Finding the Next VVD.....

[StevieM]

You have people who have opinions and people who sit on the fence and say nothing because they know that way they can’t be judged later down the line. A lot of talking but without saying much. No one knew of Van Dijk at Gronigen so yes, people would’ve been asking who the fuck this donny was. Salah didn’t do much of note in the limited time he had at Chelsea, so had we signed him off the back of that then I’m sure people would’ve been asking why we’re signing a Chelsea flop.

Neither happened and we ended up signing both at 24/25 after they had eached performed at a high level. Would they turned out to be the players they are now had they not had the years between at Celtic/Southampton/Fiorentina/Roma? You tell us Mr know it all.

I can tell you that, like Virgil and Mo, if Braithwaite & Colwill find themselves playing regularly at a decent level under a good coach (ie not Everton or Dyche in Braithwaite’s case), there’s every chance they could develop into CBs of the highest quality.

They may not.

In your case your opinions seemed to be formulated like you use a spinny thing and wherever it lands that’s your badge of honour to live or die by.

It’s weird, but it’s amusing - like a footballing version of the Diceman.

Dreamie’s similar - he doubles down on everything he says even when he’s been shown to be utterly wrong (unless he’s cashing out).

I wonder… is it linked to betting - you and Dreamie like a punt - I don’t, so maybe that’s my natural conservative nature Versus your “let’s stick it all on red and be damned”.

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

Imagine if Warnock had signed Van Dijk.

*shudders*

 

[Judge Jules]

Virgil's the best we'll see in our lifetimes so, as others have said, there'll be no replacing him directly. We'll just have to get as close as we can AND continue to improve in other areas in order to bridge the gap.

I slightly disagree with one or two earlier posts which don't rate Saliba as being of the right standard. He's not Virgil mk.2 but he's a very good CB and young enough to keep improving. I can't see the Arse letting him come to us but I'd defo be interested if there were a deal to be done.

 

[Hyena]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxAWob4cbg4

 

[moron]

I can tell you that, like Virgil and Mo, if Braithwaite & Colwill find themselves playing regularly at a decent level under a good coach (ie not Everton or Dyche in Braithwaite’s case), there’s every chance they could develop into CBs of the highest quality.

They may not.

In your case your opinions seemed to be formulated like you use a spinny thing and wherever it lands that’s your badge of honour to live or die by.

It’s weird, but it’s amusing - like a footballing version of the Diceman.

Dreamie’s similar - he doubles down on everything he says even when he’s been shown to be utterly wrong (unless he’s cashing out).

I wonder… is it linked to betting - you and Dreamie like a punt - I don’t, so maybe that’s my natural conservative nature Versus your “let’s stick it all on red and be damned”.

Is it worth then the club to look at players of a certain age group to see if they match VVD's trajectory at that stage. I think Saliba and maybe even Colwell are better at their age than VVD was - is it correct to say that ?

 

[Modo]

Where is all this talk about signing Saliba coming from? That will never happen.

 

[moron]

Where is all this talk about signing Saliba coming from? That will never happen.

No one has said that - it was just a suggestion - he is likely to go to RM than join us.

 

[Judge Jules]

Where is all this talk about signing Saliba coming from? That will never happen.

There isn't any that I can see. I rate him very highly and I referenced his quality above, but I also said I can't see the Arse allowing such a move.

 

[Judge Jules]

Is it worth then the club to look at players of a certain age group to see if they match VVD's trajectory at that stage. I think Saliba and maybe even Colwell are better at their age than VVD was - is it correct to say that ?

I don't think they've ever been of higher basic quality than Virgil but they're possibly performing better than he did at that age. Virgil himself has admitted that he didn't take his early career seriously enough at times.

 

[FreshRed]

Given that no one is going to match VVD, one that I like a lot is Van Hecke at Brighton. He does not have the intimidation factor, but he is very effective and excellent with the ball.

 

[StevieM]

Is it worth then the club to look at players of a certain age group to see if they match VVD's trajectory at that stage. I think Saliba and maybe even Colwell are better at their age than VVD was - is it correct to say that ?

Isn’t that what we do - try to identify players that are over-performing in young age groups, etc.

I think you can say that Saliba & Colwil are better at their age than VVD, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll continue on that direction, or that another young player that isn’t playing at as high a level suddenly hits a massive development phase.

I think we do look at attributes and things similar to VVD that young players stand out in - maybe young Nallo could developed - left footed CB that’s good on the ball.l - though he’s “only” 6 ft1 - maybe he’s still growing.

Quansah ticks a lot of boxes as well - maybe he just needs to refocus on his development and he’ll take another leap forward in a year or so.

 

[King Binny]

View: https://x.com/footballontnt/status/1873036294009294938

 

[moron]

@bluebell , @StevieM - I checked out Bade' time at NottmForest, it says he never played a game for them while he was there ? Did they think he was that shit ? Or issue of game time for a young player ?

 

[StevieM]

@bluebell , @StevieM - I checked out Bade' time at NottmForest, it says he never played a game for them while he was there ? Did they think he was that shit ? Or issue of game time for a young player ?

Seems that Steve Cooper just didn’t fancy him and didn’t play him.

Maybe it was just one of those things, maybe he’s not suited to the Premier League, maybe he’s not actually that good, maybe he has an attitude problem, maybe things have just clicked for him and he’s developed.

The data nerds and the scouting team will likely have a read on it.

 

[King Binny]

View: https://x.com/Squawka/status/1873452831702675575

View: https://x.com/ShankyLFC/status/1873443580251091350

 

[binomial]

View: https://x.com/Squawka/status/1873452831702675575

View: https://x.com/ShankyLFC/status/1873443580251091350

Absolutely monstrous. The best CB in the world and maybe even the best of his era. Where the fuck is his contract Hughes, you silly cunt.

 

[Modo]

I've been mentioning Huijsen as an option.
I've changed my mind after watching him closely in last game B'mouth played (v Fulham, replay on TV) was bored.
He's a good smart defender in and around the box, good on the ball, but here's the problem. He's waaaay too slow and unathletic, also his passing isn't anywhere close to level we'd require it to be.

 

[StevieM]

I've been mentioning Huijsen as an option.
I've changed my mind after watching him closely in last game B'mouth played (v Fulham, replay on TV) was bored.
He's a good smart defender in and around the box, good on the ball, but here's the problem. He's waaaay too slow and unathletic, also his passing isn't anywhere close to level we'd require it to be.

This is why we let these sort of players go to teams like Bournemouth and if we then go a spaff £70m on them… it’s because they’re worth £70m and not some work-in-progress that is fine to play and learn your trade in a team that might qualify for Europe or maybe make a domestic cup final once in a lifetime.

I know you know this…

 

[Modo]

This is why we let these sort of players go to teams like Bournemouth and if we then go a spaff £70m on them… it’s because they’re worth £70m and not some work-in-progress that is fine to play and learn your trade in a team that might qualify for Europe or maybe make a domestic cup final once in a lifetime.

I know you know this…

I do know this, but in recent times we've successfully managed to use the loan system to our benefit.
Buy cheap, loan em out and see how they do.
Bradders and Elliott for instance.
Van den Berg and Carvalho didn't work out, but we made some money on it.

 

[StevieM]

I do know this, but in recent times we've successfully managed to use the loan system to our benefit.
Buy cheap, loan em out and see how they do.
Bradders and Elliott for instance.
Van den Berg and Carvalho didn't work out, but we made some money on it.

Oh yeah, but we picked all of those guys up younger - more like what we’ve done with Nyoni, Nalla and that other young winger we picked up from Chelsea who’s name escapes me (Rio?)

We sign those guys up for nothing - the likes of Huijsen cost - so more like Harvey or Carvalho than the others, but we don’t do that as much.

Ramsey is probably an example where we paid a “bigger” fee and we likely won’t get it back.

Our strategy seems to be really young before they cost or after they’ve reached 21 and proven themself in a team already.

I’d say they’ve probably got some data that says optimal years to purchase are u18 or 21-24/25, which is why most of our signings fall into those groups.

Imagine it’s to do with lower risk and higher returns in those groupings - feel like 18-21 is where teams can rip the piss on transfer fees for players who aren’t certain to make it - Hoijland & Yoro are prime examples - I think @Beamrider mentioned something about picking people up before they are allowed to sign their first proper contract, when they can easily move - whereas if they’ve hit 18 and signed that first contract, selling club is gonna demand a wadge.

Seems prudent to wait and see if they develop for a few years, even if it costs more.

 

[StevieM]

Also… I don’t think it works if you buy someone and immediately loan them out (the GK we signed in the summer, obviously different because age and staying with current club).

Looks like we want to get them in for a few years when young, work on them to play in our “way” and assess them, before picking a time where more games is what’s needed.

You buy someone for big dollars at 18-19 and you want them to be ready to step into the team - that’s not easy and 1-2 season on the bench can destroy a career at that age - we’re lucky we got Gravy when we did, another season at Bayern on the bench and I think he may never have regained his promise.

 

[Modo]

Also… I don’t think it works if you buy someone and immediately loan them out (the GK we signed in the summer, obviously different because age and staying with current club).

Looks like we want to get them in for a few years when young, work on them to play in our “way” and assess them, before picking a time where more games is what’s needed.

You buy someone for big dollars at 18-19 and you want them to be ready to step into the team - that’s not easy and 1-2 season on the bench can destroy a career at that age - we’re lucky we got Gravy when we did, another season at Bayern on the bench and I think he may never have regained his promise.

Another season of Klopp would have probably spelled the end of Gravy's career at LFC.

Anyway, we rarely buy and immediately loan the player out unless it's due to work permit issues. However Pitaluga wasnt loaned out instantly he played for the u21s for 1-2 season before he was loaned out.

 

[Squiggles]

Antonio Silva at Benfica is worth keeping an eye on in the next few years.


View: https://youtu.be/ctzZ0oDJlAM?si=3qsmlg2dpxLXORMY

Only 21 and so will be 24 when VVD likely goes, so could be ready for step up. Could move on before that time, though. He had a great first year in Portugal before some poor form last year and lost his place. No different to Quansah really.