He is not as good as Vidic in a fair few ways mate. He’s an amazing centre half but I think this is a bit of regency bias. Im not saying he can’t be as good in his own right but that statement from Redknapp is clearly OTT and we both know he wouldn’t have said it about a non Liverpool player.
Virgil van Dijk | Performances
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) look forward to a new life under Ruben Amorim. What system will we be playing? What players will impress? and how will it all go? We also say goodbye to Ruud Van Nistelrooy and review United's 3-0 win at home against Leicester City.
He’s nothing like Vidic.
Genuinely, in which ways?
It's completely understandable that many will call that a ridiculous comment as Van Dijk has only had a year of being in the footballing big time. For some reason, within football, it's blasphemy to some to suggest a new kid on the block can rival legends of years gone by.
But that doesn't change reality. He's currently every bit as good as Vidic or Terry were as defenders whilst being clearly better on the ball and physically superior. I don't think I've seen a defender with VVD's mixture of strength, aerial ability, speed and composure on the ball. The ultimate prototype.
Clearly, despite football being a team sport - a few major trophies will be required in order to convince some of the more nostalgic amongst us.
Whats up with Liverpool fans always overrating their players?
It's what happens when fans are starved for success. Can't rave about the trophies, so gotta hype up individual players.
Hmmm maybe I just don’t watch enough of him but I just don’t see him on the same level. Yeah trophies will always help a player gain deserved recognition.
All fans do it - It's one of the reasons I stopped posting on the official LFC forums & came here instead (feck was I joining RAWK). You tend to get a much more balanced view coming from opposition fans, although rival fans tend to do the opposite & underrate your players - The truth is almost always in the middle.
Markovic comparisons to Ronaldo were my favourite
Marković comparisons to Ronaldo, don't tell me that happened?All fans do it - It's one of the reasons I stopped posting on the official LFC forums & came here instead (feck was I joining RAWK). You tend to get a much more balanced view coming from opposition fans, although rival fans tend to do the opposite & underrate your players - The truth is almost always in the middle.
Markovic comparisons to Ronaldo were my favourite
Marković comparisons to Ronaldo, don't tell me that happened?
I remember seeing them when we signed him. I also remember some rather laughable comments regarding Moreno after he scored that one goal versus Spurs.
That said, VVD has shown he's more than just a flash in the pan at this point. Of course he's not the sum total of three all-time great Premier League defenders, but right now, there's not a defender in the league I'd swap him for. Maybe he'll go down as a PL great in time, as he's certainly performing like one right at the moment, but yeah, it's too early to say much besides he's a great player in great form.
Agreed.
The press always want to compare players but nobody can compare to Rio till they have done the time.
His best quality is his aerial ability which was the weakest part of Rio's game he is more like Sol Campbell.
So what you're saying is, he's not the combination of Terry, Ferdinand, & Vidic, but instead of Ferdinand (on the ball), Campbell (aerial), and Stam (because... he's Dutch)? I guess I can buy that
I think this criticism is fair to go with his praise these last few pages. You never see a top defender act with such a lack of perceived responsibility. I rate VVD but I do wonder if some gets fooled and confuse his act with actual culpability. I guess if people do, they will not admit to his weaknesses as he himself seem to ignore them in the name of "being a leader".
No other club on the planet has a collective fanbase so intent on blowing smoke up their players’ arses so frequently.
It’s incredible.
I love that myth.Ah the good old days of Torres. Nice memories. Thanks.
Haha! Makes me laugh. Every club rated their players higher than other clubs and can’t see the full quality of other teams players.
Let’s not pretend we wouldn’t have him here.
Having said that, I don’t think he’s world class, he’s a good defender but a bazillion miles from Rio or Terry.
Let’s not pretend we wouldn’t have him here.
Having said that, I don’t think he’s world class, he’s a good defender but a bazillion miles from Rio or Terry.
He is good but nowhere near Rio class.
He's showing he's a very good centre half, and he's playing consistently well at the moment.
I'll settle for that, and hope it continues.
Comparisons to Ferdinand or Terry (both great players in their day) dont interest me, and are pretty pointless to be fair.
I'll settle for that, and hope it continues.
Comparisons to Ferdinand or Terry (both great players in their day) dont interest me, and are pretty pointless to be fair.
Yeah, it's weird. Pool follow the great till proven shite model. Here on the Caf, we're the opposite.
No reason why he can’t be Rio level but he will have to be at this level for longer than a single campaign for Liverpool and he will have to prove himself in elite end of CL football and international.
Rio proved himself at all levels of football (starred at 2002 World Cup and was solid at 2006). Then the 2008 CL win where he was stunningly good.
Rio proved himself at all levels of football (starred at 2002 World Cup and was solid at 2006). Then the 2008 CL win where he was stunningly good.
Yeah...no...
"Would you rather have Martial or Messi?" thread
I was referring to how folks rate the players as a whole. Getting giddy over kids isn't something that the caf is above, that I agree.
Every fanbase does it and it's quite funny in hindsight. My personal favorites on the CAF
Herrera vs Kante
Rashford vs Mbappe <-- the most laughable
Lukaku vs Kane
Every fanbase does it and it's quite funny in hindsight. My personal favorites on the CAF
Herrera vs Kante
Rashford vs Mbappe <-- the most laughable
Lukaku vs Kane
You really have a Rashford vs Mbappe comparison thread?
The point being made in those comparisons is that he shares some characteristics with each of Rio, Vidic and Terry. But out of the three I think he's closer to Rio in terms of playing style.
In terms of ability he does look like special talent. His positioning is the most impressive I thought having seen him a few times. Someone like Terry and Vidic are definitely going to stick out due to their flashy styles with flying last ditch tackles and blocks. But I'd always rate defenders in Rio's mould higher.
The trophy argument is a strange one. I'm not too sure how much it should be considered when judging how good a player is individually.
In any case, VVD is probably quite close in terms of ability to the best defenders in the Premier league. If he can continue to play at this level consistently then he'll definitely be in the argument as one of the best.
In terms of ability he does look like special talent. His positioning is the most impressive I thought having seen him a few times. Someone like Terry and Vidic are definitely going to stick out due to their flashy styles with flying last ditch tackles and blocks. But I'd always rate defenders in Rio's mould higher.
The trophy argument is a strange one. I'm not too sure how much it should be considered when judging how good a player is individually.
In any case, VVD is probably quite close in terms of ability to the best defenders in the Premier league. If he can continue to play at this level consistently then he'll definitely be in the argument as one of the best.
Yup. He's playing like a world class defender right now, but unless he sustains it over a period in which Liverpool win trophies, he's not going to go down alongside Rio & co in the long run.
He's good but possibly overrated because it's been that long since Liverpool have had a good centre-back.
But then again it's barely been a year and we've all seen players from all kinds of clubs (even outside of Liverpool and Utd) who have been amazing in their first year then dropped like a stone after that.
But at the moment, it looks like the £75m is justified.
But then again it's barely been a year and we've all seen players from all kinds of clubs (even outside of Liverpool and Utd) who have been amazing in their first year then dropped like a stone after that.
But at the moment, it looks like the £75m is justified.
To me he’s the best player in the Premier League at the moment. He has had major impact on his team and without him Liverpool would be fighting for the 4th position, not the first. I don’t know if it’s a record or not, but 7 goals conceded after 18 Premier League matches, that’s impressive.
Depends which player you're talking about, and which club he plays for.
And this being a Utd forum, the consensus over whether a Liverpool player is top notch will boil down to how many trophies he hasn't won.
Can not wait till he fecks it today and watching Joselu put him on his arse on MOTD tonight.
we are not paid for 'expert analysis'
What's this fuzz about. He's just a bit upgraded version of Mike Smalling.
We all do that honestly. There's a thread here asking if Ole will be United's Zidane after beating Cardiff.
Dutch people say Robben would be as good as Messi without his injury record., And somehow people think Sergio Ramos is one of the best defenders ever.
Bias bias bias. We're all human in the end.
Having said that, Van Dijk is having a good season, he's not Rio or Vidic yet though.
So Liverpool fans, why do you guys always feel the need to overrate your players to this level? This just doesn't happen at other clubs.
What you on about? Have you even read the last few posts?