Player Review
90 - SIF
The SIF Virgil Van Dijk is perhaps the best defender I have used this Fifa. I got him as an untradeable from the Black Friday TOTW upgrade pack. Because of that i cannot speak to his value for coins. However he has been a staple in my team since he joined my club. He currently plays on 8 chem on my team, with futmas Van Aanholt and base Umtiti next to him. I plan on buying Lloris once i have enough coins. Lala and Kondogbia are the only cards i have purchased on my team, and Navas is the best keeper i have in terms of chemistry rn.
I usually run a 4-2-3-1 in game with Prime Keane and Base Kondogbia as my CDMs. I run either drop back or pressure on heavy touch as my defensive tactics. In both cases Virgil is smart enough to step up and make challenges on the attacking player before they can gain full control. 95% of the time he is able to cleanly win the challenge and make a pass to end the opposition's attack. I attribute the 5% of failure as user error because im pretty trash at the game. I also think you should have a Med/High paired next to him, not because his work rates negatively effect him, but because if he does step up its nice to have a man behind him: just as a precaution in the rare event he doesn't win the challenge.
In the attacking third this card is deadly from corners. Although I am still learning and perfecting my corners anything that gets to him is going on target and with pace. I'd say 30-50% of his offensive headers end up as a goal-line clearance or an amazing save by the opponent's keeper.
This card is fantastic as a towering defender who rarely has to make extended plays with the ball at his feet. If you are on a budget this card probably isnt for you. I think the 400K coins would be better spent on a Kante or Pogba. But I still recommend this card 10/10, if you need a stop gap until you can afford one of the icon CBs this is your man. You may even decide he is a more efficient option that splurging on an icon defender.
Wins almost everything in the air, especially in the defensive third of the field.
Has fantastic instincts and almost never make a bad choice to step up and disrupt and attack.
Virgil is an amazing target on corners because of his height.
Neutralizes opponents corners. Anyone he marks never wins a header from a corner.
Does not have the blistering pace of Varane, but is more than capable of closing during a counter attack.
I'm not sure how his shot is as i never have the chance to take shots from corners (he is always in the box).
His passing and dribbling could be better but are more than sufficient for the role he plays.