this we want fully committed players for the run in we have and flanno will bust a gut. hopefully he will be off in the summer anyway, so the sooner we start doing with out the better.
Pretty sure I said as much Enrique would make a difference IMO, rather keep Flanno than Johnson though. Having said that, I'd rather play with ten men than see Johnson in a Liverpool shirt again (I know he'll get game time still)
Enrique is prone to errors as are pretty much all of our defenders bar Sakho. The concentration levels are seriously poor hence why we keep making individual errors. Would having Johnson and Enrique back make a big improvement - I think it would help but they are not long term solutions. I know Enrique has a lot of fans and he's not the worst player in this team but personally I think we should be looking at upgrading. Rodgers wanted to bring in a left back before he was injured which says it all. Not sure if this is true but I heard that Enrique is not taking his rehabilitation seriously hence the delayed comeback. Apparently he did the same last year and has had a few unauthorised trips back to Spain.
Johnson is far better than anyone else we have based on abilities. I wouldn't pick him because of his mental state; he doesn't give a **** about the team or club! He is collecting his pension.
I've not rated Johnson for about a year, and never rated him as a defender. Fair enough, his attacking ability meant that he could compensate his lack of defensive ability but take away that, and you're left with not much.
Good point but Henderson was a young lad at that point who hadn't done anything. Enrique is our first team left back and had been for a season and a bit. Rodgers had obviously seen enough of Enrique to make that judgement. And Skrtel will be gone - Rodgers wanted him out, couldn't get a decent offer for him and is only playing because we literally have no one else.
I don't need to publicise my previous thoughts on Skrtel, but it would take a very brave man to ship him out considering the season he's had. Easily our best defender this year, he's in the same type of form that earned him player of the season in 2011-12.
I would disagree - he's been the only one who isn;t getting injured and getting a consistent run in the team so that looks favourable. Not through merit but because there's no else. We have played Sakho, Agger and Toure next to him but still conceding. Not saying it's all his fault but would be interesting to see how we would do without him in the team for a change - it's not like we can do any worse?
Surely staying fit is an attribute in itself? However, ignoring that, I disagree. Skrtel has been on the end of everything, been determined (sometimes too much) and read the game excellently. there isn't a bigger critic of Skrtel than me (as you know) but the lads been brilliant this year.
Not really. Players staying fit is nothing special. Being able to read the game, play with intelligence, positioning, marking are the attributes of a top class defender. I think Skrtel falls short of that - he is easily bullied by a tall, physical striker. I actually get worried when a tall striker plays against our defence - we as fans should have faith in our defence to deal with everything. The same applies to Enrique - they;re not exactly the worst players in the world but I think we need to be upgrading. People didn't think we could replace Torres - we brought in Suarez. Hell, people didn't think we could ever replace Agger - but Sakho is now our best defender (on paper at least). MITO will disagree but we didn't think we could replace Reina ... but Migs is doing a decent enough job. Fans grow sentimental towards certain players which makes it harder to cut the ties. Everyone knows you love Skrtel and your blind faith will cost us
I think staying fit is a attribute. Suarez gets praised all the time because he never gets injured or missed a game (through injury) #nojinx #touchwood
We've been killing teams through the middle when we are at our rampant best, and Cisko & Flano have excelled in that type of game at defending and pressing whilst not much has been required of them in attack. On the other hand, on our away struggles, we've been chewing on thick defences like dogs without molars, as we've certainly missed the wide attacking threat of FBs like Johnson and Enrique. I'd use them in such frustrating games in a heartbeat.
you not a fan of getting rid while they have an appeal and value then gerrez? Lescott and Adebayor spring to mind, they was got rid of at perfect times and for top price,we risk keeping skrtel longer he may end up like Cole,Johnson etc just collecting his wages and not giving a **** as his form has dropped, let that be someone elses problem before its too late.
I wantes to see us sell at least one of Reina, Agger or Skrtel last summer, maybe two but not all three. Reason being, they were all getting on age wise, all performing to a decent level and all worth something, plus they all represent the previous regime. I wouldn't sell all because it is too risky changed all components of a "medium cog". Skrtel is the only CB doing the business this season. I would sell him for the right money so long as we can get Sakho / Agger fit AND buy a top (younger) replacement
in the end either we move from a non cl cost cutting phase or we don't. this is for me what this all boils down to. CL clubs don't hock their best players for a few quid to balance the books and get in cheaper wages do they? Reasons to hock: reina: 100k per week wages.. that is it IMO, sorry but his form was good for the last 6 months and lads love to ignore that Agger: 70-80k per week plus injured half the time. Skertl: 70-80k per week and not a very dominant player who doesn't organise a defense johnson: 100k per week and gets injured Reasons not to hock reina: world class keeper with passing ability form the gods (for his position) Agger: passing cb who loves the club and would spit out teeth (literally) to play for us skertl......... hmmmm johnson: truly attacking full back. In the end I am still in the camp that reina was dones for cost cutting, agger is still injury prone and skertl still can't organise a defence... though his performance in the air has been 100% better this season we can apply this type of thinking all day long but the AIM should be to secure CL and to move to the type of thinking that is based not on oh god your wages are crippling to are you good enough or not. we are still seeing the legacy of being a CL club that nearly went bankrupt. contracts are running down OR were awarded to players like skertl out of CL.. we either pay 50k per week max and hope cl will occur out of a young team or we pay the going rate and can afford it. so this all goes back to work on commercial side to increase revenues more revenues = higher quality player on higher wages.. .which in turn increases chances of success on the pitch. Selling the of the best players cos they are 29 is not the way..
That takes time. I don't think we'll see CL type figures being splashed unless we qualify for said competition two or three times in a row. I do however, expect to see recruitments that fit within our financial constraints but also improve the club without putting us at a financial risk should we not qualify. Its about getting the right balance. I am 100% behind letting the club fund its own activities. I don't absolutely do not want to see us dependant on owners like Chelsea / Man City, never have and never will! FSG are doing exactly what I wanted and highlighted as such whilst H&G where still here. It is a steady building process, it will take time but we will reap the benefits once we get there because it will have a base and platform for sustainability.
How much does every one think we can seriously get in return for Reina. Judging by most keepers he is a highly experienced keeper and only just entering his peak. He should have years at the highest level left. But his form has dipped these past few years. In 2009 I'd say £20m+. But could we even get a 5th of that now?
well tottenham are rumoured to be paying the wages... Its the outliers that get me you see.. I have no issue with a coutinho type being bought. it was a risk but one of expert judgement. he's on a relative pittance but worked out gangbusters however its the aspas type that gets me really. he's on 30k, isn't for 10k and is just a journeyman that rodgers is now ignoring. What was the judgement exercised there? it wasn't to get CL thats for sure. there have been way too many guys like that that MIGHT be able to kick about v a lesser european team but can't do it in the prem and we've thrown wages at. so here's the thing; and i've said it before. steady building is next to impossible. the reason being you have what 5 years on a contract and its only going to hold a player for max 3 years.. and some will agitatie to go sooner if the easy route to glory isn't right there. this means you must get players in quicker than they leave or get old. So if you've 3 years to build a cl team you can't build steadily. right now LFc have gerrard, skrtel, agger, johnson and lucas from Rafa. thats long term. all are on high wages. lets even ignore reina here. It could be contended that all would be first choices... but no other top 4 team would buy them. (gerrard at 28 yes at 33 no) we've only got suarez and henderson, perhaps enrique from the intervening managers so 18 months into rodgers era he's added sturridge and coutinho and sahko over 3 windows. everyone else is average or "for the future" I don't think this is steady building as the rafa holdovers are only held over cos of their ages and nobody actually buying them. any would have been sold by purslow if he got a bid for example. If you are serious at building a side you have to put the resources in and toss the coin. simple as that in my view. FSG are propping us up by putting in interest free money to fund these guys but are they good enough? thats the question. finally if we don't get cl this year who will remain? same names.. sahko too but would suarez? thats the rub, its not steady building its racing the vultures who pick off the cream of your crop while you try to get the job done. LFC NEED to spend big if we get CL to try and fight utd and arsenal for 3rd and 4th. thats the league we are in. we will never get 2 or 3 years in the cl unless we do that.
