There are some who say that Virgil Van Dijk was the signing of the season, some disagree and say he is the best signing of the last 10 years.

There were only two real candidates for player of the year at St Mary's this season, one was Shane Long and the other was of course Virgil Van Dijk.

The Dutchman was not only Mr Consistency throughout the year, but he was usually a worst very good and at best outstanding in 90% of the games he played.

In many respects he had it all, good in the air, reads the game well, tackles well, but Toby Alderweireld could do all that, but I think Van Dijk is better than Alderweireld in that he has a little bit more in his locker, he can pick a pass and he has an ability to carry the ball forward and turn defence into attack.

This in my book gives him the edge over the Belgium international and this is not just sour grapes.

Van Dijk brought stability to the Saints defence at a time when it was in disarray, in the early games of the season we were struggling, understandable given that Jose Fonte was the only true Premier League experienced player in the back five of defence and keeper, but Virgil's arrival, not from Tracey Island in Thunderbid 2, but on FlyBe from Glasgow airport was a piece in the jigsaw that kick started our season.

If we had not had to wait for his transfer till Celtic were out of the Champions League then perhaps those four League games he was not at St Mary's for that yielded only 5 points, might have given us a few more that could have seen us in the Champions League (The first time I have had to write that on here lol)

But what he did bring was that confidence to the defence that was missing and when Fraser Forster returned we were back to being solid at the back and it was no co incidence that Saints were the second best team in the Premier league in the second half of the season, all the plaudits were going to Leicester (quite rightly so) and to Spurs, but the truth was it was Saints who were quietly getting on with the job and a lot of that was down to Virgil.

The best news though was that he too enjoyed his season and liked what he saw, it would have been easy to stay under his old contract knowing that should he repeat this season again he will have the pick of the top clubs, but he chose to sign a long term deal and that is good for both him and for Saints who also showed Ronald Koeman they are serious about moving forward.

So for Virgil Van Dijk it is a solid 9/10, a player who genuinely could be considered one of the club's best signings in years to come.

Watch what Nick, Clive and Freddie Have To Say About Virgil Van Dijk By Clicking The Link Below.

Photo: Action Images

BUCK added 10:41 - May 27 He is top quality. Shame we didn't have toby as well. Fonte is getting on a bit now and imagine having vvd and toby in defense. We'd be solid as a rock for years to come
2

IWOZTHERE added 11:00 - May 27 He's class and so comfortable on the ball when he strides out of defence.
1

bstokesaint added 12:32 - May 27 He's my favourite defensive signing since Michael Svensson. I agree he's better than Toby. For me that's mainly because of his aerial ability and his threat to goal. I wouldn't swap him now if the opportunity came up. He's a likeable guy too, so chuffed that he signed a new long term deal.
1

aceofthebase added 17:56 - May 27 Top player and I think that if he played as a centre forward he would be a top ace goalscorer. Quality and consistant and holds the defence together alongside jose.
0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Southampton Polls