever though (PL or World). I think that’s clear.
Reminds me of when Trent was better than Cafu.
He’s not the best ever though (PL or World). I think that’s clear.
Reminds me of when Trent was better than Cafu.
Someone check on @TenonTen
Poor performance against Brentford but Kerkez, Bradley, Mamardashvili and Konate have all been consistently awful this season so VVD has to carry the defensive unit singlehandedly which is impossible.
Also no DM to protect the defense. Gravenberch is excellent on the ball but his instincts are that of a number 8.
People blaming Liverpool's defensive problems on VVD is hilarious.
Him and Alisson have carried Liverpool's defense since the day they signed but even they need some support from their partners and the tactical system in general.
Also no DM to protect the defense. Gravenberch is excellent on the ball but his instincts are that of a number 8.
People blaming Liverpool's defensive problems on VVD is hilarious.
Him and Alisson have carried Liverpool's defense since the day they signed but even they need some support from their partners and the tactical system in general.
Why are you acting like VVD is a one season wonder? Does this game affect his legacy in any way? Liverpool are on a very poor run and Slot's system is a joke currently. Class is permanent. This is extremely reactionary.
Reminds me of Rio at QPR. Glad his drop off is happening at Liverpool.