Mamadou Sakho

[DannyMan2006]

Our defence was ****e last year as a unit. I don't know who was to blame. Sakho takes equal blame in all that.

Individually, I felt Skrtel was the better defender last year. So I'd probably consider having Sakho on the bench to start, but depends who partners Lovren best in training.

[Norbs]

Sakho will be gone in 2 years, for £12m back to France.

That much?

[RedRum]

Was watching the friendly on stream and there was a chat at the side, about 3 or 4 chatting away about Sakho. They were all in agreement he was ****e on the ball. Found it a bit annoying, where has this idea come from? I think he is better than people give him credit for.

[BigChief]

Sakho is not ****e on the ball but he is a bit rubbish in the air. Skrtel and Loren looked good together, specially with the high balls.

[marcus50bucks]

Sakho is not ****e on the ball but he is a bit rubbish in the air. Skrtel and Loren looked good together, specially with the high balls.

I think Lovren and Skrtel will be our first choice centre back pairing.

[MrMichael]

I'm coming around to the idea of Skrtel and Lovren, but I'd love to see how Sakho does with Lovren next to him.

Either way we sure have the biggest (best?) pool of CB choices we've ever had available to Rodgers to choose from this summer, I make it 6 current full internationals - Lovren, Sakho, Skrtel, Agger, Toure & Coates, plus Ilori. Whatever we might think of one or two of them that's seriously spoiled for choice.

[Red_Polo]

Some of those have got to go, surely? It's wasteful.

I too would like to see how Sakho worked with Lovren, but I think a lot of people may have underestimated BR's preference for Skrtel ahead of him. It's a combination we're bound to see get a chance at some stage though and as many have pointed out, Rodgers is not averse to changing his mind if a player does enough to warrant it.

[tanner]

I think he is better than people give him credit for.

No, on here the majority think he's excellent. I think he's gash, on the ball he reminds me very much of a cross between Momo and Traore.

[RedRum]

No, on here the majority think he's excellent. I think he's gash, on the ball he reminds me very much of a cross between Momo and Traore.

Maybe on here and he deserves that if you ask me. Hardly put a foot wrong for us. It is everywhere else that I hear how poor he is on the ball, this is untrue in my opinion.

[Norbs]

I'm not a fan yet either. From where I sit he plays a lot of poor passes that put the receiver under pressure, which often leads to us losing possession. The stats will say it's a completed pass but don't tell the whole story.

Lovren looked superb today and slotted in seamlessly. He and Skrtel wouldn't be a dreadful pairing

[CJ]

Not seen much of sorrel myself. I think its safer to keep him with skrtel rather than change again

[RichC]

I've no idea what you guys are seeing he's an excellent passer who fizzes it into players feet and gets us moving forwards, if he has a weakness it's his aerial ability that could do with some work.

[dww]

I'm not a fan yet either. From where I sit he plays a lot of poor passes that put the receiver under pressure, which often leads to us losing possession. The stats will say it's a completed pass but don't tell the whole story.

Lovren looked superb today and slotted in seamlessly. He and Sorrel wouldn't be a dreadful pairing

I've no idea what you guys are seeing he's an excellent passer who fizzes it into players feet and gets us moving forwards, if he has a weakness it's his aerial ability that could do with some work.

Interesting seems you guys are seeing the same passes as examples of good or bad play. My feeling is that the passes are good only if you are playing them to the right type of player. Barcelona and Bayern play balls like that which appear risky all the time on the assumption that receiver will have good enough control to deal with it. I don't think that our midfield has been full of the sort of players for whom that is a good assumption.

I think it is a decision making thing. As I think are his occasional issues in the air.

I assume that it is the communication/decisiveness part that is keeping him back in Rodgers estimation. To me he has all the raw components to be an excellent player but needs more game time with the right set up. Hopefully he'll get that with us.

[Venton]

Interesting seems you guys are seeing the same passes as examples of good or bad play. My feeling is that the passes are good only if you are playing them to the right type of player. Barcelona and Bayern play balls like that which appear risky all the time on the assumption that receiver will have good enough control to deal with it. I don't think that our midfield has been full of the sort of players for whom that is a good assumption.

I think it is a decision making thing. As I think are his occasional issues in the air.

I assume that it is the communication/decisiveness part that is keeping him back in Rodgers estimation. To me he has all the raw components to be an excellent player but needs more game time with the right set up. Hopefully he'll get that with us.

I was thinking that watching the match today. A lot of the balls coming to Johnson were hospital balls to begin with. He made the best of them but you wouldn't have thrown those out to Enrique if you had the option. You assume that Johnson has the speed to do something with them.

[BrooklynRed]

I really think Sakho is a very good player with the potential to be great. Great with the ball, smart, moves quickly, and steps up to challenge the ball. Yes, sometimes he lunges for it and it cost him against Mata in Miami, but no one else even tried to make a tackle on that play. he is physical and plays with the ball at his feet; I love watching him. I think he and Lovren would be great together; if he could work on his finishing on corners, he would be outstanding. He just needs another CB pushing the line and keeping him honest. I think Lovren would be a great partner to improve Sakho.