Martin Skrtel

[Leo No.8]

I have never seen a supposedly top level centre half be worse at marking and aerial challenges. Almost every week we concede either directly (Distin yesterday) or indirectly (Blackpool's 2nd the week) with him being beaten in the air. Its just happened so much throughout his Liverpool career. The funny thing is I seem to remember Kaizer telling us this would be the case when we signed him...

 

He is the single biggest problem in the whole side, a complete and utter liability because he is responsible for so many cheap goals. If I was an opposing manager I'd just be throwing crosses in at him, its so f*cking easy.

Edited January 17, 2011 by Leo No.8

[Tones]

i still believed there was a defender in there based on his first season with us when i thought he was pretty good. So i kept hoping there would be a change in him, and maybe Kenny coming in would give him a lift along with everyone else. But that defending yesterday was the final straw for me. Made no attempt to challenge for the ball. I have now given up all hope and would gladly see him sold, or even just dropped, and Kelly, Agger and the Greek being ahead of him for CH.

[honourablegeorge]

He was allright early on, but he hasn't played a good game since he clashed heads with Carragher.

[Cooldude]

We'd start getting lots of points when he's booted out

 

Dunno how many goals he's costed us this season purely on his clownish defending

 

Would rather the Greek start with Agger, even though the Greek's been a bit off lately. Maybe Kelly at centre back, although he's been contributing very positively to our attacking play on the right

[Leo No.8]

I think Kelly should be playing centre half. There is a top, top player in him - he's out of position at the moment but he just has that bit about him that means he'd probably do a good job wherever you played him. I think you'd see a really class act emerge if he was moved to the middle. That is the position he's most used to playing, and he's as big and strong if not moreso than any of the other centre halves at the club except the Greek so I don't think there's an argument about the physical side.

 

He has the cool head and intelligence to be a bit special in that position I think - I see him playing right back and think Gerrard when he first came on the scene, doing well but move him to where he supposed to be and he'll really show you what he can do.

Edited January 17, 2011 by Leo No.8

[Conrad]

Skertl is not good enough. He would be the first centre back I would be looking to replace.

[honourablegeorge]

I think Kelly should be playing centre half. There is a top, top player in him - he's out of position at the moment

 

Someone posted on Twitter that they spoke to Kelly, and that he sees himself as a right back.

[boohog]

You know football's messed up when Kaiser is right about something.

 

Agreed on Skrtel though. He was all over the place yesterday. Chasing players and not even looking at the arc of the cross. I think we all thought he was considerably better than what we're seeing now, but I guess you'd have to put that down to Rafa's teams never really being put under the kosh and Masch being so effective at protecting our defense.

 

Has anyone worked out whether Kenny is aiming for man-to-man or zonal by the way, because on the basis of yesterday I saw no coherent strategy.

[Dan]

Someone posted on Twitter that they spoke to Kelly, and that he sees himself as a right back.

 

Probably thought 'there's no f***ing way I'm partnering Skrtel'.

[Gerry]

Has anyone worked out whether Kenny is aiming for man-to-man or zonal by the way, because on the basis of yesterday I saw no coherent strategy.

 

Not sure what was going on at the corners to be honest. Looked a bit of a mess.

[Tosh]

 

 

Has anyone worked out whether Kenny is aiming for man-to-man or zonal by the way, because on the basis of yesterday I saw no coherent strategy.

 

"I just don't know what he's trying to do here, Jeff"

[Gunga Din]

i'd give Wilson a go in there right now. Skrtel is playing that bad we would have nothing to lose by giving it a go

[Bailo]

i'd give Wilson a go in there right now. Skrtel is playing that bad we would have nothing to lose by giving it a go

There is an argument that says our defence is so bad that putting a youngster in could destroy his confidence. But I think it's time for Wilson, he played a whole season for Rangers didn't he? Including a few Old Firm derbies. It's not like he's only had reserve football.

[Gunga Din]

There is an argument that says our defence is so bad that putting a youngster in could destroy his confidence. But I think it's time for Wilson, he played a whole season for Rangers didn't he? Including a few Old Firm derbies. It's not like he's only had reserve football.

 

 

we've been playing bad all season. do you think Martin Kellys confidence has suffered? what about Shelvey? or Spearing yesterday? i think its a no lose. Shelvey came on yesterday and was trying through balls from the moment he came on. compare that to when he played under Hodgson. Kelly has come on in leaps and bounds too

[Bailo]

we've been playing bad all season. do you think Martin Kellys confidence has suffered? what about Shelvey? or Spearing yesterday? i think its a no lose. Shelvey came on yesterday and was trying through balls from the moment he came on. compare that to when he played under Hodgson. Kelly has come on in leaps and bounds too

Agree, though I think our defensive problems are deeper than just Skrtel. Key is getting Johnson back to RB and then either Kelly or Wilson in the centre.

 

I really like the look of Shelvey, has a bit of a swagger about him and I liked it when he told Agger and someone else to f*** off after trying that lob against the Mancs.

[Gunga Din]

Agree, though I think our defensive problems are deeper than just Skrtel. Key is getting Johnson back to RB and then either Kelly or Wilson in the centre.

 

I really like the look of Shelvey, has a bit of a swagger about him and I liked it when he told Agger and someone else to f*** off after trying that lob against the Mancs.

 

 

Shelvey has something about him all right. and the one thing i liked yesterday when the young yads were playing, they were all talking, all shouting and encouraging. Spearing was at it all game, i thought he was great yesterday, he covered some ground yesterday and gave their midfield nothing. kelly too is a talker as is Shelvey. when Kenny was manager last time we had a team of talkers, and i think he is trying to get back to that

[Epic Swindle]

Has anyone worked out whether Kenny is aiming for man-to-man or zonal by the way, because on the basis of yesterday I saw no coherent strategy.

 

I saw a combination of both.

[Mooster]

If we had a few more points between us and the bottom I'd be keen to see Ayala given a go - thought he did well last year in the few opportunities he had, and the reports from his loan spell at Hull seemed promising. Seems a bit more aggressive/less cultured (in a good way) than Wilson, and he handled the aerial stuff well against Stoke last year. My reservation is that he could probably do with someone experienced and reasonably pacy next to him, and given Agger's condition that's not necessarily going to happen all that often.

[Bailo]

Shelvey has something about him all right. and the one thing i liked yesterday when the young yads were playing, they were all talking, all shouting and encouraging. Spearing was at it all game, i thought he was great yesterday, he covered some ground yesterday and gave their midfield nothing. kelly too is a talker as is Shelvey. when Kenny was manager last time we had a team of talkers, and i think he is trying to get back to that

Yup. I've never seen Skrtel talk on the pitch other than to bemoan a (often stupid) freekick being awarded against him. Agger always seems a quiet lad as well.

 

I thought Spearing was great too, raw and at 22 that's a worry, but he needs games.

[beejay]

Ayala is back after his spell with Hull, where he seemed to make a very good impression. He is strong in the air and a lot more mobile than Kyrgiakos.

 

Skrtel is costing us big time and needs to be replaced now. We have some really good defensive prospects in Wilson & Kelly but neither are dominant aerially. The same could be said for Carragher & Agger and the only player on our books who can win the first ball, other than the Greek, is Ayala. He can't be any worse than Skrtel at the moment and could save us a shedload of money.

[DazzlaJ]

Anyone know what's up with Agger?

[Bailo]

Anyone know what's up with Agger?

s***s.

 

My mate is a Hull fan, says there was some right shenanigins about Ayala when Hodgson was here, he got injured and then got played, and got re-injured, and apparently Hodgson went mental and said he'd never loan a player to Hull ever again.

[Hassony]

s***s.

 

My mate is a Hull fan, says there was some right shenanigins about Ayala when Hodgson was here, he got injured and then got played, and got re-injured, and apparently Hodgson went mental and said he'd never loan a player to Hull ever again.

 

we should loan them Konchesky and Poulsen in that case

[badtodabone]

dont think kelly should be moved hes doing fine where he is ,how about danny wilson being given a chance

[Epic Swindle]

dont think kelly should be moved hes doing fine where he is ,how about danny wilson being given a chance

 

Hasn't got a Mary's prayer at the moment.