I think we have this debate every time the two are mentioned For me Johsons better going forward but defensively he can be a nightmare. Kelly's nowhere near as positive or capable going forward but just doesn't **** up defensively like Johnson does (touch wood)....and from my point of view a full backs main job is to defend...attacking ability is a bonus but not if it comes at the expense of goals being conceded.
Either way mate having both back fit has got to be better than Skrtel being shoved there I'll drink to that
If I had my way I would reduce Carra's first team duties, and use him as frequently as Man United use Rio Ferdinand. This is not very often as Rio has a back that is more brittle than Michael Owens hamstrings. Carra hasn't lost pace, because he never had any to start with. Carra's positioning due to his age has deteriorated significantly even though his brain is still as sharp as ever and he's still an excellent reader of the game. I would give both Skrtel and Agger just this season to prove they are both good enough/fit enough to warrant keeping. I however wouldn't get rid of both at the same time. That would be disasterous as we would have to integrate two new centre backs into the side. If it were a toss up on which one had to go first, my choice would be Skrtel with Gary Cahill as his replacement. Andre Wisdom whom in my opinion is enormous would be an able deputy for Agger, Coates, I reckon is Carra's heir apparent. If Agger were to go due to doubts over his fitness, someone like Sakho in my opinion would be ideal.
Skrtel is as much a right back as Jamie Carragher is a striker. Thats just the way it is. We looked more balanced yesterday with Kelly at right-back and Skrtel in his favoured centre back slot. I don't think we were defensively poor, I just reckon a little bit of doubt has crept in following those defeats, getting results is key to getting the confidence back up. I reckon if we can get a win against Everton at Goodison, it will be a massive confidence boost.
I hate to say I told you so (well, actually I don't ) but I did wonder more than once why you signed three proven midfielders and no proven CBs, when your defence was far weaker than your midfield last season imo. Is it coming back to bite you?
Well, I think most of us thought Skrtel was coming on a bit. Last season was his best spell for us and he seemed to be committing fewer risky tackles. Unfortunately, most of his bad habits have been back over the last few games. He was good against Bolton, but poor against Spurs (albeit at RB) and quite poor yesterday. Hopefully it's just a bit of early season rustiness, but I am starting to think we need someone else to come in during January. Could be worse though, we could have Djourou and Mertesacker there...
Think we will go in for cahill come january ashis price will have to come right down or maybe sign him on a free next summer. For me, when Agger is absent ,we seem to always be defending on the edge. Carra and Skrtel are far from ideal together as neither of them are what I would consider as cultured defenders.It always seems to be last ditch defending rather than breaking up moves and neither of them can pass. Carragher has been brilliant for us over the years and is a great leader but I think this should be his last season as first choice. We definately need 2 quality ball playing defenders by next season. Coates may well become one of those but only time will tell. Agger is definately one but too injury prone.
Sorry I have disagree. Seeing as Kelly is naturally a centre-back, he's more disciplined than Johnson. I reckon Johnson needs another spell at left back to make him more disciplined, as he won't venture too far forward because he's on his wrong side. However Johnson was a revelation at left-back and didn't put a foot wrong.
Kelly at CB is an unknown quantity. He played there for the ressies as a teenager. And the reserves level is rubbish. He's an excellent fullback. I'm not sure he'd ever go back to be honest. There are plenty of players who started elsewhere when young and found they were better elsewhere.
At the moment our centrebacks in terms of quality are 1. Agger 2. Skrtel 3. Carra 4. Who knows We've conceded all of our goals (with XI players) because of Carra and youngflannagan gave up one to Sunderland. Not Skrtel.
Its funny how people are quick to knock Skrtel yet when I think of an own goal, penalty give away Carra is the culprit. We have had many errors this season and people just want to knock Skrtel for his performance at right back for Spurs. Think back to all the great performances we have had over the previous season and you will find Skrtel at the back in most if not all of those games. I will say it now and have said it before, just because he is always shirt pulling and looking clumsy does not make him a bad defender. The fact that he gets away with them is he has a way of disguising them as 50:50 challenges. As mito says play Skrtel at Right Center Back and he becomes a very good defender.
Can we always remember that Kelly is officially a CB, but can play right across the back four. He's actually pretty good going forward in my opinion, and is strong defensively.
He's only ever played there for the reserves so I'm deferring judgment on that until I see him against real attackers.
