I think he was good but didnt have a lot to do against Napoli. They were poor coming forward
Virgil van Dijk | Performances
- Thread starter Samid
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I thought he's been very good at reading situations and breaking them up. Remarkably quick and mobile for his size. Could have well been sent off for the tackle on Mertens, though.
Great defender but should have seen red tonight.
Apart from the fee Pool payed, (which despite him proving worth it, seemed high at the time) people said a lot of nonsense about how VVD was garbage. A lot of crow to be eaten
Too bad they sold Skrtel as he was the reincarnation of Vidic. They could have been as good as United once were for the first time in historyMan's a one-man-army for them. Probably the best CB in the world right now.
Not IMO - was an excellent tackle and yes it could also have led to an injury but it would have been more of out of unfortunate circumstances rather than any recklessness in the challenge or lack of technique in the slide. The leg of VVD slid over the ball and led to an unnatural angle which went for opponents leg but initially it was a clean get to the ball.
Well he's definitely better than Ramos
Fair enough, but I thought it was a reckless challenge. Yes he gets the ball but the follow through and how high he was meant he was always going to result in him absolutely clattering the other player. As a result he catches him terribly. I know what you’re saying about him sliding over the ball but he’s still in a high position in the first instance.
I think the argument of getting the ball can be too shallow an argument too, so sure you might win the ball, but if you follow through into your opponent like that it’s dangerous and reckless and warrants a red IMO.
I thought yellow was fair all things considered
He was studs up above his ankle sliding in.
If he'd caught Mertens more cleanly it'd of been a leg breaker.
I do think we're more likely not to break it, but then again we don't have the same defensive banks John Terry had around him back then.
My point is more that he's having a genuinely epic season.
You can't slide in that high studs up. It's a red all day long. I can only imagine the outcry if Koulibaly had done similar to Salah.
Aye. Van Dijk gambles on Mertens getting out of the way of the challenge or the ref giving him a pass because he got the ball first. If he nicks the ball and the tackle ends there, then it’s clean. But the follow through is wild - high and forceful - and Mertens is fortunate to avoid a fracture or ligament damage. Straightforward red for me.
Totally agree.
Was having this debate with a few people last night, It's impossible for him to tackle any other way with the angle he was coming in for.
There was no intent to hurt the player whatsoever, obviously with the way he catches Mertens it's a foul, but a yellow card is 100% right.
There's no difference with this and Koulibaly's challenge on Salah if your talking about what ligament damage etc.
Not every mistimed tackle is a red card.
Worlds gone mad
Was talking to mate who was at the match last night. He said everyone was incensed because they thought Mertens was play-acting to get VVD booked, but having watched the match again on telly he says he was lucky to stay on the pitch & the ref bottled it.
Obviously there was no intent, and of course every mistimed tackle isn’t a red card. I didn’t say mistimed though, I said it was reckless as he was high before even tackling the ball, ergo even if he wins the ball he’s going to catch the other player very high and forcefully due to his momentum.
I didn’t catch the whole game so I can’t comment on the other challenge.
rio played like this for 10 years, while VvD only 1 year.
I don't think anyone could criticize the ref if he had given a red card. For me it floats between a bad yellow and a red. There's not intend and he gets the ball, but it's a very risky challenge and he caught Mertens badly.
Actually, I think risking serious injury means red by default doesn't it?
Actually, I think risking serious injury means red by default doesn't it?
Fortunate to only see yellow I thought. Great player and did well last night but I did think the tackle was a leg breaker and there could have been no complaints if it was a red.
That said, he's justifying his ridiculous transfer fee. I didn't realise just how good he is and he's still got at least 5 years at the very top level
That said, he's justifying his ridiculous transfer fee. I didn't realise just how good he is and he's still got at least 5 years at the very top level
VVD and Koulibaly are the best CBs right now and the most annoying that one of them plays for Liverpool
Or him actually being as good as John Terry was.
It was a clear red. Intention does not matter.
Excessive force and not in control, which led to almost breaking Mertens leg. Rules of the game today: clear red.
Oh, for VAR to have been introduced already.
This is what it actually says in the Laws of the Game 2018/19:
(serious foul play always leads to a sending off)
Everyone can decide for themselves whether van Dijk's challenge qualifies as such.
I'm not sure. I guess going by that definition he couldn't have complained about a red. It just feels weird as even after watching it 10 times the tackle looks so controlled and well-timed.
(serious foul play always leads to a sending off)
Everyone can decide for themselves whether van Dijk's challenge qualifies as such.
I'm not sure. I guess going by that definition he couldn't have complained about a red. It just feels weird as even after watching it 10 times the tackle looks so controlled and well-timed.
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Agree, was a red 8 days a week. 99.9% certain with VAR it would be given as a red. Endangered Mertens safety.
Thought it was a red card personally. The follow through was out of control and endangered Mertens.
The fact that he got the ball first is irrelevant. It's like a player winning a header then elbowing the other guy on the way down.
The fact that he got the ball first is irrelevant. It's like a player winning a header then elbowing the other guy on the way down.
No it's not, those are two seperate acts, and even then you can't hold your arms right next to your body when you're jumping in the air.
It's like going for a header, winning it and then colliding with the head of your opponent.
A head-to-head is slightly different from studs to ankle though. He didn't mean to leave his studs on Mertens in the same way you don't necessarily mean to elbow someone, but both are reckless.
He's still a colossus though.
Bargain for 75m. Wonder what his worth is right now...surely close to Coutinho level
It is amazing that many doubted this guy. You just need to watch him for a few minutes to see how good he is. He is so complete and barely have any weakness.
This. I doubted him but he's an absolute steal, a Fergusonesque signing.
If it's impossible for him to tackle any other way in that situation, i.e. catching Mertens high and at force on his standing leg, then he shouldn't make the tackle. He doesn't have an entitlement to lunge for the ball whilst taking out players as collateral damage.
It's something you see regularly with defenders in almost last man situations where they desperately go into 40/60 challenges and try to make up the extra distance with some extra force. Often they can get away with it, but usually they're banking on the striker taking evasive action by pulling out of a possible injury, to give the impression it was a clean and fair challenge.
Koulibaly's challenge had much less force and the only people I've seen compare it are mad biased scousers like McManaman.
Definitely more red than yellow, but, not that outlandish a call by the ref
That's how I see it too. Absolutely great timed tackle. At first I didn't think he touched him, but the replay is pretty clear. Very lucky Mertens didn't break a leg, and more red than yellow imo.
But still.. What a great performance from VvD again. He is absolutely vital for us. Our most important player by a mile.
Thought the tackle was clean on first viewing, but then they showed the other camera angle. Lucky to stay on the pitch. As for the man himself, Van Dijk is an immense player and would obviously walk onto our team. Anyone saying otherwise are in denial and incapable of having an objective view due to the rivalry. Besides his abilities, he’s clearly got leadership skills as well. Will prolly captain Liverpool for years.
Sure we did
He's unreal.