comment by Marksmanship (U21765)
posted 2 days, 6 hours ago
comment by Firmino's Brightest Tooth (U1217)
posted 16 hours, 56 minutes ago
comment by Brain (U18701)
posted 1 hour, 27 minutes ago
Again, as I've said, people lack the balance and understanding to aarrive at an informed view, and the low quality responses are testament to that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well it's a low quality article, and that's me being generous.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Don't think you should take him serious. For God sake, he thought Everton's counter was partly due to van dijks 'poor positioning'. Clearly his footy knowledge is limited and merely trying to undermine vvd's performances with make belief.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Please, at least try to construct a reasonable sentence. If you're going to try and patronise, at least try not to undermine yourself as you do it.

comment by Brain (U18701)
posted 8 hours, 44 minutes ago
comment by Marksmanship (U21765)
posted 2 days, 6 hours ago
comment by Firmino's Brightest Tooth (U1217)
posted 16 hours, 56 minutes ago
comment by Brain (U18701)
posted 1 hour, 27 minutes ago
Again, as I've said, people lack the balance and understanding to aarrive at an informed view, and the low quality responses are testament to that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well it's a low quality article, and that's me being generous.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Don't think you should take him serious. For God sake, he thought Everton's counter was partly due to van dijks 'poor positioning'. Clearly his footy knowledge is limited and merely trying to undermine vvd's performances with make belief.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Please, at least try to construct a reasonable sentence. If you're going to try and patronise, at least try not to undermine yourself as you do it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

So now Im undermining myself because English isn't my main language.. on a football forum. You're losing the plot I guess when you have poor arguments this kind of drivel is all you can muster. Don't worry man, as long as you don't take yourself serious you can laugh at your silly comments, as we do.

comment by Brain (U18701)
posted 8 hours, 52 minutes ago
comment by Marksmanship (U21765)
posted 2 days, 6 hours ago
I genuinly reckon he'll be one of if not the best cb in the world within 2 years. It's amazing how good he already is without matchfitness and adapting to a new team. Liverpools fab 3 is changing into the fab 4.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on what kind of measure, considering your desperation for you to affix an over exaggerated value to a player because they play for the team you like?

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I'll be generous and will excuse your ignorance and even oblige. See, Im not a bad chap, am I?

To be the best you need to have a certain skillset that is as complete as can be. this big dude you call vvd is both good in the air and ground when defending: probably the most dominant in aerial duels in the league and a skilled manmarker as we could see against Tottenham's gem Mr. Kane.

In addition a complete cb must possess the ability to deliver the ball in a tidy fashion. You can clearly see that his won headers often find a teammate and his passing both short and long is excellent which brings me to the point of vision and handling speed. For Southampton and Liverpool he was able to give pinpoint passes without delay. Against extreme defensive sides this is more difficult but we saw how dangerous his delivery can be against sides like Porto. It gives an added dimension in attacking sense.

Composure, calmness, mentality: I'm sure you noticed how easy it is for him to stay cool, make intelligent decisions, not succumb to pressure (playing for a higher tier team> Liverpool, a higher stage>Champions League and pricetag>under heavy scrutiny. Last but not least he also makes the team better and this is a rare quality inspired by his calming and leading presence. Captain material for sure.

His footballing brain is of a high caliber. You can see it manifested through his anticipation, his decisionmaking and interception. The yang of this feature is that he's using his strength and body superbly to thrive against both strong and agile opposition.

You also need to understand that he's playing for a new team(mates), new coach and tactics while not being fully matchfit. He was out for 8 months and didn't play every game when he was fit for the Saints. His form dropped and that is to be expected but you can already see the improvement he's bringing while he's slowly regaining matchfitness.

One thing. Even the best will make mistakes. What makes him the best is the ability to keep errors to a minimum. I don't expect objectivity from most opposing fans, but don't expect me to take them serious.

PS Performances is what we all see on the field, but stats speak in his favor aswell.

Oh I almost forgot! He's often not playing at his best while putting in excellent performances. The game is too easy for him, meaning his potential is very high.

A recap:
He was excellent against Everton, Swansea, Tottenham, Southampton and Porto. Against West Brom he was not accountable for any of the goals, but didn't think he was good either. And if you think he was at fault against Swansea.. nope. Look at the analysis of the goal where vvd guarded his position while 3 teammates followed the ball into vvd's area, evidently obstructing him. As a result he could only get a touch on it and no direction. The ball fell kindly for a Swansea player who put it into a vacated space by Firmino and the goal was scored. 'Unluckyyyyy'

The question of whether VVD can single-handedly improve the defence has turned out to be an irrelevance, because he’s not the only change that’s been made to the defence.

Over the same period, Robertson has staked his claim to a place, and we’ve defended really well in the games where he and Robertson have played together (ie. most of them, since he arrived).
Defensive record, in those games, compares well with anybody’s.

comment by Marksmanship (U21765)
posted 7 hours, 7 minutes ago
comment by Brain (U18701)
posted 8 hours, 52 minutes ago
comment by Marksmanship (U21765)
posted 2 days, 6 hours ago
I genuinly reckon he'll be one of if not the best cb in the world within 2 years. It's amazing how good he already is without matchfitness and adapting to a new team. Liverpools fab 3 is changing into the fab 4.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on what kind of measure, considering your desperation for you to affix an over exaggerated value to a player because they play for the team you like?

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I'll be generous and will excuse your ignorance and even oblige. See, Im not a bad chap, am I?

To be the best you need to have a certain skillset that is as complete as can be. this big dude you call vvd is both good in the air and ground when defending: probably the most dominant in aerial duels in the league and a skilled manmarker as we could see against Tottenham's gem Mr. Kane.

In addition a complete cb must possess the ability to deliver the ball in a tidy fashion. You can clearly see that his won headers often find a teammate and his passing both short and long is excellent which brings me to the point of vision and handling speed. For Southampton and Liverpool he was able to give pinpoint passes without delay. Against extreme defensive sides this is more difficult but we saw how dangerous his delivery can be against sides like Porto. It gives an added dimension in attacking sense.

Composure, calmness, mentality: I'm sure you noticed how easy it is for him to stay cool, make intelligent decisions, not succumb to pressure (playing for a higher tier team> Liverpool, a higher stage>Champions League and pricetag>under heavy scrutiny. Last but not least he also makes the team better and this is a rare quality inspired by his calming and leading presence. Captain material for sure.

His footballing brain is of a high caliber. You can see it manifested through his anticipation, his decisionmaking and interception. The yang of this feature is that he's using his strength and body superbly to thrive against both strong and agile opposition.

You also need to understand that he's playing for a new team(mates), new coach and tactics while not being fully matchfit. He was out for 8 months and didn't play every game when he was fit for the Saints. His form dropped and that is to be expected but you can already see the improvement he's bringing while he's slowly regaining matchfitness.

One thing. Even the best will make mistakes. What makes him the best is the ability to keep errors to a minimum. I don't expect objectivity from most opposing fans, but don't expect me to take them serious.

PS Performances is what we all see on the field, but stats speak in his favor aswell.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He is also very good to his mother and feeds his gold fish daily!

Virgil


Best defender I have seen for a very long time.

Brainless is being taken to the cleaners here.

comment by Be A Grizzly (U2206)
posted 1 hour, 26 minutes ago
Virgil


Best defender I have seen for a very long time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Yep, but he still needs more time to settle. I'm curious if Lovren will remain his non rotaional partner or if there is going to be a new cb. Read stefan de vrij will be a free pickup in the summer, but have no clue how good he really is.

comment by Marksmanship (U21765)
posted 1 week, 2 days ago
comment by Be A Grizzly (U2206)
posted 1 hour, 26 minutes ago
Virgil


Best defender I have seen for a very long time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Yep, but he still needs more time to settle. I'm curious if Lovren will remain his non rotaional partner or if there is going to be a new cb. Read stefan de vrij will be a free pickup in the summer, but have no clue how good he really is.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Again, chronic failure to read the original article. Your supporting contentions contain much emotion but little knowledge, so please at least try and brush up on the game before attempting to push your opinions on others.

Thing is brainless.

Since bringing him in we’ve conceded considerably less goals, he’s provided confidence and belief to the rest of the defence and he has improved us by a long margin.

You go on about people brushing up on the game yet you have literally no clue what you’re going on about.

supporting contentions contain much emotion but little knowledge,
=========================================================
What “supporting contentions”?
He wasn’t contending anything, he was just making a tangential inquiry as to whether Lovren will remain VVD’s partner.

And “Read stefan de vrij will be a free pickup in the summer” doesn’t sound all that emotional, to me.
Certainly less emotional than “at least try and brush up on the game before attempting to push your opinions on others.”

What have you been smoking, Brian?

https://twitter.com/Xabilism/status/968798340610748416

And to answer the question of op's title. I'm sure the Liverpool fans are delighted to see the difference and rival fans are disappointed to see vvd is the real deal.

I'm sure Brain with all his mighty football knowledge that vvd has in fact improved the team. The whole team seems to benefit from his calmness and players around him are playing better and better. (Except for maybe Matip who's just not good).

Maybe, maybe not! Who knows? Let it rest!

Brainless

comment by Wessie Road (U10652)
posted 11 hours, 28 minutes ago
supporting contentions contain much emotion but little knowledge,
=========================================================
What “supporting contentions”?
He wasn’t contending anything, he was just making a tangential inquiry as to whether Lovren will remain VVD’s partner.

And “Read stefan de vrij will be a free pickup in the summer” doesn’t sound all that emotional, to me.
Certainly less emotional than “at least try and brush up on the game before attempting to push your opinions on others.”

What have you been smoking, Brian?

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Unfortunately, your supporting quotes don't substantiate the points you are attempting to make.

comment by Brain (U18701)
posted 17 hours, 24 minutes ago
comment by Wessie Road (U10652)
posted 11 hours, 28 minutes ago
supporting contentions contain much emotion but little knowledge,
=========================================================
What “supporting contentions”?
He wasn’t contending anything, he was just making a tangential inquiry as to whether Lovren will remain VVD’s partner.

And “Read stefan de vrij will be a free pickup in the summer” doesn’t sound all that emotional, to me.
Certainly less emotional than “at least try and brush up on the game before attempting to push your opinions on others.”

What have you been smoking, Brian?

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Unfortunately, your supporting quotes don't substantiate the points you are attempting to make.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Logic" spelled backwards is "Cigol"!

Another game and another smooth, calm, commanding, performance and another clean sheet.

Hasnt improved us has he!

Another Van Dijk game for Liverpool, another clean sheet and win for Liverpool.

Day after day, the humiliation grows for Brainless. This will be bigger than the Sahin thread.

comment by Neo (U9135)
posted 7 minutes ago
Another Van Dijk game for Liverpool, another clean sheet and win for Liverpool.

Day after day, the humiliation grows for Brainless. This will be bigger than the Sahin thread.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's certainly gaining momentum but I can't see it getting to those heights. I haven't been able to laugh on that thread as I was banned from the Arsenal board years ago.

Won't happen this time!

Toor, post it on here and i’ll Post it for you!

I wonder if Man United fans still think that Chris Smalling is of the same level as VVD

comment by KLS. KLS - I like a bit of dogging in car park... (U1695)
posted 11 hours, 14 minutes ago
Toor, post it on here and i’ll Post it for you!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well this is it: -