[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=46385.msg1378058#msg1378058 date=1313068797]
[quote author=Wizardry link=topic=46385.msg1377749#msg1377749 date=1313032367]
[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=46385.msg1377498#msg1377498 date=1312993849]
I've yet to be convinced that the new CB has to be a monster in the air TBH. I suspect Jocky and Lawrenson would be the majority choice as the CB duo for our All-Time XI and neither was much cop at heading the ball, which was probably played more through the air in those days than it is now.
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Maybe the definition of a "monster in the air" needs to be clarified but, for all intents and purposes, I'd disagree with this quite strongly.
Sami had a lot of qualities but it's no co-incidence that since he left or - as Del points out - since he stopped being a regular, we've been conceding from set pieces. Not even just set pieces - everytime a ball gets off the earths surface we've looked decidedly vulnerable and leaked goals horribly. Citing Jocky and Lawrenson isn't really fair cause they were playing in a much better team and the opposition didn't attack anywhere near as readily. Nor, importantly, were set pieces such a problem because the ball was completely different and couldn't be whipped in with such venom and dip.
I'll also comment that a number of us who watched them play picked Jocky and Sami as our preferred CB partnership. 😉 Just to rekindle that debate and all.
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Saying I'm not convinced we need "a monster in the air" was an attempt to strike a balance. Of course I'm not saying aerial ability is not important in a CB, but what I was - and still am - saying is that it isn't so important that it should outweigh everything else. Our new signing would need to be competent in the air but IMO not necessarily outstanding.
That brings me to your second para.which, characteristically cogent as it is, doesn't convince me. Conceding straight away that Sami had a lot of qualities, your argument then seems to me to ignore the others and still place overmuch emphasis just on heading the ball. IMO those other things Sami brought to the team - reading the game, organising the back four, sheer physical strength - are as important, hence their absence has been as damaging, as Sami's aerial power. I don't accept that the comparison with Jocky and Lawrenson is an unfair one - when we WERE attacked in their day (and incidentally I don't remember it happening as rarely as you imply) such attacks came more often through the air than they do now. Fair point about the different properties of the ball being used at the time, but IMO that's balanced out (to say the least) by the greater frequency then of aerial attacks overall.
I loved the big Finn and in many ways would far rather vote him into the All-Time XI than Lawrenson, but I simply can't break up that Hansen-Lawrenson combo, the footballing equivalent of peaches and cream. It's a close-run thing all right, but if the whole of LFC's support could be canvassed I'd be willing to bet you'd end up in a (quite possibly sizeable) minority.
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That's an excellent post Jules. Your point on my raising Sami's many qualities and then concentrating on only one is spot on - I did actually think about it when I was writing the post but then left it as is.
I certainly don't think that we should look for a monster in the air at the expense of all else. However, our backline is a little differnt to what it was in Sami's day. Both Skrtel and Agger are significantly quicker than what H + H were (or Carra for that matter) and Agger has grown significantly in his passing over the last two seasons. Absolutely I would love to have someone who read the game as well as Sami, who could play the defense splitting pass as well as him or was as strong in the tackle as he was. However, given the strengths of our other CB's (and weaknesses) the primary quality has to be, IMO, strength in the air. If he isn't dominant in that aspect then what's the point? We don't want to get a CB for the sake of getting him or because he's available. We want a CB who's going to fill (as well as possible) our major short fall and that's arial ability.
If he's 6"5 and can clean up everything that leaves the ground but can't move sideways, misses every tackle and colour blind when passing then I'll happily say he shouldn't get a look in. By the same token, however, if he's as fast as they come, reads the game well, can bring the ball out of the back but no better in the air than Skrtel then what's the point? We sign another good CB who solve the problems we've got.
First priority is he's got to be great in the air - then everything else can be evaluated.
As for Sami and Lawrenson; it is tight but I think there's a little bit of misty red tint for some of our old time performers at times. Sami, IMO, was better.