Martin Skrtel

[Shaggy]

**** right off with that. Skrtel, Johnson and Kolo are the problems. If we got a new keeper but kept those 3 we'd still leak goals however I believe if we stick with Mignolet and replace Skrtel, Johnson and Kolo this summer we'll be far more solid at the back.
Mignolet is an excellent shot stopper that is the foundation of a good keeper, yes he needs to improve on crosses but he's young for a keeper and will get better with time and patience the same way Henderson, Sterling and Flanagn have.

I wouldn't single out Mignolet as a weak link or the main problem but he is a part of it. One of his jobs is to get the back four pushed up and he doesn't seem to, he isn't vocal and at times seems chained to his line. And when he does come he's about an intimidating a presence as Julian Clary. I think he can work on it but he needs to get a lot stronger and more assertive.

[~LFCHistory~]

I wouldn't single out Mignolet as a weak link or the main problem but he is a part of it. One of his jobs is to get the back four pushed up and he doesn't seem to, he isn't vocal and at times seems chained to his line. And when he does come he's about an intimidating a presence as Julian Clary. I think he can work on it but he needs to get a lot stronger and more assertive.

If he doesn't improve next season and costs us goals then fair enough we should look at buying a new keeper but I don't like people slagging off a young keeper who IMO has done well for his first season at a big club. Skrtel, Johnson and Kolo are the weak links not Mignolet, all seasoned veterans who have each made mistake after mistake.

[PTP]

i said all this in agger thread yesterday

it's a snowball effect - the defenders/keeper just haven't seem to click

the defenders drop deep, mignolet doesn't command, the defenders drop deeper, mignolet goes more into a shell -

ball drops in the six yard box = pandemonium

a more commanding confident goalkeeper who controlled the area - didn't flap at crosses would in turn allow the defenders to push forward and then not make rash last ditch swings at a ball in panic, which when you get wrong, results in conceding...

however the defence don't seem to work together at times and seem incapable of dealing with a big mobile forward - as a result they naturally drop deeper to deal with - which makes it harder for mignolet to command is area....cause he prob thinks...i can't come off my line now, if i do and a defender swings at it's a certain goal - if i stay on my line i might save it.....the defender is thinking, **** is he coming for this or not? i best swing at it just in case


it's not terrible - it's just that when it goes wrong, it looks ****ing horrendous

i am confident that mignolet will improve/grow with confidence in this area. Also a reshuffle of the defence and a bit of thinking about the system would help.

the other issue is getting a settled back four that are good players/stay fit. chopping and changing it every week through injuries can't help

[Fredo]

Where did you see me slag him off? I'm just saying that Mignolet isn't commanding enough and that's IMO, our main problem at the back. Some see Skrtel as the weak link, I see it differently. He can improve and I think he has since the start of the season, but some areas of his game - like commanding the box, need to be better.

[kingfunk]

Martin Skrtel

I think it's evident for a while that Rodgers is not happy with the CB's at his disposal. I seem to remember him saying that their faults could not be coached out of them, or something similar, and he alluded to it after the palace game.
There will be at least 1 first team CB bought during the summer, Skrtel and or Agger (injury record) moved on.
But that leaves us with the same problem as we has at the start of last season, in order to find the most effective partnership, continuity will go out the window, that will cost us again.
The Mig will improve next season imo, to be fair he has not been a disaster and it was never going to be easy for a young keeper, first season at a massive club and fighting for the title, one only needs to look at D'Gay an united, talk of bringing in a new first keeper is quite short sighted, and the same can be said for Sakho.

[Shaggy]

i said all this in agger thread yesterday

it's a snowball effect - the defenders/keeper just haven't seem to click

the defenders drop deep, mignolet doesn't command, the defenders drop deeper, mignolet goes more into a shell -

ball drops in the six yard box = pandemonium

a more commanding confident goalkeeper who controlled the area - didn't flap at crosses would in turn allow the defenders to push forward and then not make rash last ditch swings at a ball in panic, which when you get wrong, results in conceding...

however the defence don't seem to work together at times and seem incapable of dealing with a big mobile forward - as a result they naturally drop deeper to deal with - which makes it harder for mignolet to command is area....cause he prob thinks...i can't come off my line now, if i do and a defender swings at it's a certain goal - if i stay on my line i might save it.....the defender is thinking, **** is he coming for this or not? i best swing at it just in case


it's not terrible - it's just that when it goes wrong, it looks ****ing horrendous

i am confident that mignolet will improve/grow with confidence in this area. Also a reshuffle of the defence and a bit of thinking about the system would help.

the other issue is getting a settled back four that are good players/stay fit. chopping and changing it every week through injuries can't help

[danperkins]

Don't think that's completely down to Skrtel.....more of a collaborative effort from the CBs, Gerrard and, annoyingly, the keeper.

[danperkins]

Mignolet a big factor in that, definitely IMO. Doesn't command his box, hardly comes for anything. I think he's a little bit of a problem tbh. Fantastic shot stopper but I have my doubts.

he certainly doesn't inspire confidence that's for sure. His distribution is pretty awful too... does the CB's & wing backs no favours with the balls he gives.

[~LFCHistory~]

Where did you see me slag him off? I'm just saying that Mignolet isn't commanding enough and that's IMO, our main problem at the back. Some see Skrtel as the weak link, I see it differently. He can improve and I think he has since the start of the season, but some areas of his game - like commanding the box, need to be better.

You said Mignolet was the weak link in our defence that is ****ing laughable IMO. If anyone's the weak link it's Skrtel, Chris posted this yesterday :

Skrtel under Rodgers :

Started 59, conceded 80, 1.35 per game

Not started 17, Conceded 13. 0.76 per game.

Now I'm assuming that those stats are accurate and if they are it doesn't make pleasant reading does it ?

[Tee]

Totally agree with the concerns about Mignolet. Think he needs to be far more commanding and impose his authority on the box. It will make it a lot easier for the CBs. Would love us to go for Lloris.

[danperkins]

Where did you see me slag him off? I'm just saying that Mignolet isn't commanding enough and that's IMO, our main problem at the back. Some see Skrtel as the weak link, I see it differently. He can improve and I think he has since the start of the season, but some areas of his game - like commanding the box, need to be better.

spot on

[~LFCHistory~]

Totally agree with the concerns about Mignolet. Think he needs to be far more commanding and impose his authority on the box. It will make it a lot easier for the CBs. Would love us to go for Lloris.

Oh Lord. You think Mignolet is error prone ??

[Shaggy]

Gonna say - seen a lot of praise for Lloris, who undoubtedly makes great saves. But he also makes loads of howlers, flapper too. Wouldn't touch him with a bargepole.

[Yozza]

Where did you see me slag him off? I'm just saying that Mignolet isn't commanding enough and that's IMO, our main problem at the back. Some see Skrtel as the weak link, I see it differently. He can improve and I think he has since the start of the season, but some areas of his game - like commanding the box, need to be better.

The amount of times a cross has come in & he's been rooted to the line.... personally I don't care if it's first year - I'd get rid

All this talk of being a great shot stopper; well, most keepers are - he needs to be far more aggressive & vocal & commanding his area/defenders

[Fredo]

You said Mignolet was the weak link in our defence that is ****ing laughable IMO. If anyone's the weak link it's Skrtel, Chris posted this yesterday :

Skrtel under Rodgers :

Started 59, conceded 80, 1.35 per game

Not started 17, Conceded 13. 0.76 per game.

Now I'm assuming that those stats are accurate and if they are it doesn't make pleasant reading does it ?

That's not slagging him off FFS. That's a criticism, but you won't see me anywhere saying that he's a liability, or a disaster (which I've seen Chris use at times).

It's a collective issue at the end of the day, but Mignolet needs to be more assertive and be better at organising his defence. He sees the game all the time, compared to defenders who sometimes have to face the goal. So it's crucial that he improves in his decision making.