The Court of Arbitrary Arbitration - Random Facts, Thoughts, Etc.

Not sure where else to put this.

It's just been announced that United and Real will meet at Levi's Stadium on July 23. Sadly, kickoff will be at 2pm (no doubt to accommodate TV viewers on the east coast and Europe), meaning it's going to be hotter than Hades during the game.

http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/03/21/real-madrid-manchester-united-to-face-off-at-levis-stadium/

 

The list of Top 10 CBs in the game currently (according to Gab Marcotti):

1) Leonardo Bonucci
2) Jerome Boateng
3) Kostas Manolas
4) Sergio Ramos
5) Diego Godin
6) Toby Aldeweireld
7) Marquinhos
8) Gerard Piqué
9) Thiago Silva
10) Giorgio Chiellini

No real arguments on the contents of this list (the number of quality CBs in the game right now is pretty low). Where the players are ranked is interesting though: haven't seen enough of Manolas, but kind of surprised to see him all the way up to 3. Ramos is good, especially on the offensive end, but I'd have Godin and Aldeweireld (very happy to see him make the list btw as the Prem best CB by miles right now) ahead of him.
But really, if Manolas is really that good, United ought to move heaven and earth to get him. Teso, you could tell us more about him I suppose...

 

But seriously, if anybody has got Gob Marcotti's number give him a bell and ask him where he'd place Virgil van Dijk

 

Van Dijk has been pretty good recently, but there's no way he cracks that list. There are other CBs I'd rank ahead of him anyway, who haven't made the list.
I can easily think of 2 right on top of my head. But because of the paucity in that position at the moment, he might well make the top 20.

 

Name names, Varane and who ?

Virgil van Dijk > Toby Aldeweireld

 

Stupid list.

Ramos isn't a top 5 CB. Neither is Toby a top 10 CB. Where is Varane? Pepe though insane is still better than a couple CBs listed.

 

Aldeweireld has quietly been one of the best CBs in the game, in the past 2-3 seasons. There's no question he's been the best one in the Prem and is clearly better than Van Dijk.
As far as other CBs that could be mentioned outside of Varane (but he has stalled in terms of real progression tbh), there is Koulibaly or Laporte. Pepe is another who can be mentioned, but he's definitely not a lock anymore to be top 10. As I said, I really don't have a problem with the list itself, but more with how some players are classified/ranked in it...

 

Clearly !?

 

he is

 

Looking at it logically, Aldeweireld has had 3 seasons now performing at the highest level, where he consistently was the best CB in the league. Comparatively, Van Dijk has had only one such season so far (this season has been lost to injury for the most part unfortunately).
I have no problem recognizing that Van Dijk has come a long way in a short period of time, yet Aldeweireld is clearly the superior option at this time.

 

Isn't

 

We'll have to agree to disagree then, but one is dominant in the air in both boxes, comfortable playing left of a two, a goalscorer, and importantly a baller, and the other is Belgian.

 

So be it then, but for the record, all the characteristics you're just lauding Van Dijk for, they absolutely apply to Aldeweireld.
I shudder at the thought of who think was the best CB was in the Prem in the 2013/14 and 2014/15 seasons then if it wasn't Aldeweireld. And btw before Aldeweireld, another Belgian was arguably the best Cb in the league (despite being a City boy)...

 

Did all the Hummels butt lickers come out of hiding yet? Lol...No? That's a shame.

 

Hummels's play these days is very much dependent of who he is partnered with. As such, that no longer makes him a top, top CB in the game. Pair him with the right partner however (like Boateng for instance) and he's still better than most CBs in the game...

 

PFA Premier League team of the Year
2013/14 - Cahill and Kompany
2014/15 - Cahill and Terry

 

Which is why awards are an irrelevance.

 

I didn't realize Toby was only making 50k/week. He's a class CB who deserves to earn at least the 100k/week he's asking.

Not sure about the claim that he's the best in the league, but he's been outstanding for Spurs.

 

Yet people here are happy for the likes of Lingard to demand triple that...

 

That only means so much to me to be perfectly honest. And I'll no issue conceding that JT had a great year in 14/15, especially when he was supposed to be finished.
My point remains however: for my money, Aldeweireld be it in 13/14 with Soton and the subsequent 2 seasons (and this one so far), he's been very near the top or simply has been the best CB in the Prem...

 

He's asking for 150k???

And, who on here is happy with that??

 

A) The wage structure between United and Spurs is not even remotely the same and thus can not, nor should not be compared...
B) who says he's asking for 150k/wk? I don't believe some regulars even make that much...

 

The timing of the voting is stupid(in January, so it basically covers two seasons), but aren't the views of those that actually play the game at the highest level important, or is it only the fans that know what they're talking about ?

 

The timing of the vote, as mentioned, is precisely why this award is not always a correct representation of which player(s) were actually the better ones for a specific season. Consistent erfrmance for the whole season matters, but it's not out of bounds in the least to suggest that the run in really shows who the top performers are, since the pressure one way or another is seriously heightened.