roy can't get sammi back

[Mike]

http://www.clickliverpool.com/sport/liverpool-fc/1210177-roy-hodgson-reveals-failed-liverpool-fc-approach-for-sami-hyypia.html?

 

gutted. f***ing insane decision letting him go.

[Hassony]

hopefully he'll be back next season

 

the best centre back in the history of the premiership

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

we didn't let him go

[Red]

It was all a bit "the grass is greener" with Sami. I can remember him enduring a season of being compared to an oil tanker making a 3 point turn, but when he departed the gaping hole which was left was there for all to see. His aerial prowess we particularly missed.

 

Hopefully he'll be back one day in a coaching capacity, top, top player.

[Falconhoof]

we didn't let him go

 

Is Roy lying about that bit ?

[Rocheteau]

He went on a bosman which kind of implies that we did let him go

 

I dont think you could lay the blame for his leaving on either party. Sami was definitely slowing up towards the end of the season before last and you could see why Benitez was probably reluctant at the time to renew his contract on the terms that would have suited the player

 

The problem was not that we let him go, more that he was never adequately replaced. Though i've been a staunch critic of Benitez and his philosophy, this one was a direct result of the restrictions placed on him from above and the need to gamble on squad priority

 

In terms of the then managers tactical approach, I think we missed Hyypia's solidity and commanding back four presence more than we missed Alonso's vision and distribution

[Falconhoof]

Though i've been a staunch critic of Benitez and his philosophy, this one was a direct result of the restrictions placed on him from above and the need to gamble on squad priority

 

You say that but on the other hand he went and paid 2m for Kyrgiakos. I've nothing against Kyrgiakos and he's done quite well but its difficult to argue that money was better spent than it would have been on a new contract for Sami.

[Jarg Armani]

You say that but on the other hand he went and paid 2m for Kyrgiakos. I've nothing against Kyrgiakos and he's done quite well but its difficult to argue that money was better spent than it would have been on a new contract for Sami.

On the one hand, deals were in place for high quality replacements for sami, then Benitez gets told he's only got 1.5m left instead of 10m and we have to get the Greek.

 

On the other hand Hyppia should have played more games in his last season, it was already obvious that Skrtel was poor in the air back then and we lost some vital goals because of it. And he should have been offered 2 more years.

[Falconhoof]

On the one hand, deals were in place for high quality replacements for sami, then Benitez gets told he's only got 1.5m left instead of 10m and we have to get the Greek.

 

On the other hand Hyppia should have played more games in his last season, it was already obvious that Skrtel was poor in the air back then and we lost some vital goals because of it. And he should have been offered 2 more years.

 

who were the high quality replacements, I can't remember.

[Paisley]

 

The problem was not that we let him go, more that he was never adequately replaced.

 

How do you replace a player like that though? We never really replaced Hansen until Hyypia came along, and he was always going to be difficult to replace once he did leave. Players like that come around once a generation if you're lucky.

[David Hodgson]

we didn't let him go

 

Cos he wouldn't have taken a good new 2 year deal ? It would have been a piece of cake to keep him. There's plenty of grounds to defend Rafas tenure on, but this was a pretty clear error. Not a sacking offence, but a mistake nonetheless.

[Hightown Phil]

A two year contract to someone who would be 36 during the season and 37 during this? I really don't see a problem with not offering a two year deal.

[FC Showster]

I didn't think it was the length of contract that was the issue but rather that Sami wanted to play and wanted assurances about the number of games he'd get

[Falconhoof]

A two year contract to someone who would be 36 during the season and 37 during this? I really don't see a problem with not offering a two year deal.

 

He's better than most defenders younger than him. He's fine for 10-15 games a season, probably more if needed.

[muleskinner]

who were the high quality replacements, I can't remember.

 

Michael Turner and Ryan Shawcross

[Will]

I doubt Sami would have signed a new contract as he was clearly still very eager to be playing every week, and he knew that was never going to happen by staying at Anfield

[Leo No.8]

I'd argue against the fact that it was unavoidable Hyypia would go because he wanted to play.

 

The reason is he should have been playing more. The last two seasons he was with us Sami was class just about every time he played. I realise that was probably partly because he was getting a good rest but he was still very much under-used. Look at the way he played at United in his last season.

 

Sami was and probably still is capable of starting 30-35 games for us at the top level, Rafa was using him much less than that. From last summer on, Rafa got a hell of a lot wrong and this was one of a long list of tactical, personal and transfer decisions which alongside the off the pitch business helped contribute to last season's debacle. Sami should have played more and then he wouldn't have left.

 

Last season we ended up horribly exposed to balls played high into our area and we allowed one of the best headers of a ball in the history of the club to ply his trade elsewhere - how can that not be classed as a mistake?

Edited August 7, 2010 by Leo No.8

[floyd]

When Sami stepped in at the last minute against those fvckers, to deliver that performance, showed everyone he was far from finished.

Shocking descision letting him go, not only on the field, but his off field respect he had with others was missed.

[Mike]

He's better than most defenders younger than him. He's fine for 10-15 games a season, probably more if needed.

 

yet you'd have him back now wouldn't you...

[Benzo-13]

It was the Degen (who was injured) named in the CL squad instead of him that caused him to question his future here.

I hated that decision.

[Tones]

Sami was offered a contract but just wanted to play every week. Ive no problem with any player wanting to do that. He wasnt getting near that in the last couple of years and we were looking at getting other long term CHs in. I can see why he left but he was offered a contract.

[Falconhoof]

yet you'd have him back now wouldn't you...

 

If he's fit and available, yes i'd have him back on a decent contract even if its just for 15 games.

[RedHarvest]

Definitely a mistake not to realise his value in leadership and backbone even as his game was slowing down dramatically. But in fairness how were we to know the club would endure such a fall and miss him so badly.

[Leo No.8]

Incidentally I would have played Sami more at the expense of Carra, who I think has also shown with last years form he also needs more resting. We could have kept both players happy and in form that way, Carra looks permanently knackered and playing him in every game will finish him early.

[torn]

You say that but on the other hand he went and paid 2m for Kyrgiakos. I've nothing against Kyrgiakos and he's done quite well but its difficult to argue that money was better spent than it would have been on a new contract for Sami.

He was offered a new contract, but turned it down because he wasn't guaranteed first team football....................

 

Sami wasn't happy to be 4tch choice centre back, Soto is.