Martin Skrtel

[Vermilion]

Skrtel doing what he does best

Serves the guy right for doing a stupid golf celebration! Martin hates! golf!

[EwarWoo]

The club conditions players against the game after the Bellamy incident.

[Cormack74]

Serves the guy right for doing a stupid golf celebration! Martin hates! golf!

[Paddy]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3069229/Martin-Skrtel-contract-talks-stall-Liverpool-include-clause-relating-number-games-play-season.html

Contract talks have stalled apparently. Excellent negotiating from Ayre and co.

I think it's vital we keep Skrtel, we need some consistency/experience/old heads in the back line instead of chopping and changing it regularly. But this news will make some people happy.

[EwarWoo]

Contract talks have stalled apparently. Excellent negotiating from Ayre and co.

Not quite sure how this contract malarky works.

If the players FOTM Ayre and co are useless cunts, otherwise the player is a greedy cunt? Just to be sure I'm abusing the correct person.

[Paddy]

Not quite sure how this contract malarky works.

If the players FOTM Ayre and co are useless cunts, otherwise the player is a greedy cunt? Just to be sure I'm abusing the correct person.

He signed his previous deals with no problems, and it just seems to be because he's reached 30 the club are trying to take advantage. I think Skrtel can be a first teamer for the next 3 years, so I don't see why they would offer terms like that. Rather keep Skrtel happy than run the risk of having to buy another player.

[MrMichael]

Just giving a player whatever he asks for is not "negotiating". The ultimate outcome is what matters to us surely, not the detail of the process before. And at least it is taking place now.

I don't think fans would object generally to more contracts in football being based on appearances and performance either, as they are anyway already to some extent I suppose.

[Paddy]

Wouldn't mind the appearance clause in say, Sturridge's contract, but Skrtel is fairly reliable fitness wise. Giving the work we may have to do in the transfer market, I'd prefer talks with current players go a lot more smoothly.

[MrMichael]

Given the work we have to do in the market we might need every penny

It might be a standard clause we're just looking to weight a bit heavier for older players, I know what you mean about doing things smoothly but I still prefer to wait to see how stuff pans out - like it did with Henderson - than decry our negotiating team for doing their jobs.

[danperkins]

Skrtel is not everyone's cup of tea but there are very few defenders out there as reliable. He's is very underrated IMO but i'd say that as I think he's one of the best defenders in the league. He would be a great vice captain IMO.

Also IMO we lack any sorts of balls and aggression.. you need players like that in your team that play with their heart on their sleeve. As regards the contract negotiations, I'm sure they'll sort this one out soon enough, he's very rarely injured and at 30 he such be coming into peak years for a defender.

[The Birdman]

Since joining us in 07/08 in the season's where Skrtel has played more than 25 league games, so a regular/first choice we have finished -
10/11 6th
11/12 8th
12/13 7th
13/14 2nd
14/15 5th (in all likelihood)

That is not someone we should be bending over backwards to pay fortunes to and keep, Skrtel is a good, experienced squad player, too do consistently better he needs to be replaced as a first team starter.
An appearance type deal is exactly the right contract to offer him.

[Paddy]

Ah okay, so there were no problems in any other area of the field? Blame players like Jovanovic or N'gog whilst your at it, or even Bodge or Dalglish.

[The Birdman]

Ah okay, so there were no problems in any other area of the field? Blame players like Jovanovic or N'gog whilst your at it, or even Bodge or Dalglish.

And the point you're trying to make is?
It was Rafa's fault, then Hodgson's? then Kenny's and now Rodgers I presume?
Maybe it was Carra's? Aggers? certainly Sakho's and Lovren's yeah?

4 out of the last 5 season's Skrtel has been a first choice, a regular starter.
4 out of the last 5 years we've finished 6th, 8th, 7th and (probably) 5th.


I suggest that if you don't already know it look up the definition of insanity.

[Paddy]

Steven Gerrard was in the team too. Your point? League position can be as much down to midfield and attack as it can be defence.

[The Birdman]

Is Skrtel a good PL centre back - Yes
Has he played well this season? - Yes in a 3.
Is he good enough - No. IMO but then this is my post on an internet forum.
Can he be replaced? - Yes
Should we keep him as a squad player? - Yes
Do we bend over to pay him fortunes? - No
Should a 30 yr old be offered a deal including incentives around appearances? - Yes
Would it be disastrous if he left? - No

He's not a big, tough, dominant, brave centre back, wear long sleeves and grow his hair and no-one would use those words to describe him.