De Jong makes more sense to me than De Ligt, possibly because I see the former as a bit more of a specialist. Whereas there are probably quite a few ball-playing centre-backs around who could fit into an ETH team.
Matthijs De Ligt
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Pau Torres would be a better option.
I'm amazed at how much hype De Ligt still keeps getting. He's a starter for a poor Juventus and while his overall game is decent, he's often culpable for the goals they concede.
He's Maguire with a bit more ability on the ball, that's it.
He's Maguire with a bit more ability on the ball, that's it.
For 25-30 million euros that'd be a good for bang for buck signing.
Whose dad isn't?
Anyways, I feel like Maguire, and passive Lindelof did a number on us fans when we talk about CB profile. CB works in partnership, unit even if we're talk about high line. We have Varane who is top tier in term of pace among outfield player, let alone among the center back.
Beside pace, both Maguire and Lindelof have issue when playing stopper role, where as it's De Ligt's preferred role. They lack the aggressiveness and the defender instinct to go for percentage ball higher up the pitch, even if you have their partner to sweep up loose ball behind them.
De Ligt is not Maguire nor Lindelof slow. He's more like Stam slow if you really want to nitpick about slowness. The issue with him at Juventus is more about football cultural shock. From total football background being thrown into a transition at Juventus where the defensive unit is not built around him, but to ask him to cover for his seniors, veteran partnership decline. Bonucci is very passive defender even at his best. His lack of speed and the sweeper role he plays, make it awkward especially moving to back 4, or a high line. After all the different changes over the past few years, most recently, even Danilo is tried as CB, and Alegri reverts to type after the high pressing experiment earlier in the season failed.
Inter with their slow CBs ain't exactly blown apart by Liverpool with their pacy forwards in the CL tie. And Inter didn't really play a low block. Inter really tried to have a go at Liverpooll and didn't look a defensive side in that tie. Some top teams playing high line in recent history even have slow CBs. Klopp Dortmund had Hummels. Not counting Hummels for Bayern then they still have Sule, or Javier Martinez converted into CB. Barcelona with Pique. Man City with Laporte. Ruben Dias is not really quick either.
So I think De Ligt would be significantly better in a team with total football approach, where his partner and him are played to their strength, even if it's high line.
Anyways, I don't believe he's available nor we have the fund for him when whoever the midfielder we sign, it would take significant chunk of our budget. Juventus needs more CBs now with Chiellini leaving. Selling De Ligt (for a decent fee) would still require them to sign 2+ CBs.
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Have you seen either play? Torres looks a lot like Lindelöf, De Ligt was an absolute beast for that Ajax side that reached the semi's. Most complete CB I've seen in a long time, he needs to get out of Italy and join a league where he can be more physical.
It's easy to say this based on playing in that Juventus side but the defender that played for Ajax looked like he was absolutely nailed on to become the best CB in the world with a season or two. There's huge potential there that Juve aren't tapping in to
I have seen a lot of Torres. He is quicker than De Ligt and excellent on the ball, left footed so would provide a better balance which we don't have. De Ligt hasn't been convincing at all at Juventus, lots of mistakes. Lets not try to sugar coat it just because he's been linked to united.
Not sugar coating anything, De Ligt was by far the best player in the Ajax team that reached the semi final. I'm absolutely sure he'll go on to be one of the best CB's in the world once he gets out of Juventus, the only problem is his wages
Yeah De Jong stand out target in that area whereas are definitely other options at CB
Fir those asking how he's been, the potential is still huge for this kid perhaps more than anyone, remember still only 22 but he is however still very raw which is a bit concerning after having played with 2 of the very best cbs out there in chileini and bonuchi(sorry for not spelling their name right).
He also makes a lot of mistakes and had big lapses of judgment in him but overall I would like to have this kid over here.
He also makes a lot of mistakes and had big lapses of judgment in him but overall I would like to have this kid over here.
I don't rate De Ligt much to be honest, but if Ten Hag wants players at the club he knows he can trust and who know his system that's fine by me. He can even bring Blind back here if he likes.
Yes I remember, he's clearly regressed. He was magnificent that season.
He's also looked like a complete clown for Holland, a team that has a GK with feet behind him, De Jong in front of him and good CB partners in VVD/De Vrij/Blind next to him. It's very hard to defend a CB looking clueless under those circumstances.
If he doesn't develop the composure he's desperately lacking to play that position, he'll never fullfill his potential.
IMO the (reported) fees upward of 50m or whatever are not worth the gamble, even with ETH, but I'm at the stage where I would support re-signing Buttner if ETH demands it.
May be he sees De Ligt as his captain? De Ligt was his 18/19 captain.
Yeah after Maguire, I reckon we should avoid error prone CB's. De Ligt has had a brainfart moment every game.
Do not want.
Do not want.
de Ligt has been perfectly fine for Juventus this year, he had trouble adapting but has largely been one of Juventus' better players in an admittedly down year.
He would be an upgrade on every CB we currently have.
He would be an upgrade on every CB we currently have.
This sounds like lazy journalism, it is so easy to make up stories about Ten Hag bringing his former players.
How's he doing all this time? Better than Maguire I guess?
I remember he was highly rated back then, so highly rated that everyone is claiming he is a generational talent and will become best defender in the world.
I remember he was highly rated back then, so highly rated that everyone is claiming he is a generational talent and will become best defender in the world.
Juventus fans do not agree with you that he's been fine.
Juve would want crazy money.
I think the case for De Jong for 70M+ is strong.
Either he’s reading the Caf and making shit up with stuff he reads here or I was totally lucky this morning when I made this up at 9:19am
I know what I tend to believe
He had a rough start to his career but has become a mainstay in their backline. He's doing fine but the team isn't, kind of like us, so it's hard for any player to shine there.
Ok, well I don't agree with Juventus' fans. He has increased his abilities as a defender this year, he is winning a lot more of his ariel duels and all this in a system where Allegri has, by design, had less of the ball and played to de Light's strengths less and less by not having the play built up from the centre backs.
Basically, as an individual defender he has progressed a lot and he doesn't play in a system that suits him.
It would be best for all parties if he moved on, hopefully to us.
Don't know what Juventus fans you're speaking to, the one's on r/soccer think he's the best defender in the league.
De Ligt would fit into Ten Hag's system as we currently don't have a De Ligt type defender, so why not get the actual player
He's been awful and Juve would love nothing more than to sell him because he's on insane wages. Commits way too many mistakes, handballs and switches off during games.
Dutch Maguire.
De Ligt would fit into Ten Hag's system as we currently don't have a De Ligt type defender, so why not get the actual player
I agree, wholeheartedly.
I do wonder if Juve ever think the idea of playing Bonucci and Maguire in the same team, wouldn't that be amazing for Juve's defense? Swap deal Juve?
Another downside to this deal is also the fact that De Ligt isn't comfortable playing on the left. Saw him there for Juve a couple of times last season and twice with Holland.
Maguire plus 15-20M would be nice.I do wonder if Juve ever think the idea of playing Bonucci and Maguire in the same team, wouldn't that be amazing for Juve's defense? Swap deal Juve?
De Gea for De Ligt straight swap.
Juve doesn’t have a good keeper.
Then sell Hendo to some club.
Get Robert Sanchez with those funds, and Johnstone on the free.
We get a commanding keeper and a CB that ETH knows well without breaking the bank.
Juve doesn’t have a good keeper.
Then sell Hendo to some club.
Get Robert Sanchez with those funds, and Johnstone on the free.
We get a commanding keeper and a CB that ETH knows well without breaking the bank.
I don't know what r/soccer is, never heard of it. I am gauging the opinion of fans on the main juve forum. I haven't seen a single person on there say he's the best defender in serie a. They talk a lot about him having unfulfilled potential and making too many mistakes though.
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Varane seems fine on the left and decent with both feet. If we did sign him, I'd expect him to be played there.
This isn’t happening either. Bejesus.
I'm not overly fussed on this one to be honest.
Why stop there? We can also swap Greenwood for Mbappe.
Chiellini will leave Juventus after this season. De Ligt is going nowhere.
To be fair, they will need to find a way to sort our de Ligt situation this summer since he only has 2 years left in his contract
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