Martin Skrtel

[cream]

I think it might be Rodgers trying to convince him extend his stay. I dunno, just seems a little odd to me.

[Kenneth]

Skrtel and Agger have both had their wobbles this season, Agger is certainly the better player and offers more than Skrtel who as Gibbo has said needs the right player next to him

I disagree. Skrtel is the better defender by some distance. Agger's ability to bring it out from the back is obviously superior but I think you can only really consider that when the basics are covered. Agger is more of a Rodgers player though, but then it's already been established that Rodgers doesn't know much about defending.

[Chazza]

Not sure I agree. We conceded 2 in four of the first five games he played in since coming back into the side.

Arsenal 2-2
City 2-2
West Brom 0-2
Zenit 2-0 loss

The other one - his first game recalled - was Norwich at home (5-0).

Since shipping two in four successive games, it's been better with 1 conceded v Zenit (his fault) and a clean sheet v Swansea (5-0).

Personally I'd get Skrtel back in the side.

Obviously the stats have ****ed my point right up here

He played at Oldham and got bullied by Smith which didn't help and I just felt we looked more solid with Carra in alongside Agger.

[kop-al-74]

Carra's done ok since he's come in but it's not as if we have kept clean sheets in all those games...infact he's error cost us a place in the next round on the Europa cup.

Skrtel needs to get back in the team.

[Arn]

Carra's done ok since he's come in but it's not as if we have kept clean sheets in all those games...infact he's error cost us a place in the next round on the Europa cup.

Skrtel needs to get back in the team.

I think the main problem isn't who is playing. We have played many different combinations at the back and nothing worked so far.

It's down to the manager and the system, not the players IMO.

It is all about finding the right balance between attack and defense something Rodgers hasn't done. We must be able to park the buss when we need to do it.

Just look at our defensive midfield. If you are big and strong then you can run straight through it. Happened time after time this season.

Without Lucas we would be **** in defensive midfield. With him we are much better but not good enough.

Our central defenders face players in full speed, that is a problem.

The rebuilding of our defense will be Rodgers main priority this summer. Get that right and we can challenge every club in the league. Get it wrong and he will probably be sacked.

That is IMO how important that job is for Rodgers.

[Kenneth]

Obviously the stats have ****ed my point right up here

He played at Oldham and got bullied by Smith which didn't help and I just felt we looked more solid with Carra in alongside Agger.

Yeah, Shaggy's a cunt for that.

[Imy]

I think the main problem isn't who is playing. We have played many different combinations at the back and nothing worked so far.

It's down to the manager and the system, not the players IMO.

It is all about finding the right balance between attack and defense something Rodgers hasn't done. We must be able to park the buss when we need to do it.

Just look at our defensive midfield. If you are big and strong then you can run straight through it. Happened time after time this season.

Without Lucas we would be **** in defensive midfield. With him we are much better but not good enough.

Our central defenders face players in full speed, that is a problem.

The rebuilding of our defense will be Rodgers main priority this summer. Get that right and we can challenge every club in the league. Get it wrong and he will probably be sacked.

That is IMO how important that job is for Rodgers.

Rodgers has said in the past he's not looking for huge athletic players, so seeing someone like Yaya Toure or Moussa Sissoko in our midfield looks like it wont happen - even though thats exactly the type of player we need imo.

Thus opposing players running right at our defence is likely to be an onoing thing and i don't think any of our centre backs are suited to this.

If a huge bid came in for Skrtel or Agger (or possibly both) i'd consider selling.

[RedReet]

I disagree. Skrtel is the better defender by some distance. Agger's ability to bring it out from the back is obviously superior but I think you can only really consider that when the basics are covered. Agger is more of a Rodgers player though, but then it's already been established that Rodgers doesn't know much about defending.

That's just not true at all. Agger is an excellent defender when on form. It wasn't too long ago (thinking Dalglish) when we went a spell when we kept a clean sheet almost every time he played and that was no coincidence. He hasn't had the best of seasons, but bar Johnson none of our defenders have, but he is still an absolute quality player.

I'm also not sure he's as suited to Rodgers style as most think. Agger likes to carry the ball out from defence taking players on, take long shots and play long passes. That doesn't really fit with Rodgers ethos and maybe that’s another reason we’re not seeing the best from Agger (not excusing his defensive lapses obviously).

[RedReet]

Rodgers has said in the past he's not looking for huge athletic players, so seeing someone like Yaya Toure or Moussa Sissoko in our midfield looks like it wont happen - even though thats exactly the type of player we need imo.

Thus opposing players running right at our defence is likely to be an onoing thing and i don't think any of our centre backs are suited to this.

If a huge bid came in for Skrtel or Agger (or possibly both) i'd consider selling.

Crazy. The scary things is you’re probably not alone sharing that viewpoint.

In saying that though, if the majority of fans had their way, Suarez would be long gone after he had a bit of a tough spell.

Not scoring enough = Sell your best striker.

Conceding too many = Sell your best defenders.

It could work…

Not sure why he haven’t been able to handle big powerful players running at us this year, but it wasn’t too long ago Agger wasn’t giving Drogba a sniff, so I don’t think the problem is him.

[Lee]

Taken from RAWK.

http://sport.aktuality.sk/c/145433/s...cne-konflikty/

Why did you not start in Liverpool’s recent premier league games?

„That should be question for the manager. He selects team and players. At the moment I’m not in the starting eleven. I regret it but the manager made the decision and I have to respect that.“

Did Brendan Rodgers explain you why he decided to bench you? Do you talk to each other?

„We talk but it’s not ideal. He told me something, gave me some reason but it’s hard to say if if was the real reason. I don’t think it was, I think it’s something else. But I’m not that kind of player who keeps visiting manager, being in his office every day and finding out what’s going on and why I’m not playing. I have never done that and never will do so. If manager wants to talk he comes to me and we talk but I don’t come to him.“

The reason he told you was?

„It all happened after the Man Utd game in the middle of january. Previously we won twice, away at QPR 0:3 – and home with Sunderland, keeping two clean sheets. We lost in Manchester 1:2 though, but I think we played some great football in the second half particulary. What’s more many sources gave me good mark for my performance. Manager told me that he thinks we lost organistation in defence in last few games and because of that he will not play me in upcoming fixtures. I don’t know which games he was thinking about considering we managed to win last two games and kept clean sheet.“

So you think it’s not the real reason. What do you think it is then?

„I think it was affected by one situation but I don’t want to talk about it now. Maybe after the season but not right now. I don’t want to cause any conflicts, the most important thing is team success and I will cheer for my team whether it’s from the bench or stands.“

What’s next for you?

„Wait, that’s the only thing I can do right now. While I was fit I gave my best and did everything I could to prove manager that I belong here. I waited for my chance, one came in Petersburg but I didn’t play after that game. Unfortunately I’m injured now and we’ll see what happens when I’ll be fit.“

[RedReet]

FFS.

[Lee]

FFS.

If Skrtel goes then we're going to need three CB's in the summer. Nightmare.

Couple of chaps in that thread say that City bid for him in January. How true that is is anyone's guess.

[RedReet]

Well they were interested in the summer apparently, but they then got Nastasic who has been excellent for them, so I don't see why they would need Skrtel. Although in saying that, they are a bit short without Kompany as Nastasic is stil young, Toure is past it and Lescott isn’t that great.

[Lee]

Well they were interested in the summer apparently, but they then got Nastasic who has been excellent for them, so I don't see why they would need Skrtel. Although in saying that, they are a bit short without Kompany as Nastasic is stil young, Toure is past it and Lescott isn’t that great.

It could well be bull****.

This chap on RAWK gave two versions. One is that FSG and Rodgers accepted a bid in January but Skrtel refused to move. The other is that FSG & Rodgers said no but Skrtel wanted to go.

Anyway I'm going to stop peddling internet forum bull**** now.

[Arn]

Personal reason to why he is dropped then

No chance that Skrtel stay if Rodgers is our manager next season, no chance.