The hunt for a defender

[RedStar]

Cordoba was 4'11" and he was dominant in the air (for a midget)

So was Cannavaro, although he was about a quarter of an inch taller than Cordoba. I dont think its necessarily height that we need to help us defend crosses/set pieces its leadership and organisation. Papadopoulos isnt that tall but hes only an inch shorter than Carra

 

[LeTallecWiz]

So was Cannavaro, although he was about a quarter of an inch taller than Cordoba. I dont think its necessarily height that we need to help us defend crosses/set pieces its leadership and organisation. Papadopoulos isnt that tall but hes only an inch shorter than Carra

and we all know Greeks have extra springs b/c of the Gyros they put in their shoes, FACT.

 

[Glen C]

So was Cannavaro, although he was about a quarter of an inch taller than Cordoba. I dont think its necessarily height that we need to help us defend crosses/set pieces its leadership and organisation. Papadopoulos isnt that tall but hes only an inch shorter than Carra

Yeah but neither were in the premiership. We have missed a hyypia player at the back badly.

 

[King Binny]

Agger's aerial win % has since improved to 61.2% (115/188). Carra's 54.5% (18/33)

I don't know if the players in Bundesliga are shorter/poorer jumpers than those in the Premier League but...

Papapdopoulos' Aerial win %
77.9% (77 headers won, from his 9+1 appearances this season, prior to his knee injury)
http://www.bundesliga.de/de/liga/clubs/fc-schalke-04/spieler.php?player=36652

 

[StevieM]

Aerial supremacy in German means nothing in England.

Just ask the Luftwaffe.

 

[the count]

So from those stats Skrtel is more dominant in the air than Sami.
That would explain why we haven't missed the big Finn then.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

We need a few plate smashers.
I'm sick of looking at tattooed fairies.

You know he's coming over. Already starting to rehearse the Roboculous Sturridge dance.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

By the way - he's the same height as Leboeuf, Desailly and Carvalho. Surprised that Desailly was only 1.83m tall... thought he was taller because he certainly seemed like it the way he played.

 

[King Binny]

And explains why Skrtel was an ever present in the league last season and won the Player of the Year for 2012.

 

[Glen C]

And explains why Skrtel was an ever present in the league last season and won the Player of the Year for 2012.

Are you saying you rate skrtel ahead of hyypia???

 

[King Binny]

Are you saying you rate skrtel ahead of hyypia???

Lol. Tongue in cheek mate. I know the % can be meaningless or deceiving, thus I included the exact number of aerial challenges won/made. Hyypia probably challenged for more aerial balls than any of the 4 players in that table. Similarly, Carra's aerial stats would've been more meaningful had he played more.

 

[Glen C]

Lol. Tongue in cheek mate. I know the % can be meaningless or deceiving, thus I included the exact number of aerial challenges won/made. Hyypia probably challenged for more aerial balls than any of the 4 players in that table. Similarly, Carra's aerial stats would've been more meaningful had he played more.

Lol ok. I think papa would be good next to a hyypia type defender. Seems very accomplished on the ball and a total nutjob who takes no shit. But he seems VERY expensive. Do we have that type of money?

 

[King Binny]

Indeed. the figure quoted is very pricey. I haven't seen him in enough matches to comment on whether he's worth that or not, but I'm of the view that it would be money well spent if he turns out to be a mainstay in the starting XI for many years to come (easily 8 to 10 yrs given his age). He's fairly experienced for his age too - having been a regular for Schalke last season, played in Euros and Europa League.

 

[keniget]

Howedes or Papa?

Who would be better for us?

 

[SummerOnions]

His first name is like Kyrgiakos too, sign! We need another massive greek CB

 

[Halmeister]

I'm surprised by the Hyypia stat there, I barely remember him ever losing a header. Unless it was against Drogba...

 

[juniormember]

I'm surprised by the Hyypia stat there, I barely remember him ever losing a header. Unless it was against Drogba...

Me too. Every time he competed for a header, my impression was that he not only won it, but also headed the ball back 50 yards into the other half.

 

[the count]

Seeing that everyone remembers Sami as a supreme defender who we miss greatly I must be totally wrong in remembering many posters saying that he was slow, past it and in need of replacing during his final season with us.

 

[King Binny]

Yet another player from French Ligue 1 linked. This time, its 18 yr old Kurt Zouma from St Etienne.

Get French Football ‏@GFN_France

1h​

FLASH: David Vanditelli, Kurt Zouma's agent: 'Today Kurt is ready to leave. Liverpool and other clubs are very interesting.' #ASSE #LFC

Get French Football ‏@GFN_France

5m​

Kurt #Zouma tells Eurosport: "It is better to be on the bench for a big club like Liverpool with all respect for Saint-Etienne. " #LFC #ASSE

Get French Football ‏@GFN_France

4m​

Turns out that #Zouma quote is from his agent on his behalf. Still very much suggesting that the player wants to leave. mentions #LFC twice

 

[DHSC]

We'll probably end up with Alex Pearce.

 

[Modo]

That's the reason I started this thread. Everyone and their mama's know that we need another defender. We're going to be linked with every obscure defender in the world.

 

[RedStar]

Some of this mornings rags seem to think we have tabled a bid for Ilori this week and, between 3 and 4 million seems to be the consensus.

Anybody seen much of him, the articles Ive rad make him sound like a Portuguese version of Varane, 20 years old 6'3, great on the ball, dominant in the air and faster than Ronaldo (according to the Lisbon sprint records). Surely he cant be that good?

 

[the count]

LFCTS ‏@LFCTS2m
Tony Barrett on The Times #LFC have a number of defensive targets in mind: Tiago Ilori, Alderweireld & Papadopoulos all under consideration.

 

[Fabio]

Seeing that everyone remembers Sami as a supreme defender who we miss greatly I must be totally wrong in remembering many posters saying that he was slow, past it and in need of replacing during his final season with us.

I'm honest enough to say I thought his time was up. Perfect moment. He seemed slower, and tired earlier. I miss him like crazy, only because he is THE central defender for me.

 

[keniget]

I thought he could've played on. Shame.

Still, it's worked out well for him. Would be great to see him back as manager at some point if he's successful.

 

[Judge Jules]

I'm surprised by the Hyypia stat there, I barely remember him ever losing a header. Unless it was against Drogba...

I wish otherwise sensible folks like you wouldn't keep referring to this. Sami played through illness in that game, because even barely fit he was better than anyone else we could have picked. Drogba got sweet f'ck all out of him otherwise.

 

[keniget]

How do you guys remember such details?

I can barely remember what happened a couple months ago in football.

 

[Judge Jules]

Maybe in my case it's that well-known phenomenon of old folks having good long-term memory but forgetting why they just went upstairs. 😉

 

[Modo]

We seem to be looking at some left sided defenders. I don't think it's about replacing Enrique. It's more about finding him some competition or a back up.
Rodgers doesn't seem to rate young Robbo.

 

[StevieM]

I disagree - I thinking is about replacing Enrique.