Is there really not a topic about this guy yet? I could've swore there was but I can't find one.

Anyways, there are about 30 different sources linking us to him. From what I've seen, I like his style, but my questions is as follows. Can Luiz play RB? Everyone loves his attacking play, so maybe it could work? I only say this because the thought of having Ivan on the bench is weird to me, so Ivan switching to CB and Luiz to RB could work. Obviously me saying this on a forum means nothing, but if it could work then there would be no real reason to bring in a new RB.

Otherwise...I guess bring the guy in!

If we don't bring in two proper wingers, then Van Der Wiel is a must as he's the best young attacking right back in the world. We've lacked that balance in recent years and have been much stronger attacking down the left bacause of Ash, and Van Der Wiel would hopefully be the solution

Is there really not a topic about this guy yet? I could've swore there was but I can't find one.

Anyways, there are about 30 different sources linking us to him. From what I've seen, I like his style, but my questions is as follows. Can Luiz play RB? Everyone loves his attacking play, so maybe it could work? I only say this because the thought of having Ivan on the bench is weird to me, so Ivan switching to CB and Luiz to RB could work. Obviously me saying this on a forum means nothing, but if it could work then there would be no real reason to bring in a new RB.

Otherwise...I guess bring the guy in!

Or VdW at RB, Ivan at CB and Luiz at DM with Mikel on the bench? Don't know how well Luiz would adapt to that position, but his skill set looks ideal for it.

Well first of all playing Luiz at DM defeats the purpose of buying him. In the standard 4-3-3 vs 4-3-3 we often see these days, the only free man on the park is a centre-half. Buying one who is good with the ball at his feet gives you the extra man pushing into midfield to hold possession and possibly frees someone else to create a chance. Playing him at DM negates that.

On Van Der Wiel, I've watched him twice now in the last couple of weeks. First against Twente when he was superb putting in two absolute peaches of crosses to get Ajax the win and the title and today against Brazil where he looked slow and struggled to deal with Neymar. He wasn't helped by the fact that Robben just refuses to track back and also refuses to give the ball to him, but make no mistake he is no sure thing, and he is still in my mind very much a work in progress.

Edited June 7, 201113 yr by Spiller86

I don't want another bossy here, great going forward when he came but a poor defender, VDW sounds very similar, would rather someone who is a solid defender

I don't want another bossy here, great going forward when he came but a poor defender, VDW sounds very similar, would rather someone who is a solid defender

You mean Bran? I'd rather get a right winger and let him get on with attacking and let Bran deal with the defensive duties.

On Van Der Wiel, I've watched him twice now in the last couple of weeks. First against Twente when he was superb putting in two absolute peaches of crosses to get Ajax the win and the title and today against Brazil where he looked slow and struggled to deal with Neymar. He wasn't helped by the fact that Robben just refuses to track back and also refuses to give the ball to him, but make no mistake he is no sure thing, and he is still in my mind very much a work in progress.

I've got to disagree with you there. I haven't seen him very often but got a good look at him against Brazil and he looked very solid defensively. Neymar (who most of us rate very highly) only managed to trick him a few times, it was nothing like what Valencia did to Cole a few weeks ago. He didn't get many opportunities to go forward that match so can't really comment on how good he is in that regard but I liked how he's always in the right place at the right time, mainly in a defensive respect. He always knew where his winger (Neymar in that case) was and closed him down quickly. Robben didn't do anything to help him either and a CB was always covering him when Neymar was marauding that flank so he was identified as a special threat anyway - exactly what we'd do with a player like Messi or Ronaldo going down a flank.

No bossy, good going forward but a poor defender, I wouldn't want vdw if he was similar in that respect

No bossy, good going forward but a poor defender, I wouldn't want vdw if he was similar in that respect

Sorry. I meant you preferring a solid defender and in that respect Bran is probably the best right back in the world.

Sorry. I meant you preferring a solid defender and in that respect Bran is probably the best right back in the world.

Yeh, but attacking wise he isn't great, hopefully we can find a balance

Yeh, but attacking wise he isn't great, hopefully we can find a balance

My opinion is this. How much would a Van der Wiel cost? Easily another £15-16m I'd guess. And like you say, we have no idea if he'll turn out to be another Bosingwa. Why not put that £16m towards whatever it will cost(£30m?) to get an out and out right winger like Sanchez so we can also play one of the best defensive right backs around without losing anything. Not to mention the goal threat that Ivan brings.

Forgot to add that with Luiz and Cole in defense, maybe a defensive right back is a better compliment? Who's going to cover for all these defenders going forward?

Edited June 7, 201113 yr by footballoholic

My opinion is this. How much would a Van der Wiel cost? Easily another £15-16m I'd guess. And like you say, we have no idea if he'll turn out to be another Bosingwa. Why not put that £16m towards whatever it will cost(£30m?) to get an out and out right winger like Sanchez so we can also play one of the best defensive right backs around without losing anything.

Because we don't have to choose. You correctly identify that we have no idea if he'll turn out like Bosingwa. The scouts on the other hand will have a much clearer idea of what his capabilities are. It is also worth pointing out that getting an 'out and out right winger like Sanchez' will bring us relatively little if we insist on continuing with a 4-3-3. The job of the wide player in that formation is to cut inside and make dangerous runs into the penalty area, and a good quality attacking full back is there to provide width on the overlap coming in behind. If we are going to change formation and play a style that involves actual wingers then I agree with you, but on the assumption that we stick with the same style we have used (pretty much) for the last 6 or 7 years, then a young attacking right-back like VdW would be a better investment.

Right winger is what we lack if we are to play 4-3-3. If the new manager plays 4-4-2 or similar then maybe an attacking option like VDW comes in picture. There is still a chance Bossy finds his form. He was expensive as well but very good in his debut season.

Rumours we are back in for this kid again, some reports saying we have made a bid.

I havent seen any half decent sources about him recently. I only saw the link on some dodgy internet site.

Not too sure we need him, we have and Ivan. But I suppose if Alex ends up leaving, Ivan will have more CB duties, so another RB would be handy.

I'm surprised we havn't sold Bosingwa already and brought in a new RB as Bossy is in the last year of his contract. Those who think the centre of defence needs reinforcing, Oriol Romeu can play there

Edited August 23, 201113 yr by gee

I'm surprised we havn't sold Bosingwa already and brought in a new RB as Bossy is in the last year of his contract. Those who think the centre of defence needs reinforcing, Oriol Romeu can play there

CB? Terry, Alex, Luiz and Ivanovic - that's a pretty solid group to me.

As for Van Der Wiel, don't know enough about him to comment. Not much on the internet either regarding our supposed interest except for 1 iffy looking site.

Ivan is a very underrated right back.. that beautiful cross he put in for Drog against WBA last Saturday proves he isn't the worst attacking right back..

Loads of rumours around that Van Der Wiel has travelled to London this morning, wonder if he will go have a little look around Cobham while he`s here.

On his official twitter indeed that hes coming to London.

Gvanderwiel Gregory van der Wiel

In the plane 2 London.

Loads of rumours around that Van Der Wiel has travelled to London this morning, wonder if he will go have a little look around Cobham while he`s here.

He posted on his Twitter that he was on a plane to London.

Lot of teams in London. Us, Arse and Spuds are potentional addresses for the boy.

Arsenal, surely

Arsenal, surely

Not sure it will be Arsenal, its the one position they are pretty solid in with Sagna and I would have thought Midfield and CB would be their priority. Though you never know.