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Virgil van Dijk

Discussion in 'Ex Players' started by DutchCelticFan, Jun 21, 2013.

Discuss Virgil van Dijk in the Ex Players area at TalkCeltic.net.

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  1. Pearse67*

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    Can't soar with the eagles when surrounded by turkeys
     
    Pearse67*, Aug 26, 2015
    #6281

  2. Mr Shelby Moderator Moderator Gold Member

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    Look, centre half's like Van Dijk don't come around often. If they do then we'd not have struggled to find one for years prior to his arrival.

    If we can find a player like him with both his technical and defensive attributes then hats off. I seriously doubt it.

    Forster isn't exactly a great example either, Gordon and Boruc prove that there are good quality keepers out there in our range. Not as hard to replace as a quality ball playing centre half with near enough everything to his game.

    We still haven't replaced Wanyama, truly, either. As for Ki well he was good here but he has become a much better player since going down south. Not a huge miss, wasn't a guaranteed starter for us at the time.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 26, 2015
    Mr Shelby, Aug 26, 2015
    #6282

  3. Dáibhí

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    It leaves him as unproven, which is what a lot of us have said for a while now. All this mentalness of comparing him with John Stones and suchlike is dying down now after last night :smiley-laughing002:

    In that case we simply got "unlucky" with the duds we've signed then. It works both ways.
     
    Dáibhí, Aug 26, 2015
    #6283

  4. Random Review

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    I think his problem is that, with the exception of Lustig and Denayer, he just didn't trust the rest of the defence and tried too hard to be in 3 places at once. He was that good he could actually do that in the SPL but it really isn't feasible in Europe. Allow him to concentrate on his own job and he'll be colossal at any level.

    Genuinely gutted we never got to see him, Denayer and Lustig together in Europe. Could have been very special.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 26, 2015
    Random Review, Aug 26, 2015
    #6284

  5. ILoveTheCeltic

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    About Van Dijk, he is the best centre-half i've seen in the Hoops and a good chance he probably will be in my lifetime. The chances of him being replaced with a better player are non existant, it will never happen.

    Denayer, Van Dijk and Wanyama are 3 of the best players we'll ever see in the Hoops for decades to come.
     
    ILoveTheCeltic, Aug 26, 2015
    #6285

  6. Random Review

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    I'll bet you a fiver right now that he goes on to be at least as good as John Stones in the EPL. Never seen John Stones play, I just know Virgil will be one of the top 4 or 5 defenders in the EPL.

    Obviously it may take him a few months to adjust to the step up in class.

    The bet is obviously barring some kind of serious, career threatening injury.
     
    Random Review, Aug 26, 2015
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  7. Markybhoy

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    Was thinking exactly the same thing last night. I think he could get off to a rough start down there but he definitely has the ability to adjust and be a good player at that level.
     
    Markybhoy, Aug 26, 2015
    #6287

  8. Dáibhí

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    I may be being cynical, but I'll hold judgement on that kind of chat for a while yet.

    I remember talk of Forster moving to Barcelona and Wanyama to manchester United back in the day, with folk on here claiming they wouldn't be out of place and so on.

    None of that materialised.

    I'll see how Van Dijk does in the EPL for a year or two before judging him.
     
    Dáibhí, Aug 26, 2015
    #6288

  9. Mr Shelby Moderator Moderator Gold Member

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    Once he is playing week in week out in a top quality league he will iron out any dodgy defensive attributes surrounding his game, IMO.

    He is too used to just strolling it every domestic game right now and then finds himself having to seriously change his play style going into European games.

    He will have to do the same down there. No more strolling out from the back and shrugging off 4 players at a time. That won't happen.
     
    Mr Shelby, Aug 26, 2015
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  10. TimFloyd Gold Member

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    He is going to need to defend for the majority of the games in the EPL so gone will be the days of doing back heels in the oppositions corner area.

    He is very good player but he does get massively over rated by us, take the above scenario I mentioned, that all of a sudden added £5 million onto his price tag against Partick Thistle.

    Still a very good player though and will go on to have a successful career.
     
    TimFloyd, Aug 26, 2015
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  11. Paul67 Administrator Administrator

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    I'll be totally honest, and I'm willing to be shot down here, I think he will be caught out in the EPL.

    He always looks good against weak opposition, but rarely impresses against European class.

    EPL is full of players way beyond our type, so we'll see how he gets on.

    I predict his stride about the park will change dramatically.
     
    Paul67, Aug 26, 2015
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  12. DEADEYECFC

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    Wilson give his all before he left looked uninterested bye bye Virgil
     
    DEADEYECFC, Aug 26, 2015
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  13. Mr Shelby Moderator Moderator Gold Member

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    You could be right, better players than him have failed down there and plenty will continue to do so.

    However at the same time he still has all the right attributes to carve out a successful career down there.

    I think his future might even lie as a midfielder, personally.
     
    Mr Shelby, Aug 26, 2015
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  14. AJ Styles Moussa Dembele's eyes Gold Member

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    Won't get shot down by me Paul coz I think your spot on
     
    AJ Styles, Aug 26, 2015
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  15. StevieBhoooy!

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    The way he likes a 'wander' up the park and a wee shot at goal makes me agree, would be nice to see how he worked out there. Did he not get 11 goals last season? Not a bad tally for his position!
     
    StevieBhoooy!, Aug 26, 2015
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  16. Mr Shelby Moderator Moderator Gold Member

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    Kelvin Wilson couldn't wait to go from my memory. Homesickness or not, whatever his reason was.

    Played a blinder the season before and then goes back to the club who didn't want him a year earlier. Great commitment from Kelvin.
     
    Mr Shelby, Aug 26, 2015
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  17. AJ Styles Moussa Dembele's eyes Gold Member

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    His ex was preventing him seeing his daughter he was making numerous journeys a week to see her
    he moved for family reasons and no-one at the time blamed him for it as a father myself I would do the exact same thing
     
    AJ Styles, Aug 26, 2015
    #6297

  18. GodBlessJinky

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    I dont get this whole "we will miss him big time" nonsense yes hes a good big defender but what has this club achieved on the field in 2 full seasons he has been here? Got battered in the CL groups in 13/14 and didnt qualify for the CL at all in 14/15 and we ended up shipping in 15 goals to 4 teams in the Europa. Now in 15/16 we are out of CL again. Like I said we looked more solid at the back with Kelvin Wilson!
     
    GodBlessJinky, Aug 26, 2015
    #6298

  19. Mr Shelby Moderator Moderator Gold Member

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    Never knew it was involving his daughter.

    In that case I can see why.
     
    Mr Shelby, Aug 26, 2015
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  20. AJ Styles Moussa Dembele's eyes Gold Member

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    Remember reading in the paper about it
    He said he would hate giving up the CL and the great club but his family came first
    Loved Big Kelvin in his final season here would take him back in a heartbeat
     
    AJ Styles, Aug 26, 2015
    #6300
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