Virgil van Dijk and William Saliba parallels are interesting

by .

Well, you know it’s a sign of the non-banter era when the biggest international break debate is whether or not there’s a conspiracy against William Saliba because the club wants to loan him to a Championship team.

A few things I wanted to clarify.

Talent

I think he’ll be a top player. The signing, as a standalone investment, was kind of wild, but I think his first season in Ligue 1 showed that he has the tools to make it big for us at some point.

Business

Although I think the deal was bad business, I don’t think it was failed business. This should be a good signing. My overarching point was that signing him was a little bit like spending $16k of your £18k home-improvement budget on beer cooler… before you’ve addressed the fact you don’t have a roof or running water.

Ligue 1 Quality

I 100% believe the Championship slander is off the mark. It’s a very strong league that consistently produces top, top talent. Ligue 1 is superior technically, because France, as a general rule of thumb, does its shit right. However, there’s a reason only one teenage centre back managed more than 300 minutes of football in the last 4 seasons in the Premier League… because it is far more competitive. In France, nine U20 players were given +600 minutes (thank you @GiantGooner), why? Because it doesn’t boast the same pound for pound quality as the Premier League… and I think you’d find that our top Championship clubs would battle it out in the top 8 in Ligue 1.

Generational Stuff

People keep batting around the notion of ‘generational talent’, it’s the new hot thing to talk about. However, it’s worth reading up on the early years of VVD. Things weren’t going off for him at 19 years old. He was apparently ‘overtired’ from playing a season at Willem II reserves. Even more interesting than that, and something that might be a consdieration for Saliba is this little snippet from when the player was 17 years old.

Van Dijk’s long rise began the summer he turned 17, in 2008, when he shot up 18 centimeters (7 inches) in height. Before then, Van Dijk has admitted to the BBC, he was a slow, short right-back with an unstable knee, not a player who was good enough to dominate as a central defender.

Saliba is 6ft4, has a huge frame, and he’s only 19 (debuted younger). That’s rapid growth. That sometimes comes with challenges that are best ironed out outside a top 4 challenging team in the Premier League.

Back to VVD, things eventually clicked at Groningen. He then moved to… Celtic. He left Celtic at 24 to go to Southampton. This generational talent didn’t make it to Liverpool until he was 27 years old. Why am I telling you this? Because we need to drop the idea that this loan says anything about Saliba’s future, and we need to take seriously the reality that it is VERY hard to make it as a young centre back at a big club.

MOVING ON…

The Premier League announced that we, the fans, can watch all the games this season. The games that aren’t shown on the normal channels can be purchased for £14.95. Wow, what a treat?!

This is a dreadful decision that reads like it has been made by a group of people that would be more likely to know the exact price of an AP Royal Oak, than that of a pint of milk.

The pricing structure makes so little sense on so many levels. Firstly, shouldn’t the league be looking to draw in new customers, versus hammering people you know will already pay £20 for a ticket (the captives)? The price point is so high, you immediately rule out casual fans from the party, that’s money only obsessives pay.

Also, is that sort of price point not a bit detached from humanity in an era of mass unemployment? There aren’t many places to find joy right now. Food, booze, and sport is where I get my kicks. Making football really expensive right now seems really unfair. It’s also counter-productive, because the thing with the internet, is if people think the price is too high, they simply find it for free. The music industry learned that the hard way, then Spotify reimagined its structure for the internet. I’m not sure why the Premier League thinks gouging fans is a smart move?

£5 would be fair. £7.50 would be pricey. £10 for me would be a monthly subscription. £14.95 is just a rip off… it is especially jarring when you consider clubs just dropped £1.2b on players. Between them, the couldn’t come to arrangement to calm down the pricetags and wages of players… so they just dumped the bill on the fans.

I speak out of both sides of my mouth because the reality is I love the signings and I’ll pay the price of the games… but as always, it’s a losing game to be a fan. Still, at least we can all be skint watching Thomas Partey beating the press.

Right, that’s me done, tune into our podcast if you like to hear things. Also, sign up to the newsletter by giving you e-mail to the the box on the right (desktop) or scroll to the bottom if you are on mobile.

I’ll also get you some darker font colors for the comments box.

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Marc

Rich

The UK and the US whilst being close on a lot of things are miles apart on others. London is not being deserted.

Guns of SF

So fucking naive – what happens when a cell tower goes down? Or a network is hacked?

someone sounds paranoid of modern era change

Luteo Guenreira

Marc

The first three times are in like the 19th century and previous. It’s the Bush/Gore election in 2000 and Trump in 2016 where it happened in modern times, with like all 50 states and all that.

Dissenter

Guns
Because people need to be reminded that elections have consequences.
I don’t buy this notion of “poor” people can’t vote because the line is too long. What stops them from voting early or voting by mail.
I have never voted on election day for work reasons. I have never spent more than 20 minutes in line to vote before.
I always vote early, on my way home at. night or early on a weekend day. This year I’ve already mailed my ballot already and tracked it to make sure it was accepted.

Dissenter

“Bernie failed because he couldn’t get people to vote for him… that’s a flaw.”

Because many democrats knew he would never win a general election and the guy was just promising a chicken in every pot. The numbers didn’t add up.
Free this…free dat
Who’s going to pay for it?

London gunner

Dissenter Easy. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. In 2016 when it was leaked the dnc conspired/rigged the nomination away from bernie and they instead put the /criminal hilary as their candidate the veil was pulled from my eyes and I realised the democratic party was rotten to the absolute core. I want them to burn down to the ground and trump to stomp on their ashes then hopefully an fdr type figure can rebuild them to their old values and supporting working and midde class people rather than retarded woke activists. Also to add trump is very… Read more »

Guns of SF

Dissenter,

Come on man, any form of suppression needs to be looked at no matter how easy voting for you is, Its easy for me to but not for a lot of folks.

Being arrested, intimidated, threatened, and or making the voting process more work than it should be is forms of suppression.

Remove suppression efforts, and make it easy. I still do not see anything wrong with having the voting window open for a week. Other countries do this without issues.

Goobergooner

JAMES+WOOD
“Bamford 17.24
He usually brings him in a pram?For gods sake Bambo get a life asking
mundane trivial shitttttt”

Stfu mate, give him shit for his BS statements, not a reasonable question.

Marc

Pedro

There’s no place for racism on here – Polish people in Florida are just as decent as anyone else.

Rich

LA NYC and London “used” to be the three of the best cities in the world. The mass exodus in LA is currently happening, the money is leaving, homeless people have moved into affluent areas, and people are jumping on mass, this is a fact. The same homeless problem in LA that is now plaguing NYC, along will the spiralling crime rates, will see the same happen there, it’s the logical conclusion. The exodus in London isn’t happening yet, which isn’t what the remainers told us. But keep an eye on the crime rates and the homelessness problem, we’re not… Read more »

Marc

SF

You talk about voting suppression and intimidation I’m guessing this only happens by Republican’s?

Why the fuck aren’t the Democrat’s putting out monitors, arranging group travel for those who are at risk or who can’t make it to the polling stations etc etc.

Really sounds like a group who can’t get their shit together.

Luteo Guenreira

Rich

As someone who lives in this city, I will again tell you that you are wrong about everyone leaving. Journalistic spin you’ve fallen for I’m afraid.

Guns of SF

Yes it mostly happens by Republicans. Dems have watch dogs groups out there….

Marc

Rich

“The exodus in London isn’t happening yet, which isn’t what the remainers told us.”

You’re now just talking bollocks. The remainers argument was that the City of London (ie the financial services industry) would see tens for thousands of jobs leave. It’s seen a few thousand jobs go but London as a city is still rammed.

Rich
Marc

SF

I need you to promise to not get offended but you need to man up a bit.

Rich

I haven’t said people ate fleeing London yet….

Learn to read….

Try following some trends

Luteo Guenreira

“Really sounds like a group who can’t get their shit together”

The democrats here really are pretty incompetent, has to be said. But republicans are far, far more malicious in their efforts though.

Whether you want the incompetent bunch or the malicious bunch, guess that’s up to you. Might as well choose between a turd sandwich and a douche bag.

Luteo Guenreira

Rich you learn to read lol I said I live in Los Angeles right now.

Guns of SF

Marc, no offense taken, not sure what I would take offense about?

Marc

SF

Some are more sensitive than you – maybe a little too sensitive!

Luteo Guenreira

I say you fell for journalistic spin and you provide those spun articles as proof? Well you got me.

Marc

Luteo

Just to point out I’m neutral on this. I would like the US as the largest economy in the world and a long standing ally of the UK to get it’s shit together for everyone’s sake but we’ll see!

Rich

Pedro

There’s no proof they are coming back either….

And the exodus in LA is real, just look for the list of businesses that are running.

Guns of SF

So Marc is a centrist?

Rich

Pedro if there’s an oversupply of luxury apartments?

Then take that as there’s no longer a demand, because nobody with any money, wants to live in a cess pit of crime and homelessness.

The exodus is happening.

You have an oversupply of luxury housing, and an under supply of rich people who are willing to take them off the market

Marc

SF

Actually truth be told on most things yes – it just seems wanting the death penalty for lefty scum is seen as making you far right.

I really don’t know whats wrong with the world.

Guns of SF

Thank God for Antifa Marc lol

Marc

I’ll bet anyone a cold beer on a warm sunny day that the population of California is either the same or more than the current numbers in 5 or 10 years.

Marc

SF

It’s shocking but I’ve been criticised for suggesting that carpet bombing Liverpool and Manchester is a reasonable and sensible way to reduce the COVID outbreak in the North.

Luteo Guenreira

“ And the exodus in LA is real, just look for the list of businesses that are running.”

You mean during a pandemic where the state’s harsher mandates have made it more difficult to operate compared to other places? Okay. And yes of course the taxes here are higher.

This has nothing to with your claim that people are running from the city due to crime and danger though.

Rich

Pedro You have to ask why it’s so expensive? Why crime rates are soaring? Why homelessness is soaring? 1. The city is over populated, you have an oversupply of people, and an under supply of housing, and the state itself is virtually bankrupt. 2. Because you have some of the highest rates in the country, the bigger the government, the smaller the citizen, there needs to be money in the economy, for the economy to function, and because rates and housing is so expensive, due to demand, living conditions have consistently decreased. 3. Homelessness has soared, because LA city council… Read more »

Marc

Pedro

“Marc… you are right.”

You’ve said twice now in 24 odd hours.

Rich

Pedro, you’re point about prices is nil and void, London property market is still going strong, and prices are just as expensive.

The difference being property rates.

Council tax and rates are much lower in London.

This is the problem with socialism which needs higher tax revenue to support bigger government, is that eventually you run out of other people’s money.

The top 1% in NYC pay $107,000 for every €545 the rest pay, if they leave? You’re talking Armageddon

And trust me, it’s happening

Luteo Guenreira

Pedro

Yeah LA and NY are about as good as it gets, aside from London obviously. Lived in NY/NJ for a couple years in my 20s for work. The pace is insane compared to LA,
NY is the Premier League of the US. 3am and guys are like “where are we going next?” Seriously hard to find better food or culture in the US though. LA Miami Chicago Seattle SF fight it out for the other top spots.

raptora

“It absolutely does my head in that they’ve got rid of him just to save money. How many other clubs, ones in the lower leagues who are really struggling, have done that? Even if they bring him back when fans are allowed back in the stadium, it’s a disgrace.” Former Arsenal winger Merson added: “They’ve just signed Thomas Partey for £45m. If he’s on £150,000-a-week, are you telling me they couldn’t have offered £149,000 and given the rest to the dinosaur? “The club are putting money above the fans, above the things that are important. I can’t catch my breath… Read more »

Rich

When the money leaves, and nobody can sell their properties? You’ll again have negative equity within the housing market, at which point, many will simply see bankruptcy as the easiest way out. At which point you’ll be looking at another banking crisis, and housing crash. Worryingly the Tories are talking about going back to cheap zero deposit mortgages, which might solve the problem of demand in the immediate, but we’ve all been here before, and we know that all bubbles burst, and when that bubble bursts, it won’t be pretty. Also the reason house prices have risen recently, is because… Read more »

Rich

Pedro I’m from South Wales originally, I’ve lived in London when I was in my early twenties I’ve lived in Melbourne for 12 months, Sydney for 11 years, and I’m currently back in South Wales for a bit, as Dad hasn’t been too well.

Ken

Classic stuff. A man living in South Wales knows more about the state of America than a man living in America.

Marc

” I’ve lived in London when I was in my early twenties”

Stupid fucking comment – London is a big place with a population of over 8 million. It’s almost twice the level of Ireland but if someone said I’ve lived in Ireland so I know everything about it they’d be called a moron – Dublin and some really rural place in Southern Ireland are completely different things.

Rich

Pedro NYC is run by a socialist mayor, who’s moved homeless people into affluent areas, and released prisoners from their sentences earlier than they should have been, and as a result, crime is spiking, and you’re in denial about it. People aren’t abandoning London, yet…. I never said they were, I said I think they will down the line, if they don’t get hold of crime and the gang culture, Big business are currently fleeing LA though, this is a fact You think people are coming back to NYC after COVID, the property market suggests otherwise, and if they don’t… Read more »

Rich

Marc

I’m a welder fabricator by trade, so by “I worked in London in my early twenties”

I wasn’t in one place, I also worked up North, and down in Poole as well, but mainly across London

Marc

Rich

You seem to have worked all over the place – do they kick you out or do you leave by choice!

Rich

No Marc, when one jobs finishes, another starts, for example when you finish working on an Asda in Sutton, you then get moved to another job in Fitzrovia, then Scunthorpe, which was an experience, Whitley Bay, which was fantastic and so on…

Dissenter

Rich
I don’t know what passes as truth in South Wales but I bet my wheaten terrier knows about what passes as truth in America than all the yammering you’re doing here.
NYC is run by a socialist?
I bet De Blasio is more centrist that most politicians you have in Wales.
I mean you live in a country where a minimum wage is basic policy, family leave is standard and a national health service if a given. An American politician that advocates for those positions is ….”a socialist.
Most of the billionaire class in America are democrats.

Rich

There’s no need to keep building blocks of flats or supermarkets, once you’ve completed those jobs.

Working all over the country is a young mans game, I’m happy in sunny Freshwater Australia now, been living on a Sydney’s Northern beaches for 11 out of the last 12 years
It’s paradise on Earth

Rich

De Blasio is a well known Marxist, who regularly quotes Karl Marx and Lenin, and has supported most of the radical Marxist governments across central and South America.
But never let the truth get in the way of a good story

Dissenter

“De Blasio is a well known Marxist, who regularly quotes Karl Marx and Lenin, and has supported most of the radical Marxist governments across central and South America.
But never let the truth get in the way of a good story”

Good Jaysus!
Di Blasio is no more leftist that Ken Livingstone who was fairly competent mayor of London.
You’re hooked on these right wing alternate reality conspiracy theory news feeds.

Tom

Pedro, Ok but what about the New York elites running the pedo rings for affluent politicians thing. And don’t try to deny it because you know it’s true.

Tom

42 % America’s cancer patients lose their lives savings within two years of treatment.
Some fucking socialism.

Luteo Guenreira

Sadly I’m pretty sure the pedo rings are a bipartisan effort. As for Rich, not sure you can blame him. There are literally millions of people that actually live in America and believe the same nonsense he does. This is a global media problem. People smarter than the average consumer are constantly figuring ways to get you addicted to the content that’s being pumped out. Your news is not news, it’s content tailor-made to help reinforce the things you already want to believe about yourself and the world. This is not a conspiracy, it’s the fucking user agreement you click… Read more »

Dissenter

One month supply of Lantus Insulin in Niagara Falls, NY USA is $1000
One month supply of Lantus Insulin in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada os $100

Any US politician that tries to address that imbalance is s “socialist, per Rich.
Add paid family leave and that politician is a communist
Add minimum wage …. and that politician eats little children for breakfast

Pedro

Luteo, so true,

Normal smart people think covid is a democrat conspiracy and my parents think I live in a Tehran like city.

Quite incredible how people have served up their curiosity to the algorithm.

I didn’t think people would die for these beliefs, but here we are, there are still Trump fans despite the death and carnage.

Guns of SF

Dissenter that was a good one!

CaliGooner

Hey Rich stay in Australia because you don’t know what the fuck you are talking about. I just sold my house in LA and it took a week. Immigration is and always has been a red herring. Immigration is good. Rich people not paying taxes and blaming immigration is bad.

Guns of SF

Rich you remove immigrant labor and its impact on the economy and ill show you an ecomony that is crashing.

Blaming immigrants is the oldest tactic and one of the most dangerous out there. When things do not go well, blame the immigrants, blame them for all the woes.

Your smarter than this…. come on

Moray

Most economies are comprised to around 70% Of SMEs. It’s SMEs who are typically now only a few months from collapse. With Europe seemingly unable to control their populations and travel, Covid is not going to be under control any time soon. This means in 2021 we will see the collapse of these businesses at scale. Particularly since governments no longer have defensive measures available to them and interest rates are already effectively at zero. Plus, the growth since 2008 has been largely due to QE. You can forget your Super rich, the share prices and The condos running empty.… Read more »

Moray

“ Normal smart people think covid is a democrat conspiracy and my parents think I live in a Tehran like city”

By definition then they are not smart people, Pedders.

DivineSherlock

Didnt anybody see the absolute shocker of a documentary named The Social Dilemma ? Its on Netflix . Pedro do check that out. Internet was supposed to be free tool accessible for anyone who wanted to educate themselves , now its just emboldening bullshit conspiracy theories like flat earth and anti vaxx . God help the right wingers.

Guns of SF

anyone see Un nai lately? maybe on vacay?

Aussie+Gooner

Emirates

“There are plenty of top class Centre Backs who have played down the years in similar fashion either in lower English Leagues or elsewhere.
Van Dijk played in a lower league until the age of 24 and so did I believe Maguire.”

True, but did they cost 27m as 18/19 year olds? Herein lies the problem for a ‘cash strapped’ club.

Emiratesstroller

Aussie + Gooner There are plenty of footballers who cost significantly more than £27 million who are not playing for the club who spent the money. I accept that we have probably overpaid for this player, but would also remind you that there were a number of other clubs in the market competing for his signature at the time. Let’s judge him when he reaches 21 and not now. Varane was also considered one of the best young CBs when he joined Real Madrid. It took a long time to establish himself as a regular first team player. Arsenal are… Read more »

China1

£15 for a single match on tv is a fucking disgrace. This needs to go so hard into the bin. Unreal price tag. The average fan will hopefully dodge this like the plague because it’s honestly an appalling price point.

£5 would’ve been expensive for a match. It’s just a 90 min stream ffs.

How much does it cost to stream a movie? I don’t know but it ain’t £15. Absolute jokers

Meanwhile in China I will be (legitimately) paying for the same streams for about £1 a game. Go figure.

Sanmi

I just read Pedro berating someone for wanting Trump to win. This is why trump supporters don’t talk to polls and you get a skewed poll. Pedro, tell me why you think Trump is the worst president. By the way, I guarantee you that Trump will win and it won’t be close. We can wager £50 if you are up for it. I’m voting him and I’m black from Nigeria. The media painted him worse than he actually is. How they can call Trump a racist and he did prison reform meanwhile they are rooting for the man that created… Read more »

Sanmi

COVID 19 isn’t a conspiracy. But the response by some authority has sinister motives. Lockdown was never necessary, after 2 weeks ( time to understand the virus) . The lockdowns became political, just like global warming. It was no longer about the science, it was about making your political opponents look bad. Democrats want to keep it shut down so the economy never recovers in time.

TR7

Pedro I don’t have any direct stake in the US elections directly but I think Trump did great on the economy and job front before Chinese virus decimated the world economy. His peace effort in middle east deserves a Nobel Peace prize but I know the left liberals will ensure he never gets one. They gave it to Obama who killed more people in the world than many of his predecessors and scored a fat zero in resolving any big issue in the world. Trump as he promised did not drag the US in to any new war. He is… Read more »

Freddie Ljungberg

The politics at least exposes the crazies, no surprise who they are though. About Saliba, I don’t think he’s physically not ready, he’s built like a tank and bullied attackers in ligue 1 for fun. I think it’s a combination of not getting as much game time as we hoped last season because of injuries and covid, about 20 less than optimal so he needs games, and experience,and the fact that his mom died, professional or not it doesn’t matter, he’s still 19 years old and putting him in the spotlight with our partially retarded fanbase could break him. .… Read more »

Freddie Ljungberg

https://www.teamtalk.com/news/euro-transfer-gossip-edu-szoboszlai-january-deal-arsenal-leeds-e15m-campana-bid

Also, this makes me happy, higher ceiling than the vowel man from Lyon and less than half the cost. Would give us much needed goals and assist from that Cam position. Really hope it’s true. Probably be a pre contract deal for the summer if it happens.

Emiratesstroller

Pedro New York and London are not very different. Both cities have extremes of wealth and poverty. London had until recent times more billionaires living there than any city in western world. Yet London is fundamentally a socialist voting city and that applies to many of the wealthiest class. I don’t want to go into much detail but if you live and own property in most upmarket districts in north london whether it is Hampstead, Highgate or Muswell Hill the probability is that you are a millionaire and yet the vast majority are either champagne or hard left socialists. Interestingly… Read more »

Bertie Mee

Trump is a loathsome moron whose lack of personal consciousness, malignant narcissism , ego and inability to express himself in anything other than the most basic and banal terms have given an image of America to the world that is harmful and inaccurate. Nate James calls him ‘ The Shakespeare of Shit’ because he expresses himself so crudely and in such a limited way. He is utterly devoid of humour, charm or self -critical assessment and his presence in the White House is a stain on America. His handling of Covid. has been to see it as an election issue… Read more »

Sid

I doubt that one in 10 British people has any idea of what the -Corporation of the City of London- is and how it works.

The Dragons (DF-26) are growing by the day, Kings landing will burn and the citizens are clueless.

Tony

Guns “anyone see Un nai lately? maybe on vacay?” Most likely not on vacay as he normally posts from his travel locations. If his not in the bin, he’s probably been arrested for inciting racist violence. I wondered if he was Red Army as the syntax was similar to Don’s waffle.After all he’s probably had the most monikers on LG. Pedro Some good posts recently. LA was probably the best city in the US in the 70s & 80s with NYC running a close 2nd. Berlin, Madrid, Amsterdam and Paris were also vibrantly wild (in a good way) back in… Read more »

Northbanker

Freddie

Would be fantastic if we can sign Szobozlai this Jan. I wonder who we have to sell to achieve that though. Selling atop player to get another doesn’t take us that much further

The problem is our dross is seen by everyone else as exactly that

Sid

Labour & Tory, Dems & Republican is a distraction from the bigger picture.

Im telling you for free!

Luteo Guenreira

The ones entrenched in either side who are convinced that either democracy or conservatism will end in some calamitous way when Trump or Biden wins, seriously have a word with yourselves. The world always goes on. Wherever you may stand, if you think that one result is going to affect your life across the globe to that degree, you’ve fallen hook line and sinker for the fear mongering that’s being spread from all sides. There’s no reason to get scared like all your beliefs are at stake. They’re not. Having different perspectives taking turns leading the country is exactly what… Read more »

Sid

Cities are filthy places for zombies

Useroz

Saliba. If Arteta or whoever’s concern is physicality and his robustness, it further begs the question why subject Saliba to the wilderness of the Championship where people use words such as ruthless, rough, physical ,highly competitive, etc.

Wouldn’t Saliba be likely to get hurt ,again , as supposedly he’s a kid and his physique at 6’4” isn’t there?

This isn’t about development of English football if ww steer towards physical. Wouldn’t prescribed gym work by experts at the club ,and time, would help even if Arteta would supposedly be occupied and focused on results?