Centre backs

[CJ]

oky doky

[billy_mac]

£20million fee Bolton have demanded? ****ing joke. Roger Johnson is better and be half the price, even Scott Dann.

Roger Johnson was immense yesterday. He ticks all the boxes for what I look for in a centre half.

Sign him up.

[Exiled_red]

Roger Johnson was immense yesterday. He ticks all the boxes for what I look for in a centre half.

Sign him up.

I've haven't seen much of him but yesterday he was immense.

In our game Skrtel was poor, he has too many of those moments to be a top class centre back, and he's not a kid anymore. I'd keep him as a back up but he shouldn't be first choice.

In all honesty I think we need at least 2 new centre backs over the next couple of years with at least one coming in this summer.

[RichC]

I've haven't seen much of him but yesterday he was immense.

In our game Skrtel was poor, he has too many of those moments to be a top class centre back, and he's not a kid anymore. I'd keep him as a back up but he shouldn't be first choice.

In all honesty I think we need at least 2 new centre backs over the next couple of years with at least one coming in this summer.

at least one this summer what with Carra not getting any younger, Skrtel being inconsistent to say the least and Aggers continued injury problems.

[IN_RAFA_WE_TRUST]

How many of Big Ecks back four are his own siginings?

[Exiled_red]

at least one this summer what with Carra not getting any younger, Skrtel being inconsistent to say the least and Aggers continued injury problems.

I would like to see a new centre back partner Agger as first choice, by the end of next season. Although Carragher and Skrtel will have some role to play.

[Mostar]

at least one this summer what with Carra not getting any younger, Skrtel being inconsistent to say the least and Aggers continued injury problems.

We need a top quality CB this summer. It should be seen as a priority rather than a nice upgrade.

Kjaer, Subotic, Hummels (the best young defender in Bundesliga), Cahill (maybe) imo should deserve a closer look.

R. Johnson is good player but very risky proposition as it is very questionable if he can produce at the bigger club. Also he is almost 28 so he wouldn't fit FSG resale value approach.

[PTP]

centre back is a bit of a mess

carra ageing but still has plenty to offer - should be for me 3rd choice centre back - he'd still get about 25+ games a season

Agger - great footballer, but if he can't stay fit then he should go and we should replace with a defender of similar quality (ie can pass the ball)

Skrtel - Not progessed at all - too inconsistent - should be moved on and a top centre back to come in and partner agger (or someone new if agger is moved)

so that would give us

New guy
Agger or new guy
carra

As the main 3 centre backs

then a decision needs to be made

are Wilson and Ayala up to it? are they capable of giving us 10-12 games cover for the season, or are we better of keeping kyriakos for another year - if it is keep kyriakos then send Wilson on loan to another club in the league so he can get games and we can see how is developing and sell Ayala.

So we have

New guy
Agger or replacement
Carra
Kyriakos or Wilson

As our 4 centre backs and with Kelly capable of providing further cover is needed.

I still feel though - that the priorities in order are....

Sign a left back (sell konchesky and aurelio, bring back insua as back up)
Sign a pacy winger/attacking mid for the left side (selling Jovanovic)
Replace poulsen with a proper centre mid

get them positions sorted first

then sort out centre back, then get another attacking mid to play the right side replacing kuyt or maxi

then improve on ngog so we have carroll, suarez and another to choose from.


It's not much too ask is it - but i feel it's the bare minimum we need to get ourselves competing again - without any major player losses (reina)

[Exiled_red]

IMO we should sign at least one centre back, loan out Wilson for a season and maybe Ayala again

New Guy
Agger
Carragher
Skrtel / Kyriakos

with the other of Skrtel / Kyriakos moved on.

Skrtel isn't going to be good enough as first choice for us IMO, if we can get a decent offer for him this summer I'd let him go and keep Kyriakos for a year. Hopefully by the time Kyriakos leaves one of Wilson or Ayala will be ready to step up, or we'll be buying another centre back next summer as well.

[Drago]

I'd keep the Greek for games against long ball teams. Plus Skrtel and Agger will raise more money.

[Finnish_Red]

Skrtel - Not progessed at all - too inconsistent - should be moved on and a top centre back to come in and partner agger (or someone new if agger is moved)

Remember the time when his play was earning all those chuck norris-joke replicas? Then he went and broke his leg twice and has never looked the same again.

If we get someone who is also good/excellent in air, our set pieces will improve drastically(mr.x + Carroll and we are going to be a handfull).

[cled the red]

IMO we should sign at least one centre back, loan out Wilson for a season and maybe Ayala again

New Guy
Agger
Carragher
Skrtel / Kyriakos

with the other of Skrtel / Kyriakos moved on.

Skrtel isn't going to be good enough as first choice for us IMO, if we can get a decent offer for him this summer I'd let him go and keep Kyriakos for a year. Hopefully by the time Kyriakos leaves one of Wilson or Ayala will be ready to step up, or we'll be buying another centre back next summer as well.

How about Andre Wisdom?? Watched the ressies last nite, he's bloody huge and looks a talent!!!!

[Exiled_red]

How about Andre Wisdom?? Watched the ressies last nite, he's bloody huge and looks a talent!!!!

I haven't seen much of him, but given he has no first team experience I'd imagine he's down the pecking order behind Kelly, Wilson and Ayala for young centre backs, Maybe a season long loan deal next year to get him some experience?

[Lecter]

Liverpool being Liverpool they'll sign a few ****e defenders for fees of around £7m and end up with an average defence. We should just splash out on a top young CB and have done with it.

Gary Cahill is the man. Strong, good in the tackle, good in the air, can pass a ball out of defence short or long and has good pace. He has room for improvement but he's got it all. £20m is too much mind, to contradict what I just said

I'd sign either of the lads at Dortmund ahead of Cahill especially if you are talking £15-20 million for Cahill

[Reece]

I think Roger Johnson is better than Cahill personally.