Martin Skrtel

[Pablo]

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.

I agree with most of that. At least he rarely gets injured though which makes him almost unique amongst our current crop of defenders

[Chris]

Give him a year at a time, no point doing longer at this age, has little transfer value and wont ever get a move to a bigger or better club than us. Keep him around the squad and hopefully upgrade him with someone who can play in a two and doesnt need babysitting by Lucas and Sakho.

[danperkins]

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.

Clearly judging by your comments this season you are not a fan & clearly I am that's a given. That's fair enough but with respect mate, Cahill & Terry are probably the only CB's that have performed better than Skrtel this season. Using our finishing league position over the last few years to try an justify your point about one player is very unfair and untrue. It's a team game and there are so many reasons why we have failed in recent times and Skrtel is way down that list IMO.

I don't buy this "he's only good in a back 3". Lets see how good he does with a good RB beside him in a 4, or with a permanent defensive partner in Sakho and not 2 or 3 different blokes throughout the season, or with Moreno getting his first season under his belt, or when we have an actual DM playing in the DM role in front of the CB's. The difference in us with Lucas in there was blatant. It's been all over the place back there for the past few seasons chopping and changing.

Sure how do you think Cahill & Terry would have done this season without Matic being an ever-present in front of them? Or Southampton without Wanyama or Schneiderlin? The defence has been left exposed for pretty much 2 seasons. Look at the difference in the team when Gerrard was out of that DM role or when Skrtel didn't have to babysit Johnson (Not Johnson bashing but he's been way off for a few seasons now). We have been so unlucky with injuries that we haven't been able to get a setting for our defence. Skrtel /Sahko with Lucas in front where looking rock solid together & Can did great for a time in an unnatural position.

So many factors have to be taken into account. But if we are going to judge a player this season individually.. he's been one of our stand out performers... like him or not that's the truth.

[Muddled]

Skrtel, as a defensive individual, looks good. Crunching tackles, throwing himself in front of shots, etc. Skrtel, as part of a defensive unit, falls short. You can blame the players that make up the rest of the defence, but each of his seasons so far with a variety of other players, he has looked susceptible to brain farts.

Skrtel is guaranteed to make four or five defensive errors each season. He refuses to hold a defensive line in his perma-retreat mode and is always running back to goal. This meaning we will never be able to play an off-side trap or push the defence tighter to midfield to compact the pitch. His constant clawing of oppositions' shirts has been highlighted before.

Can we do better? Definitely.

[Alex]

Yep we can do way better. Someone else to partner Sakho should really be a priority this Pre Season.

Lovren is never going to cut it here and for the reasons Mudds outlines, I dont think Skrtel is a long term answer.

[danperkins]

Skrtel, as a defensive individual, looks good. Crunching tackles, throwing himself in front of shots, etc. Skrtel, as part of a defensive unit, falls short. You can blame the players that make up the rest of the defence, but each of his seasons so far with a variety of other players, he has looked susceptible to brain farts.

Skrtel is guaranteed to make four or five defensive errors each season. He refuses to hold a defensive line in his perma-retreat mode and is always running back to goal. This meaning we will never be able to play an off-side trap or push the defence tighter to midfield to compact the pitch. His constant clawing of oppositions' shirts has been highlighted before.

Can we do better? Definitely.

Sure we could, but say that about most players, in most positions, for most clubs. Skrtel is never going to be Franco Baresi but he is a good consistent CB. I would say he leads by example in the fact he is so committed and wears his heart on his sleeve. If only a few more where like that. No issues with the pulling of jerseys, sure all CB's do it.

Is he the organiser we need at the back? Probably not his strong point but he has got better in that respect IMO, although I think he'll always be that little bit gung ho. As regards organisation, we haven't had a settled defensive line for any sustained period this season & surely is a must for any defence? Ours has been all over the place, Mig having a poor first half of season, Lovren having a nightmare, Kolo being Kolo, Can playing out of position, Johnson who is finished & Moreno who is adjusting... just too many things gone wrong in one area of the pitch bound to cause issues.

Sakho and Skrtel looked a great partnership for a time but we haven't been able to see that too often as Sakho has been either on the bench or injured. They seemed to work well together. That coinciding with Migs upturn in form and IMO the most vital component, Lucas at DM... seen us look a much more balanced and solid side. It's not that Lucas makes Skrtel look better, a DM in front of a defence makes any defence look better, ask Chelsea & Southampton. Unfortunately for us we haven't had that for a few seasons due to Lucas being injured and Stevie/Allen/Hendo being played there who are not natural DM.

IMO we didn't have the options to play 4 at the back this season through one thing or another. If we are going to do it I would like to see us get a good RB in, Moreno will be all the better after an up and down first season. Sakho will not be injured as much next season, so him and Skrtel could actually develop that partnership again & play an actual DM infront of the back line. I would like to see that and then make a judgement.

[baitman]

in a balanced team skrtel is a must start player. agree he would be a great vice captain.

he ie well worth keeping. he might not be the best, but he is committed.

to replace him we would need to be spending 20m on someone like lovren

do you really want him gone... be careful what you wish for...

[Paddy]

Sure we could, but say that about most players, in most positions, for most clubs. Skrtel is never going to be Franco Baresi but he is a good consistent CB. I would say he leads by example in the fact he is so committed and wears his heart on his sleeve. If only a few more where like that. No issues with the pulling of jerseys, sure all CB's do it.

Is he the organiser we need at the back? Probably not his strong point but he has got better in that respect IMO, although I think he'll always be that little bit gung ho. As regards organisation, we haven't had a settled defensive line for any sustained period this season & surely is a must for any defence? Ours has been all over the place, Mig having a poor first half of season, Lovren having a nightmare, Kolo being Kolo, Can playing out of position, Johnson who is finished & Moreno who is adjusting... just too many things gone wrong in one area of the pitch bound to cause issues.

Sakho and Skrtel looked a great partnership for a time but we haven't been able to see that too often as Sakho has been either on the bench or injured. They seemed to work well together. That coinciding with Migs upturn in form and IMO the most vital component, Lucas at DM... seen us look a much more balanced and solid side. It's not that Lucas makes Skrtel look better, a DM in front of a defence makes any defence look better, ask Chelsea & Southampton. Unfortunately for us we haven't had that for a few seasons due to Lucas being injured and Stevie/Allen/Hendo being played there who are not natural DM.

IMO we didn't have the options to play 4 at the back this season through one thing or another. If we are going to do it I would like to see us get a good RB in, Moreno will be all the better after an up and down first season. Sakho will not be injured as much next season, so him and Skrtel could actually develop that partnership again & play an actual DM infront of the back line. I would like to see that and then make a judgement.

[G]

I'd replace him but not this summer. Every penny we have needs to be spent adding goals.

[Nicey]

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.

[BootRoom]

Skrtel is in Kenny's team of the year. Controversial choice.....

TEAM OF THE YEAR

Keeper David De Gea.

Defence Hector Bellerin, Martin Skrtel, John Terry, Cesar Azpilicueta.

Midfield Raheem Sterling, Philippe Coutinho, Nemanja Matic, Willian, Eden Hazard.

Striker Sergio Aguero.

Substitute Steven Gerrard.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...s-jose-5742905

[shanks69]

no idea how he has picked so many reds,i'd have only picked the little magician.

[McDermotX]

And even that's debatable TBH

[Maxiedge]

What's he been smoking? I want some of that **** ...

[Chazza]

Hopefully Rafa wants to spend a few quid on a new centre back.