davek
Player Valuation: £150m
It was never confirmed we were in for Van Dijk. The criticism shouldn't be that he chose Mori over Van Dijk, but that he should have moved for him when he was available.
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Martinez new Belgium head coach
- Thread starter Azza
- Start date
- Status
ijjysmith
Calm
Probably true this. It wasn’t a Mori or Van Dijk thing.
It was a we should have moved for Van Dijk thing.
I never suggested it was like that
I was merely pointing out that he had an opportunity to pursue Van Dijk but went after Funes Mori instead
It wasn't even like he went after Van Dijk, got turned down, and then got Funes Mori instead
Funes Mori was the first choice
Of course, because if it was that simple there is absolutely no chance we'd end up with Funes Mori.
davek
Player Valuation: £150m
....and let's be honest, apart from a handful of people on here who rated Van Dijk, the majority view was that he was "ropey at defending, from the SPL and, therefore, rubbish'.
Oh I remember that sentiment well Dave, I had to get it in the neck from the anti-Van Dijk brigade every day of that transfer window
The point stands that Bobby should have gone for him though, the same way we may go on to rue Silva not paying Celtic what they wanted for Tierney
Why not?
Funes Mori was far more in line with what Martinez would like from a player than Van Dijk was
what about the other 19 managers in the league? Always seems a bit odd criticizing for not signing specific players, I think we all know its not that simple.
Not all of those clubs were linked with him, we were
Plus, he was perfect for us at that time
He was a bear with big paws who needed a foot into English football before making it at one of the top six
ijjysmith
Calm
I'm not sure we were linked anywhere reliable though mate.
This all being said of course, if other things hadn't gone wrong you could have forgiven Martinez for not getting Van Dijk
It was just the cherry on top of the cake at the end of the day
I personally thought quite a few of his signings were decent, with Lukaku, McCarthy and Barry probably being the three best
Alcaraz was inexcusable though
Job for the boys if there ever was one, which Koeman then seemingly went on to match with Martina
At least Silva doesn't appear to have signed someone rubbish just to give them a pay day yet (Although he does like Troy Deeney and we will be looking for a striker...)
It was just the cherry on top of the cake at the end of the day
I personally thought quite a few of his signings were decent, with Lukaku, McCarthy and Barry probably being the three best
Alcaraz was inexcusable though
Job for the boys if there ever was one, which Koeman then seemingly went on to match with Martina
At least Silva doesn't appear to have signed someone rubbish just to give them a pay day yet (Although he does like Troy Deeney and we will be looking for a striker...)
I honestly don't see what that adds, Southampton were the biggest club that went for him so plenty of teams missed out, that's just the way it goes sometimes. Critique a transfer policy by all means, but isolating it to single players who we and plenty of others didn't sign doesn't make a lot of sense to me
davek
Player Valuation: £150m
It surprised me that there was (as far as we know) no concerted effort made by RM to get Van Dijk. Other managers in the PL might have been put off by the SPL connection, but he knew that league and that sometimes one comes through it (He signed McCarthy, for example).
It might well be that he thought the better of bringing in an obvious leader and replacing Jagielka. Funes Mori was easier to integrate in that respect - he was young and there to slot in. One of my bugbears with RM was that he deferred to dressing room seniority to a point where he let control - and his 'project'- slip.
Maybe, and there was no way Martinez would no how well Van Dijk would adapt. Its like bemoaning the fact we didn't sign Manolas all them years ago, who's to say he would've turned out like he is now and not another Shane Duffy. (ie. not a superstar nothing against Duffy).
Papa Shango
Player Valuation: £70m
But that still treats footballers like its a shop. Maybe he didn't have an opportunity to pursue him? Maybe he would not have wanted to come here, maybe these questions had been asked, maybe Celtic didn't want to deal with us and yeah maybe he was never in the equation, who knows?
Anyway Van Dijk is a bellend, he still would have wanted to go to the other lot and would have screwed us over instead of Southampton to do so so in truth we owe a debt of gratitude to Mr Martinez for not subjecting us to that.
What a man.
- Status