Skrtel

[hmmmmm1]

Our record of replacing sold players has been abysmal in recent years, so for that reason id say keep him

Though anything over £20 million is tempting.

 

[Modo]

My outlook is realistic, for a good part of last season and for half the season before, we looked like Top 4 contenders.

Then Lucas broke down and Suarez was suspended and it all went down the toilet.
Like I said, we're too vulnerable and I'd hate to see another season of us being so reliant on Suarez to produce the goods. Looking back I almost feel sorry for Suarez.

 

[FoxForceFive]

Froggie forgive me if I completely ignore your realism. It's slightly tempered by the fact that Shay Given put in his worst ever performances as a goalkeeper at age 3, which according to you not too long ago is the peak of a goalkeepers career.

Agger may or may not be injury prone .. ? are you for real. I may or may not be giggling like a school girl as a I type this. He plays about half of our games every year since he signed for us. Players don't get less injury prone as they get to their late twenties and then into their thirties.

I know what Gerrard can do, I know he can't do it week in week out. He'll do it four or five times a year and that's not even close to being good enough.

Reina is on the slide, it's obvious he's been getting slightly worse each year for the past three years. It's only when it appeared so obvious this year that people started realising it.

The core of our squad that you think are good enough have finished 6th, 7th, 8th in the past three seasons. We're not going to get much better by hanging onto them, so if stupid money is available to allow us to buy talented younger players then I'm all for it. Is it a risk ? yes. But it's a fucking certainty that this squad as it is currently is going fucking nowhere so I'd rather take a risk on building a title winning side than watch us drift aimlessly for a few more years by holding onto everybody,

TBF Luke is 4 & he's shite in the nets.

 

[Modo]

I like the new Rosco.

 

[Rosco]

TBF Luke is 4 & he's shite in the nets.

I had to read back a couple of times to see what you were getting at !

 

[SummerOnions]

Froggie forgive me if I completely ignore your realism. It's slightly tempered by the fact that Shay Given put in his worst ever performances as a goalkeeper at age 3, which according to you not too long ago is the peak of a goalkeepers career.

Agger may or may not be injury prone .. ? are you for real. I may or may not be giggling like a school girl as a I type this. He plays about half of our games every year since he signed for us. Players don't get less injury prone as they get to their late twenties and then into their thirties.

I know what Gerrard can do, I know he can't do it week in week out. He'll do it four or five times a year and that's not even close to being good enough.

Reina is on the slide, it's obvious he's been getting slightly worse each year for the past three years. It's only when it appeared so obvious this year that people started realising it.

The core of our squad that you think are good enough have finished 6th, 7th, 8th in the past three seasons. We're not going to get much better by hanging onto them, so if stupid money is available to allow us to buy talented younger players then I'm all for it. Is it a risk ? yes. But it's a fucking certainty that this squad as it is currently is going fucking nowhere so I'd rather take a risk on building a title winning side than watch us drift aimlessly for a few more years by holding onto everybody,

Is there anyone you wouldn't sell then?

 

[Frogfish]

Froggie forgive me if I completely ignore your realism. It's slightly tempered by the fact that Shay Given put in his worst ever performances as a goalkeeper at age 3, which according to you not too long ago is the peak of a goalkeepers career.

Agger may or may not be injury prone .. ? are you for real. I may or may not be giggling like a school girl as a I type this. He plays about half of our games every year since he signed for us. Players don't get less injury prone as they get to their late twenties and then into their thirties.

I know what Gerrard can do, I know he can't do it week in week out. He'll do it four or five times a year and that's not even close to being good enough.

Reina is on the slide, it's obvious he's been getting slightly worse each year for the past three years. It's only when it appeared so obvious this year that people started realising it.

The core of our squad that you think are good enough have finished 6th, 7th, 8th in the past three seasons. We're not going to get much better by hanging onto them, so if stupid money is available to allow us to buy talented younger players then I'm all for it. Is it a risk ? yes. But it's a fucking certainty that this squad as it is currently is going fucking nowhere so I'd rather take a risk on building a title winning side than watch us drift aimlessly for a few more years by holding onto everybody,

You may judge your response as realism. I, however, would say you are borderline suicidal to view the team with such negativity. Not worth getting into it over pure opinion but there is more than an element of exaggeration in your response. Pepe was our player of the season 2010, Agger played 27 PL matches last season and so on.

I stand by my assertion that this team is capable of so much more and that with the augmentation of 3 or 4 players (assuming that Rodgers buys well) we'll be Top 4 contenders this coming season. I truly feel pity that you have nothing but negativity to look forward to this coming season.

By the way are you going to continue to ignore, rather than reply to, the questions I posed earlier ? Difficult for someone with your pessimistic outlook to respond to I know, but still ....

1. Agger - if injury prone why sell Skrtel ?
2. Did we or did we not look, for a good part of last season and for half the season before, like Top 4 contenders. And if so then what has changed so drastically to create such degeneration in the team ?

 

[Rosco]

My response is exactly the same for Agger, if someone wants to pay silly money. I'd sell him and I think he's a better defender than Skrtel. The value of them should be around the same though because you can actually get a full season out of Skrtel. 27 games is still only 2/3 of a league campaign.

This is a thead about Skrtel hence why I'm discussing when and why I'd sell him.

Pepe was our best player 2 years ago. Great. Well lets get Pepe from 2 years ago to play for us. The one we have now isn't as good.

Your only question was whether or not Pepe is on the slide, but you've pretty much admitted he is. He was poor this year according to you, but he was our best player two years ago again according to you.

 

[gene hughes]

I'd sell Reina and Skrtel if it could raise >40m for new players.

 

[mark1975]

Agger played a decent amount of games last season and made it through the Euro's. There's a small chance his injury problems are behind him.
But you're right our first XI seems strong on paper but in reality it's very vulnerable.
Last season we missed Lucas cause our only replacement was Spearing (a championship player at best).
What happens if Suarez gets a serious injury?
Our team is lacking in creativity and solving it should be our first priority this summer.
Like I said at least 2 new starters are needed as well as two decent replacements.

Its no good solving the attacking problem by breaking up our back bone.

And Rosco, our defensive flaws in recent years have been more related to the fullbacks and midfield than what's essentially a very good cb pairing. People are really making me laugh over this issue.

 

[Rosco]

Its no good solving the attacking problem by breaking up our back bone.

And Rosco, our defensive flaws in recent years have been more related to the fullbacks and midfield than what's essentially a very good cb pairing. People are really making me laugh over this issue.

Well you know how much I love Glen Johnson

 

[mark1975]

Well you know how much I love Glen Johnson

We have to remember, our past defenses were protected by the likes of Finnan, Riise, Arbeloa, Mascherano, Hamann..... As well as being part of sides that were essentially more defensive as a unit. Agger and Skrtel compliment eachother well. Coates is largely unproven and on paper at least, doesn't really compliment Agger so much as he would compliment a tackler.

Kelly hasn't even played there for us! This centre back theory with him is largely just that. Theory.

 

[Hansern]

We had the 3rd best defensive record in the league last season, but failed to score goals.

Lets worry about the attack as the defence is fine. One central midfielder with a bit of defensive bite is all thats needed.

 

[mark1975]

So a Kelly who has been consistently played at FB by successive managers and has virtually no PL experience of CB in the PL, plus a youngster yet to mark his mark, or prove he can handle a season as CB here, are more than adequate ? Pfff.

Tbf, aside from Rosco valuating things in terms of prioritising cash, the main posters advocating this are the ones that have been most vocal in their criticism of Skrtel. Particularly Modo, who's best reasoning is that a Uruguayan youngster who's been hit and miss, and right back who's never played there for us, are more than adequate fall back options for a side with aspirations of climbing the table. Needless to say, that's just about the perfect example of Modo's thinking when it comes to footballing opinion.

 

[mark1975]

We had the 3rd best defensive record in the league last season, but failed to score goals.

Lets worry about the attack as the defence is fine. One central midfielder with a bit of defensive bite is all thats needed.

Ross is right, there are flaws defensively, but the crux of our defensive prowess is the partnership. The question marks are heavily on the shoulders of the fullbacks and the lack of bite in midfield.

 

[Modo]

Tbf, aside from Rosco valuating things in terms of prioritising cash, the main posters advocating this are the ones that have been most vocal in their criticism of Skrtel. Particularly Modo, who's best reasoning is that a Uruguayan youngster who's been hit and miss, and right back who's never played there for us, are more than adequate fall back options for a side with aspirations of climbing the table. Needless to say, that's just about the perfect example of Modo's thinking when it comes to footballing opinion.

Exactly like when I at the beginning of last season said that Carragher should be dropped and Skrtel should play. Or when I said that Downing and Adam were shit. My footballing opinion is clearly shit, but strangely true.

 

[mark1975]

Exactly like when I at the beginning of last season said that Carragher should be dropped and Skrtel should play. Or when I said that Downing and Adam were shit. My footballing opinion is clearly shit, but strangely true.

Tell you what then, the self professed oracle of 6cm. Give me a justifiable post about why Kelly should be our centre back and Skrtel shouldn't.

 

[mark1975]

Exactly like when I at the beginning of last season said that Carragher should be dropped and Skrtel should play. Or when I said that Downing and Adam were shit. My footballing opinion is clearly shit, but strangely true.

You think other people didn't think Carra should be dropped? Everyone knew he was on his last legs, the only reason you took shit for it was because you expressed your dislike of him for years and then reveled in it when age got the better of him. Haha... you hapless twat, you actually think you were alone in this thinking? You really are priceless and a fucking joke of a poster.

 

[Hansern]

We've been 3rd, 3rd, 5th and 3rd regarding concedeed goals the last 4 seasons.
Johnson and Enrique are fine. A defensive unit of Pepe, Glen, Skrtel, Agger and Enrique is more than good enough. The understanding between them will only get better as a unit aswell.

We scored 30-40 goals less than the other top clubs last year, lets worry about that.

 

[Red Mullet]

We've been 3rd, 3rd, 5th and 3rd regarding concedeed goals the last 4 seasons.
Johnson and Enrique are fine. A defensive unit of Pepe, Glen, Skrtel, Agger and Enrique is more than good enough. The understanding between them will only get better as a unit aswell.

We scored 30-40 goals less than the other top clubs last year, lets worry about that.

Precisely. Worrying about our defence is like complaining your spots itch when your leg has been cut off.

 

[RolandG]

I'd test their resolve and demand £25M. Let's see how serious they are.

£60M transfer kitty could get us some serious talent

 

[RolandG]

I'd test their resolve and demand £25M. Let's see how serious they are.

£60M transfer kitty could get us some serious talent

 

[Modo]

I'd test their resolve and demand £25M. Let's see how serious they are.

£60M transfer kitty could get us some serious talent

Are you including the £5 Million we're getting for Adam?

 

[Red Astaire]

So a Kelly who has been consistently played at FB by successive managers and has virtually no PL experience of CB in the PL, plus a youngster yet to mark his mark, or prove he can handle a season as CB here, are more than adequate ? Pfff.

Well without your obvious sarcasm yes that is essentially what I'm saying. If you wanted to raise some significant cash by selling a 1st team player - It has to be Skrtel. 20 million would go a long way to improving the team. Kelly has played CB plenty of times and Coates looks the part and then there is Carra (who still has a bit of life in the legs yet) Wilson is a young CB with potential. Do you need me to go on??? Pfffff indeed.

Oh and before anyone pipes up - I'm a huge fan of Skrtel - I'm just looking at the bigger picture. 30million with Skrtel or 50million without.....

 

[mark1975]

Kelly hasn't played centre back at this level. He has played for the reserves and that's it. Spearing has played centre back for the ressies too, does that mean he's also a competent fall back option?

Skrtel has just finished as player of the season. The same posters who are bemoaning our lack of ambition and the fact we've arguably become a selling team, are advocating flogging him on the basis that he's playing well and at the peak of his value. So are alot of players. We wasted alot of money last Summer, yet people want to take the risk because £30m buys 6 Agger's. It also buys 4 Dosenna's, or worse still, a Downing and a Babel.

It's flawed, dumb and essentially a small club mentality. Let's sell one our best players to buy 6 shiny new squad players. NO. Why don't we try to keep our best players for once and be shrewd with what money we do have. I'm astounded people don't see the one step forward, two steps back potential in this.

 

[localny]

We've been 3rd, 3rd, 5th and 3rd regarding concedeed goals the last 4 seasons.
Johnson and Enrique are fine. A defensive unit of Pepe, Glen, Skrtel, Agger and Enrique is more than good enough. The understanding between them will only get better as a unit aswell.

We scored 30-40 goals less than the other top clubs last year, lets worry about that.

Post of the season and last season and the one before. Why do we only buy attacking players of quality now and again. We need to bolster every season

 

[Modo]

Yup, I agree let's not buy some flawed, dumb and small time players like Tioté, Cabaye, Cissé and Demba Ba.
All of whom are twice as good as our two most expensive signings last summer.

There are good players out there, I spotted three decent wingers in the Euro's that I've never heard of Yarmolenko, Konoplyanka and Pilar. How much could they be worth?

 

[Gary25]

Kelly hasn't played centre back at this level. He has played for the reserves and that's it. Spearing has played centre back for the ressies too, does that mean he's also a competent fall back option?

Skrtel has just finished as player of the season. The same posters who are bemoaning our lack of ambition and the fact we've arguably become a selling team, are advocating flogging him on the basis that he's playing well and at the peak of his value. So are alot of players. We wasted alot of money last Summer, yet people want to take the risk because £30m buys 6 Agger's. It also buys 4 Dosenna's, or worse still, a Downing and a Babel.

It's flawed, dumb and essentially a small club mentality. Let's sell one our best players to buy 6 shiny new squad players. NO. Why don't we try to keep our best players for once and be shrewd with what money we do have. I'm astounded people don't see the one step forward, two steps back potential in this.

Couldn't agree more. The naivety is unreal, 'ah fuck it, we'll take the money, sure we still got Kelly and £ to strengthen've we not learnt our lessons from the last few years when we've sold our tops players and replaced them with inferior ones? look where that's took us.

There's nothing to come from it, i'm sure some Villa fans thought selling their best players like Barry, Milner and Young would benefit the Club - well look at the shape of them now, from going close to the top 4 and being in Cup semis, they're fighting relegation.

Maybe some people are just afraid of admitting we're now a selling Club and no longer a competitive one so their trying to put a positive spin on it as much as they can.

 

[Red Astaire]

Kelly hasn't played centre back at this level. He has played for the reserves and that's it. Spearing has played centre back for the ressies too, does that mean he's also a competent fall back option?

Skrtel has just finished as player of the season. The same posters who are bemoaning our lack of ambition and the fact we've arguably become a selling team, are advocating flogging him on the basis that he's playing well and at the peak of his value. So are alot of players. We wasted alot of money last Summer, yet people want to take the risk because £30m buys 6 Agger's. It also buys 4 Dosenna's, or worse still, a Downing and a Babel.

It's flawed, dumb and essentially a small club mentality. Let's sell one our best players to buy 6 shiny new squad players. NO. Why don't we try to keep our best players for once and be shrewd with what money we do have. I'm astounded people don't see the one step forward, two steps back potential in this.

Ok I'll ignore the fact that you think my opinion is 'dumb'. Look I'm not advocating selling him just because he represents good value at this time (he does though). I'm sure it didn't escape your notice that in an attacking sense last season we were fucking woeful. Our squad desperately needs some some fresh injection of quality. A winger and a striker would be good. Quality (unless your bloody lucky) means 'expensive'. Your comment regarding 'Lets be shrewd' is naive and that is being kind. That's the golden wonka ticket right? A quality player who is cheap..... Hmmmmmm. It's clear we need to be a selling club at this particular moment in order to generate the necessary funds for quality players. Out of all the outfield first 11 players Skrtel seems to be the one who it makes sense to cash in on. A loss he will be but I honestly don't think a catastrophic one.

 

[Red Mullet]

Yup, I agree let's not buy some flawed, dumb and small time players like Tioté, Cabaye, Cissé and Demba Ba.
All of whom are twice as good as our two most expensive signings last summer.

There are good players out there, I spotted three decent wingers in the Euro's that I've never heard of Yarmolenko, Konoplyanka and Pilar. How much could they be worth?

If you're advocating selling one of our best players from last season then why not go the whole hog and sell all our best players? The money we'll get will be enough to buy all your flawed, dumb and small time players.

Naturally, it'll time for them to settle so we'll have another poor season but that's ok, we'll sell all of next seasons best players and repeat the process!

Way to go for long term stability and forming a title winning team. Well done, Modo, well done. You've figured it out.