Martin Skrtel

[McDermotX]

Good news......one of the better CBs in the league, and, let's face it, around our level.
Of course we'd like better, but that's an argument all over the pitch in all positions.......but let's be realistic......he's experienced, well liked in the squad, never hides on the pitch, consistent.
No brainer......after all, I hope everyone took notice of what a ready-made 20m CB acquisition looked like last season and how easy it should be to find another one.

[Phoenix07]

We're going into next season with Toure and Lovren as our back-up centre halves. Skrtel has been excellent for us. I'm relieved he is sticking around.

[Paul12]

No brainer......

Unfortunately not the first time the letters "no brain" have appeared in a sentence about our hero

[McDermotX]

Unfortunately not the first time the letters "no brain" have appeared in a sentence about our hero

Perhaps, but TBH I think there are some of our support that undervalue Skrtel's usefulness, and better yet, fail to support arguments with better, realistic alternatives........he's a more than decent CB, who has been a fixture with us over the years and who has to adapt to changing situations, changing formations, changing partnerships, changing DMs, changing managers etc
Of course, we'd like better......****, I'd like better than Mig, Sakho, Moreno, Henderson, Sturridge, Coutinho etc etc, but we need to cop the **** on here and face the facts. We have a EL/4th place squad which may or may not qualify for CL football with a more consistent 38 game run. We see the issues throughout last season, and hope we've learned from our mistakes, but if people honestly think taking Skrtel out of the squad would make the difference, they're codding themselves royally........he's a valued member of this squad, and when your other options are Kolo, Sakho and Lovren, he's frankly going to play a full part next season.
Let's see a settled side, with perhaps Skrtel and Sakho getting a prolonged partnership with a dedicated approach and support from a revamped faltering midfield of last season, along with a more settled FB situation and I think we may be onto something.

[Muddled]

Skrtel and Sakho as a partnership just won't work. Skrtel is going back to goal, whilst Sakho plays on the front foot. We'll never even master a simple offside trap if these two remain as our first choice pairing.

One is 30, the other 25. We'd be better building our defence around Sakho with Skrtel in reserve. Unfortunately none of our current centre backs complement Sakho, so it's an area that needs addressing at some point soon. Probably this time next year.

[McDermotX]

Sakho is far from a certainty...... Like the lad, and hope (and actually think) he has the qualities required to become a good CB, but he still has an awful lot to prove and was looking more than shakey on a few occasions for me last season.
If were going to look towards Sakho and someone else, then who is the someone else.......chucked 20m at it last year, so we need to be smart here.......and realistic.
30 is hardly the scrapheap for CBs either

[G]

We didn't chuck 20m at looking for Sakho's partner last year, we chucked 20m on the man supposed to replace him. I agree taking Skrtel out of the squad won't solve our issues but replacing him with someone better is a stepping stone. It's how you build a squad that isn't always looking at 4th/EL. replace those in it one at a time with better ones. Strikers are the priority still this summer but i sincerely hope we are actively looking for someone miles better than marty and all the other who can be improved on too for the next window.

[Lee]

Skrtel and Sakho as a partnership just won't work. Skrtel is going back to goal, whilst Sakho plays on the front foot. We'll never even master a simple offside trap if these two remain as our first choice pairing.

One is 30, the other 25. We'd be better building our defence around Sakho with Skrtel in reserve. Unfortunately none of our current centre backs complement Sakho, so it's an area that needs addressing at some point soon. Probably this time next year.

A good third choice CB. He's a lucky boy to get a three year contract.


A year ago we Agger away pretty much for free.

[Chazza]

Me old mucker Birdman will be made up with this news.

[McDermotX]

We didn't chuck 20m at looking for Sakho's partner last year, we chucked 20m on the man supposed to replace him. I agree taking Skrtel out of the squad won't solve our issues but replacing him with someone better is a stepping stone. It's how you build a squad that isn't always looking at 4th/EL. replace those in it one at a time with better ones. Strikers are the priority still this summer but i sincerely hope we are actively looking for someone miles better than marty and all the other who can be improved on too for the next window.

A good third choice CB. He's a lucky boy to get a three year contract.


A year ago we Agger away pretty much for free.

Any ideas in who we bring in though.........especially with little in the way of money for that area ? Better not hear ridiculous notions like Illori being mentioned

FWIW......and it won't be a popular statement.....Agger was finished, mainly so as anyone dependable to hold down our defensive line....plus, he's also the only CB anywhere, ever, to be completely emasculated by Yaya Sanogo.
Not something to tell his grandkids.

[danperkins]

Well deserved, apart from maybe Terry & Cahill.... no better CB performer last season. Factor in different defence every week, goal keeping malfunction for first half of season, shifting formations, lack of a DM for a majority of the season.... and still one of the best CB performers last season.

Fair play to him and for LFC to have such a consistent performer. As regards Sahko & Agger. Agger was finished & I like Sakho but he has alot to prove on the pitch and has been ropey fitness wise. I just want Rodgers to pick a defence & formation and stick to it.

[G]

Any ideas in who we bring in though.........especially with little in the way of money for that area ? Better not hear ridiculous notions like Illori being mentioned

FWIW......and it won't be a popular statement.....Agger was finished, mainly so as anyone dependable to hold down our defensive line....plus, he's also the only CB anywhere, ever, to be completely emasculated by Yaya Sanogo.
Not something to tell his grandkids.

No I've no idea but that's their job not mine. I can comment intelligently( I hope ) on Marty cos I watch him week in week out but I don't watch many other teams and I don't play football manager so I'll have to pass on the who should replace him part. I'm not saying we need to replace him this summer but he needs to be replaced and I'm all for giving him a new deal cos it means he's worth a few quid to us when we get shut rather than him walking for free.

Agree on Agger, Lovren was a disaster but that doesn't mean getting rid of Agger wasn't the right decision, we already had his replacement in Sakho.

[SB]

Pleased for the lad. Opinion has long been divided on him but I've always been in his corner.

[Rich]

His biggest problem is when up against a bully. He usually gets done by them. Makes sense keeping though, he's one of the few with experience.

[RichC]

Worth keeping but he shouldn't be a starter for us