Martin Skrtel

[Chris]

I just don't see how any Red can really defend him now. I did it for years but even I've given up. We have too many of these discussions...time and time again. He's just not good enough and I don't think it can be any more obvious. He's had lots of managers, lots of team mates, and more often than not it's the same result. Thanks for the loyalty Marty - give him a painting of a Spitfire and let him go.

This. Get out of our club!!

[calvoboy]

I just don't see how any Red can really defend him now. I did it for years but even I've given up. We have too many of these discussions...time and time again. He's just not good enough and I don't think it can be any more obvious. He's had lots of managers, lots of team mates, and more often than not it's the same result. Thanks for the loyalty Marty - give him a painting of a Spitfire and let him go.

If he's willing I wouldn't be against him staying on as third choice for a while, but there's no way that he should be part of our first-choice centre-half pairing, and shouldn't have been for a few years now.

[McDermotX]

Sorry thats bollocks

You cant have players dropping off unless they are doing it as a unit or a pairing

There was absolutely no reason to drop off there. It was a flat ball, and Skrtel has the whole field of play in front of him. As soon as Deaney went for that ball he should have stepped up and joined his teammates who were 5-10 yards ahead of him

Its lazy play

Rubbish

If we want to talk hypothetical, and Skrtel moves up, what happens if Ighalo steadies his run for Deeney's ball and burns both CBs..........or do people think that hypothetically moving defensive lines didn't result in the opposition also moving about ?

If we want to throw flak at players for ****ing up at least do it for the right reasons. His ultimate challenge was poor, as were defensive errors from Sakho and Lucas for that goal.

[Chris]

Rubbish

If we want to talk hypothetical, and Skrtel moves up, what happens if Ighalo steadies his run for Deeney's ball and burns both CBs..........or do people think that hypothetically moving defensive lines didn't result in the opposition also moving about ?

[Nicey]

Honestly as far as I can remember I don't think I have turned on him in the pass but it seems like such an obvious choice for an upgrade right now and it just dawned on me we have won literally **** all with him as our starting CB ... nothing ...

[RichC]

His positional sense is shockingly bad, why is it time and again he's 5 yards deeper than the rest of the defence? Poor postitional sense which causes us issues time and again.

If you can't see this a problem I fear you'll be happy with us conceding daft goals through poor play time and again

[Lecter]

Rubbish

If we want to talk hypothetical, and Skrtel moves up, what happens if Ighalo steadies his run for Deeney's ball and burns both CBs..........or do people think that hypothetically moving defensive lines didn't result in the opposition also moving about ?

If we want to throw flak at players for ****ing up at least do it for the right reasons. His ultimate challenge was poor, as were defensive errors from Sakho and Lucas for that goal.

WRONG!!!!!

If Skrtel pushes up Ighalo has to move up with him otherwise hes OFFSIDE

Theres no steadying his run, hes off unless he follows Skrtel upfield

The bottom line in football is you cant have 1 defender operating in isolation from the rest of your unit because thats a recipe for disaster. Thats a basic fundamental that even a half decent amateur player who kicks a ball around a pitch on a Sunday morning should know nevermind a professional player who is paid millions of ££££ per year

Sorry Skrtel is totally to blame for that

[danperkins]

It was **** defending from Skrtel after that ,but I don't have no issues with the initial positioning even if he is guilty of dropping deep at times. Dangerous game to play a high line vs that pace. Even if Skrtel pushes up and brings Ighalo with him a few yards... Ighalo is still hell for leather after that through ball and winning that foot race every time.

Most CB's will retreat or be wary against pace like that, drop deep, push them wide and narrow the angle and space. For me the issue was, 1) He got bullied off the ball 2) Should have booted the thing away. It is his fault for the goal no doubts.

If we can somehow keep on players fit, which would be some kind of miracle at this stage Skrtel/Sakho partnership will be just fine, as it has shown in the past.... just can't keep players fit is all. A new keeper for me is more pressing but a new CB wouldn't be a bad thing. A new LB and CM would be nice too, oh and a winger, oh and a new striker.

[Chris]

His positional sense is shockingly bad, why is it time and again he's 5 yards deeper than the rest of the defence? Poor postitional sense which causes us issues time and again.

If you can't see this a problem I fear you'll be happy with us conceding daft goals through poor play time and again

Yep, think it's only 2 people on the planet, maybe 3 if you include Brendan who cant see it now. We've had 1 good spell defensively with a 4 at the back in the last 3 and a half years, when he got binned for Carragher. Reina, Mignolet, Toure, Agger, Sakho, Lovren, Manquillo, Clyne, Johnson, Moreno, Lucas, Gerrard, "midfield" etc etc etc have all been blamed, he's been the biggest problem all along.

Funny though how people are trying to say being 5 yards - 10 yards behind the rest of the defence is normal, I've never once seen that ever said before pre Newcastle. Now it's apparently how you have to defend

[danperkins]

Don't think anyone is saying that, simply that CB's do defend deeper or retreat vs extreme pace. He is guilty of dropping off on times alright but I didn't have an issue with it in this instance.... the defending afterwards is another story. That goal was his fault, first one was Bogdans and third one was Sakho & Can's. Was a ****fest all round.

[BigChief]

Smalling does it all the time. He holds a high line but then sensing danger falls about 5 yards behind Blind anticipating a knock on and run. The massive difference here is Smalling is lightening fast and very strong.

Skrtel does this for the right reason, but he really should not be doing this as he ends up costing more goals than it saves. We need a proper CB to replace him and no mistake.

While we're talking of others too, Allen isn't the only midfielder we need to shift. Can needs to be benched and Lucas told to leave with Skrtel. Let's get some proper footballers in there for a change. No more plodders.

[McDermotX]

WRONG!!!!!

If Skrtel pushes up Ighalo has to move up with him otherwise hes OFFSIDE

Theres no steadying his run, hes off unless he follows Skrtel upfield

The bottom line in football is you cant have 1 defender operating in isolation from the rest of your unit because thats a recipe for disaster. Thats a basic fundamental that even a half decent amateur player who kicks a ball around a pitch on a Sunday morning should know nevermind a professional player who is paid millions of ££££ per year

Sorry Skrtel is totally to blame for that

WRONG !!

Completely missed my point about Ighalo steadying his run, or do you honestly think I meant he'd stay static and not time his run depending on our CB positions in order to exploit the space offered to him.

C'mon the **** Lecter......you're better than that.

[McDermotX]

yeah absolutely nothing wrong with that starting position, if anything the player is running off the shoulder of Sakho and Skrtel is following him. It was actually decent covering initially but was very poor defending after that.

The still pic vs real time is so different, been looking at the video there and in slow motion, but yeah he did get bullied and should have got the ****ing thing away. Sakho had an absolute shocker today too, rushed back way too soon. The whole backline had a mare, it was ridiculous. It was up there with the worst i've ever seen us play.

[Exiled_red]

I just don't see how any Red can really defend him now. I did it for years but even I've given up. We have too many of these discussions...time and time again. He's just not good enough and I don't think it can be any more obvious. He's had lots of managers, lots of team mates, and more often than not it's the same result. Thanks for the loyalty Marty - give him a painting of a Spitfire and let him go.

I'm not a big fan but I don't think that he is as bad as is being made out. I think that the main problem with our defence is that there is a lack of organiser back there. Partner him with a Jamie Carragher or a Vincent Kompany and he'd be fine, sure he'd make the odd mistake but most players do. People say he wouldn't get into any of the top four sides, but I would say he is comprable to any of the City defenders with the exception of Kompany, most of whom they spent vast sums of money on and suffer similar problems.

The problem for me with Skrtel is that he seems to have no instinct as to what he needs to do or where his positions should be, he needs a Carragher type player shouting at him constantly through the match telling him what to do. The truth is at 31 (or whatever he is now) he should have learned all this stuff and he should be the senior defender telling his partner (Sakho) what to do but he isn't capable of it. I think Lovren was brought in as a replacement and someone who Rodgers thought could organise the defence, the problem is that neither are capable of it and as a result we have no leader at the back. (I don't believe that Sakho is suitable for that role as he a player who likes to go forward and win the ball, your defensive organiser really has to be the one who will stay back and cover for a Sakho type player when needed.)

[danperkins]

I'm not a big fan but I don't think that he is as bad as is being made out. I think that the main problem with our defence is that there is a lack of organiser back there. Partner him with a Jamie Carragher or a Vincent Kompany and he'd be fine, sure he'd make the odd mistake but most players do. People say he wouldn't get into any of the top four sides, but I would say he is comprable to any of the City defenders with the exception of Kompany, most of whom they spent vast sums of money on and suffer similar problems.

The problem for me with Skrtel is that he seems to have no instinct as to what he needs to do or where his positions should be, he needs a Carragher type player shouting at him constantly through the match telling him what to do. The truth is at 31 (or whatever he is now) he should have learned all this stuff and he should be the senior defender telling his partner (Sakho) what to do but he isn't capable of it. I think Lovren was brought in as a replacement and someone who Rodgers thought could organise the defence, the problem is that neither are capable of it and as a result we have no leader at the back. (I don't believe that Sakho is suitable for that role as he a player who likes to go forward and win the ball, your defensive organiser really has to be the one who will stay back and cover for a Sakho type player when needed.)