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Matthijs de Ligt

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
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Frankie de Jong can play both CM and CD

He might get away with it at CB in the Dutch League where his team dominate 90% of opponents but I wouldn't want him there in the EPL. Good midfielder though who I'd be more than happy with.
 

'O Zio

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Dec 27, 2014
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He might get away with it at CB in the Dutch League where his team dominate 90% of opponents but I wouldn't want him there in the EPL. Good midfielder though who I'd be more than happy with.

This.

I'm by no means an expert on him but I heard Priya Romesh (Ajax fan and part-time journo) on a podcast saying he was a CM but Ajax had moved him to CB as a tactical ploy because teams had started to sit back against them so much they worked out that they could basically stick an extra midfielder in the team at CB to help them play out from the back. His long-term future is not supposed to be as a CB though, that's just a temporary tactical thing with Ajax
 

willcpt17

Active Member
Apr 7, 2018
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Ajax rear them sensible. Wouldn’t be surprised to see an Ajax prospect reject City for us if he sees it as better for his development. De Ligt does seem that kind of kid too.
No question rejecting City would be better for his development. He looks like he can be an elite CB and if he looks at the influence Poch has had on Toby and Jan's careers De Ligt would be foolish to join City. If we sell Toby as expected we should be able to afford De Ligt.
 

rossdapep

Well-Known Member
Aug 25, 2011
21,905
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No question rejecting City would be better for his development. He looks like he can be an elite CB and if he looks at the influence Poch has had on Toby and Jan's careers De Ligt would be foolish to join City. If we sell Toby as expected we should be able to afford De Ligt.
We do this all the time (I'm guilty myself), in which we convince ourselves that players should reject City because it's good for their career. But perhaps it isn't. Maybe he believes Pep will turn him into the world's best whilst winning trophies along the way. Lots of players want to learn off Pep. He may also be very confident that he'd get into that City team.

I hope that we get him but I'm not going to start believing a player will reject City nor that it's a bad career move for them.
 

'O Zio

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2014
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@double0

He's got 70-odd appearances in midfield and only 13 at CB so not really sure what there is to disagree with in what I've said..?
 

eddiev14

SC Supporter
Jan 18, 2005
7,173
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Lol, if City go in for De Ligt our only chance is to sell them Toby and ask them to clear off to give us a clear run at him.

If anyone thinks the kid wouldn’t go to City then you need your head checking!
 

DJS

A hoonter must hoont
Dec 9, 2006
31,261
21,760
Lol, if City go in for De Ligt our only chance is to sell them Toby and ask them to clear off to give us a clear run at him.

If anyone thinks the kid wouldn’t go to City then you need your head checking!

Not so sure about that.

Quite a few Ajax players have chosen somewhere they feel they can progress and develop as a player at least initially before going for massive Wonga.
 

eddiev14

SC Supporter
Jan 18, 2005
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Not so sure about that.

Quite a few Ajax players have chosen somewhere they feel they can progress and develop as a player at least initially before going for massive Wonga.

City's weakest area of their team is the centre-backs imo.

Laporte has certainly strengthened them, but if I was De Ligt I'd fancy my chances of breaking into that team fairly quickly if competing with an ageing Vincent Kompany, plus Otamendi and John Stones.

Also, the appeal to young players of working with Guardiola cannot be underestimated.
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,232
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We do this all the time (I'm guilty myself), in which we convince ourselves that players should reject City because it's good for their career. But perhaps it isn't. Maybe he believes Pep will turn him into the world's best whilst winning trophies along the way. Lots of players want to learn off Pep. He may also be very confident that he'd get into that City team.

I hope that we get him but I'm not going to start believing a player will reject City nor that it's a bad career move for them.


Interesting point because I think that the best defenders are the ones that have to do a lot of defending. Guardiola's Barcelona, Bayern and Man City are all teams who have dominated their opponents consistently and defenders generally get a pretty easy ride. As an example, I doubt if Puyol or Ramos would have done as well in mid table teams, particularly in England. Where those players were outstanding was having the concentration to make the right decisions on the rare occasions they were called into action. I don't see those type of clubs as the environment for a player as young as DeLigt to gain the experience to make him the best.
 

LeParisien

Wrong about everything
Mar 5, 2018
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Interesting point because I think that the best defenders are the ones that have to do a lot of defending. Guardiola's Barcelona, Bayern and Man City are all teams who have dominated their opponents consistently and defenders generally get a pretty easy ride. As an example, I doubt if Puyol or Ramos would have done as well in mid table teams, particularly in England. Where those players were outstanding was having the concentration to make the right decisions on the rare occasions they were called into action. I don't see those type of clubs as the environment for a player as young as DeLigt to gain the experience to make him the best.
Puyol was an outstanding defender - masterclass after masterclass.

Ramos would also be fine. He’s a hustler.
 

Hazelton

Unknown Member
Jul 11, 2011
5,527
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Personally think he's better off staying at Ajax for at least another season and playing regularly, I can't see him starting ahead of Sanchez for us at the moment.

IMO the best deal for all involved would be to sign him up and let Ajax keep him for another season. Sign another CM and Dier can replace Toby.
 

synththfc

Well-Known Member
Aug 24, 2017
3,740
26,716
If this is correct and he's using Raiola as an agent, that most likely rules us out anyway.



From the original tweet, I don't think Mino is actually his agent, rather a neutral third party, which would make it more likely (correct if I'm wrong please)
 

crokey

Well-Known Member
Sep 1, 2012
2,433
7,467
Interesting point because I think that the best defenders are the ones that have to do a lot of defending. Guardiola's Barcelona, Bayern and Man City are all teams who have dominated their opponents consistently and defenders generally get a pretty easy ride. As an example, I doubt if Puyol or Ramos would have done as well in mid table teams, particularly in England. Where those players were outstanding was having the concentration to make the right decisions on the rare occasions they were called into action. I don't see those type of clubs as the environment for a player as young as DeLigt to gain the experience to make him the best.

You don't think Sergio Ramos would be a good player for Bournemouth? :ROFLMAO:
 

dtxspurs

Welcome to the Good Life
Dec 28, 2017
11,234
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Yeah, if Raiola is in his hear we get him for 2 years before he is bouncing again.
 
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