I think VVD is better but the two of them would compliment each other. Laporte might take some time getting used to the EPL and his skill set suggests he is a Stones replacement rather than partner - if Stones and Laporte become the long term partnership they could be bullied by an aggressive CF but wow will they be great bringing the ball out from the back.
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**** off CityComment
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Basically VVD money.
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Yep and Van Dijk is better, probably why Pep wanted him first but thankfully we got him instead. Though let me guess you dont rate Van Dijk either?
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I do, VVD offers more of what we need than Laporte (leadership, knowledge of the league, heading, etc), i think that's obvious. He would have been my pick of the two.
The sigh was their ability to strengthen at ease a position we've made a statement in. But we knew that already.Comment
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I reckon we could have made a move for Laporte financially speaking but perhaps Pep had a long standing relationship as far as this transfer is concerned?Was muComment
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VVD is a more rounded player atm, but then again he is three years older. Laporte at 26 should be a beast of a player, not that he is not a hell of a centre back already at 23.
Not so sure about Lapotre being bullied all that easily by an aggressive CF. He is a rugged enough player when he has to be, and well able to get stuck in, along with being very good in the air. His no nonsense syle of defending looks tailor made for playing in England imo, and his range of passing, especially his long diagonal balls, is ideal for any team with fast wide players.
I could see him settling into the EPL in a similar manner to how Kompany did.
So I hope his move to City falls through
I don't hate people. I just feel better when they aren't around.
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindednessComment
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I think he is the Kompany successor all right but he’ll still need time to adapt, I guess he would have marked Diego Costa in his time so that would toughen anyone up.VVD is a more rounded player atm, but then again he is three years older. Laporte at 26 should be a beast of a player, not that he is not a hell of a centre back already at 23.
Not so sure about Lapotre being bullied all that easily by an aggressive CF. He is a rugged enough player when he has to be, and well able to get stuck in, along with being very good in the air. His no nonsense syle of defending looks tailor made for playing in England imo, and his range of passing, especially his long diagonal balls, is ideal for any team with fast wide players.
I could see him settling into the EPL in a similar manner to how Kompany did.
So I hope his move to City falls through
Potential to be one of the best CBs in the worldComment
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Would go as far as to say he is on the way to realising that potential. I reckon when he does finally move to a bigger club than where he is now, and gets better players around him, that he will flourish and really come into his own.
Really is difficult to pick out any real weakness in his defensive play, as he tends not to make too many errors, and more importantly when he does make a mistake he tends not to make the same sort of mistake again.
Think he would be amazing in our team actually. I know VVD tends to favour the LCB role, but VVD at RCB and Laporte at LCB would be a ball playing wall of a CB pairing.
Think the only pairing I might prefer to that for us would be Manolas at RCB and VVD at LCB.I don't hate people. I just feel better when they aren't around.
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindednessComment
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I'm surprised he hasn't been approached by Barca or Real (depending on regional affiliation)Was muComment
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Athletic Bilbao are a bit different to most clubs though and a lot of their players seem to be that way as well. They only use players that were born in the Basque region and or that have an acceptable Basque link.
They seem to end up developing players that if they move to a massive club, then tend to go out of Spain and their players have often rejected moves to Barca or Real. Laporte himself being one that knocked back Barca, and their current keeper knocked back Real Madrid.I don't hate people. I just feel better when they aren't around.
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindednessComment
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I don't hate people. I just feel better when they aren't around.
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindednessComment
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It was sarcasm, sorry for being vague
They are massive rivals and Bilbao despise them because they abandoned the Basque only policy when Toshask came in - Aldo, Dalian Atkinson and that red haired midfielder who’s name escapes me - remembered Richardson!
I have a buddy who lives in Bilbao and they are fanatics!Comment
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[ame="https://twitter.com/skykaveh/status/957014288648032257"]https://twitter.com/skykaveh/status/957014288648032257[/ame]Comment
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