Billy, it's not about having one good season. Skrtel and his agent both know that, in terms of contracts, he is in a critical stage. If Liverpool are thinking about off-loading then they would do it this Summer as his market value would drop with only 1 year left on his contract. If they get assurances from Rodgers that he is considered an integral part of the team and that the clubs aim is to get back to CL within 2 seasons then the money negotiations can start. It's going to be an unsettling time for many of the players until they can actually get face to face with Rodgers to see where they stand.
It's a good enough fee but who could we attract? We've no CL and would need to replace a CL quality defender.
Yeah I kinda scanned your original comment and realised I'd slightly missed the intent of your post I realise this is more than likely just paper waffle...Reina yesterday, Skrtel today and no doubt someone else tomorrow. I'd be more than happy if he stays not just because of last years performances but also because I don't really want a mass influx of new players who need time to "settle in". I hope we can hang onto the best players we have and improve the team in the positions we are weakest.
Is Skrtel really Champions League quality...? How many Champions League games has he played...? He has played twenty-eight games in Europe for us but at least ten of those (2010-11 season) have been in the Europa League! That leaves eighteen at the most but suspect it is less considering he played six in 2009-10 season when we finished third in the Champions League group and went into the Europa League, even if they were in the Champions League it was in a team that did **** so hardly inspires confidence of him being of Champions League quality! IMO, Skrtel is not that good. He is not great in the air, he dives into tackles giving away needless freekicks and very rarely looks at the ball when defending a set-piece - he could quite easily cost us at least dozen penalties a season with his "hugging" of the opposition. IMO, that is not defending! He did well last year but IMO (again) it was because he was alongside Agger rather than suddenly becoming a great player As for would players join us, Skrtel and Agger joined us as youngsters with the intention of initially being back-up players. There are players that are not currently at Champions League clubs that would see Liverpool as a step up. Hell, there will even be players at Champions League clubs that want to join us because of the standard of the league they play in. Some may even want to join us because of who it is (I did say some!)
Whenever a player is due to re-negotiate his contract his agent always says Man City are interested in signing said player. It used to be Chelsea are interested but City have more money now so the agent throws their name about. I would say it is the usual agents tactics and I can't see LFC worrying to much. If he won't sign an extension we sell for the best price and replace/use what players are left. I think Coates is going to be a centre back in the Sami Hyppia mould. Solid defensively and able to score a few so if Agger stays fit Skrtel could find himself 3rd choice.
He would definitely be CL quality now - remember the CL has a lot of poor/average teams in it at any rate, at least in the group stage. He is undoubtedly good with Agger - which is a reason to keep him! Who knows how another CB would fit in. He's been improving greatly the past two seasons and is entering him prime at 27. We should keep him and keep the core of the side constant.
Despite me not rating him particularly highly, I agree we should keep him because the game isn't about individuals, it is about working as a team. That team is made up with little, medium and large cogs IMO. The little cogs are the individuals, the large cog is the team. The reason I think Skrtel should stay is very much part of a medium cog: an on-field partnership. He and Agger work so well together that it would be silly to split them up. However, £20m is an awful lot of money, especially for a centre back that, in smaller cog terms, isn't that great IMO. In short, £20m would get me to break the medium cog
£30m for him and I'd sell. Agger is the better of the two and luckily for us he is extremely happy at LFC.
I think £20m is a ridiculous amount for Skrtel so I'm not sure what I'd do if we got £30m! However, £30m or £5m and Adam Johnson (effectively £20m deal) and I'd opt for the latter, I think Johnson would make a massive difference to our side. Not sure if he'd fit in with Rodgers' style though
You wouldn't take 20 mil for Skrtel? Again, I like him and he has grown into the solid player we can count on but 20 mil can help buy us a very strong defender and someone to play wide or other tough positions ( CM, Fwd, etc). I would much prefer to keep Agger of the two and hope he is happy and wants to stay and can stay healthy like last season ( for the most part). Names to throw out we could get, Dominguez from Athletico Madrid, Douglas FC twente, Howedes Schalke ( I am almost positive with the team),Zapata ( who almost came to us) from relegated Villareal, possibly ( kind of left field) Aronica or cannavaro from napoli, Lovren Lyon. Possibly all of these could come 10 mil or a little higher.
Skrtel was a regular in the side that challenged for the title in 08-09. He was excellent alongside Carragher in that season so I feel you are just revising history here to suit your argument that Skrtel wasn't a good player before player alongside Agger. He was a very poor header of the ball after breaking his jaw (or something similar at WHL) but has recovered his form since when Dalglish and Clarke came in. He's very quick across the ground for a centre back too, something not many centre backs have in their locker, he's also aggressive and will almost always win the ball if its in the air or on the floor. He's also an attacking threat from corners, he's comfortable on the ball and he's a master of the defending 'dark arts'. Like Carvalho, Samuel etc he has the ability to tug shirts in the box and have nothing go against him. Its not luck, its skill to do it and not let the ref notice.
That was more geared toward Lucaaas, sorry bout that! But I will say this on why I do agree with him on the high price or nothing. We want to keep our best players and not be rid. If someone is going to come in for Pepe, Skrtel then 20 million is the base we are starting with ( Anzhi and City will pay it, Milan I think would stump somewhere near that for Pepe). We have to make profit and be able to reinvest that money into the squad or else we end with N'gog up front like we did because the money to buy replacements or quality was not there.
Dominguez - why would he move? 5th place last season at Athletico and potentially CL next year. Douglas - Possible, rumoured interest anyway. Howedes - Not a chance, staying at Schalke or going to Munich. Zapata - Possible I suppose. Aronica/Cannavaro - why would they leave Napoli? Sorry but I'm very pessimistic right now.
We do not need or want any rejects from Man City. The last three swap deals we've made (or things close to swap deals in Joe Cole's case) haven't ended well for us. Konchesky we swapped for Kacaliknic and Dalla Valle plus £3m. Konchesky is in the championship while Kacaliknic (sp?) is starting a decent amount of games for a good Fulham side. Joe Cole for Yossi Benayoun. Yossi played a decent squad part in getting Arsenal into the top 4. Joe Cole played a decent part in sucking 90k a week in wages from the club for doing **** all. Michael Owen for Nunez (+£8m). Shocking bit of business which says it all.
Dominguez is more a player I really like and rate and they aren't in the CL, yes they have spent money but malaga and valencia are going to be hard to move. If pepe stays and maybe we sign another spanish player he might like it. Or if he talks to Alonso or Arbeloa they would tell him it is a good move. Napoli are going to have a hard time getting back into the CL if they lose their stars. Lavezzi is almost a given for PSG and Cavani will probably not be there. Again, players I rate and could possibly, key word there, get. Howedes I saw a link to it. Douglas I like and think he would do well in the prem, similar to skrtel in the physical aspect, probably a bit stronger. Lyon are really struggling now and I think we could persuade Lovren. Rolando is another from porto ( although they like to charge a high price). Hey, I tried to avoid naming T. Silva, Sakho, Pique, etc that is what normally happens and tried to go more realistic.
Really random question but did anyone play or remember the scores for Morientes and Cisse in I think Fifa 06-07 one of those two? They were both on 90! It was ****ing brilliant, poacher, strong in the air, and get the ball and run past everyone Anyway, 20 million a lot of money but do we risk becoming a selling club as well?
Shirt pull...? he bloody hugs them! Neck high at times, and rarely does he watch where the ball is Sorry, but I completely disagree about 2008-09 season, the only good season he's had with us was last year IMO. The only ever present CB in that season was Carragher (he played all 38), Agger, Skrtel and Hyypia shared the responsibility for the rest: Hyypia - 16, Skrtel - 21 and Agger - 18. Unfortunately, I am unable to say how many of those were sub appearances etc. Skrtel only joined in January 2008 and, if I recall right, was still being used sparingly by Rafa in the 2008-09 season. Fair enough he is quick and aggressive but very rarely does he win the ball without being too aggressive and giving a freekick away. He as become more of an attacking threat at set-pieces this season so will give you that too
