Virgiling on the vandijkulous
- Thread starter Skullflower
- Start date
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I had a chinese tonight.
Lemon cheesecake from Avoca to follow.
And some Greco di Tufo to wash it down
Well you should be in a better mood then.
Chinese on a Monday night?
Wow, that's like something out of LA Law when everyone is working late and they order in some noodles and stuff and everyone eats out of little cardboard cartons with chopsticks while discussing the case
Thats wishfull thinking mate. I admire the optimism mind.
Hahahahaha
Bank Holiday over here today
Explains the mood then..
Liverpool have signalled their intent, convincing Virgil van Dijk to choose Anfield over Stamford Bridge and the Etihad. The centre half is expected to arrive on Merseyside shortly in a £50-60M deal after Jürgen Klopp’s Reds beat out their top four rivals for the Southampton star’s signature. He will arrive as a consensus choice as one of the Premier League’s top five centre halves and will now have the chance with Liverpool to establish himself as the league’s best at his position for years to come.
Virgil van Dijk
Centre Half
DOB: 8/7/91 (25) | Height: 6’4” (1.93 meters)
2016-17 Season: 30 appearances, 4 goals
Strengths: Calm under pressure, composed on the ball, and dominant in the air. As one of the Premier League’s top centre halves over the past two seasons, any list of Van Dijk’s strengths is going to read like a list of ideal defender traits. There’s a reason, after all, why both Chelsea and Manchester City—who will remain dual favourites for many to win the league next season—also targeted Van Dijk as their first choice centre half. There was a reason those two clubs as well as Liverpool were willing to pay upwards of £50M for his services.
Van Dijk’s composure and tactical sense, though, is perhaps his biggest strength, more so even than his impressive physical talents. His calmness both on and off the ball, his ability to read the game in front of him and to position himself to snuff out danger before it happens, and his ability to keep a level head when the intensity level ramps up and the game begins to get frantic. He can outmuscle any forward in the air, has enough pace to keep up with all but the speediest wingers when isolated, and has the ball skills to launch counter-attacks or cycle possession as needed, but all of that is built on an unimpeachable tactical foundation and a calm and collected mentality, one that can spread to his teammates.
Along with Joël Matip, Liverpool can expect to head into next season with two of the Premier League’s defenders least prone to becoming flustered when pressure mounts or momentum shifts. If he plays instead with Dejan Lovren, his calming presence and ability to manage the backline should help to anchor the at times excitable Croatian. When it is Matip and Van Dijk paired, the club will also have one of the tallest centre half partnerships not only in England but in the game, but a partnership that despite its height remains highly skilled on the ball, able to pass themselves out of danger and to build play from the back.
Beyond his composure, though, and beyond his reading of the game and his ability on the ball, Van Dijk is as close to the ideal of the centre half as you’re likely to find. Tall, powerful, strong in the air, and able to build up a decent head of steam when necessary, he will almost always keep himself on the right side of play and opposition players, looking to shut down attacks by overpowering opponents while staying on his feet. His presence should also vastly improve Liverpool’s ability on set pieces, both in defence where they have often struggled and in attack, as Van Dijk scored seven goals for Southampton in his two seasons with them.
Weaknesses: You don’t fetch a £50M+ transfer fee while being the top defensive target of three Champions League clubs in England with many, or even maybe any, glaring, significant weaknesses to your game. Still, there are times when his technical skill on the ball can lead Van Dijk astray, pulling him out of position as he seeks to get himself more involved on the game. Liverpool fans saw that last season at times with presumptive partner Matip, and they’ve seen it in recent seasons from former players like Daniel Agger.
In Van Dijk, they are getting a player similarly skilled on the ball, to the point he might not look out of place in midfield. And similarly they are getting a player who at times will get caught up in a break or sustained spell of possession that leads to him being woefully out of position. This can especially be a problem for Van Dijk if the rest of the side is struggling—in the same way a frustrated forward may drop ever deeper when his side struggles on the ball, Van Dijk can push ever higher up the pitch if the players ahead of him are struggling to influence the game.
Beyond that, for the kind of fee Liverpool will be paying, it can’t entirely be ignored that he spent most of the season half of the 2016-17 season sidelined with an ankle injury. It’s not the sort of injury that should be an ongoing concern, and Van Dijk’s career injury record is exemplary, but given Liverpool’s fitness issues under Klopp any extended layoff for a big new signing has to at least give pause. The good news, though, is that outside of his current four-month layoff, in his entire senior career Van Dijk missed just one game with Celtic due to an unspecified knock and seven games with Groningen after having his appendix removed. It’s also worth noting that having played for Southampton, Celtic, and Groningen before now, he has limited experience in Europe and with regularly playing twice a week as he will be expected to in 2017-18.
Summation: Virgil van Dijk is one of the Premier League’s top five defenders. Playing for one of the top clubs, he has the chance now to establish himself as the league’s best centre half, and that he was also the top defensive target for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and Antonio Conte and Chelsea but that Liverpool managed in the end to win his signature is noteworthy. It is an achievement, a coup, and Van Dijk is the kind of marquee signing—or signal of intent—that so many Liverpool fans say they’re always looking for.
In Van Dijk, Fenway Sports Group have backed Jürgen Klopp to sign a world class centre half and Klopp has done his part, convincing that world class signing to choose Liverpool over City and Chelsea—two sides who for almost everyone would have been considered stronger title favourites in England and the two Premier League sides most likely to retain their position in the top four next season. This truly is a signal of intent signing, perhaps Liverpool’s biggest and most impressive such move of the entire Premier League era. This is a very, very big deal for the club. This is a reason to celebrate.
Virgil van Dijk
Centre Half
DOB: 8/7/91 (25) | Height: 6’4” (1.93 meters)
2016-17 Season: 30 appearances, 4 goals
Strengths: Calm under pressure, composed on the ball, and dominant in the air. As one of the Premier League’s top centre halves over the past two seasons, any list of Van Dijk’s strengths is going to read like a list of ideal defender traits. There’s a reason, after all, why both Chelsea and Manchester City—who will remain dual favourites for many to win the league next season—also targeted Van Dijk as their first choice centre half. There was a reason those two clubs as well as Liverpool were willing to pay upwards of £50M for his services.
Van Dijk’s composure and tactical sense, though, is perhaps his biggest strength, more so even than his impressive physical talents. His calmness both on and off the ball, his ability to read the game in front of him and to position himself to snuff out danger before it happens, and his ability to keep a level head when the intensity level ramps up and the game begins to get frantic. He can outmuscle any forward in the air, has enough pace to keep up with all but the speediest wingers when isolated, and has the ball skills to launch counter-attacks or cycle possession as needed, but all of that is built on an unimpeachable tactical foundation and a calm and collected mentality, one that can spread to his teammates.
Along with Joël Matip, Liverpool can expect to head into next season with two of the Premier League’s defenders least prone to becoming flustered when pressure mounts or momentum shifts. If he plays instead with Dejan Lovren, his calming presence and ability to manage the backline should help to anchor the at times excitable Croatian. When it is Matip and Van Dijk paired, the club will also have one of the tallest centre half partnerships not only in England but in the game, but a partnership that despite its height remains highly skilled on the ball, able to pass themselves out of danger and to build play from the back.
Beyond his composure, though, and beyond his reading of the game and his ability on the ball, Van Dijk is as close to the ideal of the centre half as you’re likely to find. Tall, powerful, strong in the air, and able to build up a decent head of steam when necessary, he will almost always keep himself on the right side of play and opposition players, looking to shut down attacks by overpowering opponents while staying on his feet. His presence should also vastly improve Liverpool’s ability on set pieces, both in defence where they have often struggled and in attack, as Van Dijk scored seven goals for Southampton in his two seasons with them.
Weaknesses: You don’t fetch a £50M+ transfer fee while being the top defensive target of three Champions League clubs in England with many, or even maybe any, glaring, significant weaknesses to your game. Still, there are times when his technical skill on the ball can lead Van Dijk astray, pulling him out of position as he seeks to get himself more involved on the game. Liverpool fans saw that last season at times with presumptive partner Matip, and they’ve seen it in recent seasons from former players like Daniel Agger.
In Van Dijk, they are getting a player similarly skilled on the ball, to the point he might not look out of place in midfield. And similarly they are getting a player who at times will get caught up in a break or sustained spell of possession that leads to him being woefully out of position. This can especially be a problem for Van Dijk if the rest of the side is struggling—in the same way a frustrated forward may drop ever deeper when his side struggles on the ball, Van Dijk can push ever higher up the pitch if the players ahead of him are struggling to influence the game.
Beyond that, for the kind of fee Liverpool will be paying, it can’t entirely be ignored that he spent most of the season half of the 2016-17 season sidelined with an ankle injury. It’s not the sort of injury that should be an ongoing concern, and Van Dijk’s career injury record is exemplary, but given Liverpool’s fitness issues under Klopp any extended layoff for a big new signing has to at least give pause. The good news, though, is that outside of his current four-month layoff, in his entire senior career Van Dijk missed just one game with Celtic due to an unspecified knock and seven games with Groningen after having his appendix removed. It’s also worth noting that having played for Southampton, Celtic, and Groningen before now, he has limited experience in Europe and with regularly playing twice a week as he will be expected to in 2017-18.
Summation: Virgil van Dijk is one of the Premier League’s top five defenders. Playing for one of the top clubs, he has the chance now to establish himself as the league’s best centre half, and that he was also the top defensive target for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and Antonio Conte and Chelsea but that Liverpool managed in the end to win his signature is noteworthy. It is an achievement, a coup, and Van Dijk is the kind of marquee signing—or signal of intent—that so many Liverpool fans say they’re always looking for.
In Van Dijk, Fenway Sports Group have backed Jürgen Klopp to sign a world class centre half and Klopp has done his part, convincing that world class signing to choose Liverpool over City and Chelsea—two sides who for almost everyone would have been considered stronger title favourites in England and the two Premier League sides most likely to retain their position in the top four next season. This truly is a signal of intent signing, perhaps Liverpool’s biggest and most impressive such move of the entire Premier League era. This is a very, very big deal for the club. This is a reason to celebrate.
It still rankles that after a very impressive time at Celtic, we didn't make a move then
Him choosing Liverpool over City or Chelsea or whoever may partly have been about his status and importance to that sort of team, but it's a compliment to Klopp and LFC also
I'd be surprised if there wasn't interest, he's been one of the best defenders in the Premiership in the season and a half since he joined Southampton
The fee must be decided, personal terms agreed, the contract drawn up.
But the reality is the hard work has already been done regarding Liverpool's pursuit of Virgil van Dijk.
Never mind the power of Anfield.
Van Dijk's decision to reject overtures from both Manchester City and Chelsea is the most startling example yet of the power of Jurgen Klopp.
When Fenway Sports Group brought the German to Liverpool in October 2015, they knew they weren't just bringing in a top-class manager and outstanding motivator. They had also acquired one of the most persuasive men in the game.
Such is the allure of Klopp, whose enthusiasm and vision for Liverpool has left a huge impression on van Dijk and his representatives. Anyone who been fortunate enough to spend time with the Reds boss will know it can be difficult to resist his exuberant, effusive personality, while impossible to ignore the steely determination that lies beneath the often jocular exterior.
And that's what has helped sway van Dijk to not only choose Anfield ahead of Stamford Bridge and the Etihad, but, even more tellingly, put his faith in Klopp ahead of Antonio Conte and Pep Guardiola.
Make no mistake, both Chelsea and City wanted van Dijk.
But perhaps Liverpool and Klopp just wanted him more, and made that perfectly clear during this pitch to the 25-year-old. Yes, there's the money, with FSG prepared to back Klopp's judgement in the player he regards as pivotal to his summer squad strengthening.
Liverpool must now thrash out a deal with Southampton, who will seek up to £60million for van Dijk, which will shatter the existing club record of £35m paid to Newcastle United for Andy Carroll in January 2011. And once it became clear the Reds are also willing to match the financial packages of the other two suitors, van Dijk has evidently followed his heart, led there by Klopp.
A deal will take time to complete – and supporters should anticipate a few bumps along the way – but the process will be aided by Liverpool and Southampton having travelled this particular path together several times in recent years.
But while £60m is an astonishing amount – although when added to the zero transfer fee paid for likely centre-back partner Joel Matip, it doesn't look quite as eye-watering – the real statement isn't regarding the size of the fee. By choosing Liverpool, van Dijk is effectively saying he regards the Reds as much challengers next season as City and Chelsea.
It's why Klopp was so delighted a top-four place was secured on the final day of the Premier League season. Even the German's greatest speech wouldn't have been as resonant without the temptation of Champions League football. Van Dijk's decision will not pass unnoticed. Players pondering a move to Anfield will now see the club and manager are serious in their attempts to place Liverpool back among Europe's elite. Of course, top players have long since been drawn to the Reds. Signing leading talent is nothing new. But Liverpool can now crack on with renewed optimism as they chase their other main targets, with RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita and Roma winger Mohamed Salah next on the agenda. Others, though, will take an increased interest. The ramifications of van Dijk's expected arrival will be felt far beyond the heart of Liverpool's defence.
And that, more than anything, is down to Klopp.
But the reality is the hard work has already been done regarding Liverpool's pursuit of Virgil van Dijk.
Never mind the power of Anfield.
Van Dijk's decision to reject overtures from both Manchester City and Chelsea is the most startling example yet of the power of Jurgen Klopp.
When Fenway Sports Group brought the German to Liverpool in October 2015, they knew they weren't just bringing in a top-class manager and outstanding motivator. They had also acquired one of the most persuasive men in the game.
Such is the allure of Klopp, whose enthusiasm and vision for Liverpool has left a huge impression on van Dijk and his representatives. Anyone who been fortunate enough to spend time with the Reds boss will know it can be difficult to resist his exuberant, effusive personality, while impossible to ignore the steely determination that lies beneath the often jocular exterior.
And that's what has helped sway van Dijk to not only choose Anfield ahead of Stamford Bridge and the Etihad, but, even more tellingly, put his faith in Klopp ahead of Antonio Conte and Pep Guardiola.
Make no mistake, both Chelsea and City wanted van Dijk.
But perhaps Liverpool and Klopp just wanted him more, and made that perfectly clear during this pitch to the 25-year-old. Yes, there's the money, with FSG prepared to back Klopp's judgement in the player he regards as pivotal to his summer squad strengthening.
Liverpool must now thrash out a deal with Southampton, who will seek up to £60million for van Dijk, which will shatter the existing club record of £35m paid to Newcastle United for Andy Carroll in January 2011. And once it became clear the Reds are also willing to match the financial packages of the other two suitors, van Dijk has evidently followed his heart, led there by Klopp.
A deal will take time to complete – and supporters should anticipate a few bumps along the way – but the process will be aided by Liverpool and Southampton having travelled this particular path together several times in recent years.
But while £60m is an astonishing amount – although when added to the zero transfer fee paid for likely centre-back partner Joel Matip, it doesn't look quite as eye-watering – the real statement isn't regarding the size of the fee. By choosing Liverpool, van Dijk is effectively saying he regards the Reds as much challengers next season as City and Chelsea.
It's why Klopp was so delighted a top-four place was secured on the final day of the Premier League season. Even the German's greatest speech wouldn't have been as resonant without the temptation of Champions League football. Van Dijk's decision will not pass unnoticed. Players pondering a move to Anfield will now see the club and manager are serious in their attempts to place Liverpool back among Europe's elite. Of course, top players have long since been drawn to the Reds. Signing leading talent is nothing new. But Liverpool can now crack on with renewed optimism as they chase their other main targets, with RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita and Roma winger Mohamed Salah next on the agenda. Others, though, will take an increased interest. The ramifications of van Dijk's expected arrival will be felt far beyond the heart of Liverpool's defence.
And that, more than anything, is down to Klopp.
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They were both in for him, absolutely no doubt.
There will be plenty of discussion about playing three at the back sooner or later
Indeed there shall!
Intent
I hope it doesn't reach a crescendo before Xmas, because we all know what that will mean
Bean!
It might be the Karius / Mignolet style kick up the arse he needs.
We could blaze that trail in the PL.
My poor grammar prevails again.
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