Virgil van Dijk: Liverpool sign Southampton defender for world record £75m
- Thread starter Gerry_A_Trick
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I assumed that was the lobby of a hotel. Hope that's not his house. Now that he's on proper wages he'd better hire someone for remodelling if so.
Now for Oblak?
So, so happy!
Our defense is not as bad as so many of you describe it. The problem has always been our setup and mentality for 90% of the game which all players supporting the attack and all players thinking attack. Both have led to less focus on defending in the first instance and never enough cover for the defenders. That's basically it - I think city stand apart when it comes to defending this season because they have a commanding leader at the back in Kompany but lets face it - how many times have we in past seasons beaten them with even him in the defense ?
The problem has been that when our defense fails its been because we have either been defending a slender lead (e.g. Everton) or its been spectacular - as Klopp shakes his head when dealing with these questions he can only identify two games this season where we deserved to lose because of bad defending. I agree 100% with him - and those games where we have just collapsed - much blame is down to the midfielders and the front men. Midfield for being fucking thick in the head, and the attack for missing some really good chances.
So my hope for 'Big Virgil' - is that he provides a commanding presence at the back and when those moments where we suddenly collapse and cool heads are needed (like Milner's) - he is able to steady the ship and prevent dramatic collapses. If he can do that then every Million of his fee will be repaid.
The problem has been that when our defense fails its been because we have either been defending a slender lead (e.g. Everton) or its been spectacular - as Klopp shakes his head when dealing with these questions he can only identify two games this season where we deserved to lose because of bad defending. I agree 100% with him - and those games where we have just collapsed - much blame is down to the midfielders and the front men. Midfield for being fucking thick in the head, and the attack for missing some really good chances.
So my hope for 'Big Virgil' - is that he provides a commanding presence at the back and when those moments where we suddenly collapse and cool heads are needed (like Milner's) - he is able to steady the ship and prevent dramatic collapses. If he can do that then every Million of his fee will be repaid.
Wow, what a superb bit of business to get this done before Man City could match our bid.
I think we all know he's not gonna fix our defence on his own but if you could pick one defender to buy at the moment he would be top of everyone's list.
My big concern is that he'll take time to fully get over his injury or worse get injured again.
Otherwise this great. Finally we have that aerial presence lacking since Sami left.
I think we all know he's not gonna fix our defence on his own but if you could pick one defender to buy at the moment he would be top of everyone's list.
My big concern is that he'll take time to fully get over his injury or worse get injured again.
Otherwise this great. Finally we have that aerial presence lacking since Sami left.
Shut up you jinx meister.
Can't wait to see him play for us !
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Can't wait to see him play for us !
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Keep digging dreamy.
I think it says to everyone that we are here to compete with the moneyed clubs and not just make up the numbers. If we lose Coutinho in the Summer so be it, very few can resist Barca/Real and we held our ground on both Suarez and Coutinho for as long as realistically feasible and didn't allow ourselves to be bullied.
It also demonstrates to our current players and prospective signings that with Klopp on board we are going to build a team to challenge, maybe even this season in the CL, as well as the PL in the near future. This could easily be a watershed signing that signifies the next step in our return to competing at the very top of the pile.
Hugely impressed with the club (and FSG) with their vision and handling of difficult transfers (Keita and VVD). Hopefully getting Oblak, a defence-minded midfielder, Aubameyang and Lemar (or another 'Coutinho replacement') won't be this convoluted in the Summer.
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Really? Cool!
How many times have you been wrong with these predictions before ?
How do you know he's not just a decent player coming to the end of his peak ? A lot of metrics point to age 26 as being the top of the hill for footballers.
How do you know that his recent foot injury won't be a problem in the long term ?
I'd have him in the top 6 centre backs in the league in theory. But that's in a Southampton system that protects centre backs.
Let's see where he'll be next season. Maybe we'll be discussing where he ranks on the following list: Michael Jordan, Roger Federer, Muhammad Ali, Jesse Owens, Tom Brady, Tiger Woods, Michael Phelps, Babe Ruth etc.
Or maybe we'll be talking about the other ways we should have spent 75m
I hope he's crying into his leftover turkey, watching re-runs of Home & Away.
There's no doubt he's a tremendous signing, even if the amount is eye-watering. This signing will grab the attention of other potential targets that we're dining at the top table.
Everton .. get him ready for City !
I think it also sends the right message to players, after VVD made the necessary trouble to get his move we persisted and got the deal done eventually.
Had we walked away it would make future signings less likely to do similarly
Judging on that we should make him our new DM !
Funny how these coincidences occur. We sign VVD and Hendo is announced as out injured for about a month or so. By the time he comes back he might no longer be captain, nor, possibly, a guaranteed regular starter, and even his World Cup place could be in danger. Boom indeed.
In VVD and Keita we're at last recruiting first team replacements, rather than vaguely-defined extras. It's vital both FSG and Klopp keep this up now, but it's a very encouraging sign after so many years of imprecision in the transfer market.
In VVD and Keita we're at last recruiting first team replacements, rather than vaguely-defined extras. It's vital both FSG and Klopp keep this up now, but it's a very encouraging sign after so many years of imprecision in the transfer market.
It's quite obvious, with the press from the Fab Four, that attack is our first line of defence. Virgil's well-timed, accurate passing from the back should also see defence being our first line of attack from now on. I knew from reading that he could bring the ball out of defence, but I didn't realise that he played so many good, intelligent attack-minded balls from the back.
Why the fuck are we discussing this like there's a debate to be had? Maybe he'll be great maybe won't. But for now he's the best that we could get, in a positron we need badly. We should be fucking celebrating!!
I love the fact that we got a top target instead of a plan B or C for 70% of the price
I love the fact that we got a top target instead of a plan B or C for 70% of the price
How many times have you been wrong? Have do you know he isnt?
You have no more info then any of us regarding his injury, and how it may or may not affect him. It probably and most likely wont.
The comments about his future development was also backer by his old manager at Celtic who worked with him every day on the training field and during games.
But he probably doesnt know as much about the player as keyboard warrior and knowitall Ross McNugget.
Fuck off
Well you can guarantee i'll be quoting this in about 18 months time.
He seems to have a very languid style where he appears to be jogging most of time. Like it's too easy for him.
The one time he looked like he was running full pelt in that highlight video was when he was running back to catch Mane (dribbling).
At the time I was pissed off he caught him. Now, I'm encouraged by it.
The one time he looked like he was running full pelt in that highlight video was when he was running back to catch Mane (dribbling).
At the time I was pissed off he caught him. Now, I'm encouraged by it.
Replace Henderson, sign a GK, keep Coutinho. We are in contention for top trophies once again.
If we sell Coutinho, we'll need a Goretzka.
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