Virgil van Dijk

[Neville Kneville]

To refute your conclusion about fans and ex players being though of as morons, consider this:

For the same reason fans and ex pros aren't consulted on a huge variety of topics such as

• finances,
• recruitment,
• match day line ups,
• positions players should play in,
• whom to bring on, or take off
• etc.

in the running of the club, is the same reason that fan's impressions on whether a player is good or bad enough at the club isn't used.

If in the above cases you concede that fans aren't thought of to be morons by the club staff, then similarly in our discussion you can't conclude that giving pertinence to statistics over the impressions of spectators is a tacit assertion of the latter's incompetence.

The 2nd rate crappy statistics used on here are only a piss poor version of the real thing & don't take most situations into account. They are only useful in the most part, to indicate the most basic traits & are mainly used to put down opinion & dumb down.discussion of what actually happened: 'the player didn't have a stinker because he won ten headers & ten tackles, here is the proof, you are all stupid'.

Most people understand how stats work & choose to use them as a bit of a backup guide to the overall impression rather than treating them as the bible.

The assumption then is that the reason they still hold the same opinion in spite of statistics, is because they don't understand how all powerful stats are.

 

[BlueCityfan]

Watching some Van Dijk compilations. Never noticed what a quality long-pass he has. And when you add his athleticism, pace and aerial ability. And also plays LCB. Despite being right-footed.

No wonder pep wants him.

 

[Manchester_lalala]

Watching some Van Dijk compilations. Never noticed what a quality long-pass he has. And when you add his athleticism, pace and aerial ability. And also plays LCB. Despite being right-footed.

No wonder pep wants him.

Think it was last season at the etihad where he had a shot from a about 35 yards and he nearly broke the crossbarr in half. Great technique for a centre back, I'll be surprised if he goes for anything less than 60 million.

 

[Easy]

He is recovering from an ankle injury , you and I might think £70M expensive but Southampton hold many of the cards. If we buy him I suspect it will be for more than £50M though possibly less than £70M

True, still think it would be £50M + plus bonuses of £5-10m, worst case scenario. Don't think us or any other club would spend anything close to £70M on a CB.

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

True, still think it would be £50M + plus bonuses of £5-10m, worst case scenario. Don't think us or any other club would spend anything close to £70M on a CB.

I believe Celtic have a 10% sell on clause, not overly significant but might put up the price by 5M or so.

 

[Cityfan]

True, still think it would be £50M + plus bonuses of £5-10m, worst case scenario. Don't think us or any other club would spend anything close to £70M on a CB.

I don't know how much we want him or even whether it is just a red herring, but I've seen us pay some fairly large sums for players recently who we've wanted and Southampton have as well (They also managed to get some fairly large sums for Shaw, Lallana and Lovren). There have probably been a few deals we have walked away from (Pogba being one) but I wouldn't be surprised if with add ons we top £60M if we get him.

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

Watching some Van Dijk compilations. Never noticed what a quality long-pass he has. And when you add his athleticism, pace and aerial ability. And also plays LCB. Despite being right-footed.

No wonder pep wants him.

Yep he's a cracking player, he's also got the physicality to dominate forwards as well.

 

[01cravend]

£70mil??

Would make him the most expensive defender of all time by £20mil.

What on earth was Alex Sandro's price tag that put us off?

 

[Cityfan]

We have paid £22M for Lescott nine years ago
EIther £32 or £42 M for Mangala three year ago depending on whether you believe the announced price or the transfer leaks one.
£48M for Stones one year ago.
I don't think a very large fee for VVD would be a huge surprise.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

Yeah but, let's face it, Southampton are never getting £70m for him.