I miss Sami

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Portly link=topic=37669.msg1005809#msg1005809 date=1259925455]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=37669.msg1005793#msg1005793 date=1259924800]

he's been all over the place this season. to be fair he has been the only one.
[/quote]

I don't think so. When you look at our back four, I like Insua but he is inexperienced and makes defensive mistakes, Carra is showing worrying signs of slowing down and struggling at times, and Johnson is not a specialist defender.
[/quote]

sorry, 'HASN'T' been the only one.

 

[manwithnoname]

Why would you be afraid to say it?

Everyone misses Sami

 

[Y1]

[quote author=gkmacca link=topic=37669.msg1005741#msg1005741 date=1259921171]
I think I said something to the effect that he sounds like he's become faster and younger since he left. Not many people last season were complaining he wasn't playing enough. We all loved him and wouldn't have minded him getting a few more games, but it wasn't high on the agenda (and the 'He's too slow these days' line was never far away). He left because he wanted to finish his days as a regular starter, and, if we're honest, that wasn't possible here. He would have been wonderful to bring in during the injury crisis, but neither he nor we anticipated such fresh hell as that.
[/quote]

exactly, our crisis was a crisis of letting in goals, and i think sami would have helped us prevent some of the losses. we are able to score but could not defend.

 

[keniget]

*bites tongue and leaves thread*

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=37669.msg1005774#msg1005774 date=1259923751]
it must had killed sami to watch the hapless skrtel get ahead of him in the team week after week.[/quote]

Did you miss the bit where we nearly won the league last season with him as a regular?? I know Agger's re-entered the fold, but it's not exactly a bed of roses yet.

The 'hapless' Skrtel partnered Hyypia at centre back when we fucking snotted United at Old Trafford.

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=Whitey85 link=topic=37669.msg1005808#msg1005808 date=1259925351]
[quote author=Portly link=topic=37669.msg1005790#msg1005790 date=1259924617]
I think Skrtel is playing quite well this season, but is being made the scapegoat for our general defensive inadequacies.
[/quote]

Hes having a poor season as are most of the team.

He seems to be a bit indecisive in his play and isn't dealing with situations and doing the basics right. The Man City game summed his season up so far when Tevez took the ball from him and they worked it well resulting in Ireland scoring.

He just needs to get some confidence back, re-establish his no nonsense approach to defending and im sure he will be fine.

[/quote]

Yeah, to be fair, much of that is bred from inexperience and a lack of confidence. If the backline isn't functioning as a unit then it spreads the uncertainty.

It seems ok for a seasoned pro like Carra to suffer because of it, but a young lad who's been in the country less than two years and has so far performed really well, seemingly doesn't have the same benefit of the doubt. And yeah, I know Carra has proven himself in the past, but people forget the standards he performed at when the same age as Skrtel and Agger, particularly if we were going through a bad patch.

 

[Richey]

Hyypia was great for us. One of the best defenders we've had in the last twenty years.
However, there were suggestions from some last season that he was past his best, and although even that standard is a lot higher than others at their best, that's probably true.

If we had had no injuries or loss of form this season I doubt Sami would've got much of a look in.

As for saying we miss him more than Alonso, that's madness. Alonso was a very important first team player whereas Hyypia was back up even last year.
Their places have both been taken by averages players but at least the greek doesn't often play.

 

[Judge Jules]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=37669.msg1006072#msg1006072 date=1259946237]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=37669.msg1005774#msg1005774 date=1259923751]
it must had killed sami to watch the hapless skrtel get ahead of him in the team week after week.[/quote]

Did you miss the bit where we nearly won the league last season with him as a regular?? I know Agger's re-entered the fold, but it's not exactly a bed of roses yet.

The 'hapless' Skrtel partnered Hyypia at centre back when we fucking snotted United at Old Trafford.
[/quote]

Come on mark, this is neil you're talking to, and Agger's his poster boy. You don't expect him to break the habit of a lifetime and actually listen to reason, do you?

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=37669.msg1006136#msg1006136 date=1259950742]
[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=37669.msg1006072#msg1006072 date=1259946237]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=37669.msg1005774#msg1005774 date=1259923751]
it must had killed sami to watch the hapless skrtel get ahead of him in the team week after week.[/quote]

Did you miss the bit where we nearly won the league last season with him as a regular?? I know Agger's re-entered the fold, but it's not exactly a bed of roses yet.

The 'hapless' Skrtel partnered Hyypia at centre back when we fucking snotted United at Old Trafford.
[/quote]

Come on mark, this is neil you're talking to, and Agger's his poster boy. You don't expect him to break the habit of a lifetime and actually listen to reason, do you?
[/quote]

True true, it's a while since we've had this argument though.. Seriously though, whoever has been there this season, the defence just haven't looked good as a unit, and I think it's had a detrimental effect on a few players, they can't all suddenly be shite, can they?

 

[Judge Jules]

Of course not, and I'm still backing them to prove it before the season finishes.

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=37669.msg1006152#msg1006152 date=1259951660]
Of course not, and I'm still backing them to prove it before the season finishes.
[/quote]

Hopefully mate, I'm sticking with Drogba, and Oncy.. etc.

 

[doctor_mac]

[flash=500,500]http://www.youtube.com/v/gOv3CVgIpL0&hl=en_US&fs=1]http://www.youtube.com/v/gOv3CVgIpL0&hl=en_US&fs=1[/flash]

 

[mark1975]

That's class Doc, cheers.

 

[doctor_mac]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=37669.msg1006266#msg1006266 date=1259961315]
That's class Doc, cheers.
[/quote]

Pleasure.