Agger

[deacon]

I remember Elisha said a few weeks back that Agger was apparently looking very sharp in training. He looked ok in the first leg against Liege, but hasn't had a look in since. Very strange.

[Mike]

thought he was out of sorts in the first leg and we've played two very powerful in the air teams, so it made sense to me to have skrtl and carra.

[Chili Palmer]

I think he will be back on sunday, maybe with Carra at right back?

[Hassony]

I think he will be back on sunday, maybe with Carra at right back?

 

That seems the best option for this season

[Dominus Maximus]

Honestly I thought Skrtel was weak yesterday. He allowed the Liege striker to much time on the ball, forcing Carragher to help him recover, pressing our defensive line to far back, leaving too much space between our midfield and our attack. He got his job done, but it could have been done with much more style, and confidence. It can’t be ignored that we get more nervous when the defence doesn’t deal with the pressure faster.

 

From what I remember about Agger when fully fit, was that we could set our defensive line higher up the pitch, since Agger and Mascherano and Carra would be enough defensive cover, thus releasing Gerrard from defensive obligation. When compared to Skrtel (who is a good defender btw) Agger exudes more intelligence on the ball, and is more adept at bringing the ball out of the defence. Skrtel tries, but always seems to either hoof it, or pass it on to either fullback.

Scoring wise I believe Agger got 5 goals last time he played a full season, 4 of them after set-pieces. This is something we need, since neither Carra nor Skrtel scores goals.

 

With Mascherano and Agger back, I could see us implementing a more attacking approach, against Villa. I thought Keane was brought in as a stop-gap between Torres and Gerrard making us more offensive, but with Xabi and Skrtel behind Gerrard Rafa doesn’t seem confident enough with pilling on the pressure. This may indeed change if Mascherano and Agger were behind Gerrard.

 

Or something...

Edited August 28, 2008 by Aggermania

[CarraLegend]

He's just being eased back in and rightly so. He played for Denmark aswell and theres more s***ty internationals coming up so he cant be playing every match.

[Chili Palmer]

Honestly I thought Skrtel was weak yesterday. He allowed the Liege striker to much time on the ball, forcing Carragher to help him recover, pressing our defensive line to far back, leaving too much space between our midfield and our attack. He got his job done, but it could have been done with much more style, and confidence. It can’t be ignored that we get more nervous when the defence doesn’t deal with the pressure faster.

 

From what I remember about Agger when fully fit, was that we could set our defensive line higher up the pitch, since Agger and Mascherano and Carra would be enough defensive cover, thus releasing Gerrard from defensive obligation. When compared to Skrtel (who is a good defender btw) Agger exudes more intelligence on the ball, and is more adept at bringing the ball out of the defence. Skrtel tries, but always seems to either hoof it, or pass it on to either fullback.

Scoring wise I believe Agger got 5 goals last time he played a full season, 4 of them after set-pieces. This is something we need, since neither Carra nor Skrtel scores goals.

 

With Mascherano and Agger back, I could see us implementing a more attacking approach, against Villa. I thought Keane was brought in as a stop-gap between Torres and Gerrard making us more offensive, but with Xabi and Skrtel behind Gerrard Rafa doesn’t seem confident enough with pilling on the pressure. This may indeed change if Mascherano and Agger were behind Gerrard.

 

Or something...

 

 

I think you are being very unfair on Skrtel there, I thought he was good last night, and he is good on the ball.

[Kite]

That seems the best option for this season

Think so too. Arbeloa is dreadfully inconsistent, could do with getting a solid back four in place even if it does mean sacrificing Carra to a full back role.

[kop205]

Honestly I thought Skrtel was weak yesterday. He allowed the Liege striker to much time on the ball, forcing Carragher to help him recover, pressing our defensive line to far back, leaving too much space between our midfield and our attack. He got his job done, but it could have been done with much more style, and confidence. It can’t be ignored that we get more nervous when the defence doesn’t deal with the pressure faster.

 

From what I remember about Agger when fully fit, was that we could set our defensive line higher up the pitch, since Agger and Mascherano and Carra would be enough defensive cover, thus releasing Gerrard from defensive obligation. When compared to Skrtel (who is a good defender btw) Agger exudes more intelligence on the ball, and is more adept at bringing the ball out of the defence. Skrtel tries, but always seems to either hoof it, or pass it on to either fullback.

Scoring wise I believe Agger got 5 goals last time he played a full season, 4 of them after set-pieces. This is something we need, since neither Carra nor Skrtel scores goals.

 

Agree with some of that (holding a higher line for instance) but Skrtel is a lot better on the ball than you give him credit for and Agger has only ever scored twice for us so it remains to be seen what goal threat he can be. He has enough in his game to score goals and should do so, but then I've aleays felt that Sami should score more than he does for a guy of his size and ability in the air.

[Hassony]

Agree with some of that (holding a higher line for instance) but Skrtel is a lot better on the ball than you give him credit for and Agger has only ever scored twice for us so it remains to be seen what goal threat he can be. He has enough in his game to score goals and should do so, but then I've aleays felt that Sami should score more than he does for a guy of his size and ability in the air.

 

 

West ham, Chelsea and Arsenal

[yellow jumper]

didn't he score against birmingham too?

[Hassony]

didn't he score against birmingham too?

 

correct

[kop205]

West ham, Chelsea and Arsenal

 

And Birmingham away too! So he's got a few more than I remembered in fairness, though I'd still like to see him get more and become a real threat in the way that someone like Lescott was last season.

[Mike]

lescott played full back

 

do carry on

[kop205]

Yes, but got a lot of his goals from set pieces, headers from corners and stuff. Isn't like he was marauding down the wing and slamming shots in from everywhere.

 

No reason in theory why a CB can't do as he did and make himself a real threat from set pieces.

 

Do carry on yourself.

[carrafan]

You'll never carry alone?

[dodgy1]

lescott played full back

 

do carry on

 

 

hahaha smarta*** idiot !!!

[Chili Palmer]

Carry on cowboy was my favourite...

[Dominus Maximus]

Must have counted his goal against West Ham for 2. Wonder why?

 

Nevertheless 4 goals is still 4 goals more than Skrtel. I might have been hard on Skrtel, but if you can, look at the tape again. Just feels like Carra has to do extra work, since Skrtel doesn't clean up proper. And while I agree that Martin is a good defender, I will strongly disagree that he is in any way on the same level as Agger regarding possession of the ball, bringing it out of the defence and SETTING up the play. Skrtel is no way in the same league. Maybe you lot can't remember how well Agger was going forward, since it is almost ten months ago?

[CarraLegend]

I will strongly disagree that he is in any way on the same level as Agger regarding possession of the ball, bringing it out of the defence and SETTING up the play.

 

No one has actually said he is have they?

[fyds]

I heard somewhere that he had gone over on his ankle in training and it was a bit sore and swollen so he was left out last night as a precaution, but should be fine for Villa.

[Dominus Maximus]

I heard somewhere that he had gone over on his ankle in training and it was a bit sore and swollen so he was left out last night as a precaution, but should be fine for Villa.

 

Agger?

 

I saw in the danish papers last week, that he didn't know why he didn't play in Sunderland, but said that the only thing he could do about it was to keep his head high and give 110% percent in training.

[fyds]

Agger?

 

I saw in the danish papers last week, that he didn't know why he didn't play in Sunderland, but said that the only thing he could do about it was to keep his head high and give 110% percent in training.

Dunno mate - I either read it on another forum or it came up in conversation earlier in the week...can't remember now, anyway. I'd certainly like to see him back asap.

[Dominus Maximus]

Dunno mate - I either read it on another forum or it came up in conversation earlier in the week...can't remember now, anyway. I'd certainly like to see him back asap.

 

Amen...

[Guest perdix]

. When compared to Skrtel (who is a good defender btw) Agger exudes more intelligence on the ball, and is more adept at bringing the ball out of the defence. Skrtel tries, but always seems to either hoof it, or pass it on to either fullback.

 

nah

 

I'm not having that

 

Skrtel's passing from centre back is crisp and accurate, forward as much as sideways, and he is excellent at bringing the ball out until someone closes him right down at which point he releases it, Hansen style, intelligently creating space for his teammates

 

underneath that spetsnaz facade lies a cultured player