Virgil van Dijk

[RedReet]

And let's not forget that it was gross negligence from Klopp not to move on to another target when we couldn't secure him in the summer.

[red g]

And let's not forget that it was gross negligence from Klopp not to move on to another target when we couldn't secure him in the summer.

We could have had Michael Keane instead all season.

[Red_Polo]

There was a lot of ****e spouted about signing Van Dijk and how one player wouldnt make that much difference because it was down to tactics / the midfield being **** etc..

Defending isnt about having 4 or 5 great players its often about being a unit and Van Dijk definitely helps in that department

Well worth every penny for me

It hasn't just been VVD that's changed though. Robbo has been important, and finally been playing regularly. Karius has come into good form. The fullbacks are still expected to be important in attack but no longer do so with the same reckless abandon.

VVD has made a huge difference as he's brilliant, but we've seen pretty big changes across the back 5.

[Shaggy]

[ame]https://twitter.com/DavidLynchLFC/status/970967005368147969[/ame]

[Lecter]

It hasn't just been VVD that's changed though. Robbo has been important, and finally been playing regularly. Karius has come into good form. The fullbacks are still expected to be important in attack but no longer do so with the same reckless abandon.

VVD has made a huge difference as he's brilliant, but we've seen pretty big changes across the back 5.

Agreed Robbo has brought stability at leftback but I also think Van Dijk has helped him also

For me from the get go the problem wasnt just tactical it was personnel also

We've added better defenders into the unit and the unit itself has improved as a collective

[Les Zeffelin]

It hasn't just been VVD that's changed though. Robbo has been important, and finally been playing regularly. Karius has come into good form. The fullbacks are still expected to be important in attack but no longer do so with the same reckless abandon.

VVD has made a huge difference as he's brilliant, but we've seen pretty big changes across the back 5.

All absolutely true. but Virge is the cornerstone.

[Red_Polo]

Agreed Robbo has brought stability at leftback but I also think Van Dijk has helped him also

For me from the get go the problem wasnt just tactical it was personnel also

We've added better defenders into the unit and the unit itself has improved as a collective

Yeah I think all of the changes I've listed have acted to support each other. No doubting Big Virgil is the most important single one of those. Thank **** we finally look assured at the back. Can't remember the last time I was able to say that!

[Red_Polo]

All absolutely true. but Virge is the cornerstone.

Definitely

[Charly]

And let's not forget that it was gross negligence from Klopp not to move on to another target when we couldn't secure him in the summer.

I would stand by that... We could have bought in somone else to partner VVD (its nor like the money aint there). Indeedcthere were a fair few of us hoping we would sign two centrebacks. If VVD gets injured and we are back to Lovren and Matip. Neither of whom fill me with confidence when they play together.

Saying that, we now have four centrebacks... and I can not see us selling Lovren after his bumper contract... No one is going to pay his wages when its clear he needs to play with someone else better to look even slightly comfortable. Seems both him and Mig got big payrises after being consistantly ****. I can see us struggling to shift both.

[RedReet]

I would stand by that... We could have bought in somone else to partner VVD (its nor like the money aint there). Indeedcthere were a fair few of us hoping we would sign two centrebacks. If VVD gets injured and we are back to Lovren and Matip. Neither of whom fill me with confidence when they play together.

Saying that, we now have four centrebacks... and I can not see us selling Lovren after his bumper contract... No one is going to pay his wages when its clear he needs to play with someone else better to look even slightly comfortable. Seems both him and Mig got big payrises after being consistantly ****. I can see us struggling to shift both.

That's a different argument though. Many people said we should move on and sign alternative players when it was clear Virgil wasn't signing in the summer. Klopp got called quite a few names IIRC for being 'arrogant' enough to wait on his No.1 target.

[EwarWoo]

Neither of whom fill me with confidence when they play together.

Depends. You get in a player like VVD and it's not just about their effect on the field.

He may be able to mentor them to become better players.

Klopp expecting this can be the only reasonable explanation for his refusal to sign anyone else. And so far he's been mostly spot on.

[dww]

Yeah I think all of the changes I've listed have acted to support each other. No doubting Big Virgil is the most important single one of those. Thank **** we finally look assured at the back. Can't remember the last time I was able to say that!

It's interesting as the Karius and VVD changes were more or less coincident. I think the fact that the overall sense of a reset was important. A lot of our issues seemed to be mental and about communication.

[baitman]

It's interesting as the Karius and VVD changes were more or less coincident. I think the fact that the overall sense of a reset was important. A lot of our issues seemed to be mental and about communication.

that first game when virge was shouting for karius to come and clear the ball while karius froze like a rabbit in the headlights...
spoke volumes about the lack of decisiveness and communication in our back line and our coaching.
you could imaging big virge chucking the shoes, hairdryers and family sized bottles of nivea around the dressing room later.

[Pablo]

It's far too early to make a judgement on him really, but I already have and I think in about the 8/9 games he's played he's already overtaken Hyypia as my favourite LFC CB in my time watching the club!

[Fosterbloke]

Yeah I think all of the changes I've listed have acted to support each other. No doubting Big Virgil is the most important single one of those. Thank **** we finally look assured at the back. Can't remember the last time I was able to say that!

Not even sure Sami Hyypia had this much of an effect.