In praise of Skrtel

[DannyMan2006]

Couple of faults last night, I thought. He let one ball bounce over his head and he was rash in the tackle once or twice; committing and selling himself.

That said I agree with the sentiment of the thread - a beast of a centre-half. I would love to see what sort of understanding he could develop with Agger.

Agreed.

They both need to add communication to their game, Carra is the over riding leader of the centre backs we need one or ideally both to be able to organise and lead like how Carra does.

Again, agreed. Carra has the experience and is still our best centre back by an absoloute mile.

[kingfunk]

Have been very impressed with him. He got done once last night, when going in hot headed with a sliding tackle. The boy just flicked it over him, that aside he was faultless. He's fast and aggressive, I don't think he is all that dominant in the air, but he is very comfortable on the ball and carries it over the half way line with ease. I think we would have gone through against Chelsea in the CL semi's if he didn't have to go off. Great problem to have 4 solid CB's.

Yup,, That was when we lost that game imo.

[Woobus]

He's dominant in the air and brings a lot of Hyypia's arial ability to the back four.

http://z.about.com/d/worldsoccer/1/0...tin-skrtel.jpg

Looks a great defender, well sorted at the back. What we need from him is Hyypias arial ability at the front, will miss Sami for his knack for scoring important goals and always causing mayhem in the oponents box during free kicks and corners.

[Johnny]

Will be in our team for yrs.Great player.

[Assassin]

Excellent signing.

Sack Rafa, he clearly ****ed up!

[fin7]

i thought agger should have played last night tho, alonso and gerrard were getting closed down very quickly in midfield and skrtel and carra cant really pick out a pass like agger, in hindsight we shud have played carra at right back and player agger in the middle along with skrtel. we would of had agger bringing the ball out of defence when midfield were being closed down and skrtel picking up the physical battle. this is probably a better balance but overall i think carra is our best defender, its a conundrum for rafa - albeit a good one

[Parm]

Very true mate.

Thought he was our main man in the first half especially yesterday. I loved it when the camera turned to their striker after every tackle and he looked like he didn't know what had hit him.

Awesome defender.

I was very pleased to see him bring the ball out of defence so comfortably and so often.

[Exiled_red]

I agree with comments on Skrtel, but I think it'll mainly be him and Carra at centre back in Premiership games for next couple of months as Rafa will ease Agger back in slowly after being out for so long

[lucas]

Excellent signing & excellent player. He just needs to be more of a threat at set-pieces and get a couple of goals.

[anfieldanfield]

In the long term, you have to feel an Agger/Skrtel partnership has the ability, desire and balance to win the league. Not to mention the fact that age is well and truly on their side.

Now I love Jamie Carragher, but would it be worth shifting him to right back in order to let the future flourish ?

Jamie is a better right back than Arbeloa, Degen or Finnan. That's for sure.

[Marky]

In the long term, you have to feel an Agger/Skrtel partnership has the ability, desire and balance to win the league. Not to mention the fact that age is well and truly on their side.

Now I love Jamie Carragher, but would it be worth shifting him to right back in order to let the future flourish ?

Jamie is a better right back than Arbeloa, Degen or Finnan. That's for sure.

He's not a better right back than Finnan, no way.

[anfieldanfield]

He's not a better right back than Finnan, no way.

In Rafa's eyes at least Finnan appears to be finished at the top level.

How old is he now ? 32 ? I doubt we'll see him play for the club again.

Good little servant to the club and a very solid fullback in his prime.

[Marky]

In Rafa's eyes at least Finnan appears to be finished at the top level.

How old is he now ? 32 ? I doubt we'll see him play for the club again.

Good little servant to the club and a very solid fullback in his prime.

Yeah sadly that seems to be the case.

I still think he's the best right back at the club.

Yeah Carragher is definetely a better right back than Arbeloa who i think is becoming a bit of a weak link in our team.

[anfieldanfield]

Yeah sadly that seems to be the case.

I still think he's the best right back at the club.

Yeah Carragher is definetely a better right back than Arbeloa who i think is becoming a bit of a weak link in our team.

Shame really, as I really, really liked Arbeloa at first.

I remember standing in our away end at Reading watching him score a ****ing peach of a goal from left back.

Pity he appears to actually be a bit...well..****.

[redwien]

Jamie is a better right back than Arbeloa, Degen or Finnan. That's for sure.

He's not a better right back than Finnan, no way.