Degen...

[Big Dave]

My big concern is say Arbeloa gets injured and we move Carra to RB and Skrtel and Agger play in the middle. As far as I can see, that then leaves us with 3 positions without cover. We deffo need some cover at RB/CB from somewhere.

I'd like to see Degen get a chance and lets be fair, we've had similar problems with Aurelio as far as injuries go, but if we could get him to play as many games as Auerlio he could be a very useful asset to the squad.

[Guest]

Quoting Rafa.

Signing back Degen after his injury problems will be like signing a new player.

[ric.williams]

Get rid of him. The one time I saw him, at Spurs earlier in the season, he and Dossena gave the two worst full back displays I've ever seen by Liverpool. And when you consider we have had the likes of Traore, Riise, Bjornebye, Josemi, Tanner, Kvarme, Dicks, Song etc playing in those positions, that's really saying some thing.

iirc he had babel infront providing great protection. if he has kuyt infront (ie first team player) we may see what he has to offer, if anythin.

yes they were both truely awful though

[dww]

Judging anyone on a single game is dangerous. As it stands though the only thing we can say is that we certainly haven't seen anything to indicate the Degen would enhance the first team. We can wait until he is fit for years as we did with Kewell but we need to progress the team now.

I guess at least with a full summer in which to recuperate he might be able to be ready for preseason and we can reassess the need for a right back then after we have completed the priority signings of the summer.

[sambirken]

funny thing is, we knew we were signing someone who is always injured. silly signing

[red g]

funny thing is, we knew we were signing someone who is always injured. silly signing

sometimes they pay off, sometimes you sign kewell

[Matt]

sometimes they pay off, sometimes you sign kewell

Yep I don't think anyone could have predicted he'd have had as bad a run with injury as he's had.

On paper it probably made sense - he's an international player with Bundesliga experience and he was free.

No point shipping him out now.

[red g]

Yep I don't think anyone could have predicted he'd have had as bad a run with injury as he's had.

On paper it probably made sense - he's an international player with Bundesliga experience and he was free.

No point shipping him out now.

exactly and i am sure he feels he has a point to prove to!

[Reece]

Thing is I'm pretty sure his last season at Dortmund (the season before we bought him) was his first injury that kept him out for a prolonged period of time. So I think it's wrong to say he had a bad history of injury.

[red g]

it was only his last season at dortmund that he had really bad luck with injuries

Thing is I'm pretty sure his last season at Dortmund (the season before we bought him) was his first injury that kept him out for a prolonged period of time. So I think it's wrong to say he had a bad history of injury.

yep i made that point earlier in the thread

but **** me since tha last season at dortmund makes Kirkland look like he is made of steel !!!

[Reece]

Yeah but everyone seemed to be ignoring you so I thought I'd reiterate it

[red g]

Yeah but everyone seemed to be ignoring you so I thought I'd reiterate it

[DannyMan2006]

You know what, I've tried really hard to convince myself that Degen is a decent player.

I've got plenty of evidence to suggest he is. He used to be (before his injuries) first choice right back for the Swiss. Now they not be the best team in the world but they qualified for the 2006WC, which suggests they weren't half bad. During that campaign they hardly conceded a goal in qualifying. All this with Degen at RB.

Also in his defence, he's coming back from a succession of injuries and it wouldn't be to wrong to suggest that he's still a little rusty and still in the phase of expecting to get injured, such has been his luck.

But what needs to be established at this stage is if he can be used at RB next season for Liverpool FC. And all recent evidence suggests that he is not ready for that.

Anyone around my age may remember Tony Adams and the "boring" Arsenal side. Now I was never an Arsenal fan, but being a CB in my youth I was a big fan of Adams. Despite all his fantastic ability and leadership the one thing I remember now about him (And I can picture it now) is him running back towards his goal with his arm stuck in the air, calling for an off side. More often than not he'd get the decision. But if he didn't he or one of the other well drilled players would be in a position to make a timely interception or challenge.

I actually also remember doing this myself in the play ground at school, despite the obvious lack of off sides and considerable amount of Gary Lineker style goal hangers.

Now I was never a good player. I played for my school but that was it. Yet I knew to never stand their on the pitch with my arm up in the air, claiming for an off side. Because that would be stupid, as you don't always get the decision - even if it's the right one.

My point is, last night Espanyol scored a goal by breaking through our off side trap, and the palyer was well on side. And what did Degen do? He was the closest player to the attacker and may have got back and at least put him off the shot. But what did ****ing Degen do?

He stood there liek a ****ing lamp post with his arm in the air appealing for an off side decison. Completely static. No attempt to run back, just hoping for a whistle that never came.

Now if a rubbish footballer of ten years old (me) knew that when appealing for an off side he must play to to the whistle, how the **** can a professional footballer of 26 years of age not know this?

Thank **** Pepe Reina gave him a rollocking is all I can say. Now however obviously crap (Degen) a Liverpool player is I will never give up on them. After all, I don't have the benefit of seeing players in training. But I'm very close to throwing in the towel with regards to Degen.

And I hope Darby gets a chance before the start of the season, because otherwise we may need to step into the market and make RB a priority. At the very least a CB who can play there (Steven Taylor).

I think Degen may have it in him (told you I don't give up) but I think he needs to play games. A three month loan to a club would be in the best interests of all. The new centre back covers for Johnson whilst he gets game time and remembers how to play football again. He would then hopefully be up to the required standard to act as cover.

[Tee]

He doesn't have it, unfortunately. I have previously submitted a pro-Degen thread in order to convince myself, but the bottom line is he is injury prone, not very quick at all, not very good technically, ****e positional sense and generally a waste of an invaluable squad place. Get rid and promote Darby FFS. Simples.

[-V-]

He's a lazy ******* and he's ****in ****. Bin him now