Do we have a little bit of a problem here? That's 6 goals conceded in just two games. Carragher is getting old, Agger is never fit, Insua isn't that good, the Greek is just cover and Kelly/Robinson/Flano are very young. That leaves just Skrtel and Johnson. Should we spend now? Who would you buy and how much? - Apparently Arsenal just had a 10 mill bid for Phil Jagielka turned down...
Yes, CB not sure who but if we missed on Zapata maybe he is looking a bit foreign there I think LB will be Enrique or Cissokho, one of those two will do the job.
We just need to go for it. I'm fed up with us farting about. We're happy to spend millions on midfielders (where we have loads of cover) but not in defence.
We do have a problem. Solution: Aly Cissokho- £10M. Sorts out the left-back position and he is an excellent defender. Scott Dann- £7M. Birmingham are in financial crisis and I believe we could get him for that price. An excellent defender and a lifelong Liverpool fan. Thoughts?
I just heard that Dann is defiantely leaving. Is he realy that good? Or is just another decent player we might buy?
He was in the Birmingham defence which finished 9th a couple of years ago and Birmingham were mid-table before he got injured. He didn't play for the rest of the season and they went down. And from what I have seen of him, he is a excellent defender.
It's not as bad as it's looked. It's been ad hoc defences all summer, with players getting fit while flying a good few air miles. I expected a more stable side tonight but Kenny obviously still feels match fitness needs to be applied more broadly. But there was a big difference just with Kuyt and Aquilani coming on, not just with them but those around them, so the same could be applied to the defence when everybody's fit and available. Carra will keep the FBs better organised. I'd like Kelly to play whatever games he plays as CB with Carra if possible. We'll need a new General and Kelly looks the part. Get him learning.
I am really not surprised about the result, and I'm not sure we could have expected much more from the side we put out. Kyrgiakos has suddenly become worse than useless, lost any pace he once had and even his goalscoring threat has dwindled. He should definetly be moved on when his contract this season runs out. Carra is even slower than he was last season, and I really can't see more than 1 more season in him. I think we really need to start looking for a replacement, and I believe Wisdom is that replacement.
I agree we need a replacement for Carra quick. We have to premote Kelly quickly this season and see if he is up for it. I think we have given the Greek another year by the way.
Not looking great is he. Weird as traditionally its our defence which is good, and our offence limited.
General, I agree with the drift of your argument. In no game so far have we played what could be considered as a regular defence. It was clear tonight that there was no defence-leader to call the shots. It was also clear that when it comes to our defensive midfield just how bereft we actually are. Even with Carra there we would have been overrun because Paulson is just not good enough and Spearing cannot do it on his own. Having said that, lets look across the back line. Given there was no leadership Flannigan and Insua did not do badly. Kelly gave the appearnce that he does have promise. Soto just proved that even at his best (and he wasn't tonight) he could only ever be considered as an emegency player. Ayala needs to mature. As for the DM screen in front of them - where was it? Paulson does not deserve a squad number (who in the history of football ever got out-muscled by Barros?). Shevely is never going to be a DM. Spearing is not experienced enough to play the role.
I think kelly whos quick and strong next to carra would be outstanding, he seems the best replacement to be honest. every defender we have always plays better with carra next to them, his lack of pace is more than made up for by his organsation and influence on the players around him. regardless of who we bring in at cb he has some big boots to fill.
Again I agree. Hopefully Kelly can be the man. It should now be Carragher's final mission to train him up as his successor.
I think we have mised Reina as well. Remember he hasn't played at all and everyone knows that having a decent keeper behind them adds more confidence to the rest of the defence. Just look at Arsenal, there defenders always look shaky knowing they have a dodgy keeper behind them. I think once Reina is back with Johnson, Carragher, Agger or Skrtel infront and hopefully a new LB then we'll start to look a bit more organised. I agree Kelly does look good and with him being able to play CB & RB he looks to have a great future ahead of him. Plus the defence is going to be under a lot more pressure when you have a midfield who cant keep hold of the ball like we've had in the last few games.
Biscan - Doni was quality tonight. Could of easily been 4 or 5 nill. He (Reina) is important, but a keeper can only do so much. It's DM and CB's which are strugling a little.
when looking at the defence its easy to see they where shaky, but its a good point if you had poulson supposedly protecting you, you'd be panicing too. Lucas infront of carra, kelly, agger, skertl is a different matter and with reina behind them marshalling the defence it will be a tighter unit. God Willing I hope so, or am i trying to convince myself
I still believe before September there will be two more additions.One being a left back and the other being a centre back. Its just a case of getting some players off the wage bill via loans ie Pacheco and Jovanovic off to Anderlecht.Hopefully Jol follows up his interest in Poulsen.
What would happen if Degen, Poulsen, El Zhar etc. all (mysteriously...) died? Would that mean we'd get rid of them for nothing?
