Virgil van Dijk

[Metalartin]

So people are really heaving a meltdown over not signing him for £60m(has he suddenly become the best defender in the world? He's had barely one decent season in the prem and we don't know if he can play the high line that we play... I'm not saying he can't adapt but that changes things so it's not a given he will)... it's seriously going to a be a long summer isn't it? Hope you've stocked up on fanny wipes... it's going to be a wet one many showers and meltdowns to come over nothing.

 

[uwe rosler 28]

But we don't defend deep, so we need players who are the best while defending a high line.

I don't think Vinny is best in this set up but what Vinny does is win or break play up high up the pitch it's something ota looked better at latter in the season. We need a rapid Vinny!!!!

 

[domalino]

So people are really heaving a meltdown over not signing him for £60m(has he suddenly become the best defender in the world? He's had barely one decent season in the prem and we don't know if he can play the high line that we play... I'm not saying he can't adapt but that changes things so it's not a given he will)... it's seriously going to a be a long summer isn't it? Hope you've stocked up on fanny wipes... it's going to be a wet one many showers and meltdowns to come over nothing.

I don't think anyone has had a meltdown over not signing Van Dijk at all. He would have improved us, the price is absurd, that's the general tone.

 

[Metalartin]

I don't think anyone has had a meltdown over not signing Van Dijk at all. He would have improved us, the price is absurd, that's the general tone.

Fair enough looked like people were taking it very hard a few pages back though, it is a bit of a slight against us that he publicly stated he wanted Liverpool while we were in the mix. We need to start demanding respect from clubs we deal with and players we show interest in IMO, start acting like a big club and giving ourselves more credit(fans too).

I'm pretty sure we will find a CB, to be honest I don't think Van Dijk is experienced enough to begin with personally and that's something we need. If we are going to go with young and promising I'd rather we gamble by giving Tosin a proper look in, at least until Jan if he's not stepped his game up enough loan him out and see if we can bring someone in. We need someone who can command the back line like Vinny can, that takes experience and leadership, CL experience, having been captain, having won silverware are the things we should be looking for. If we can find a player like that Ota and Stones are more than good enough, they just haven't been solid enough as a pair when they are seriously tested maybe that will come with experience over time too.

 

[domalino]

Fair enough looked like people were taking it very hard a few pages back though, it is a bit of a slight against us that he publicly stated he wanted Liverpool while we were in the mix. We need to start demanding respect from clubs we deal with and players we show interest in IMO, start acting like a big club and giving ourselves more credit(fans too).

I'm pretty sure we will find a CB, to be honest I don't think Van Dijk is experienced enough to begin with personally and that's something we need. If we are going to go with young and promising I'd rather we gamble by giving Tosin a proper look in, at least until Jan if he's not stepped his game up enough loan him out and see if we can bring someone in. We need someone who can command the back line like Vinny can, that takes experience and leadership, CL experience, having been captain, having won silverware are the things we should be looking for.

To be fair he's not stated anything himself, just the Liverpool journalists reporting he's said it behind closed doors.

I personally think Liverpool have really pissed off Southampton with this one and they'll make it as excruciating as possible - I wouldn't even rule out them delaying the move by a year like they did with Schneiderlin and Wanyama. Certainly doesn't seem like a transfer which will be over any time soon.

Tosin is a difficult one...at the moment I don't see how he's going to play a substantial role so he'd surely be better off leaving, Breda might be an interesting one as his brother is there.

Mainly I think a better set of fullbacks will save us 10 goals a season in the league, and the CB's will have a lot more help whether it's the existing lot or someone new comes in.

 

[Metalartin]

To be fair he's not stated anything himself, just the Liverpool journalists reporting he's said it behind closed doors.

I personally think Liverpool have really pissed off Southampton with this one and they'll make it as excruciating as possible - I wouldn't even rule out them delaying the move by a year like they did with Schneiderlin and Wanyama. Certainly doesn't seem like a transfer which will be over any time soon.

Tosin is a difficult one...at the moment I don't see how he's going to play a substantial role so he'd surely be better off leaving, Breda might be an interesting one as his brother is there.

Mainly I think a better set of fullbacks will save us 10 goals a season in the league, and the CB's will have a lot more help whether it's the existing lot or someone new comes in.

Bravo was a factor too but which came first the shaky defence or the keeper devoid of confidence? A new keeper with fullbacks who are comfortable in the system we play might actually help Stones and Ota form a partnership they trust in. They both looked different players alongside Vinny and far more consistent. We still should buy a CB we can pair with Ota or Stones to get the best out of them though for my liking.

 

[Dax777]

So just to be certain, people here are happy to not spend a fortune on a CB which clearly has been our weakness but they are more than happy to buy Sanchez, a position we are well stocked in. Classic.

The problem here, as is often the case, is your framing. CB has been no more a priority than an inability to finish chances. Matter of fact, the stats have been repeated to death- our goal conceding rate the last four years have stayed about the same, while our shot conversion rate have dipped this year.

Sure, while its cute to demand spending our way into the next injury free Kompany, the failure to achieve that is not proof that our CB is weak. Frankly, if you look around you'd notice there aren't that many teams with a Kompany.

Sanchez will win is more games than Virgil. That said they are both too expensive. 50 mil for a striker with none year left is ridiculous and 60 for a defender is a joke

 

[EL APACHE TEVEZ]

Don't know what all the hype is about van dijk he's a decent CB at best let the scousers have him it's got benteke wrote all over it.

 

[Blue Til Death]

I agree with Dax777, if we had converted a higher percentage of the plethora of chances we created last season, we would have won or been very close to winning the league and both domestic cups, not to mention beating Monaco.. I know the argument is that all teams miss lots of chances, that's agreed, however City were missing hat fulls last season in virtually every game.. Hope they improve the conversion rate big time next season..

 

[Cityfan]

Sanchez will win is more games than Virgil. That said they are both too expensive. 50 mil for a striker with none year left is ridiculous and 60 for a defender is a joke

Don't think the Sanchez fee is outrageous, however much he has left on his contract he still has value and when you look at how much Higuain and Suarez have gone for recently £50M is expensive but not outrageous.