I tend to agree. It doesn't make all that much sense unless a) LVG is actually planning on fielding three at the back and deems this lad ideal for that purpose (from what I hear he hasn't looked nearly as impressive prior to the WC, but I haven't been paying close attention to Feyenoord as of late) or b) he's being considered purely as backup/rotation material. The latter isn't senseless (all three of our current CBs have injury issues) as long as he's fairly cheap.
Stefan de Vrij
- Thread starter gooDevil
- Start date
I tend to agree. It doesn't make all that much sense unless a) LVG is actually planning on fielding three at the back and deems this lad ideal for that purpose (from what I hear he hasn't looked nearly as impressive prior to the WC, but I haven't been paying close attention to Feyenoord as of late) or b) he's being considered purely as backup/rotation material. The latter isn't senseless (all three of our current CBs have injury issues) as long as he's fairly cheap.
Smalling and Evans have moments of madness where they will make a bad mistake, seemingly just losing concentration for a few seconds and failing to react when needed, usually resulting in a goal.
They both also tend to have moments of awkwardness, where their own bodies seem to be their enemies and they stumble or fail to get a strong leap when needed.
De Vrij, at least in the WC, lacked either of these traits, I would say he was very solid and reliable.
They both also tend to have moments of awkwardness, where their own bodies seem to be their enemies and they stumble or fail to get a strong leap when needed.
De Vrij, at least in the WC, lacked either of these traits, I would say he was very solid and reliable.
I could see this guy being lined up to replace smalling.
He doesn't really fit the bill of the older, experienced (hopefully wc) cb.
Smallings control and passing have to be a bit of a concern.
Hope smalling is kept and it works out
He doesn't really fit the bill of the older, experienced (hopefully wc) cb.
Smallings control and passing have to be a bit of a concern.
Hope smalling is kept and it works out
Something like that is the only sense I could see in us letting him go
Evans certainly doesn't play like he's been here for 6 years. He's "developed" but he's not reached the quality of Ferdinand, Vidic, Stam, even guys like Wes Brown, Ronny Johnsen, John O'Shea, and Laurent Blanc... Those guys were true Utd quality.
We won't win any trophies with a backline of Rafael - Smalling - Jones - Shaw. It lacks in threat. We need to strengthen our defense and sign some quality CBs. Vermaelen would be a good start. Hummels is a dream and Vertonghen would be a class buy. I'd also like Rojo or Badstuber here.
Southampton linked now aswell, after just hearing they want Vlaar if Liverpool take Lovren.
Do your own scouting and stop taking our targets
Do your own scouting and stop taking our targets
Southampton linked now aswell, after just hearing they want Vlaar if Liverpool take Lovren.
Do your own scouting and stop taking our targets
They can have him.
A good read on why we should consider signing De Vrij.
http://www.squawka.com/news/why-man...noord-and-netherlands-defender-stefan-de-vrij
http://www.squawka.com/news/why-man...noord-and-netherlands-defender-stefan-de-vrij
I personally hope we sign him
Very good on the ball and showed in the WC that he can play very well in a back 3.
Very good on the ball and showed in the WC that he can play very well in a back 3.
Me too. I reckon he has a very high ceiling of potential. Seemed to play brilliantly in Van Gaal's system in the WC.
He's pretty much the perfect signing for us right now. Could be got at a very reasonable price, already has a good understand of LvG's system, good relationship established with the manager and young with good potential.
Don't see the point to be honest. I think Michael Keane should be given the chance to nail the right sided CB spot in deputy to Smalling / Jones. If, as is likely, we're getting a CB I think we should be going for a left footer... which is why I can see Vermaelen being chased. 5 options should be perfect with perhaps Thorpe as the 6th option. Don't think we need more than that.
De Vrij would be cool.
Fantastic defender. If you can stop an attacking force consisting out of Messi, Lavezzi, Aguero, Di Maria etc. then you are a good enough of a defender to play in the Premier League.
The Iran defenders managed it for most of a game too, though...
We should get him signed up quickly though. I think we might need even two CBs if we are to play 352 so de Vrij should be first to come, he won't cost more than €10m and there's no point waiting. Honestly I don't understand why there's a delay if we want him.
I liked the look of him at the WC too, but we're looking for a little more than just Premier League quality. Ron Vlaar outshone most defenders at the WC but he isn't really close to United quality.
If we only signed De Vrij I'd still feel a bit disappointed. I'd much rather him than Vermaelen but neither really improves our defence. We need to flex our muscles with Hummels or Benatia, I'm sure a big bid could get us one of the two.
He isn't?
Interesting to say such a thing when the current United quality didn't even get out of the group stage.
Then, perhaps, on the one hand these fancy pancy named defenders and on the other the good ol English grit defenders are all a bit overrated and overvalued.
If the system played can shut down the runner ups to the World Cup. Then De Vrij and even Vlaar would be good enough to play for United.
Yeah, that's not really how club football works though is it? You can't judge the quality of United players purely on their international team's performance in one tournament.
I think to an extent you can. Also United finished 7th last season.
I think it doesn't really matter who is signed and/or plays under LvG. He will make it work regardless.
Just think it's a bit silly to assert that x and y aren't United quality. Just because they play for lesser clubs now doesn't mean they aren't good enough for United, I at least think!
I agree with that point in principle, but I'd like to think I've seen enough of Vlaar in his two years in the country to conclude he isn't good enough for United.
I can understand that point of view, however, Vlaar can only do as much as the players he is surrounded by allow for. With De Vrij he had a tremendous partnership.
But, Vlaar aside, I think De Vrij could be a really good signing and at least LvG can rotate CB pairings etc.
Think he would be a shrewd signing. Hope it happens.
Would you be against United signing Javi Martinez, Marco Veratti or Willam Carvalho? Since they all failed to get out of the group stage.
I'd also say Vlaar is not of United quality when we have been blessed with great center backs in recent history.
I would however say he is every bit as capable as Evans, Jones and Smalling. This is why we need better than Vlaar and our current mob. Hummels is a class act but highly unlikely so out of Vlaar and De Vrij I would take the later for sure as he is young and will only improve under Van Gaal.
I wouldn't be against it, but I don't necessarily think they would be a better signing than a De Vrij.
I wish we'd sign him already.
I reckon he's probably our fall back signing if we dont get someone better.
Lets be honest he wasn't on many of our wishlists pre WC, so hopefully Utd and LVG are fully assessing - obviously LVG knows more about him than most though
Lets be honest he wasn't on many of our wishlists pre WC, so hopefully Utd and LVG are fully assessing - obviously LVG knows more about him than most though
I think we need top class talent, not more squad players.
I know what you mean and I don't like the dismissive term "not United quality" either. But the World Cup has proved to be many a player's' one shiny summer - so many have flattered to deceive and then utterly failed to show up when someone paid up for their services.
But I'll say this: if LVG wants to play three at the back and The Fridge comes fairly cheap - it's a decent punt. LVG knows him, he looked good in a three and he'd be a useful backup at worst. I'm not sure the backup CBs people mention are ready yet - and even the starters have question marks over them.
We won't get a top class defender and de Vrij would be a good option for the buck.
We'll have to be fast, Southampton are selling Lovren to Liverpool and have lots of cash now, rumour is they'll bid for De Vrij.
He might choose them as he obviously know Koeman well.
fecks sake. Choosing southampton over us?
fecks sake. Choosing southampton over us?
I didn't say that, I mean if we haven't made a bid yet he might choose them over waiting in the hope we do.
He played from the right side of the back 3, surely that is where Jones and Smalling will be competing for starts.
Not been a snob but he'd have to be right tool to choose Southampton over us, should be a sure fire starter in our team aswell, if we're in for him he'll come.
Probably in the Bahamas with van Persie still.
Well he will probably be on holiday...he only finished with the World Cup 13 days ago