Not as good as we think?

[New York Red]

After Sundays whupping, you have to reassess how far we are behind that shower. We know it would be great to get another great forward, and we need some help at LM and RM.

 

But, are we overlooking the real issue here and that is that our defenders just aren't as good as we think? Are we deluding ourselves on how good Skrtel really is and how much Agger actually contributes?

 

Carra -- The best three years ago. Now? He's slipped noticeably.

Skrtel -- Some good points, but some some bad ones too. Looks hard, but is he truly great?

Agger -- Superb. But, will his career be blighted by injury?

Sami -- 3rd choice at best, 4th more likely.

Arbeloa -- Versatile. Looks great sometimes but glaringly inconsistent.

Finnan -- 32. A season left maybe but not as good as he was.

Riise -- It's time to go Johnny.

 

I have real worries about how well this lot will perform next year. Clearly there will be some changes over the summer, but the problems may be bigger than can be tweaked.

[Maldini]

Calm down dear. We already knew how far we were behind. Our defence is the least of our problems though, we've conceded 7 goals from open play this season.

[Zoob]

Given that Carragher and Finnan have both had poor seasons (by their high standards) and the fact that Agger has missed most of the season, I think our defensive record is fantastic.

[anfield11]

After Sundays whupping, you have to reassess how far we are behind that shower. We know it would be great to get another great forward, and we need some help at LM and RM.

 

But, are we overlooking the real issue here and that is that our defenders just aren't as good as we think? Are we deluding ourselves on how good Skrtel really is and how much Agger actually contributes?

 

Carra -- The best three years ago. Now? He's slipped noticeably.

Skrtel -- Some good points, but some some bad ones too. Looks hard, but is he truly great?

Agger -- Superb. But, will his career be blighted by injury?

Sami -- 3rd choice at best, 4th more likely.

Arbeloa -- Versatile. Looks great sometimes but glaringly inconsistent.

Finnan -- 32. A season left maybe but not as good as he was.

Riise -- It's time to go Johnny.

 

I have real worries about how well this lot will perform next year. Clearly there will be some changes over the summer, but the problems may be bigger than can be tweaked.

 

 

Maybe third choice, but arguably the best performer this season.

[New York Red]

Calm down dear. We already knew how far we were behind. Our defence is the least of our problems though, we've conceded 7 goals from open play this season.

 

I can't Paulo, I can't!!!!

[New York Red]

Given that Carragher and Finnan have both had poor seasons (by their high standards) and the fact that Agger has missed most of the season, I think our defensive record is fantastic.

 

Carra and Finnan will continue to decline. Agger may not recover properly.

[Spike]

I haz givened up

[Gunga Din]

Agger may not recover properly.

 

 

for Christs sake man, its a broken bone in his foot, not brain surgery he is recovering from

[zimmie4444]

Jamie Carragher has never been the quickest, nor does he possess great technique. His strength has always been his reading of the game and, though I hesitate to use the term, his commitment to the cause. If he is anything less than on top of his game, his defficiencies are evident. I do fear he has seen his best days and I think we should be looking to replace him soon, whether Skrtel is going to be adequate I'm not sure.

[Foo]

for Christs sake man, its a broken bone in his foot, not brain surgery he is recovering from

 

 

His brain is in his foot, que pasa ese?

[Kuyt-fever]

Talk about an over-reaction.

[Lanus]

Maybe third choice, but arguably the best performer this season.

 

I don't think there is any argupment there. Hyypia has been truelly fantastic this season. I'm not just saying this because of his legendary status at the club, its simply an observation. He has very much earned himself another contract.

 

I would really love if he was still playing at the club when we won our first premiership title.

[meepins]

Carragher will regain his form I'm sure. He's a good professional, committed and a good defender. Saying his best days are behind him while possible, is quite premature. As for the other points - the issues at fullback get discussed regularly and nobody was overestimating our players there.

[John am Rhein]

Given that Carragher and Finnan have both had poor seasons (by their high standards) and the fact that Agger has missed most of the season, I think our defensive record is fantastic.

 

Aye, given our forwards have (with one exception) played mostly sh*t, our attacking record has been fantastic too

[micmij]

There was no real problem with Carra & Skrtel on Sunday. Both had decent games. There were a couple of quality balls that exposed our lack of pace in the centre of defence, but not many teams would be able to deal with balls like that (forwards tend to be quicker than centre halves and if you get the ball just right....) The real problems were that Reina had an up & down game and we had our heart ripped out before we could work our way back into it.

 

That said, our fullbacks don't instill me with a great deal of confidence defensively. But I'd hardly rate Evra and Brown much better defensively. Would you?

Edited March 26, 2008 by micmij

[Earl Hafler]

Calm down dear. We already knew how far we were behind. Our defence is the least of our problems though, we've conceded 7 goals from open play this season.

 

It's not just about conceding goals, though. Our passing out of defence is miles behind that of Utd or Arsenal.

 

And people ripping into Evra and Brown make me chuckle. They've been mainstays of a defence that has conceded 9 fewer goals than us in the league and contributed more in attack than our fullbacks.

[RP]

There was no real problem with Carra & Skrtel on Sunday.

 

 

 

I'm off for a lie down.

[Cobs]

anyone for a mixed team thread?

[Leo No.8]

It's not just about conceding goals, though. Our passing out of defence is miles behind that of Utd or Arsenal.

 

And people ripping into Evra and Brown make me chuckle. They've been mainstays of a defence that has conceded 9 fewer goals than us in the league and contributed more in attack than our fullbacks.

 

A quick, agile full back like Evra able to get from the back up in support of attacking play extremely quickly is exactly one of the factors we are missing. Shortage of this is one of the factors that makes our build up laboured.

 

All our full backs have their positive points, but there is a serious lack of pace there which isn't the case with any of the other top teams (possibly not just in England but in Europe), and we are hampered going forward because of it.

 

Evra, Sagna, Cole etc are of the type we need (Alves would be even better than all of them). I'd be happy with one of Aurelio, Arbeloa or Finnan playing with a player of the aforementioned type on the other flank to give us better balance.

 

The modern game demands a high level of pace, ability on the ball and immense stamina from your full backs. You can afford to have one steady, defensively biased type but two can render you a bit toothless out wide.

 

Of course it's also one of the reasons we are tough to beat in Europe, we rarely over committ and get caught.

Edited March 26, 2008 by Leo No.8

[Guest Snorky]

We should never have sold Warnock.

[Hassony]

Skrtel -- Some good points, but some some bad ones too. Looks hard, but is he truly great?

 

how many games has he played so far? 10? thats enough for you to make a judgement?

[Hassony]

We should never have sold Warnock.

 

Are you joking? 90% (made up figure) of the goals that blackburn concede come from the left side,

[Guest Snorky]

Are you joking? 90% (made up figure) of the goals that blackburn concede come from the left side,

 

Do I look like I'm joking, do I ?

[Hassony]

Do I look like I'm joking, do I ?

 

Its difficult to tell with your Jack Dee like delivery

[John am Rhein]

We should never have sold Warnock.

 

Why? Even Riise's better than him.