Martin Skrtel

[danperkins]

Martin Skrtel is the type of player that separates championship teams from pretenders. Soft in the air, erratic, poor decision making and needs to be constantly "marshaled" by his partner to look good.

He'll give you a stretch of games that can justify that "we shouldn't sell him" argument but as long as he's a constant presence for us, he'll hold us back.

There's no chance we're winning anything with Carra and Skrtel as our first choice pairing. Harsh but my opinion.

[red g]

You're perfectly entitled to your opinion, but i'd have to disagree with ya.

Skrtel's had a few rocky moments this season, but who hasn't in the Liverpool squad? It's been a turbulent season for everyone on and off the pitch and certain players have suffered as a result. Skrtel's one of them.

However since Kenny took over and everything was more settled around the Club, Skrtel's been in excellent form. West Ham away was possibly his only poor game.

Long before this season, i think Skrtel's proved to be a more than good enough player for Liverpool. You can say he only plays well with Carra but i think that's nonsense. In the few games he's played alongside Agger they've look very assured together - FA Cup tie at Old Trafford being a good example of this. Skrtel played well alongside Hyypia as well.

If we're gonna say the likes of Carra, Johnson and Gerrard's poor performances should be excused because of a rough few yrs then why can the same not be said for Skrtel?

We need another centre back that's for sure but we shouldn't be looking to get rid of Skrtel. No way.

I wouldnt want rid, Just wouldnt want him as first choice!

[Rudo]

I wouldnt want rid, Just wouldnt want him as first choice!

Fair enough.

Aside from 3 or 4 players i don't think anyone has a guaranteed place in the starting line up, and that can only be a good thing.

For the last few seasons, too many of them walked into the line up every week with bugger all competition.

[JohnDoe]

If we're gonna say the likes of Carra, Johnson and Gerrard's poor performances should be excused because of a rough few yrs then why can the same not be said for Skrtel?

Because Skrtel is always going to be inconsistent, that's the nature of his game, he's an "accident" waiting to happen. You're never going form a reliable and consistent CB pairing with him in there. He needs a babysitter.

We need another centre back that's for sure but we shouldn't be looking to get rid of Skrtel. No way.

If you admit that we need a new starting calibre CB, you're basically saying that Skrtel is not good enough. If Skrtel was good enough, we wouldn't need that player.

Buying a CB to put in the first team means dropping Skrtel to maybe 4th choice. That's as good as him being gone.

[DannyMan2006]

Liverpool have a lot of players that I would class as being good players, but not at the level you would expect of a regular in a premier league winning side.

Our CB's are a case in point. They are all good in their own way, but if you look at the first choice CB pairing of the teams who have won the title, for me they come up short.

Signing a good CB in the summer with a fair amount of potential could make all the difference, but they have to be of a level that will see them walk into the first team.

We can't afford to sign one for big money and have them stuck behind a partnership of Carra and Agger for example.

[Fredo]

This.

[Kenneth]

Well he's better than all but two of utd's centre backs, so surely he could have a place in a title winning squad.

[CJ]

Liverpool have a lot of players that I would class as being good players, but not at the level you would expect of a regular in a premier league winning side.

Our CB's are a case in point. They are all good in their own way, but if you look at the first choice CB pairing of the teams who have won the title, for me they come up short.

Signing a good CB in the summer with a fair amount of potential could make all the difference, but they have to be of a level that will see them walk into the first team.

We can't afford to sign one for big money and have them stuck behind a partnership of Carra and Agger for example.

i think Agger is good enough however he is made of glass so we cant rely on him, mores the pity

[Fernandinho]

Better than vidic?

[CJ]

Better than vidic?

not as an out and out CB but if you take into account what he can do with the ball then yes.

and its difficult with the amount of games that DA misses to see him at his best in a settled defence

[Fernandinho]

Thought you were talking about Skrtel

[DannyMan2006]

Well he's better than all but two of utd's centre backs, so surely he could have a place in a title winning squad.

He is good enough for a title winning squad. So is Agger. So is Carra.

But whilst Skrtel has question marks over his overall ability, Agger has them over his injury record, as well as whether or not he is tough enough in the air and on the deck. And whilst Carra is a first class defender, his distribution is poor and will not get better at his age, which leads nicely onto the next point, he isn't exactly getting any younger and lacks pace.

That said, if all 3 were fit and on form, I think anyone one of them would be able partners to a new, top class CB.

Personally I'd keep those three, have a look at Ayala and Wilson to see whether they would benefit more from being in the squad or loaned out, I'd let go of Soto and then I'd sign a TOP class CB.

I'm no football scout so don't ask me who. I'd never heard of Agger, Skrtel or Vidic either for that matter before they came to the prem. Nor Sami Hyypia either.

So I don't know what's out there and who we should go for. But we need a first choice CB.

[Rudo]

Because Skrtel is always going to be inconsistent, that's the nature of his game, he's an "accident" waiting to happen. You're never going form a reliable and consistent CB pairing with him in there. He needs a babysitter.



If you admit that we need a new starting calibre CB, you're basically saying that Skrtel is not good enough. If Skrtel was good enough, we wouldn't need that player.

Buying a CB to put in the first team means dropping Skrtel to maybe 4th choice. That's as good as him being gone.

Oh ffs.
We need another centre back imo(and i'm sure everyone else's) because Soto will probably leave, Agger is injury prone and Carragher is 34 next season.
Not because Skrtel isn't good enough.

So if someone suggests we bring in another striker, does that mean they think Suarez isn't good enough? Ever heard of competition for places?

[red g]

Oh ffs.
We need another centre back imo(and i'm sure everyone else's) because Soto will probably leave, Agger is injury prone and Carragher is 34 next season.
Not because Skrtel isn't good enough.

So if someone suggests we bring in another striker, does that mean they think Suarez isn't good enough? Ever heard of competition for places?

We need 4 centre backs for sure next season.......

1. Agger
2. New CB
3. Carragher
4. Skrtel

in that order imo.

[RichC]

We need 4 centre backs for sure next season.......

1. Agger
2. New CB
3. Carragher
4. Skrtel

in that order imo.

so effectively it's a New CB and Carra playing most of the time for us then.