comment by There'sOnlyOneReds(Spurs 0-5 LFC Know your place (U1721)
posted 49 minutes ago
comment by Insert random username (U10647)
posted 2 hours, 28 minutes ago
People say skrtel is better because he scored more goals, however he also scored a few own goals and made more errors leading to goals than our other defenders, his "net goals" (scores minus own goals and error leading to goals) was one lower than aggers "net goals"

Personally think skrtel is a calamity waiting to happen, we will always have a weak defence with him in the team.
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I don't know which people are saying he's been better because he scored a few goals but I certainly wasn't one of them. He was better because his defending was better. The partnership with Sakho was always going to take time to work.

Statistically Agger and Skrtel were better but that's normal considering they have played together for a few seasons. In time Sakho will be adjusted to the league and the team and I feel Lovren would be a good partner for him, however I'd be wary of throwing them in together right away. Our best defender of last season will probably again be a mainstay with Lovren or Sakho partnering him throughout the season and then they might get time together towards the end and the start of the new season when Skrtel may be sold.
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Statistically agger and toure were best, although they only played together a small number of games,

Then it's skrtel and agger.

Basically if you look at the 4 two man CB permutatations we use, aggers partnerships are the top two, skrtels are the bottom 3.

If we bring lovren in, a right footed CB will leave, I can't see we will keep three on the books, and have wisdom and Ilori out on loan.

In that case toure wont attract a transfer fee, and his contract ends next season, skrtel is the only defensive player we can afford to sell to garner a profit.

Agger lovren would be good.

We've used a lot of centrebacks in the last couple of years and no matter who we used they all ended up making a fair few 'uncharacteristic errors' compared to previous managers.

I really don't think it matters who we bring in, effectively playing 2 at the back most matches means they are all exposed to constant mental pressure, and in the end anyone new will suffer the same fate. They'll crack from time to time.

I wouldn't bank on any significant improvement in defence unless we change the style.

And I hope we don't change the style.

Buy more attacking options to score more goals!!!

ATTACK!!!!!!

Why can city score more goals than us but still defend well

"Why can city score more goals than us but still defend well"

they have better and more depth in attack

if we had that we could play more conservatively

If City played our style they'd probably be at 120+ scored

And a better midfield +defence

Better defenders will cope better in an attacking team. However we don't want to change the whole defence, that will be a massive mistake. It has to be done slowly.

Yaya's the best centremid in the league
Kompany's the best centreback

I've never been jealous of who they stick next to those two and would rather we have who we do.

Even they play more 'defensive' than us

City's big strength is in attack and depth of attack. United used to be the same even with a 'weak' centremidfield. Still won titles.

Buy more attacking players. It's a proven method.

If defensive mishaps and individual errors are the gauge, I'd sell the entire defence except for Enrique. They're all 'accidents waiting to happen'.

I genuinely think it's 80% the system/style. Every centreback we've tried has 'failed'. Even one's with years of proven experience.

What we missed last season was the vocal and organisational presence of Carragher. From the little I know of Lovren's character, those are two of his strengths.

Sakho starts for France

Good defenders dont continuously make ridiculous mistakes that cost you goals imo.

Ilori.

Like Skrtel?

comment by shortlightandugly. "You can't put fourth place on your mantelpiece". (U13938)
posted 6 minutes ago
Ilori.

Like Skrtel?
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He is not a good defender.

Liverrosso.

Yeah I know.

comment by shortlightandugly. "You can't put fourth place on your mantelpiece". (U13938)
posted 12 minutes ago
Ilori.

Like Skrtel?
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Nope

#skrtelisgash

you seem to think i think skrtel is good enough, i do not.

I dont think Lovren is much of an upgrade on him at the 20-25mil

Skrtel has many qualities but calm under pressure isn't one of them and that cost us a times last season because the defence got too deep too quickly. As the older, wiser head in the backline he should have managed that but didn't.

We scored so many own goals because we were too close to Mignolet.

You can blame the keeper or other defenders too but ultimately it was the keepers and Sakho's first season so they weren't likely to be leaders straight away.

This lack of leadership is why Skrtel was dropped for Carra the season before. I am sure BR would have played Toure in the run in but he had his own nightmare around January/February time so maybe BR no longer trusted him either. If Carra hadn't retired I have no doubt he would have played in the run in last season.

I don't think Skrtel should be sold though. He is too good, rarely injured and generally reliable.

Lovren is a good target because he can play either side so we can rotate the centre backs.

I personally would sell Agger and Toure and keep Ilori as the 4th. Give him some game time in lesser games and see how he does.

comment by righteous1 (U7048)
posted 4 minutes ago
Skrtel has many qualities but calm under pressure isn't one of them and that cost us a times last season because the defence got too deep too quickly. As the older, wiser head in the backline he should have managed that but didn't.

We scored so many own goals because we were too close to Mignolet.

You can blame the keeper or other defenders too but ultimately it was the keepers and Sakho's first season so they weren't likely to be leaders straight away.

This lack of leadership is why Skrtel was dropped for Carra the season before. I am sure BR would have played Toure in the run in but he had his own nightmare around January/February time so maybe BR no longer trusted him either. If Carra hadn't retired I have no doubt he would have played in the run in last season.

I don't think Skrtel should be sold though. He is too good, rarely injured and generally reliable.

Lovren is a good target because he can play either side so we can rotate the centre backs.

I personally would sell Agger and Toure and keep Ilori as the 4th. Give him some game time in lesser games and see how he does.
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Agree with all that. I said the same about Carragher last season.

I agree with it all.. Except sell agger and toure, keep Ilori.

Ilori needs gametime, so you need to keep one of those two.

Agger has been statistically our best defender for years, is vc and longest serving member of our defence, he would be a big miss!

Toure wont attract a transfer fee and will want to see out the next year of his contract like at city.

Agger has been a good player for us but he is too injury prone and is getting physically weaker by the week.

We need to sell him while he still has some value.

He can't play 3 games a week. He is like Ledley King.

On another note:
@sergicanos: Very happy to sign my first professional contract with Liverpool Football Club. One of my best days!⚽️ #LFC #YNWA 🔴🔴

Think the Suarez deal will settle at £75m, good amount but annoying that we could have gotten more.

catalan media reporting 63mil deal agreed, ill wait for someone reliable to report it first not a barca media outlet

For £63m I'd prefer to take the risks of keeping him.