Ex-PL player says Nemanja Vidic is 'nowhere near' Virgil van Dijk

One former Premier League forward says Manchester United legend Nemanja Vidic is 'nowhere near' the level Virgil van Dijk. He once 'tore apart' Vidic.

The debate over the greatest centre-back of the Premier League era continues to heat up as Virgil van Dijk adds more to his CV. The Dutchman is comfortable the best of his era - but if he the best we've seen?

That's typically a debate on Twitter, with Van Dijk put up against the greats of past era. One that's typically considered a rival for the title is Manchester United legend Nemanja Vidic.

But during the daily debate on Thursday, a former Premier League forward decided to weigh in with his own take. That take being that Vidic is 'nowhere near' the likes of Van Dijk.

Gary Taylor-Fletcher, who played one season at the top level for Blackpool, scoring six goals, made his point emphatically. He, after all, played against Vidic with much success.

"I tore him apart twice for Blackpool in 2010/11 season," he wrote on Twitter. "He was nowhere near levels of [Rio] Ferdinand, [John] Terry & VVD.

"He was the same level as [Martin] Skrtel. Solid good player. Not elite."

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It's pretty crazy to see the response to Taylor-Fletcher's post. People criticise him for weighing in because he's 'only' played the one season of elite-level football as if that isn't absolutely lightyears ahead of the others talking.

Of course, Liverpool fans know full well that Vidic wasn't on the level of Van Dijk. The argument actually came on the 15-year anniversary of Fernando Torres running rings around the Serbian in a 4-1 win at Old Trafford. Vidic would be sent off in that one in a hopeless display.

So Taylor-Fletcher certainly has our support on this one, in other words. Vidic was never on Van Dijk's level but that's not a criticism.

Very, very few have been.