Southampton Rumours Archive July 13 2015

13 Jul 2015 08:12:37
Just seen the rumour regarding Celtics Virgil Van dyjk
I hope this is true as he. Would be a massive signing

13 Jul 2015 08:49:08
I'm sure one of the Ed's said he had been looked at but nothing had yet to materialise in terms of serious interest from us. Perhaps we have since placed a bid, as Les Reed said we had placed 2 or 3 bids for players in his interview with Adam Blackmore on Friday.

13 Jul 2015 09:44:06
Good morning people old misery guts here . Well here I go again concerning Van Dijk this time the Celtic centre half . I have been watching him quite a lot since we showed interest( allegedly ) last summer . I do not dispute he has his strengths in size and physical presence and he is reasonably quick across the ground and quite skilful for a centre back. The down side to me is his Roy of the Rovers approach to some games where he seems to forget being a CB and turns himself in to an AM which can leave you a bit exposed at the back . I would hope if we do purchase him that RoKo would sit him down and thrash it out with him what his role for the club would be . If we bought him that's great but I would also ( when fit ) get Ron Vlaar in as well as he is a brick wall defender that we will need if Van Dijk gets carried away on his up field excursions . Ron Vlaar has not been fit and once his knee is sorted ( not serious op and quick recovery ) he will be back to being a great player . He is a free agent and only 30 and would do us very nicely for the next couple of years in my opinion . Now this is my opinion which I know is probably on my past record on here not going to be agreed with by many but that is how I see it and I thought this was a banter site for opinions . It seems to me that there are some people that post on here who think they are always right which is great if that's the way they feel but have they ever thought just for one second that they may possibly be wrong? Anyway I love this site and long may it continue.

13 Jul 2015 10:12:37
Believe it or not I sort of agree with you here Chris! Vlaar on a free could be a shrewd signing and van dijk is young and has the makings of a potentially top defender. He probably goes on a Messi in the Scottish league since its so pants he probably feels like he has a genuine chance of scoring without too much risk involved! Lol. Be interesting to see exactly what sort of role koeman has in mind for gardos, or whether he might sign 2 and get rid of the big romanian?.

13 Jul 2015 10:17:46
A welcomed opinion as always Chris, and if that's Van Dijk's only fault in your eyes then sign him up immediately! You've made him sound like one Dutch Legend - Ronald Koeman.

13 Jul 2015 10:36:02
I agree with you Chris. I would like to see Van Dijk brought in. Yes he's got his faults but he's quite young and still learning and with Fonte and Ron Vlaar there I'm sure that he could turn into a top class CB. Vlaar was the best defender on show at the last World Cup and you don't suddenly become a bad player so if his operation is minor and he can get himself fit I'd have no worries about signing him on a free.

13 Jul 2015 10:36:47
I don't think there will ever be another RK and don't forget he played for Barca so I don't think there is any comparison there but who knows?!!

13 Jul 2015 10:49:57
I agree with chrisdownj this time especially re Vlaar, plagued with injury last season but there's no denying he's a quality defender, you don't play in a World Cup semi final and be voted one of the tournaments best players if you're rubbish and if Fonte is out for any amount of time his experience could be invaluable

Can't say I've seen much of van dijk but a Celtic supporting mate of mine has said about his adventures down the pitch and leaving them wide open at the back, if he's cheap get him but probably better players around if he's going to cost more than 10 million

13 Jul 2015 12:32:42
Why does everyone keep going on about Vlaar's performances at the world cup. If Vlaar has been the top level defender that everyone is making him out to be then why hasn't he been snapped up by a top club during his peak years?
Too old, too slow and too injured. Had a lucky world cup over a year ago but apart from that he is average.
You couldn't ask for a better person than RK to bring out the best in Van Dijk, and his best years are very much coming up soon.

13 Jul 2015 13:00:36
I really do question some fans football knowledge, especially some people on here who seem to make out that reserve players are world class.


A) You really think we will get Ron Vlaar? He isn't the type of player we go for. Too old and would probably demand a large amount of money for a player we would use as backup. We take personality into account as a major factor as well, for all we know he has an ego-problem and would not gel with the squad.

B) As cyprusssaint says, if he is so good, why has no one else snapped him up? The papers have only linked us to him as we need a CB and he is Dutch. Most players we are strongly linked with in the papers we never sign. AKA Soares (until it was done).

C) You don't remember the thrashing we gave Villa at home? Vlaar was at fault for some of them. He isn't that good. Who cares about the World Cup, a lot can happen in a year.


Genuinely, it would be awful if we signed Vlaar. Would definitely be a backwards step and I don't think it will ever happen, again it is papertalk. He would demand too much money. He is made for a team that is the lower half of the table, like sunderland of west brom.

13 Jul 2015 16:05:31
If Saints sign Van Dijk from Celtic, Vlaar would be an excellent back up being a free transfer.
I am concerned with 4 out of the 6 defensive system missing (Forster - injured, Bertrand - injured, Clyne - Sold to Liverpool, Alderweireld - Sold to Spurs).
RK will have to rebuild that even though he probably knew Clyne and Toby would go, but it is something he will have to overcome.
But being a defender himself he will find the right candidates utilising Fonte as the spine factor of the defensive team.
Jordy Clasie would be an ideal replacement for the loss of Schneiderlin, but another holding midfield signing would be good too.
Harrison Reed lacks discipline at present, but to say he could be world class is a different story altogether, if he turns out to be half as good as a Paul Scholes, Liverpool would have a great player lolol

13 Jul 2015 17:49:23
"its all gone quiet about vvd 😉" - esso14, a week ago?

13 Jul 2015 18:37:47
really do question some fans football knowledge, especially some people on here who seem to make out that a regular international player (for a team ranked 5th in the world) are rubbish


A) You really think we will get Ron Vlaar? Maybe not but you can't say he isn't the type of player we go for. Yes, we usually go for younger players but as Boruc, Stekelenburg and Pelle show, if we need experience in a position, we'll go out and get it. 30 is relatively young for a centre back, age wouldn't be an issue. We take personality into account as a major factor as well

13 Jul 2015 19:22:32
I see half my post got cut off again aha