60m and 200k per week is a bit of a laugh really. He is a good player but I'm not even sure he would play when Kompany was fit. 

I personally am very comfortable with our current centre backs particularly with Christensen returning, I'd be open to a bid for a Sakho or the like who would improve the squad but wouldn't necessarily start and can play left back as well. But honestly I think we're okay. 

Also for those slagging Cahill... he was incredible during the run in. Defended well, scored big goals and led well. Don't underestimate his quality.

Edited June 4, 20179 yr by Spiller86

1 hour ago, Chelsbear said:

How?

Cahill, Dave and Luiz all had better seasons, their numbers were better and as a 3 man back line were fantastic. Why would any of them be dropped for a guy who's been out for months with a serious injury? They simply wouldn't 

I get your point but Van Dijk's per 90 numbers were actually much better than all of our defenders.

1 hour ago, the special one said:

200k worth every penny for me. We'd be buying a player who can not only challenge at LCB next year but can also move into the centre when Ake is 24/25....

Luiz said that he took a pay cut for joining Chelsea, rumored at 120kpw, GC at 85kpw.

And this guy who will be sitting on the bench for 200kpw. Seems perfectly fair.

the 200k salary is probably BS. I don't think journalists are that good on speculating on wages

31 minutes ago, didierforever said:

Seems perfectly fair.

Agree 100%, van Dijk can play LCB, CB in a back 3 and gives us the option of playing with a back 4 next season (something it could be argued can't be said about GC/Luiz). I agree it's a crazy price to pay but hope we match whatever City offer. 

Edited June 4, 20179 yr by the special one

42 minutes ago, the special one said:

Agree 100%, van Dijk can play LCB, CB in a back 3 and gives us the option of playing with a back 4 next season (something it could be argued can't be said about GC/Luiz). I agree it's a crazy price to pay but hope we match whatever City offer. 

I am sorry this is not FIFA.

Its real life. You cant have starting players like DL, GC, Azpi on half the salary of a bench player. I can imagine things like these breaking the squad harmony. 

VVD is a NO for me as we already have good cover in Andreas, Ake and Zouma, and VVD for those numbers is a massive NO-NO

Edited June 4, 20179 yr by didierforever

1 minute ago, didierforever said:

I am sorry this is not FIFA.

Its real life. You cant have starting players like DL, GC, Azpi on half the salary of a bench player. I can imagine things like these breaking the squad harmony. 

VVD for those numbers is a massive NO-NO

Van Dijk would start for us. Our defence has been a bit sh*t since like february and clearly needs some new blood.

Fairly sure Conte would be very pissed off if we lost VVD too City.

30 minutes ago, didierforever said:

I am sorry this is not FIFA.

Its real life. You cant have starting players like DL, GC, Azpi on half the salary of a bench player. I can imagine things like these breaking the squad harmony. 

VVD for those numbers is a massive NO-NO

 

Did it break squad harmony when JT was reportedly earning 6.76m in 2012?

For me if it breaks/or has the potential to break squad harmony then we simply sell whoever is unhappy. GC/Luiz are both in their thirties, do you really think they'd complain knowing they can easily be replaced?

Azpi > Christensen/Jorge Mere/Rudiger
Luiz > van Dijk/Christensen
Cahill > van Dijk/Ake (eventually)

The reality of football is relatively simple - if you want to stay at the top you pay market rate.

Edited June 4, 20179 yr by the special one

Yea the mirror get the scoop on his future before anyone, no one credible reporting this, if he goes to city will be a shame we need a top CB despite what we have already being good he need that bit more 

If, and I mean if, that's what city are paying, then good luck to him...I don't think he's worth that kind of money...

5 hours ago, doctorblue said:

Have to say that paying £60m and £200k a week for a defender that hasn't played for 4 months when we have AC coming back from BM is an easy pass for me...Ake, Tomori, Slater Clarke and Trevoh Chalobah are the ones we should be looking at...

Come on, be serious. None of those names are any where near ready for first team football with us yet. Still a few years until we can say that.

12 minutes ago, STATS said:

Come on, be serious. None of those names are any where near ready for first team football with us yet. Still a few years until we can say that.

JT said Salter Clarke was his natural placement but I'm sure you know better about defending than John... 

6 minutes ago, doctorblue said:

JT said Salter Clarke was his natural placement but I'm sure you know better about defending than John... 

OK, JT said he sees him as his long term replacement so it means we should just chuck him in. Great logic.

He was on loan at Bristol Rovers last season who are in L1 and had a big injury which ruled him out for 2-3 months. He will most likely go to that level again next season and following season still go out on loan. Like I said, no way near ready for our first team at the moment.

11 minutes ago, doctorblue said:

JT said Salter Clarke was his natural placement but I'm sure you know better about defending than John... 

No he didnt, he said he hoped he could. Big difference there. 

12 minutes ago, Xfaxtor said:

No he didnt, he said he hoped he could. Big difference there. 

I love how people make statements with such conviction regardless of the truth...the mirror article said that JT believed that he would eventually replace him...JT has gone now... 

Edited June 4, 20179 yr by doctorblue

2 minutes ago, doctorblue said:

I love how people make statements with such conviction regardless of the truth...the mirror article said that JT believed that he would eventually replace him...JT has gone now... 

“He is doing great and I hope he goes on to take my position and get in the first team. It was great for him to make his debut". 

Those were his words. Im not making any definitive statements, that was you.  Saying that Terry sees him as his replacement and that anyone who disagrees clearly knows more then Terry about defending was a bit rich imo. 

City apparently offering Mooy as a makeweight to Soton. Would be happy if we part with Christensen (or Ake) if it means Soton reject City's offer.

Edited June 4, 20179 yr by the special one

2 minutes ago, the special one said:

City apparently offering Mooy as a makeweight to Soton. Would be happy if we part with Christensen (or Ake) if it means Soton reject City's offer.

Wait, what?

You'd be happy if we lost one of the most promising young CBs in Europe, as long as City don't buy some other guy?

23 minutes ago, Zeta said:

Wait, what?

You'd be happy if we lost one of the most promising young CBs in Europe, as long as City don't buy some other guy?

With reluctance, but I think van Dijk is that good personally... for me he's up there with the likes of Bonucci/Chiellini.

Edited June 4, 20179 yr by the special one

12 minutes ago, the special one said:

City apparently offering Mooy as a makeweight to Soton. Would be happy if we part with Christensen (or Ake) if it means Soton reject City's offer.

Would Christensen even want to move to Southampton though ? He's been playing in Europe for two years now, moving to Southampton would be a downgrade.

15 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

Would Christensen even want to move to Southampton though ? 

Probably not to be fair. Seems it's a no go anyway...

‘Andreas will not be used in a barter and play for Southampton,’ Sten Christensen told Danish outlet Ekstra Bladet."

Would still hope we can negotiate a deal that encourages Soton to reject City though (my hope is City have offered 200k via the media as a last ditch effort at swaying van Dijk, but we've already done a deal with Soton )

Edited June 4, 20179 yr by the special one

17 minutes ago, the special one said:

Probably not to be fair. Seems it's a no go anyway...

‘Andreas will not be used in a barter and play for Southampton,’ Sten Christensen told Danish outlet Ekstra Bladet."

Would still hope we can negotiate a deal that encourages Soton to reject City though (my hope is City have offered 200k as a last ditch effort at swaying van Dijk, but we've already done a deal with Soton )

Have we ? 

2 hours ago, Sindre said:

Van Dijk would start for us. Our defence has been a bit sh*t since like february and clearly needs some new blood.

Fairly sure Conte would be very pissed off if we lost VVD too City.

In place of? 

I would take this "sh*t" defence over anything in the world.

2 hours ago, the special one said:

 

Did it break squad harmony when JT was reportedly earning 6.76m in 2012?

For me if it breaks/or has the potential to break squad harmony then we simply sell whoever is unhappy. GC/Luiz are both in their thirties, do you really think they'd complain knowing they can easily be replaced?

Azpi > Christensen/Jorge Mere/Rudiger
Luiz > van Dijk/Christensen
Cahill > van Dijk/Ake (eventually)

The reality of football is relatively simple - if you want to stay at the top you pay market rate.

Jt was the club captain and our best defender even in 2012. How will it break the squad harmony. Vvd will be our 4th choice cb. There is a difference in comparing a club captain/legend's salary and the new flavour of the month's salary.

the new market rate is not paying 200kpw for player. That's the salary of a player who is one of the best in the squad. If we keep Andreas here next season, vvd will be the 4/5th best cb. 

Just now, didierforever said:

Jt was the club captain and our best defender even in 2012. How will it break the squad harmony. Vvd will be our 4th choice cb. There is a difference in comparing a club captain/legend's salary and the new flavour of the month's salary.

the new market rate is not paying 200kpw for player. That's the salary of a player who is one of the best in the squad. If we keep Andreas here next season, vvd will be the 4/5th best cb.