Matthijs de Ligt

[Andresito]

I do not like him as a President but under his tenure, everyone targeted was ultimately signed

 

[Messigician]

Barcelona President Bartomeu interviewed on Cadena SER this morning, when asked about De Ligt he had this to say:

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Basically confirming that in March (When squad planning is finalized internally), De Ligt will be evaluated - later added in that same interview that sporting criteria will determine targets, not economic restraints. I do not like him as a President but under his tenure, everyone targeted was ultimately signed

Thiago Silva? Verrati? Greizmann?

 

[Leo_Messi]

My sole worry about de Ligt is the pace and acceleration department. Playing in La Liga is something entirely else than the mediocre Eredivisie and so is our system and high defensive back line. Otherwise he is a no brainer. Even paying €80 million will be a bargain down the road for potentially 10 years of service at a very high level. Much like De Jong. The leadership skills cannot be underestimated either. Love Piqué, always have, but he was never a Puyol. I see a Puyol in de Ligt in terms of leadership. This is a vital strength.

Stylistically I might prefer Ibrahima Konaté from what I have seen so far due to the Frenchmen's pace, acceleration and similar profile (even taller than de Ligt and same age group) but I have to admit that he is less proven (although playing for Leipzig in the Bundesliga is no joke compared to playing in the Eredivisie) but one has to admit that de Ligt is more proven at the highest level, has greater leadership abilities, is from the Ajax school and has already established himself at a reborn Netherlands NT. So all in all I might jump on the de Ligt bandwagon fully once again. Not to mention that it is far more likely for us to actually buy de Ligt than Konaté. Far more. So no need to "dream" about other unrealistic and unlikely targets.

 

[Andresito]

Ah the myth of the pacey centre back.

Piqué isn't quick and when he fucks up in defense it's rarely beacuse of his pace.

A smart centre back doesn't have to be fast. If Mbappé comes sprinting like in WC against Argentina, it doesn't matter if the CB has above average pace.

 

[Leo_Messi]

Ah the myth of the pacey centre back.

Piqué isn't quick and when he fucks up in defense it's rarely beacuse of his pace.

A smart centre back doesn't have to be fast. If Mbappé comes sprinting like in WC against Argentina, it doesn't matter if the CB has above average pace.

It's not a myth. There is a reason why we have always operated with 1 quick CB. Not to mention quick right and left backs.

Having pace as a CB especially in our system and high defensive back line is always a great weapon and a great strength. There is no doubt about it.

Piqué, just to make it perfectly clear for all, is one of the very best CB's in the history of football and arguably the best in the past decade or certainly in the top 3. Not everyone can be a Piqué. From what I have seen a young Piqué was quicker than de Ligt as well so the pace and acceleration part is a genuine worry no matter how much you might think it is irrelevant.

Mentioning Mbappé's run against Argentina makes no sense when a quick CB (say Varane) would not have allowed him to make that run that the donkey Rojo did and foolishly fouled him when there was almost zero danger in store.

 

[Devils]

Barto da gawd!

 

[Campos]

It's not a myth. There is a reason why we have always operated with 1 quick CB. Not to mention quick right and left backs.

Having pace as a CB especially in our system and high defensive back line is always a great weapon and a great strength. There is no doubt about it.

Piqué, just to make it perfectly clear for all, is one of the very best CB's in the history of football and arguably the best in the past decade or certainly in the top 3. Not everyone can be a Piqué. From what I have seen a young Piqué was quicker than de Ligt as well so the pace and acceleration part is a genuine worry no matter how much you might think it is irrelevant.

Mentioning Mbappé's run against Argentina makes no sense when a quick CB (say Varane) would not have allowed him to make that run that the donkey Rojo did and foolishly fouled him when there was almost zero danger in store.

Koeman was also slow.

Ajax plays the same as Barca.
He plays with a lot of space behind him.
De Ligt never had a problem with pacey players. Even against better opponents.

He looks slow, because he's a bit bulky. But believe me, he's far from slow. I actually think he's quite fast for a defender. Not Varane fast. But fast enough to play for a team like Barca

Positioning is a key attribute for defenders. Paceness isn't...

BTW. De Ligt had no problem at all with Mbappe (against France)

Maybe they will play against Barca in the next round.
If he can keep Messi from scoring. Barto would me mad and happy at the same time.

 

[Andresito]

It's not a myth. There is a reason why we have always operated with 1 quick CB. Not to mention quick right and left backs.

Having pace as a CB especially in our system and high defensive back line is always a great weapon and a great strength. There is no doubt about it.

Piqué, just to make it perfectly clear for all, is one of the very best CB's in the history of football and arguably the best in the past decade or certainly in the top 3. Not everyone can be a Piqué. From what I have seen a young Piqué was quicker than de Ligt as well so the pace and acceleration part is a genuine worry no matter how much you might think it is irrelevant.

Mentioning Mbappé's run against Argentina makes no sense when a quick CB (say Varane) would not have allowed him to make that run that the donkey Rojo did and foolishly fouled him when there was almost zero danger in store.

I knew Varane would get mentioned. He's in a category of his own if you want a CB that's supposed to match the strikers.
Players like him are rare and I can't think of a single CB that's VERY fast and an overall good CB.

Piqué might be faster than de Ligt but that small difference doesn't matter on the pitch.

Pace is a bonus, it should never be a factor that discards a centre back who's good in all other categories. We'll make due with a slow one if he's good enough.

 

[khaled_a_d]

The more I watch him, the more I think he will be better fit in a more defensive team than Barca.
When you factor price and team needs, I would prefer to pass on him tbh.

Thiago Silva? Verrati? Greizmann?

Thiago Silva was never a target under Bartou era

 

[Porque]

If no striking target opens up this summer, the board may favour establishing Pique's replacement this summer (De Ligt, who is almost a sure bet) and saving a big striker target the summer after.

Its risky, but you have Giroud on a free transfer as a proper B option or a sub 30-40m investment like Jovic.

 

[Leo_Messi]

Koeman was also slow.

Ajax plays the same as Barca.
He plays with a lot of space behind him.
De Ligt never had a problem with pacey players. Even against better opponents.

And like i said. He looks slow, because he's a bit bulky. But believe me, he's far from slow. I actually think he's quite fast for a defender. Not Varane fast. But fast enough to play for a team like Barca

Positioning is a key attribute for defenders. Paceness isn't...


BTW. De Ligt had no problem at all with Mbappe (against France)

Maybe they will play against Barca in the next round.
If he can keep Messi from scoring. Barto would me mad and happy at the same time.

Koeman was a totally different player type and played football ages ago.

Yes, similar but in a billion times more worse league where defenders, especially those playing for Ajax and PSV are not tested remotely as much.

Can't comment on that as I have not watched every single game of de Ligt.

I never wrote that he is slow. Just that my only worry is his pace and acceleration.

Who wrote anything about pace being more important than positioning?

It is evident that positioning is the most important element for a defender. It is what less pacy but successful defenders are relying on along with physical strength if they have that. However in what universe did a combination of both hurt? Some of the best defenders in history had both attributes.

Well, would love to face Ajax (like the club a lot and been to Amsterdam a few times and watched an Ajax game ages ago as a kid when Ibra, Sneijder, Maxwell, VdV and other gems played for Ajax) but de Ligt looks like a serious target regardless of what happens from now one. Unless he suffers from a serious injury.

I knew Varane would get mentioned. He's in a category of his own if you want a CB that's supposed to match the strikers.
Players like him are rare and I can't think of a single CB that's VERY fast and an overall good CB.

Piqué might be faster than de Ligt but that small difference doesn't matter on the pitch.

Pace is a bonus, it should never be a factor that discards a centre back who's good in all other categories. We'll make due with a slow one if he's good enough.

Wait a second. Who talked about discarding? I simply wrote that my sole worry about de Ligt is his pace and acceleration. That is a genuine take on what might be his only weaknesses. Why should I pretend that he is the perfect CB and that I see no faults in him just because we are interested in him and likely will buy him as well? Our fanbase is notoriously critical and have very high standards. I am no different.

As for Varane being the only pacy and great defender, I have to beg to differ.

Yes, so you admit that Piqué (especially the younger version) was quicker. So a direct comparison is not entirely accurate.

If no striking target opens up this summer, the board may favour establishing Pique's replacement this summer (De Ligt, who is almost a sure bet) and saving a big striker target the summer after.

Its risky, but you have Giroud on a free transfer as a proper B option or a sub 30-40m investment like Jovic.

Would not surprise me if that would be the case. Wrote it a while ago as well. The reason for that is that I don't see Valverde or the board parting ways with Suárez anytime soon (certainly not this summer) and I can't see him (with his status, high wage, friendship with Leo) warm the bench.

Still a bit "sad" that we did not get Griezmann last summer. Would have been the perfect fit. I know that many football fans dislike him for some reason (he is just a kid) but he is a special player. For €100 million too. What a bargain that would have been for 5 years of elite level. The Suárez substitute right there. For the same price that we paid for Suárez 4 years prior in a totally different transfer market price wise too. Alas. We are doing fine for now so can't complain too much. We are already very spoilt.

 

[Havesaks]

Weird how perception work. I have never found him big. Maybe because he is smaller than me in height and weight.

Was good yesterday even if the team performance was better than individual player imo.

Ajax had a faculty to always have players in the perfect position at the perfect time. Their attacks were so easy because you had several available players in the perfect space.

Well personally I didnt mean big as in fat when i called him heavy. Its just heavy, i dont know the way he moves and runs looks heavy. Saw a picture without shirt, and he is build like a tank. His muscle density is probably also next level.

But yes, its really weird, perception. One takes always one self as a reference point.

 

[Zidane82]

Well personally I didnt mean big as in fat when i called him heavy. Its just heavy, i dont know the way he moves and runs looks heavy. Saw a picture without shirt, and he is build like a tank. His muscle density is probably also next level.

But yes, its really weird, perception. One takes always one self as a reference point.

Crazy that he jumps higher than anyone when he’s going for headers in both boxes

 

[Andresito]

Wait a second. Who talked about discarding? I simply wrote that my sole worry about de Ligt is his pace and acceleration. That is a genuine take on what might be his only weaknesses. Why should I pretend that he is the perfect CB and that I see no faults in him just because we are interested in him and likely will buy him as well? Our fanbase is notoriously critical and have very high standards. I am no different.

As for Varane being the only pacy and great defender, I have to beg to differ.

Yes, so you admit that Piqué (especially the younger version) was quicker. So a direct comparison is not entirely accurate.

You're saying it's an issue, I'm saying it isn't. I don't really care how quick or slow a CB is, if he's good he can become the world's best anyway.

I'd like to hear som examples.

I said he might be, I can't tell the difference tbh. Piqué probably looks faster because he doesn't look very strong.
Now that I think of it, Piqué usually have bigger problems against strong attackers than pacy ones.

 

[MTL_Barca]

Pique was quite slow all his career but still was/is a great CB for Barca and Spain.

De Ligt doesn't look like a very fast defender but i don't think that would be a big problem, as his all around skills make him pretty much a perfect fit in every other category. Also impressive personality for such a young player, that's something we shouldn't underestimate when talking about our future generation.