VDV was smart in terms of his use of the ball but he wasn’t flexible at all IMO. No matter where you put him on the pitch, he was going to do the same things no matter what, he was was just so damn good at it.
I was still in my phase of “understanding” the game in Sheringham’s and Klinsmann’s time, I knew they were great but I didn’t know how.
If I was to pick more defensive players, I’d go for Alderweireld, Corluka or naybet over Judas. Not that he didn’t have awesome defensive instincts, but he was such a physical beast, that he rarely had to “outsmart” anyone.