24 Oct 2026 00:52:32
Hi all,
I hate to agree but Virg is not what he was.
But to be fair whoever we sign or promote will not be another Virg, some players are generational.
24 Oct 2026 03:33:01
All players are generational if you think about it ?.
24 Oct 2026 06:59:16
I don't think it's any great revelation to say that VVD isn't the same player at 35 that he was at 28, but he's still better than most, definitely one of the top five central defenders in the league.
24 Oct 2026 08:38:00
What ScotchVHS said. I'd say top 3 though.
24 Oct 2026 10:08:51
I'd like VVD to stay for another season. Question is if he would accept potentially losing his starting spot next season?
24 Oct 2026 10:37:05
To who though Taurus?
24 Oct 2026 10:58:02
He is on the decline though Florian - it's a gradual decline but at the age he is now it can come very quickly.
We were all sentimental about Mo - keep him or not but it was the right time imo.
Fergie & Pep had no time for sentimental thoughts about great players - when it was their time over they were moved on & their teams which were in transition redeveloped very quickly.
24 Oct 2026 11:07:53
Jury is out on that currently Florian. We need to see more of Araujo at CB before deciding if him and Jacquet could be the partnership going forward.
Regardless of who it will be, the club should be looking at a long term solution for who succeeds Virgil. Even if he extends, we should have our replacement ready before he leaves. I would hope the club has learned their lesson from what has happened with Mo leaving.
24 Oct 2026 11:09:25
I think this IS Virg's decline. What if this is as bad as he gets over the next 3 or 4 years? What if he's lost his pace that he once had and this is as slow as he gets in that period.? People have been planning Virgil's LFC exit for 6 or 7 years on this site. Instead of worrying what he will be just judge him on what he is now. If he's still playing as well at the end of the season you throw a year extension at him because trust me every other team in the league would take him on a free if he is.
For me you say these kind of things about an ageing squaddie who's getting less and less minutes, not someone who starts every game of significance. Every minute of the Premier League last season in fact.
24 Oct 2026 11:31:32
We've seen about as much from Leoni than we have Araujo at CB Taurus. I know he's everyone's new favourite because he "gets us" but this is VIirgil Van Dijk we are talking about here. Virg's mistake for the first goal vs Villarreal gets studied and talked about forensically while everyone forgets Araujo thinking he was prime Roy Keane for the 2nd.
Thats the levels we are talking about here. Obviously Virg is not what he was but he's also more experienced and the leader of that defence.
24 Oct 2026 18:28:45
Plannng his exit for 7 years Florian? We only signed him 8 years ago mate, give it a rest. He made a lot of mistakes last season, individual mistakes, were it not for his partner in crime, Buckaroo, taking all the attention away, I am convinced VVD would have caught a hell of a lot more flack for his performances.
He is declining, that's inarguable. Sure he's still effective, but for how long? The mistakes will not lessen as the decline continues, and there have been numerous times over the last 15 months that I thought he didn't look like his heart's quite in it.
One of the best to ever do it, no doubt, well worth extending his contract, but you have to accept the inevitable eventually. Much like Mo, replacing him is next to impossible, but we have to prepare for the day.
25 Oct 2026 00:13:30
A decline in performance is inevitable due to the aging process. VVD carried the defence for one of Liverpool's best sides in my lifetime when we won everything, based on a solid defence. It's natural that he isn't the same player given the passage of time.
It doesn't mean that he can't contribute. His decline fiesn't make him a bad player, in fact, he is still very good and his influence on younger players around him like Jacquet to his right and, espevially to. kirkez on his left will be of benefit to the club even after he has moved on.
It'd be great if he stayed on for a tear or two but there would be no problem if he chose to leave. He has more than earned the right to make his own choice and to chose whatever he wants to do.
{Ed666's Note - Good post that mate. I can’t disagree with any of it.
25 Oct 2026 14:02:25
Five years then Chewy?.Certainly since he was 30.