Virgil Van Dijk

[TheHowieLama]

 we know our weakness

 

Interesting that he then went out and bought two midfielders and a ball playing CB. 

[Jay86]

You haven’t explained why an Alonso in that role doesn’t work. Jay specifically used Alonso in his example, I’m just being consistent.

I used Alonso as an example because he usually played in a team that required him to sit in front of the back four and dictate the play, could have named anyone who does that job but he’s relevant to Liverpool.

 

He would work, of course he would but the point I was making was that there’s no need for him because Van Dijk can do exactly the same as him, the way we squeeze the pitch and push the defence higher I’d say that Van Dijk would also be doing it from a similar area on the pitch as Alonso did for us.

 

In that pivot role it would still work better than a Kante or a Mascherano IMO. Mascherano played further forward than Alonso if you recall. He did his best work for us roaming about the pitch biting ankles, whilst Alonso held his position in front of the back four. Alonso also played very well in a three man midfield for Bayern.

We wouldn’t need him to roaming biting ankles though, we’d use him similarly to the way Barca did whenever he did play DM for them and that was to harass anyone who broke the lines between him and the midfield. He wouldn’t need to roam to bite ankles because that is the whole objective of a counter pressing TEAM, the whole team does it whilst the DM either keeps shape or fills in for someone when the press has been triggered.

[aRdja]

.

[stringvest]

I’m not convinced by Matip if I’m honest. He looks a bit craven to me.

 

 

Beverley?  John?

[Dr Nowt]

Promise Me you won’t do that joke again, Peter.

[stringvest]

Promise Me you won’t do that joke again, Peter.

What goes around comes anewsround

[Red74]

If anyone’s still got motd taped from the weekend, watch vvd screaming at our players to shut up when lining them up to defend the Watford free kick in the 2nd half.

[VladimirIlyich]

He found it so easy at the weekend that he looked a bit underwhelmed at times. I think the only problem he might have is a potential lack of concentration in games where he is so much better than his opponents. It's a trait that most top players have, a sort of 'Is that all you've got? I might as well be having a spliff on the sub's bench.'

[Carvalho Diablo]

If anyone’s still got motd taped from the weekend, watch vvd screaming at our players to shut up when lining them up to defend the Watford free kick in the 2nd half.

Ordering them, "Don't drop".

[TheBitch]

I loved Xabi, a lot.

[Numero Veinticinco]

New captain of Holland

[dockers_strike]

New captain of Holland

 

Good to hear. And Hendo restored to Ingerlund captain too.

[lifetime fan]

New captain of Holland

 

 

Hopefully new Captain of Liverpool this summer too. 

[TheHowieLama]

Hopefully new Captain of Liverpool this summer too. 

[Numero Veinticinco]

Hopefully new Captain of Liverpool this summer too.

Fucking agree.

 

[Jairzinho]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TheHowieLama]

Not sure why skipping like a school girl should have anything to do with being the Captain of Liverpool

[magicrat]

Not sure why skipping like a school girl should have anything to do with being the Captain of Liverpool

 

Embarrassing himself big time there the massive pussy

[aRdja]

I think the importance of captaincy is often overstated. The all conquering Barca side had Carles Puyol as their captain, and he was arguably their least talented footballer.

[TheHowieLama]

But he was their best defender

[Numero Veinticinco]

But he was their best defender

And more importantly, best figurehead and leader.

[aRdja]

But he was their best defender

I disagree, he was a limited footballer. Not even close in terms of talent in comparison to Pique, Alves, or Abidal. Compare Puyol to England’s defenders at the time.. Sol Campbell, Rio Ferdinand, even John Terry... he wouldn’t get a game for England (if he was English obvs).

[TheHowieLama]

Well - then you can chalk another one up to a mutual disagreement - he was at the top of the world game for more than a decade for club and country, for teams that achieved far more than any you could name - it wasn't luck.

[SlugTrail]

Not sure why skipping like a school girl should have anything to do with being the Captain of Liverpool

my boy does that skip when he plays football, I am always having to tell him to run not skip. Only thing is my boy is 6.

[The Guest]

I disagree, he was a limited footballer. Not even close in terms of talent in comparison to Pique, Alves, or Abidal. Compare Puyol to England’s defenders at the time.. Sol Campbell, Rio Ferdinand, even John Terry... he wouldn’t get a game for England (if he was English obvs).

You’re off your head Ardja. He was a top centre back in his own right. The guy wasn’t playing in some regimented defensive back four either. He was from the last era of when captains meant something as well and it was pretty obvious he was the leader in that team in the same way Keane was for United.