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  • BAMozzy posted an update 6 years, 3 months ago

    I really do think that is ‘excessive’ a price to pay for a player of VVD’s calibre and ‘age’. There are some great ‘alternatives’ that are less experienced but offer as much – if not more.
    The one great thing is that VVD is not cup tied for us in either of the cup competitions – FA or CL. Its no secret that we have ‘struggled’ with ‘fitness and consistency’ in our CB – Matip for example only returning yesterday. Lovren gasn’t been 100% fit either and with Clyne missing, Gomez hasn’t been an ‘option’ at CB because he and TAA can’t play 2 time a week every week.
    Anyone thinking that VVD will suddenly and dramatically improve our defence, are certainly deluded. Most of the issues come from a lack of Midfield support, them not tracking back with runners, not being goalside and allowing the opposition to much time and space to attack our defence. Look at how often Lovren is caught trying to decide whether he should attack the player with the ball (often a midfielder), stay with an attacker or try and cut off the space. If he goes to the player, they can pass around him, give other players the space behind him and look out of position. If he holds his position, he gets blamed for not going to the ball and given that player space and time – and that player should have been tracked and stopped by our midfield.
    The same issue will be faced by VVD. We need a good CDM/holding Midfield. That’s why Kante and Matic are so important to their team and why their teams concede ‘few’ goals or give oppositions much attacking opportunities during a match.
    Its a ‘good’ signing but I feel its just a small cog in trying to solve a big issue. I do think if we had a great CDM, that would have limited the pressure on our defence. Lovren came from Southampton too and looked ‘good’ with some more defensive, deeper lying midfielders to help out, go with runners, keep goalside etc.

    • Naby Keita will sort out a lot of these issues from midfield because Keita always keeps the ball at his feet and controlls his space brilliantly.

      • Naby is a box to box midfielder – Plays more where Gini tends to – not a dedicated holding/defensive midfielder.
        In fairness to Naby though, he is more likely to go with his runner, happy to get back and help out but his main role is to drive forward.
        He isn’t a ‘Lucas’ for example. Hendo is a big culprit for some of our defensive issues as he is ‘supposed’ to be sat deep, but he is the one who lets players run by him and rarely goal side. Can does better and you do see him in our box marking, clearing and getting vital touches but I do think its not his ‘speciality’. Can is a bit of a jack of all trades, master of none but better than Hendo in that area.
        Next match you watch, pay attention to the gap between defence and midfield, look at how much space there is and if Hendo is playing, how often midfielders get passed him and how little protection our CB’s get. VVD got that to contend with. At Southampton, they play with 4 midfielders who often play quite close to their 4 defenders. LFC play with mainly 2 defenders with 2 attacking full backs, 1/2 deeper lying midfielders but not as deep as Southamptons with 4 high pressing forwards. In other words, the saints have 8 players back of which VVD is one – at LFC he could find himself 1 of 2/4 players.