Virgil van Dijk

[OhSoGroovy]

Conte on Van Djik...

But the Chelsea boss has said that every club who wants Van Dijk should do their best to compete with runaway leaders City to ensure Pep Guardiola's side don't end up signing another of the league's top players.

"Every team, every club, must pay great attention," Conte said.

"Because if a club like Manchester City takes all the best [players], it will be very difficult for us to fight. Not only in England but in Europe

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/fo...ity-to-sign-virgil-van-dijk-a3721971.html?amp

 

[Neville Kneville]

We should have signed a cb in the summer. Any that we sign now, it's touch & go they will be behind everyone in understanding Pep's style.

VVD has so far gone through his career without playing for a top manager, or in a top side, yet top managers, like Klopp, Conte & maybe Pep, want to sign him, for top sides. That should tell people all they need to know.

If we sign him, it's because Pep thinks he can be taught.

If he can be, then he could easily become better than any of our current cbs as he has more raw material to work with, a lot more.

The questions are fitness (he isn't back to his best yet) & if he has the right brain for the job.

There are no questions re ability.

 

[PW]

Conte on Van Djik...



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/fo...ity-to-sign-virgil-van-dijk-a3721971.html?amp

Why's the Italian Roy Cropper sticking his nose into our transfer business. Is he really that terrified that we are going to dominate the English game that he's trying to stop teams doing business with us. Through fear of his own inadequacies he appears to be rallying for teams to either bid for our targets or to simply not do business with us.

 

[Andouble]

Conte on Van Djik...



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/fo...ity-to-sign-virgil-van-dijk-a3721971.html?amp

I want to sign him more than ever now.

 

[citizen_maine]

and yet we're the ones inflating the market

 

[Exeter Blue I am here]

Laporte can sod off. Had his chance. Didn’t want to come here. Fuck him.
Don’t understand the anti-VVD sentiment. He has that most precious of Pep ingredients, effortless comfort in possession. You don’t think Pep can mould him into a stand out performer like Stones? I do

 

[J_MCFC21]

Not sure why Conte is speaking about him, unless a deal is in place and they tried to get him then been told he's coming here instead. Bit like when clubs asked about Mendy but we'd pretty much done the deal?

 

[Ethan23]

Throw 100 million at Southampton for Van Dijk and Bertrand and that pretty much solves all our defensive issues

 

[moggymoz]

Throw 100 million at Southampton for Van Dijk and Bertrand and that pretty much solves all our defensive issues

What "defensive issues" we're currently joint best at the top with only 12 goals conceded ...

 

[Tevez City]

What "defensive issues" we're currently joint best at the top with only 12 goals conceded ...

Well said.

And also Stones is coming in the next two weeks.

 

[Ethan23]

We currently have Delph and Mangala playing side by side.. you may get away with that in the league especially with the form we are in. But you really wanna go in to champions league semi final against PSG/Barca/Mardrid etc with them 2...

 

[J_MCFC21]

We currently have Delph and Mangala playing side by side.. you may get away with that in the league especially with the form we are in. But you really wanna go in to champions league semi final against PSG/Barca/Mardrid etc with them 2...

100% agree. Don't think Pep wants to be in a situation too where he has to use a fullback or even Tosin in CB for a big game. Only takes a suspension or a freak injury to Stones/ Otamendi, don't know how long Kompany can stay fit for either.

However I do think Mangala is improving a lot, may just need a run of games but does Pep trust him enough?

 

[cadds92]

We currently have Delph and Mangala playing side by side.. you may get away with that in the league especially with the form we are in. But you really wanna go in to champions league semi final against PSG/Barca/Mardrid etc with them 2...

Good point.

An Mbappe, Messi, Robben, Bale would utterly destroy that left side.

 

[domalino]

Good point.

An Mbappe, Messi, Robben, Bale would utterly destroy that left side.

Delph has pace, and plenty of it, as does Mangala so they wouldn't be destroyed by the likes of Bale. Robben isn't destroying anyone and Mbappé did a job on Stones and Otamendi last year anyway.

As for Messi, it's messi. He doesn't even play wide but no 1 player is going to stop him.

 

[nmc]

I wouldn’t go for Laporte. He wants one of Barca or Madrid.

 

[marc_mcfc90]

Think we would find it difficult keeping kompany, otamendi, stones and van dijk all happy

 

[Sir Joe Aguero]

Think we would find it difficult keeping kompany, otamendi, stones and van dijk all happy

Agreed, and I really hope we don't drop a winning formula (433) to accommodate 3 centre-backs. Personally, I've never seen the fuss about VVD, but I was proven wrong about John Stones and I'm happy to be wrong here. Just don't see him as a £60mil player. I'd prefer to go for an Alaba/Kimmich, who can play full-back, but also perform well at CB & CM. Or someone young like Skriniar.

 

[Mr Ed (The Stables)]

We can't rely on Vinny........simples, he's so injury prone. Sad but true.

 

[The slaughtered lamb]

We can't rely on Vinny........simples, he's so injury prone. Sad but true.

Exactly. Wish it wasn't true but it is, so it isn't a problem keeping 4 happy, just 3.

Even so, I'm not sure vvd is the answer. His attitude since the summer has been sadly lacking. Have a look at his premier league comeback match after the strop, disgraceful. And I see he wasn't good recently either. I'm sure we can do better.

 

[vmsuhail]

Absolutely important we get this position right this time, even if that means paying over the odds.