Van Dijk criticism

[rurikbird]

Virgil has been coming in for withering criticism for his performances for the Netherlands lately. Today he allowed Chiesa to score on him while defending 1 on 1 at a favourable angle - you can find reasons why he chose not to get closer and tackle or risk being beaten on the dribble by someone as talented as Chiesa, but at his best we all know he would have won this battle 10 out of 10 times and there would be no issue. Should we be worried for the season ahead?






All that being said, of course he should be on holiday resting for the season ahead instead of playing in these games. The schedule is preposterous.

 

[Holle]

We should be worried based on some of his horrible displays last season for us.

 

[binomial]

That's probably more down to his attitude for the competition, it's the losers losers medal award ffs come on....nobody cares about a 3rd place game....why was he even playing in this?

He's never been the type to put his body on the line or make last ditch tackles, we know this so he's not suddenly going to change the way he defends which is to enforce his physical presence and reading of the game to stifle out any dangers.

I know the Dutch play 3 at the back but it's never ideal for someone who mainly plays at the heart of a back 4 to be dragged out in wider areas against a winger.

 

[Raz]

Awful defending. And it's not just a blip.

 

[Red Bird]

I think we should be worried. That scene was played out a few times this season past.

 

[binomial]

Awful defending. And it's not just a blip.

Usually he'd be tighter and more aggressive but once Chiesa slipped past him he was never going to stick an outstretched leg to try and block the shot, that's not what he's about.

In that clip you have to question where the bloody hell any of the midfields/fullbacks are......a 3v3 with that much space to operate for the attackers is suicidal.

He's 31/32 now so undoubtedly the amount of football he's had to play + overcoming an awful injury in between has had some effect, I'm just happy we got to see him in his prime here, such a joy to watch. Doubt we'll see that version again but not really arsed either.

 

[darkstarexodus]

It's frustrating how passive he's become since his injury. He's coasting on reputation of late, IMO. Still a very good defender but no longer one that attackers are afraid of.

I think the criticism for that goal is warranted.

 

[King Binny]

Since he joined, he has barely got any rest (injury aside), averaging 50-60 x 90 mins per season (for club & country)

18/19: 5095 mins
19/20: 5086 mins
20/21: 928 mins
21/22: 5464 mins
22/23: 4546 mins

Dated Mar 2023:
[article]
Virgil Van Dijk recently blamed his slump in form on playing too many games for Liverpool between 2021 and 2023.

Corroborating his argument, a graph by The Athletic shows that Van Dijk is the player who played the most minutes in Europe between 2021 and the World Cup in December 2022.

In terms of minutes played, it can be seen that Van Dijk played 7,597 minutes in less than one year. That's 84 games at an average of 90 minutes per game.

Clearly, the big defender was right. Although Van Dijk managed to stay injury-free in that period his system finally succumbed after the World Cup.

In early February, the Dutchman picked up his first injury in nearly 18 months and went on to miss a month of action.[/article]

Should be his last 2 years with us?

 

[binomial]

Should be his last 2 years with us?

Yes you would've thought so, the summer of 2025 is going to be another big 1 for us with both Mo and Virg leaving.

Watching the nations final (bored out my mind), Sutalo/Erlic look like capable players.

 

[Modo]

Van Dijk seems to have lost his hunger and I agree that it kinda looks like he's living off his reputation.
That Chiesa goal looks worse than it is though.
Chiesa is predominantly right footed, so Van Dijk pretty much invited him to go on his left, thinking he had closed off the angle and made it easy for the keeper to save whatever effort he'd have with his left foot. Unfortunately that keeper isn't named Alisson, so yeah Van Dijk messed up.
Had Van Dijk closed off Chiesa, he just would have cut in, moved the ball to his right and got an easier shot on goal.

 

[tomasjj]

Compsre his mins with Chiesa

 

[binomial]

Also #SignChiesa

 

[Modo]

Also #SignChiesa

You know I'd love it, but don't we have too many left sided wingers as it is.

 

[binomial]

You know I'd love it, but don't we have too many right sided wingers as it is.

Eh? Like who. Kids like Harvey & Doak? Both need a loan spell.

We got 2 or 3 who can play the CF role or on the left but we haven't really had another right winger bar Salah under Klopp other than Shack.

 

[Markeh]

Virgil just retire from international football please, what even is this competition you’re playing in?

Fuck international football

 

[Modo]

Eh? Like who. Kids like Harvey & Doak? Both need a loan spell.

We got 2 or 3 who can play the CF role or on the left but we haven't really had another right winger bar Salah under Klopp other than Shack.

sorry, I meant left sided wingers

 

[Hansern]

Not worried and he’ll be excellent next season after a good rest. Should never have played these two hopless glorified international games in the first place. The amount of football he has played is insane.

 

[Hansern]

Looks like van der Vaart should be doing more than nothing as well the fat fucker

 

[binomial]

sorry, I meant left sided wingers

Chiesa is just as comfortable on the right, all his Euro performances for Italy came there when he looked arguably their best player.

Spent almost his entire time at Fiorentina on the right too, been more evenly balanced at Juve.

 

[moron]

Not worried and he’ll be excellent next season after a good rest. Should never have played these two hopless glorified international games in the first place. The amount of football he has played is insane.

Absolutely true this, when people say he aint the same since the injury, i find that a bit weird...i hope they realize that he played an entire season since that injury and maybe he aint going into tackles coz he does not want to spend his upcoming holiday on the treatment table.

 

[Hansern]

Can also add that Virgil played 120 mins a few days ago with probably 25 mins as a striker chasing the ball and a goal. Chiesa played 30 mins the other day and 30 mins today.

If Virgil looked off its because he is tired like most players after a long season.

Haaland said he was completely drained after 60 mins in the CL final and after 70 mins yesterday.
The amount of mins some players clock up during a season is absurd.

 

[binomial]

Absolutely true this, when people say he aint the same since the injury, i find that a bit weird

Because it's true?

I've made the point he hasn't had a break, no one can deny that but he's been nowhere near the level before that injury....he would've found his mojo back by now, sadly he's in decline.

 

[Markeh]

Because it's true?

I've made the point he hasn't had a break, no one can deny that but he's been nowhere near the level before that injury....he would've found his mojo back by now, sadly he's in decline.

yea that’s how i see it too but I’m still hopeful he’s good enough, especially with a partner that can lift some of the load but we might see some more of these threads based on Liverpool performances soon

definitely not going to get worried over a meaningless international fixture in June though when Virgil should sunning himself by the pool

 

[tomasjj]

Chiesa looked deadly in the Euros. Or when it was. So direct. Unlike other wide players.
Sadly the injuries might have dented his career seriously.

 

[Fabio]

I think by the end of next season there will be a vocal, decent amount of people wanting him sold, or replaced at the least

 

[Markeh]

I think by the end of next season there will be a vocal, decent amount of people wanting him sold, or replaced at the least

well let’s hope the saudi money sticks around another season at least for him and Mo

 

[binomial]

I think by the end of next season there will be a vocal, decent amount of people wanting him sold, or replaced at the least

Probably Salah as well.

 

[Fabio]

Probably Salah as well.

Probably

 

[binomial]

Probably

Probably

 

[rubans]

I wish we sold our core players regardless of where they were end of last season rather to hear anymore about how rubbish they have now become inevitably as they age as well as the number of games they play. Especially from Spurs legend such as Van Der Faart having won the biggest honours in the game with 2 Intertotos to his name.