Would you consider our back 4 good enough? I personally believe Mignolet would be more than good enough against the top sides but it's the back 4 (particularly the full backs) that would worry me. I think Sahko and Skrtel would be good enough, but other than that I don't think Agger, Kolo, Johnson, Enrique etc... could cut it if we were to be drawn in a difficult group. Opinions?
We need two full backs another CB. Put Toure out to pasture and sell Johnson. Do not sign Cissoko. Enrique, Flan and two more fullBacks oughta do it. Skrtel and Sakho good. Aggrr +1 as backups because we have injury issues.
I've got a mate who is a Derby fan, says he has been solid although they have looked to move him into CB rather than RB. So he might be good cover for CB.
Sakho looked good before he got injured. Skrtel definately not good enough, responsible for another 2 goals on sunday. Looks a good defender 90% of the time but his mistakes have cost us many points in the past and will continue to do so. Agger not quite as error prone but not a geat defender, doesn't really attack the ball in the air. Johnson not good enough defensively. Enrique is ok but his injury problems are really becoming a worry now
Remember a few seasons back when our defence was second only to Man City? Steve Clarke did a fantastic job with our defence and since he left, they have steadily got worse.
Personally I would take Reina back in a heart beat. Don't see how Mignolet is an improvement. As for the back 4, well a very very top quality DM would help out most imo. Otherwise, the defence should be built around Sakho, so new LB, RB and CB.
This. Skrtl & Agger were the best CB pairing to only Kompany & Lescott. So for people to keep moaning about how **** they are REALLY pisses me off. I would prefer that Rodgers signed a fantastic defensive coach, along the lines of Steve Clarke, than keep rotating & signing players all the time. If Agger & Skrtel were good enough then, why are they not now? and with the addition of Toure for experience and Sakho to fight for one of those 2 places, there should be absolutely no need to sell them and buy more defenders, then waste another year waiting for them to play properly together. Personally I don't want to see Skrtel or Agger sold at all. Skrtel has had a great season, everyone forgot he scored 2 goals the other week? As soon as he makes a mistake people jump on him like he's **** and it really annoys me. No doubt these are the same people who dont rate Lucas, never rated Kuyt, always want mystical foreigners who could do a better job... If Skrtel and Agger were sold, who would we get, realistically, to replace them to play alongside Sakho?
I'd take Reina back too... but that's not going to happen. Crazy thing is. Mignolet is a decent keeper but Reina seems much better suited to our play style.
I think Mignolet has steadily began to improve with the pass it round the back style we like to play. Reina is obviously one of the best keepers in the world with his feet but I think Mignolet is a better shot stopper, and that's ultimately what a keepers job is.
Quite simply - hell YES we need to replace the back 4. Skrtel is not the worst defender but we need better. He sh*ts himself against a big physical striker and we can't have that vulnerability at the back. He makes a lot of last ditch tackles but that's down to poor positioning and game intelligence. He's being overhyped IMO because he is simply the best of a bad bunch but in general, he's average. I mentioned earlier how Skrtel only seems good when the team/defence is doing poorly (He was player of the year in a season where we badly underperformed and this season). Agger is by far a better defender in terms of composure, positioning and intelligence - however, he is also vulnerable in the air and he has Sakho to contend with, and he will not displace the big Frenchman. Unfortunately, we're not in a position to keep a player of his calibre and wages on the bench and tbh, I want him to go to Barcelona. Johnson is absolute dross now in every sense of the word - get rid, free up those wages and get in a defender who can at least defend and pass the ball 5 yards. Enrique is another player who is overhyped - again, not the worst player in the back line but he plays with zero intelligence and is only good at shielding the ball. As with Agger and Skrtel - in an ideal world, I would keep them as valuable squad players but we cannot afford their wages just to sit on the bench. The only defenders I would keep are Sakho and the young lads. Unfortunately, that doesn't include Coates or Kelly. Not only that, the defence need protection - we need a DM and a central midfielder who can cover ground quickly and intelligently. Sorry Stevie, but our midfield needs more than you can give. I know I'm being harsh but we need better. I posed a question on another board recently: Is it a coincidence that since Skrtel, Lucas, Johnson and Enrique became first team regulars (around 2009 except for Enrique I believe), we've endured our worst years in recent history?
A new defensive coach ( or Clarke back) and a top top top DM would make a massive difference. Our back 4 is often too exposed by our missing midfield. In saying that Johnson is Definately not good enough. It would be a lot to rely on just flanno. So a RB and LB would be good too. Stick in konoplyanka and that would be good enough for me.
I'm a fan of Migs but he needs to start coming off his line more often. Our defenders are sh*t are set pieces so he needs to come and command the box. I wouldn't take Reina back though - his passing his only attribute that is still top class. He's still making mistakes in Italy.
