Martin Skrtel

[Mike]

Can't believe nobody has bumped this thread since yesterday.

MoM on Sky and for me as well. He was brilliant. Dominated in the air and was solid throughout. He's so much better in a three man defence.

[captainfog]

Can't believe nobody has bumped this thread since yesterday.

MoM on Sky and for me as well. He was brilliant. Dominated in the air and was solid throughout. He's so much better in a three man defence.

Because there are more players around him to rescue him when he ****s up. He was poor yesterday, but because he's brave and throws his body in front of a few blocks he gets cut lots of slack. He's just not good enough and he is certainly not good enough on the ball to play in the centre of a back three.

[DannyMan2006]

Because there are more players around him to rescue him when he ****s up. He was poor yesterday, but because he's brave and throws his body in front of a few blocks he gets cut lots of slack. He's just not good enough and he is certainly not good enough on the ball to play in the centre of a back three.

I criticised him in the two, but I have to say he's been a monster in the centre of this back three. Despite what you say or think, he's hardly put a foot wrong, whilst his ability on the ball is less of an issue in this system. I think it's more important that the wide two are decent on the ball to work it with the wing backs.

Skrtel is a proper old school defender, and in this system he fits perfectly into the middle of the three. It helps that most teams up against us tend to rely on ale house long ball tactics which he gobbles up all game.

[Mike]

Because there are more players around him to rescue him when he ****s up. He was poor yesterday, but because he's brave and throws his body in front of a few blocks he gets cut lots of slack. He's just not good enough and he is certainly not good enough on the ball to play in the centre of a back three.

I think that's extremely harsh, and wrong

Skrtel deserves credit for his improvement and has been defensively sound for some time now. In the air yesterday he was dominant, and on the floor he was good too and made some slick interceptions. To say he got MotM as a result of everyone else's efforts doesn't do him justice.

He's not great on the ball, but he rarely puts a foot wrong. For me I'd take a defender who can make interceptions and block shots in Skrtel over a CB that gets caught out defensively but is good with the ball - Lovren...?

[MrMichael]

Because there are more players around him to rescue him when he ****s up. He was poor yesterday, but because he's brave and throws his body in front of a few blocks he gets cut lots of slack. He's just not good enough and he is certainly not good enough on the ball to play in the centre of a back three.

We're not really playing a traditional back 3 though, one where the central player is something of a sweeper. Our system currently Can and Sakho on either side are the ones who see the most of the ball and Skrtel is really there to do a more physical role in the middle.

[McDermotX]

Little nod to Skrtel tonight regarding his captain's role. In what is ultimately a match everyone wants to forget, he was always talking, going around the players individually at the breaks, bigging up Mig and the players for the pens, consoling Lovren etc.
As well as turning in yet another solid main CB role in an essentially reserve back 3, he done his job with the armband well...........never going to be anyone's first choice as captain, but he's an experienced campaigner who's clearly well liked in the squad.

[brightred]

I thought he did well tonight. That position seems to suit him.

[McDermotX]

Good stuff again from Martin. Really leading the backline as the main CB, loads of talking, winning everything in his vicinity, and showing the steel we need in this CL run-in. Impressive.

BBC highlights didn't show it, but that was some challenge he made it the box......looked great in realtime anyway, didn't catch a replay of it.

[baitman]

very solid tonight.
he had to go out wide left to make a decent challenge covering for lovren, followed by plenty of shouting and pointing to lovren.

[Rich]

He's on a great run at the moment - and this formation suits him down to the ground. He's rarely exposed and his average passing ability isn't often an issue.

Also nice to see him bollocking Dejan after his appalling back pass.

[dww]

He's on a great run at the moment - and this formation suits him down to the ground. He's rarely exposed and his average passing ability isn't often an issue.

Also nice to see him bollocking Dejan after his appalling back pass.

I don't think his passing is bad. Conservative, yes but sound IMO.

Our other CBs seem to have benefited from having simplified roles in a back three (often based on one on one competition for the ball even if it means going out wide). Skrtel however seems to have adapted his naturally deeper position to allow him to cover others and moving to compete with spare men.

Still think he will prove hard to partner should we head back to a back four in the future.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Needs to start getting the credit he deserves he's been playing 7&8/10 for a while now. He's not very popular so maybe some will never come round to the idea but he's been quality, he's actually very good on the ball too which goes unnoticed I feel.

[RichC]

He's played well of late the switch to a back 3 has suited him and us as a side. I'm still unsure of how he'd work in a standard back 4 but until and if we make that change it's not really relevant.

[DannyMan2006]

In this formation he looks like the best defender in the league. He's been superb.

I didn't rate him in a back 4, but in a 3 he's class.

[McDermotX]

Get back !!


Quick !!