Virgil van Dijk | Performances

Treble said:
He's a top defender but understandably a bit overrated by Liverpool fans.

I think that he's a bit too laid-back for a CB. On the one hand, this makes him look very composed and cool. But I'm not sure he can be a proper leader. Think he lacks the competitive edge of Ramos, Chellini, Vidic and even Laporte.
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I think he is incredibly overrated, mostly because of the calmness he tries to impose - it makes him look better than he really is I guess. On the other hand, I think he is definitely leading that back-line quite well, which the amount of conceded goals prove. He is not even close to the best though, he just keeps making too many mistakes, almost every game. Yesterday, a great defender hacks that ball away, but he just bounces it to Bernat to score one second later. He also goes after balls he shouldn't be challenging, leaving room behind him if he misses. Take a look at the defending for Red Star's second goal a few weeks ago, tell me that is the best defender in the world. Look at how

Van Dijk is an 8/10 defender on a good day, which is certainly better than their general level since Hyypia retired, but he is not on par with the best. Too many direct mistakes leading to chances and goals, not even close to having the defensive gene compared to greats.
 
ivaldo said:
He did. And the additions of those players have all contributed to the development of a solid back line. Again, no one is saying he is a bad defender, of course he’s going to be a big improvement on the likes of Lovren and Klavan, but that doesn’t mean he’s been basically flawless - hence why people think he’s overrated?

So you think there is absolutely no correlation between your tighter defender this year and your less effective attack? None whatsoever? That the defensive improvement you’ve seen is solely down to VVD? You’re happy to use statistical evidence to support your views but pass them off when they are contrary to your opinion.
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The evidence shows that since Van Dijk signed for Liverpool in January 2018 Liverpool's defensive statistics have improved dramatically. So no I don't think there's any correlation between our tighter defense and our less effective attack, because we were already looking stronger defensively last season when we were still playing very good attacking football.
 
unitedbhoy said:
He's a fecking brilliant defender. One of the best in the world. Thought he was brilliant last night. His coolness on the ball was really impressive, especially when most of his team mates around him were panicking most of the match.
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Yeah that coolness directly leading to a goal for Bernat was certainly impressive.
 
Klopper76 said:
The evidence shows that since Van Dijk signed for Liverpool in January 2018 Liverpool's defensive statistics have improved dramatically. So no I don't think there's any correlation between our tighter defense and our less effective attack, because we were already looking stronger defensively last season when we were still playing very good attacking football.
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Yet again, Ill repeat myself. No one is saying VVD is a bad player, and no one in their right minds would try to argue that he isn't an improvement on the clowns he and Gomes have replaced at CB. Of course there is going to improvement, but again, that doesn't make him a messiah.

The evidence also shows that Liverpools defensive improvement this season, the one you have so vehemently pointed out to people, has coincided with your dampened attack. You're not going to find any credibility just cherry picking stats that only support your opinion.
 
ivaldo said:
Yet again, Ill repeat myself. No one is saying VVD is a bad player, and no one in their right minds would try to argue that he isn't an improvement on the clowns he and Gomes have replaced at CB. Of course there is going to improvement, but again, that doesn't make him a messiah.

The evidence also shows that Liverpools defensive improvement this season, the one you have so vehemently pointed out to people, has coincided with your dampened attack. You're not going to find any credibility just cherry picking stats that only support your opinion.
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Why don't we just agree to disagree.

I'll carry on worshiping the ground big VVD walks on and you carry on hating that I'm doing it?
 
James Peril said:
Yeah that coolness directly leading to a goal for Bernat was certainly impressive.
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What? I can't see how that could have been better dealt with? It was a great counter attack from PSG. Why is Bernat able to control the ball and get a shot off in the box? I think that falls more on Gomez ball watching than anything else.
 
'Our' fans dashing to defend him is even weirder than the last 'defence' of Depay and his cringe meme video. What the feck is happening to this place.

For what it's worth I won't jump on him because I haven't rated him half as highly as some here obviously but the notion that he's better than Varane is laughable.
 
Laporte is one of the best defenders now lol? How much pressure does City's defence actually come under during most games? Lets see what happens against the big teams in UCL this season before we rate him up with Chellini, Varane and Godins.
 
Van Dijk is a good player but definitely gets overhyped because of his style.

Joe Gomez impresses me more from a defensive POV as a CB, I think he’s an excellent prospect. Though Klopp blundered playing him at RB again last night.
 
Even if Liverpool concede less than 20 goals this season, he will still be overrated. The way most of you guys talk it's as if the best defenders never make any mistakes.
 
I saw this article and some excerpts from it below

https://anfieldindex.com/36281/virgil-van-dijk-is-overrated.html

Van Dijk’s superfans point to the defensive statistics of Liverpool since he joined. However, these figures were generally improving irrespective of Van Dijk, with Liverpool’s defensive record following the 4-1 away loss to Spurs the best in the league. Besides, the stats used to hype Van Dijk up are defensive stats, which are to a large degree down to Liverpool’s back five, but really, are actually due to the entire team’s structure & pressing.

This excerpt from a Statsbomb article by Grace Robertson, further underscores how Liverpool’s defensive record, whilst likely aided by Van Dijk, seemed to be improving well before he joined the club.
 
Keeps It tidy said:
I do not think anyone actually said that(at least on here). If I remember correctly @KirkDuyt said that and it was made as a joke after a Dutch win.
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Hehe yes, I jokingly said this after his injury time equalizer against zhe Germans.

Don't get me wrong, I rate Van Dijk, but he's not winning balon d'ors.
 
Still Balon Dor material @ShadesOfTomato?

I do think he's a good defender but he looks better due to who he was replacing. I don't think he stands out at most other top clubs who already has a higher standard to step into.
Kind of like Herrera when his energy and pressing is praised when he starts for us (different calibre of players obviously)
 
cyberman said:
Still Balon Dor material @ShadesOfTomato?

I do think he's a good defender but he looks better due to who he was replacing. I don't think he stands out at most other top clubs who already has a higher standard to step into.
Kind of like Herrera when his energy and pressing is praised when he starts for us (different calibre of players obviously)
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I can't see where the basis has come from for some of the comments in this thread followings yesterday night. He had a pretty decent game at one of the toughest places to go away in Europe. Better defences have gone there and shipped more than two goals.

By the standards some are judging him by on here then he needs to keep a clean sheet in every game he plays to be considered any good.

Ultimately, he's still been amongst the top 3 players in the league this year. That's elite stuff.
 
ShadesOfTomato said:
I can't see where the basis has come from for some of the comments in this thread followings yesterday night. He had a pretty decent game at one of the toughest places to go away in Europe. Better defences have gone there and shipped more than two goals.

By the standards some are judging him by on here then he needs to keep a clean sheet in every game he plays to be considered any good.

Ultimately, he's still been amongst the top 3 players in the league this year. That's elite stuff.
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Well you can count yourself responsible for that. When there are Liverpool fans like you claiming he could be a ballon d'or winner, the expectation becomes far more than your normal CB.

I don't think there's a single fan here who would say van Dijk is not a top defender but the media and Liverpool fans have overrated him to no end recently. The funny thing is Robertson is your most consistent and best performing defender but he doesn't get half the hype of VVD.
 
El Jefe said:
Well you can count yourself responsible for that. When there are Liverpool fans like you claiming he could be a ballon d'or winner, the expectation becomes far more than your normal CB.

I don't think there's a single fan here who would say van Dijk is not a top defender but the media and Liverpool fans have overrated him to no end recently. The funny thing is Robertson is your most consistent and best performing defender but he doesn't get half the hype of VVD.
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I didn't predict he'd be a Ballon D'or winner - simply that there will be a greater pool of players who will enter the conversation for that award as Messi and Ronaldo depart (as we have already seen this year). With the right success in the next few years, my thoughts were that he has the potential to assert his reputation as one of the best defenders in world football and thus eventually be included in that kind of echelon. As Varane has this year. I stick by that.

That doesn't mean I said he'd win a Ballon D'or.
 
We will ignore it though lads. Then, in a few weeks time, we can claim he's basically flawless again.
 
"Shouldnt have been a booking, fair challenge, larrrrrrr" - Steve Mcmanaman
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And Anfields booing Mertens for having the nerve to go down
 
Steven Seagull said:
Not sure if people are being serious but it was a totally accidental and innocuous follow through. Unfortunate for him and Mertens
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Totally accidental to go in studs up? I can understand if there’s a “yellow or red” debate (the contact is accidental imo) but to call it innocuous for almost breaking the guys ankle....that’s a bit much.
 
Ban said:
He's a world class CB, these things happen.
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Yes, so when he makes a penalty, it happens; when he turns his arse to the ball and the opposition scores, it happens, and when he makes a clear red card tackle it happens. When Smalling misplaces a pass, we must all mock him.
 
It would have been red if he didn't play the ball first. He did a dangerous tackle, so nothing to complain about here. Yes, it's accidental, but it is dangerous.
He's been great in all other situations today.
 
Imagine a different player would do this on a Liverpool player.
Klopp would go crazy.
 
Bubz27 said:
And Anfields booing Mertens for having the nerve to go down
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Ah come on. He's an opposition player. As soon as you know he's fine boo away. Yes, for being fouled by a Liverpool player. Almost any reason is good enough to boo the opposition. I'm sure he would have been applauded had he been stretched off injured.
 
Steven Seagull said:
It’s not a red you mad bastards. He’s poked the ball away clean as a whistle. Painful for Mertens but it’s really nobodies fault. Just a footballing incident
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It's not an incident. This fecking abomination of the 21st century needs to die. It's a foul and a red card for a reckless tackle.
 
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