08 Jun 2017 09:37:04
Not being funny but De Vrij if available for a third of Van Dijks price surely should've been first choice? We are talking about a far better player here. De Vrij is everything in terms of a ball playing centre back that Van Dijk would want to be. Vrij has all the qualities on the ball As Dijk, except he knows there is a time and a place for playing football. Dijk doesn't grasp that concept and constantly gets caught.

There is no doubt that when in a 1 on 1 situation Dijks pace, height and power make him harder to beat on the ground or in the air. Therefore he is better at defending set pieces and facing up attackers on the break. But in terms of covering for your partner, being in position, passing, and reading the game Vrij scoops it hands down. He is a natural leader as well. Dijk doesn't strike me as a born leader, more of a forced leader like what Lovren tries to be he. Fonte was the leader at Southampton. Not Dijk. Don't let anybody tell you otherwise.

Vrij though has a torrid injury history. He suffers at least one injury a season. Last season he didn't play at all due to knee ligament damage. This season he was missing for a month with a broken foot. Literally, in your head right now, picture a Dutch Daniel Agger, and there you go; De Vrij.

Still though, Dijk missed half a season with a broken ankle so neither player is exactly filling me with confidence in their reliability.

I really do not understand why we don't just go and sign Gibson. Could even offer to loan them Gomez as part of the deal. If it comes down to the two Dutch men though, De Vrij takes my vote every day.

1.) 08 Jun 2017
08 Jun 2017 10:39:24
You must have some time on your hands MK to watch pretty much every player in Europe and give detailed opinions on them.

2.) 08 Jun 2017
08 Jun 2017 11:00:13
Good post Adam. I have been looking for Ed001 analysis onVan Dijk but can't find it.

Usually respect your opinion and agreed when we should have gone for Bertrand.

How about some of your player analyisis you used to do? Always made a good read.

3.) 08 Jun 2017
08 Jun 2017 11:04:49
No, you are talking about a far better player. Please stop putting your opinion as fact. I for one would have been more than happy with VVD.

4.) 09 Jun 2017
09 Jun 2017 13:47:26
I watch a lot of football Smplfc. Or at least I did before the last 6 months as I've been surviving on mobile data and cannot stream games. Myp2p shows games across Europe. Besides, Van Dijk has been in the UK for about 4 years and De Vrij has been one of the hottest young players in Europe since he captained Feynoord at about 20 years old and managed to make Martins-Indi look good. Due to my lack of streaming I am pretty limited to English football or Champions league down the local right now!

MarcO, thanks for your feedback. I stopped that sort of stuff unfortunately. For every Bertrand I got right, there was a Balotelli I got wrong. As these pages have shown over the last few days with regards to the Macca abuse, being wrong is not ever allowed so I packed it in. Maybe when the window opens I'll do a short article on some of our more definite targets.

Rover, I presented it as an opinion, not a fact. Apologies if it came across as a preach rather than a discussion.