This would be a very strange one because right now we need a top experienced leader at the back who can guide a very young back 4 while not being too old. Someone like Benatia or Hummels. Hummels would come with the ability to add to our sexy XI policy we seem to have implemented since Mata joined.
Stefan de Vrij
- Thread starter gooDevil
- Start date
Hummels is a fantasy signing imo because he won't leave Dortmund this summer. Not only because they don't get Ginter but Hummels seems to be very loyal and commited to Dortmund.
There are not many 1A defenders out there. Benatia, maybe Mangala or Miranda?
I really unsure who we could get to lead our back 4.
I thinkwe should have gone for Garay.
de Vrij doesn't look like a United player so far at the WC, haven't watched him before.
There are not many 1A defenders out there. Benatia, maybe Mangala or Miranda?
I really unsure who we could get to lead our back 4.
I thinkwe should have gone for Garay.
de Vrij doesn't look like a United player so far at the WC, haven't watched him before.
I was talking about hummels - can safely say he is better than Keane and Thorpe.
OK I thought you were talking about de Vrij
I think he is better than Martins Indi. I see someone has said that he is not quick or agile, that is just wrong. He has it all to be a a top central defender (maybe not as good as Silva or Hummels), but close to them. He is also calm and a good passer. That calmness makes him a defender that can lead a back four and he is captain material and seem to be an intelligent player.
It might be a case the same as Vidic, he might have to adjust to the tempo and play in the PL. But I have no doubt he would raise his game (because he has the ability and potential to) and do great for us.
I can think of no better way of scouting a player than managing them at a major tournament like the World Cup. Van Gaal will see these players 24/7, he will get to know their temperament, how they handle the intense pressure both on and off the pitch and will see their strengths and weakness first hand.
One things for sure, If he decides to sign one of these Dutch lads, It because he know's they are up to the challenge.
One things for sure, If he decides to sign one of these Dutch lads, It because he know's they are up to the challenge.
You're massively overrating him here. While he is probably better than BMI he certainly doesn't have it all to be of the Silva/Chiellini ilk, more chance of him being at Ron Vlaar level. He's certainly not quick, especially on the turn, if a player knocks him past him he's out of it. He's solid enough at the back but no idea where you have this notion that he's calm from, the amount of times he loses his head and gives away silly things whether it results in a free-kick or goal or whatever is way too high. If things aren't going his way he's definitely not one to stand up and be counted, he's more likely to lose his head and give away something stupid. More chance of him following Koeman than LvG to England.
His calmness really stood out to me the few times I've seen him play. Calm on the ball but still commanding. And, as you say, a comfortable passer of the ball. The midfielders don't need to show themselves in acres of space before he gives it to them, which is useful.
I like him.
I said close to Silva, maybe not at that level. To actually compare him to Ron Vlaar is insane though.
I think you are underrating his pace. As for his calmness and head, I can't believe what you are on about. I can agree that he had a bad spell with very low confidence a couple of years ago but that if very, very far from the player he is today. That period made him stronger I think, because he has calmness and is a leader today, that is at least how I perceive him.
Do not want any of our defenders. They are shit and van Gaal changed the system to a compact counter attacking style (totally against his philosophy... don't expect 3-5-2 or 5-3-2 or whatever when he takes over for United) because he knew our defenders are rubbish and prone to errors. The whole of Holland and all the pundits know it, that is why it is begrudgingly accepted that we play this style at the WC.
I see some drooling over Martins Indi or de Vrij... you are having a laugh...
I see some drooling over Martins Indi or de Vrij... you are having a laugh...
I agree its foolish to be wanting all these players because of their world cup performances, although hey aren't all BAD most of them would probably not make it here. I also agree that LvG will not play three at the back with us and buy a load of Dutch players. I'm also weary of Depay, no way he's the new Kluivert, he's nowhere near as good as people think he is.
I think de Vrij is looking rather solid and i don't think he is much worse than Smalling for example.
I'm saying that based on the opposite, I've seen a lot of Keane and Thorpe. You said that De Vrij is not better than those two. I disagree, if they were that good they'd be starting in the first division in the Netherlands, or the first division of some other country, or in the Championship in England.
Tom Thorpe had 6 appearances for Birmingham on his loan, who finished 21st in the Championship, he couldn't nail down a starting place at that level.
Michael Keane earned 4 starts in the first half of the season on loan at Derby, unable to nail down a starting position. He had better results at Blackburn, who finished 8th in the Championship, where he had 13 appearances in the second half of the season.
Personally I don't think either have the quality I've seen from de Vrij at the WC. But I'll happily admit this is far too small of a sample to make a decision about his true overall quality.
So the Dutch, including almighty ME and a Feyenoord supporter who sees de Vrij week in week out... plus 80 percent of Holland and the media and pundits who rated our defence as utter rubbish, say de Vrij is not very good but World Cup experts on here disagree after 3 matches...
I am willing us to sign him now.
I am willing us to sign him now.
We can do better.
While I agree with your general sentiment, the bolded argument is a fallacy. Thorpe was a starter for Birmingham during his brief spells of fitness.
Apples and oranges.You don't compare players who are in different stages of their development.Keane was never going to replace Derby's captain no matter how good he is so it's not really his fault that he couldn't nail down a starting position.M.Keane played well whenever he start except for one bad performance but everyone has their bad day at the office not to mention his lack of experience.I have big question mark over Thorpe's aerial ability but I can see LVG likes his ability on the ball.He needs loan next season but I won't say he's not good enough yet.
Tbh even though the Dutch League has many good talents their average level of football isn't much better than the Championship.De Vrij can be good I don't know but it's not because he's playing regularly in Holland's top flight league.WC is also not a good pool of example as you said yourselves.
But he scored against Spain. He must be better than Jones and Smalling now.
Kevin - As a Dutchman, do you think there is any truth in the rumours of us targeting the other Holland players that we've been linked with? e.g. Strootman, Blind, Depay or De Jong. I've not included Robben because I just can't imagine Bayern selling.
If you want the views of a resident Dutchman I'd strongly urge you to go with Henrik Larsson, aka the non-mental one.
Oh Jeez, you are asking Kevin? You got carried away by the tagline didn't you?
Talksport reckon its a done deal
http://talksport.com/football/anoth...-agree-deal-dutch-world-cup-star-14062898926?
Dont know how I feel about this one if true, I don't honestly know a lot about him and opinion seems to be devided.
http://talksport.com/football/anoth...-agree-deal-dutch-world-cup-star-14062898926?
Dont know how I feel about this one if true, I don't honestly know a lot about him and opinion seems to be devided.
Fair enough, should have phrased it differently. It's a shame when injury prevents a player from making progress or showing their quality. But we're still left without a body of work that shows he's at the same level as someone starting in the Dutch first division and National Team.
However I do rate Thorpe higher than Keane and have hope that he can make in at United in some capacity.
Is he any good?
Well, they say "according to reports". Which reports?
I think there is something to be said for considering a young player's best performances as an indication of their future potential.
I don't think de Vrij has anything physically that Thorpe and Keane can't match, it's been his positional acumen that's impressed me the most.
He reacts quickly and he gets and keeps himself in good positions, making his job look much easier than it is.
BTW, Thorpe and Keane are 21, de Vrij is 22 (11 months older than both), so I'm not sure they're in different stages of development.
This would be an excellent signing....Maybe he'll turn out to be a new Japp Stam 
But seriously both Smailling and Jones have proved that neither of them are certainties to become world class center backs and Van Gaal obviously will appoint someone young who he already knows is good enough while at the same time he can hope that one of Jones and Smalling can move up a level to partner De Vrij for the long term
But seriously both Smailling and Jones have proved that neither of them are certainties to become world class center backs and Van Gaal obviously will appoint someone young who he already knows is good enough while at the same time he can hope that one of Jones and Smalling can move up a level to partner De Vrij for the long termThe TalkSport report was just from the bollocks Ladbrokes made up to get hits, there's nothing in it and there's nothing in the Dutch press about it. Hopefully it stays that way as he's really average & not even close to being better than what we have.
He's tall, young, has some experience and probably cheap. Question is is he better than Vermaelen.
Vermaelen's age and health issues is a big question and posing certain risk. So far I'm totally sitting on the fence about De Vrij. He's appearing to be a rising star so far.
No doubt there are probably better defenders on the market right now but everything will depend on LVG's judgement and I'm gonna probably trust him at some point.
Man Utd always buy him on FM, so I'd say this is a lock.
Text of whiteness.
Text of whiteness.
Gazetta Dello Sport and Corriere Dello Sport are both reporting we're about to sign De Vrij for £8million
Looked half decent during the World Cup - so far at least. Also £8 million isn't a lot.
Could signal a move to 5-3-2? Would give us more cover if so.
Could we possibly be going for both?
Except he's a regular at a much higher level.
Not sure how you can compare two players in the reserves with a regular in a decent world cup side.
He'd be a good squad player for £8m and will only get better in coming years.
If we are to sign de Vrij along with Vermaelen surely moving to 5-3-2 would be non-negoitable. Five players for two centre back positions is overkill, despite three of those defenders having questionable fitness and injury records.