Where Does Van Dijk Rate as a Celtic Player?

As the title says, one of the most talented players I’ve seen for us. 115 games over 2 years (and an extra 6 weeks or so)

Where would you rate him? His talent is up there with the best, but the short lived nature of his time here (and tbh the teams he played in which weren’t the best in Europe) makes you think of him as something like a very short lived McStay. Just a guy head and shoulders above his teammates.

I still have Mjallby as the best defender I’ve seen for us but I’ve 6 years of memories to pick for him.

In my head I just tend to think of him as I did Di Canio, Pierre and Cadete.

 

Hes the best defender I've seen for us, including Mjallby. He just made it look so * easy. Our best since Larsson and it's not close for me

 

Would have loved him in the Invincibles team.

Best defender I've ever seen at Celtic.

I'm 29.

 

Aye, I get that. Ability wise he was head and shoulders above everybody. Similar to Viduka when Larsson broke his leg. Think it’s just the short lived nature of his stay I tend to think of him seperately than than the likes of Mjallby who was here for a lot longer and participated in O’Neill’s Treble, the Seville run etc.

Van Dijk’s time is short on iconic moments like that.

 

I would say Virgil is the best I can remember, as already said it was the sheer effortless nature of his ability that was breathtaking. Was so obviously world class.

Mjallby wasn't too shabby either though.

Edit: Sorry, just realised you're talking about CB's only.

 

My Granda said he's the most complete CB he's seen play for us and he's been following Celtic since 1946.

He says he just shades it ahead of Paul Elliott (before my time so not sure if he's talking pish but he normally talks sense)

 

Aye you're right. It was an underwhelming period in terms of Europe and the huns were still rising up out their crypt. Wanyama and Moussa probably have more lasting legacies

 

In terms of ability he’s the best centre back I’ve seen play for us.

 

Was just about to say Elliott was immense. But he was a sheer physical presence - more like a Bobo type player.
Again he only spent a short time here.

Marc Rieper was brilliant in his short lived spell with us. Don’t think he was or would have been as good as Van Dijk and Elliott certainly didn’t have a great career after leaving us.


If we had got 4 or 5 years out of Van Dijk we would have him in the same bracket as Larsson and Lubo imo.

 

Reiper was * unreal then he lost a toe or something did he not?

 

Best defender I've seen play for us, easily.

 

Elliot was some player and looked effortless at times like VVD. Not at Virgil's level for me though. Actually felt a bit sorry for Elliot the same as I did for Mcstay in that side. Were tough times.

 

Seen some right horrendous CB's in my time.

In chronological order, the Best I can remember seeing (not so much on the flesh, bit moreso highlights) was Paul Elliot, Stubbs, Rieper, Valgaeren, Mjallby, Balde, Varga, McManus then Van Dijk.

Out of all those, the ones that gave us the best service and did the best for CELTIC are Stubbs, Rieper, Valgaeren, Mjallby, Balde.

Out of all them the best three defenders were Elliot, Mjallby and Van Dijk.

Obviously the best footballer out of the lot of them is van Dijk by a country mile, but in terms of Celtic, he was never the best, mostly because of the likes of the opposition he was up against etc, but that certainly doesn't detract away from the clearly obvious qualities we could all see.

My two favourite CB's are McNeill (the best) and I just personally loved big Bobo.

 

Aye I think it was classed as a toe injury but sure I heard he had his big toe taken off - fine for walking with a prosthetic but no chance of a football career.
We got one season out of the guy. Such a shame.

 

Best service and best for Celtic out of your list up there is by far McManus for me. Guy got us through the CL group stages twice. Goal against Milan, league defining winners against Hearts, was so much bigger than his actual ability for us...

 

Best ability wise for me.

 

Including the likes of McNeill there?

 

Loved the big man, really did.

Still remember his debut running out on the pitch - actually thought he was big Varga after a haircut!

Made me proud when he was made captain, shame that when I think of McManus, usually the first thing that pops into mind there or thereabouts is that big * Cousin absolutely roasting him and Heid at CP.

Still gives me nightmares!

 

Still makes me angry everycunt and there dug knew the way to bully them at that time, knew they’d score if you hit the penalty spot with a cross/long ball, Charlie Mulgrew finding Zander Diamond’s napper killing us, Cousin bullying us and we had Bobo * Balde sitting in the stands.

Most obvious solution that was ignored. * shocking management.

 

Roy Aitken has to be in with a shout as one of our best ever.
He was quite slow accelerating and it meant his recovery was often poor if he got caught out or a team mate nearby made a mistake so would make him seem worse than he was - like he was chasing the game if you will.
His reading of the game, marking and aerial ability were excellent.
Like a Scottish Baresi