Martin Skrtel

[SimonNo7]

I don't see Skrtel being slagged off and made a scapegoat to anywhere near the extent other players have in the past (Lucas, Insua etc). However I think we have a right to look at his performance and development. He is now 26 and should be close to his peak. He's been with us 3 years and I don't see that his game has progressed, he's still suffering from a lack of concentration and is prone to making mistakes.

The centre back position obviously need looking at in the summer; Kyriakos and Carragher don't have long left, Agger is injury prone, Wilson isn't ready to make the step up. We need to look at things and make a decision on the future. Are we planning to look for a long term replacement (for Kyriakos / Carragher) to compliment Agger or Skrtel or can the two form an effective partnership and we are looking for a backup?

Or are you just slagging off and making all our CBs scapegoats in one way or another?

[Reece]

[PTP]

How long is gyan's finger

[Reece]

That's not his finger (etc etc).

[Mattshark]

I think it deserves to be pointed out that he was excellent yesterday.

[Rudo]

I think it deserves to be pointed out that he was excellent yesterday.

I still love the bloke.

It's like having a crush on a girl for years, then she suddenly turns a little rough, but then you see her on a night out some time later and you think 'by god she still has it'

Still have a feeling the big man might be leaving in the summer though.

[danperkins]

I think it deserves to be pointed out that he was excellent yesterday.

fair point and credit where credit is due

[Shaggy]

Skrtel has put in some excellent performances this season, problem is he invariably follows it up with a stinker. Capable, but so erratic and inconsistent.

[dww]

Skrtel has put in some excellent performances this season, problem is he invariably follows it up with a stinker. Capable, but so erratic and inconsistent.

I think it would help if we had a consistent defensive unit and someone other than Carragher was beside him. Whilst Carragher is a good organiser he shares too many of the same weaknesses as Skrtel and Martin doesn't seem to do well when asked to be the CB who looks to move the ball out.

[dww]

He's been playing well of late. I still think that there is a need for some change in the CB positions but if he and Carragher can be as good as they have in the last few games it might be possible to get by using the likes of Ayala and not buying anyone in. Especially as a lot of the half decent options (like Cahill) don't offer an obviously massive improvement and would cost a lot of money.

[Paul12]

We MUST do something about the CB positions. Soto is not good enough, Agger is injury prone, Skrtel is not really good enough, Carra is getting old (even though he is much younger than me) and neither Kelly nor Wilson seem ready yet.

[Mostar]

We MUST do something about the CB positions. Soto is not good enough, Agger is injury prone, Skrtel is not really good enough, Carra is getting old (even though he is much younger than me) and neither Kelly nor Wilson seem ready yet.

I totally agree. It is one of the positions that imo we'll need to seriously improve in the summer.

Personally I'd go for a CB comfortable with the ball in his feet as 3 of 4 we currently have are not that type of defenders.

[RedReet]

He's been playing well of late. I still think that there is a need for some change in the CB positions but if he and Carragher can be as good as they have in the last few games it might be possible to get by using the likes of Ayala and not buying anyone in. Especially as a lot of the half decent options (like Cahill) don't offer an obviously massive improvement and would cost a lot of money.

I had written him off a few weeks ago saying he should be the first CB sold, but he's hardly put a foot wrong since and has been quietly impressive.

[DeeTheDog]

His form has picked immeasurable over the past few games, his covering has been brilliant and he is timing these runs perfectly. He is also looking more composed and his headers are clearing the box. Contrary to previous poster, I think dominant centre half is more important than a ball playing one, we have yet to replace Sami, not too sure who's out there though.

[Fredo]

He's always been a decent player. He was excellent during his first season here.