An interesting read that should bring you up to (relative) date on his strengths and weaknesses : Neil McGuinness was a senior scout at Celtic in 2013. http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40730793
Virgil van Dijk: Liverpool sign Southampton defender for world record £75m
- Thread starter Gerry_A_Trick
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Neil McGuinness says VvD can switch off when the game is comfortable so he’ll fit right in with this Liverpool team!
Why?
A Dutch Agger comes to mind just watching them clips.
On a side-note, he’s gonna be a mare at corners and will give us an added advantage that even Charlie Adam would approve, in terms of justifying his price tag.
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On a side-note, he’s gonna be a mare at corners and will give us an added advantage that even Charlie Adam would approve, in terms of justifying his price tag.
Sent from my Apple Watch using Tapatalk
We never have, and never will, play with a defensive midfielder under Klopp, it just doesn't suit his footballing mentality, and personally I'm fine with that.
I'm OK with it provided we have players in midfield who can give the back three or four enough protection when the situation requires. So far I've had my doubts, but if we get Keita and Goretzka coming in I'll be a good deal happier about the balance in there.
Yep, exactly, and I think thats Klopps mindset too.
We did play with Lucas under Klopp, didn't we?
A couple of games maybe, but never consistently and I doubt he was playing as a number 6, he likes his holding midfielder to attack the ball, not to sit and shield, which I think is the reason he likes Henderson there, because he has that energy.
Father Christmas obviously thought so.
Paul Joyce:
There is an irony that among Jürgen Klopp’s first public comments on the signing of Virgil van Dijk was a plea for Liverpool supporters to forget the price tag of almost £75 million, making him the most expensive defender in the world.
After all, that was the same advice Anfield’s powerbrokers have been offering Klopp throughout the lengthy, at times complex, pursuit of the centre back. This is not normally how the Liverpool manager likes to do business. Throughout Klopp’s managerial career he has sided with nurture over nature, the idea that developing talent can be as useful as going out and buying ready-made solutions.
The deal for Van Dijk, 26, is new ground for Liverpool, obliterating their transfer record, which stood at the £36.9 million paid for Mohamed Salah in the summer (the £55 million Naby Keïta does not arrive from RB Leipzig until July 1), but the size of the transfer also represents new territory for Klopp.
There were occasions during the pursuit of Van Dijk when Mike Gordon, the president of Liverpool’s owner, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), and Michael Edwards, the sporting director, sought to offer context to allay any lingering misgivings Klopp had that they were being asked to pay too much.
The 6ft 4in Van Dijk has always been Klopp’s No 1 defensive target, and his delight at finally landing the player was clear around Melwood yesterday. There have never been any doubts about the quality of the player.
Simply, the adjustment to the money-obsessed world of the Premier League has not always been an easy one for the man at the helm, whose biggest outlay at Borussia Dortmund was the €27.5 million (about £24.5 million) paid to prise Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013.
“I can imagine people will think, ‘Wow, what a number it is,’ but for me it is not really interesting,” Klopp said. “We do not make the price, the market makes the price and the first thing all Liverpool supporters should forget quite soon is the price. We only talk about the player and what he brings — his qualities, mentality and character.”
At first glance the figure — £70 million guaranteed and £4 million in add-ons — that has brought Van Dijk to Anfield feels outlandish.
Yet realism needs to be applied. Van Dijk had four and a half years left on his deal at Southampton, whose position was further strengthened by the knowledge he was wanted by Chelsea as far back as January, while Manchester City were especially keen, having recently contacted officials at St Mary’s, and Arsenal remained in the background.
Supply and demand also raised the price. Pep Guardiola, the City manager, had targeted Aymeric Laporte when he took over and the Athletic Bilbao defender had a £58million buyout clause to be settled in one payment. Antonio Conte tried to sign Kalidou Koulibaly upon arrival at Chelsea, but Napoli rebuffed a £58 million bid.
Van Dijk had four and a half years left on his deal at SouthamptonGLYN KIRK/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Gordon will have received the background information on Van Dijk — as well as the price of the available alternatives — which he relayed to the rest of FSG, including John W Henry, the principal owner, and Tom Werner, the Liverpool chairman.
Of course, the crucial factor in the signing of Van Dijk was how Liverpool repaired the relationship with Southampton after June’s spat when they were accused of tapping up the player.
It was Gordon who, having told Liverpool to publicly pull out of the race for fear of a Premier League charge, started building bridges with Ralph Krueger, the Southampton chairman.
Liverpool did not bid officially during the summer, but reiterated they would pay whatever it took if Southampton were prepared to sell. That pledge was in place on the final day of the August transfer window. A phone call from St Mary’s would have set the ball rolling.
In recent weeks, contact was re-established, with Liverpool insistent that Van Dijk was their No 1 choice but that they would buy a defender next month regardless and had other targets. The back-up plan was not needed.
By Christmas, Van Dijk’s performances did not warrant a place in Mauricio Pellegrino’s line-up, while Southampton’s tailspin meant hanging on to a £70 milllion player who was no longer much of an asset did not make sense. Not when £70 million — if spent correctly next month — could steady fortunes in the face of a possible fraught fight for Premier League survival.
Southampton’s decision belatedly to name a price was an invitation to the negotiating table that Liverpool were not about to pass up. They quickly showed the colour of their money.
Andy Massey, the Liverpool club doctor, oversaw the medical on Wednesday at Nuffield Hospital in Bournemouth.
It was then that Klopp finally had his man and, the more he reflects on the deal, the surer he is that Van Dijk will not leave Liverpool short-changed.
There is an irony that among Jürgen Klopp’s first public comments on the signing of Virgil van Dijk was a plea for Liverpool supporters to forget the price tag of almost £75 million, making him the most expensive defender in the world.
After all, that was the same advice Anfield’s powerbrokers have been offering Klopp throughout the lengthy, at times complex, pursuit of the centre back. This is not normally how the Liverpool manager likes to do business. Throughout Klopp’s managerial career he has sided with nurture over nature, the idea that developing talent can be as useful as going out and buying ready-made solutions.
The deal for Van Dijk, 26, is new ground for Liverpool, obliterating their transfer record, which stood at the £36.9 million paid for Mohamed Salah in the summer (the £55 million Naby Keïta does not arrive from RB Leipzig until July 1), but the size of the transfer also represents new territory for Klopp.
There were occasions during the pursuit of Van Dijk when Mike Gordon, the president of Liverpool’s owner, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), and Michael Edwards, the sporting director, sought to offer context to allay any lingering misgivings Klopp had that they were being asked to pay too much.
The 6ft 4in Van Dijk has always been Klopp’s No 1 defensive target, and his delight at finally landing the player was clear around Melwood yesterday. There have never been any doubts about the quality of the player.
Simply, the adjustment to the money-obsessed world of the Premier League has not always been an easy one for the man at the helm, whose biggest outlay at Borussia Dortmund was the €27.5 million (about £24.5 million) paid to prise Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013.
“I can imagine people will think, ‘Wow, what a number it is,’ but for me it is not really interesting,” Klopp said. “We do not make the price, the market makes the price and the first thing all Liverpool supporters should forget quite soon is the price. We only talk about the player and what he brings — his qualities, mentality and character.”
At first glance the figure — £70 million guaranteed and £4 million in add-ons — that has brought Van Dijk to Anfield feels outlandish.
Yet realism needs to be applied. Van Dijk had four and a half years left on his deal at Southampton, whose position was further strengthened by the knowledge he was wanted by Chelsea as far back as January, while Manchester City were especially keen, having recently contacted officials at St Mary’s, and Arsenal remained in the background.
Supply and demand also raised the price. Pep Guardiola, the City manager, had targeted Aymeric Laporte when he took over and the Athletic Bilbao defender had a £58million buyout clause to be settled in one payment. Antonio Conte tried to sign Kalidou Koulibaly upon arrival at Chelsea, but Napoli rebuffed a £58 million bid.
Van Dijk had four and a half years left on his deal at SouthamptonGLYN KIRK/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Gordon will have received the background information on Van Dijk — as well as the price of the available alternatives — which he relayed to the rest of FSG, including John W Henry, the principal owner, and Tom Werner, the Liverpool chairman.
Of course, the crucial factor in the signing of Van Dijk was how Liverpool repaired the relationship with Southampton after June’s spat when they were accused of tapping up the player.
It was Gordon who, having told Liverpool to publicly pull out of the race for fear of a Premier League charge, started building bridges with Ralph Krueger, the Southampton chairman.
Liverpool did not bid officially during the summer, but reiterated they would pay whatever it took if Southampton were prepared to sell. That pledge was in place on the final day of the August transfer window. A phone call from St Mary’s would have set the ball rolling.
In recent weeks, contact was re-established, with Liverpool insistent that Van Dijk was their No 1 choice but that they would buy a defender next month regardless and had other targets. The back-up plan was not needed.
By Christmas, Van Dijk’s performances did not warrant a place in Mauricio Pellegrino’s line-up, while Southampton’s tailspin meant hanging on to a £70 milllion player who was no longer much of an asset did not make sense. Not when £70 million — if spent correctly next month — could steady fortunes in the face of a possible fraught fight for Premier League survival.
Southampton’s decision belatedly to name a price was an invitation to the negotiating table that Liverpool were not about to pass up. They quickly showed the colour of their money.
Andy Massey, the Liverpool club doctor, oversaw the medical on Wednesday at Nuffield Hospital in Bournemouth.
It was then that Klopp finally had his man and, the more he reflects on the deal, the surer he is that Van Dijk will not leave Liverpool short-changed.
LOL!
That's amazing.
Not really. Klopp even says so in an interview. Blames it on him not being fully fit yet.
I have heard that too, and it seems like a blind spot to me.
However he achieves it, he needs to balance the team better and offer more protection to the defense for us to obtain any consistency, and I would argue, have a chance to win the league or CL.
Wonder who the backup plan for a defender Was?
Even i could get fully fit in three months.
And Hansern tells me the foot is absolutely fine and not causing problems.
It's not promising that Klopp is already making excuses for the most expensive defender in football.
It's going to be a disaster!
Someone not rated on here.
Hansern is your foot specialist??? Who's your fitness coach - Dreamy?
Depending on who you poll, that could leave everyone or no one.
Because most people are believing the hype as opposed to the facts.
How many people have watched more than a handful of games looking at his defensive display specifically?
Fuck all that's how many.
He's been hyped up as the best defender in the world so I can only be see him being a disappointment on that front.
Like I said I think he'll improve us but nowhere near to the level so many hope/think.
He's had an average at best time at Southampton this year, arguably because his head was already gone but that still means it's been well over a year since he was playing well and full of confidence.
I read comments from Klopp back when Utd bought Pogba.
Make him look a hypocrite and a fool now.
Oh well.
Make him look a hypocrite and a fool now.
Oh well.
Yeah, we just spent 70 mill £ on a player that we dont know if is fit after his injury, or if it will cause him more problems in the future.
Fuck me, how stupid or negativ can you get.
Why do you think Klopp plays this down at the start? To lower expecations and give VVD a soft start.
Fuck me, how stupid or negativ can you get.
Why do you think Klopp plays this down at the start? To lower expecations and give VVD a soft start.
In his defense - you could make the same argument he made today which is that LFC were a little behind the market prices, and probably thought it was a blip, but with PSG, City, and United spending the way they did last season and this season - the market has changed completely - and I think our club has come to accept it. But there is another aspect to it which I think is being ignored in the overall picture - which is that the other clubs are overstocking on any quality they can find in various positions - so that their 3rd choice is better than a first choice at say a club like WBA. We are not at that level - we have bought and paid for someone who we definitely need to come into the first team and hit the ground running. Not a fucking backup option or someone we hold onto because we are scared one of our competitors are going to get them (a la Chelsea), or 'potential' first team player.
My view is that buying a central defender to go into the first team is a bigger risk than buying a striker or midfielder. He's your last line of defense and cannot afford to slip up in games. Managers need to be at least 90% sure that such a purchase will fit into a system and work.
I don’t think it does, the market is very very different now.
Dreamy is a rabid manc. I mean, really - whenever Maureen sends out the most biased argument, who picks it up and repeats it on here? Yup. I posted the above article to anticipate and discourage such a stupid response, but still it came.
Oh well.
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