29 Dec 2017 01:04:33
Hi Eds and Reds,

In light of our most recent signing, would be good to gather some thoughts. We have signed many potentially decent defenders over the years, who have appeared to make no difference to our ability to defend properly. Under KD, Agger, Skrtel, Enrique and Johnson made up arguably the best defence in the league. Agger aside (god only knows why he was sold), we have seen these guys go to sh*t. We have had defenders come in who it just hasn't worked out for, im thinking Lovren and Sakho in particular, but also possibly Klavan, and maybe Matip (I quite like him, but opinions seem to be mixed) . I'm a little worried that we are pointlessly throwing money at the wrong problem. Is it more a problem with our coaching or system than the players? We have just spent £75m on the guy who is meant to solve our defenders issues. What are your thoughts?

Cheers.

{Ed002's Note - Liverpool are in need of a solid CB and van Dijk has the chance to apply himself and be a real good defender. The price is well beyond what others would’ve paid but it is the end result that matters.}


1.) 29 Dec 2017
29 Dec 2017 02:31:50
Sakho had a terrible attitude, just terrible and didn't deserve to be at Liverpool, He had messed up at previous clubs and continued to do so at Liverpool. If he had a professional head on him, it could've worked out for him but he blew it.

Lovren and Matip just aren't good enough and never was, not for us they wasn't not if we are wanting to go for champions league places and the PL title. We have splashed the cash on VVD, personally I'd of been against the transfer to begin with, I was. Having said this, money is irrelevant, he is an improvement, he's a Liverpool player now and he gets my 100% support. The club are going all out to try and improve us and I am thankful for that.

VVD is better then any CB we currently have that's for sure, I think he may surprise us all as Ox has done, VVD hasn't had the greatest of starts to the first half of the season but it's hardly surprising going on what's gone on with him since the summer.

He alone cannot sort out the defence but he is an upgrade and it shows we are improving slowly but surely, it's a start. Some people are moaning about the transfer, may I ask those people who we could've (realistically) / should've got instead of VVD? There's not many out there, good defenders these days are hard to come by, there's no doubt this lad is a good defender, one we've needed for quite some time so I say good luck to the lad and let's give him our full support, forget the money aspect, it's completely irrelevant.


2.) 29 Dec 2017
29 Dec 2017 05:17:46
VVD is excellent in bringing the ball out from the back. Top class vision in picking a player ( Why Pep was rightly behind him ) . He is tall and brilliant header of the ball ( A much needed to our defense ) He has pace which is essential when you play high line.

What he is not good at! He needs a clam head alongside him something we don’t have atm! At times he believes he is a Messi and charge high up like a bull!

We might need another CB in the summer to partner him. I could see a new whole backline in the summer!


3.) 29 Dec 2017
29 Dec 2017 06:43:06
Klavan is also good at passing from the back, Matip and VVD add the height and muscle we should be a lot stronger at defending set pieces which might make Mignolet look good.


4.) 29 Dec 2017
29 Dec 2017 07:29:11
KingCarlos, my grandma has more muscle than Matip.


5.) 29 Dec 2017
29 Dec 2017 08:39:28
Mignolet wouldn't look competent even with Baresi and Maldini in front of him. As pleased as I am with the van Dijk signing, we really need to be looking for a goalkeeper if Karius doesn't get his act together.
As for Matip, the quicker he is phased out, the better. He's a poor defender who buckles under pressure even faster than Lovren.


6.) 29 Dec 2017
29 Dec 2017 11:49:50
Backwards Hendo or Harry for short, all our CB's can pass out of the back very well cos they would not be here if they could not do that as Klopp demands it. Now, VVD will not suddenly make Migs stop costing us games. VVD will not solve our defensive shape in midfield or lack thereof. A lot of more needs to be done to make us better all round defensively.


7.) 29 Dec 2017
29 Dec 2017 12:10:31
BRover
He has to be an immediate improvement on our current defense. £75 mill is not a small sum for any player. I am
Sure he is one of the many changes happening at the back. Can you clear why we splashed such a huge sum if he isn’t going to improve our GD!