Posted on Thursday, 27th January 2011 by David Tyrer
It’s been a long time coming (and I’m certain I can’t be the only one who’s been waiting to see it) but in the past five games, we’ve finally had a glimpse of what we can expect from the Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel pairing.
Since Sami Hyypia left the club almost 2 seasons ago, I’ve been eager to see these two partnering up. For the best part of the time since then though, Carragher has been preferred to both and it tends to be a case of ‘who will play with Carragher’? Even after Hodgson became manager he would prefer Kyrgiakos (who I think very highly of) to either of these two. And while it’s unfortunate that Jamie should get a long term injury, it might not have been a bad thing necessarily in the long term. As it gives these young centre backs the chance to have a proper spell in the team together and for Liverpool, that can only be a positive thing.
The reason I’m so keen on these two is two-fold. Firstly, I believe – wholeheartedly – that separately, they are two of the finest young centre backs in English football. Together, they could be very formidable because they both bring something different to the table. Agger, being the more naturally talented of the two, is a top footballer; he could easily play central midfield with the same level of style and assurance. He is strong and fast and has the technical ability required for a top defender these days. As for Skrtel, he brings a distinctly different flavour to the partnership, being the more ‘physical’ of the two, he adds the necessary steel to the equation: hard tackling and aggressive aerial ability. With more games together and more experience they are going to be, potentially, one of the best centre back partnerships around.
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Tags: Daniel Agger, Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool, Martin Skrtel, Sami Hyypia
Posted in View from the Kop | Comments (31)
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January 27th, 2011 at 5:18 pm
R U avin a laff agger is class, Skrtel is nowhere near the best in the land. He makes far to many mistakes has done through his Liverpool career. We need to give Wilson a go cos Skrtel aint good enough
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January 27th, 2011 at 5:31 pm
And I was applauding Peter till he mentioned Wilson. It’ll take Wilson a minimum of 4 years to be anywhere near ready to be a 1st choice centre back for us, he’s only 18 and he has a huge deal of learning and developing to do before he’s ready. As for Skrtel, he needs to improve big time if he’s to be looked as a top Liverpool centre half.
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January 27th, 2011 at 5:38 pm
Martin does need to improve and the best and quickest way is in the team, in a year when not too much is expected as regards end of season position, as long as we keep picking up points its a chance to bring on players with potential.
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January 27th, 2011 at 5:42 pm
Both Skerel and johnson have improved under Dalglish and Clark!
Its not imposible you know!
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Matt Castellian Reply:
January 27th, 2011 at 7:02 pm
Agree – The Echo gave Skrtel man of the match – also Johnson definately looking better. That’s either Dalglish of his new haircut!
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January 27th, 2011 at 5:50 pm
Do you watch the games?
Utter rubbish. Skrtel has been the thorn in the liverpool defence this season. Agger is rusty but class. We need a new centre back pronto and unfortunately Carragher was showing his age at times in the start of this season. Organized and passionate yes, showing his years yes. Wilson is not ready and kelly is doing well on the right but also shows some defensive weaknesses at corners and free kicks implying he will not fill skrtels boots. Centre back pronto!
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January 27th, 2011 at 6:09 pm
Buy Kjear and put him in with Dany…
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Nikitas Reply:
January 27th, 2011 at 6:09 pm
*Kjaer
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January 27th, 2011 at 6:50 pm
What about Ayala and Agger?
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January 27th, 2011 at 6:53 pm
Myopic responses. A lot of u idi*ts said kelly is not ready, now he’s d best defender we have. Some even prefer shawcross………Grow up LFC fans!
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neil Reply:
January 27th, 2011 at 9:54 pm
That’s quite ignorant dee, im sure its not the same people saying the contradicting remarks.
Comments about ayala and wilson…… wise up, they couldnt get into west ham back four, there is a lot more to defending than taking a ball from someone and clearance headers, ayala shows signs of being world class, in the future!
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January 27th, 2011 at 7:08 pm
The way these two guys are playing of late I wouldn’t want them as reserve CB paring!!
Agger is Class, so I keep hearing..?? He reminds me of a dressage horse cantering out of defense, all very pretty to look at but I wouldn’t ride him in the grand national that is the Premier league. He gets injured WAY too often. Needs to brush up on the nuts and bolts of being a good CB before he wanders off up the pitch trying to score from 40 yards!!
Skertel use to do the basics right but has been in terrible form all season. Last night was no exception, when together the two of them looked plain awful. Maybe they’re distracted by eachothers tattoos!
It seems to me, although I wouldn’t have thought it that Carra’s orginisational skills are being sorely missed. The article talks of the dream partnership for 7-8 years , the way they’re playing at the moment I wouldn’t give them 7-8 games together.
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January 27th, 2011 at 7:15 pm
Yo d, if Kelly is d best defender we got then that is what us id*ts are saying. He has just been promoted from the reserves! That is a good sign regarding our reserves but not our established centre backs. We need a centre pairing that is rock solid. Agger has the skills to burst forward that is obviously being encouraged by out manager. Whereas, skrtel offers nothing attacking and looks a complete disaster on most set pieces. This is fact, not an emotional response I am afraid.
We need Carragher’s organizational skills in a younger, tougher and established Centre back to partner Agger. Carragher is great to have as back up and will give an admirable effort when our first choice pairing needs resting or is injured. Just an opinion.
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January 27th, 2011 at 7:23 pm
Well let’s face it FOX most of the players have been in terrible form all season! I don’t think we had the same defence two games running under Hodgson – plus no zonal marking now. Your sardonic comments don’t offer any alternatives to this problem you think we have in defence. Also, do you use pseudonyms? Your comments and style of writing remind me of a couple of others on this site!
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January 27th, 2011 at 7:24 pm
I can’t believe this article. I pray every game for the defense to liven up. Johnson played well yesterday (as a winger) Kelly was OK for his age. Skertel needs to go, every game and practically every touch is disappointing. Agger is almost as useless. I think the effort is there they just lack the talent and vision. At set pieces I have my heart in my mouth they’re all over the place. Liverpool used to have a rock solid defense, now it looks like not even championship quality.
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January 27th, 2011 at 7:36 pm
wilson is very good for his age, INCREDIBLY conposed, reminds me of agger a lot, watch him playing for rangers, i would have no qualms if he replaced skrtel who unfortunately has been poor, but lsowly improving under dalglish. agger is a very good centra back, please as fans bare in mind that these players were playing under a rubbish manager in hodgson making them look and play even worse, no player becomes rubbish in 6 months or isit a coincidence that johnson looked like a joke under hodgson and looks good again under dalglish? lets give all the players a break and judge them in march and see how the “dalglish effect” has changed them. i have supported this club for a long time and our lack of patience will be our downfall, a new manager comes in, we should be patient with players whilst the new manager implements his ways.
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Jim Lynch Reply:
January 27th, 2011 at 7:40 pm
Well said – Let’s give the players a break!
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January 27th, 2011 at 7:37 pm
composed*
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January 27th, 2011 at 7:43 pm
Carragher was key in that rock solid defense but he can’t maintain his position because he represents liverpool’s heart and soul. He needs to step back like good old Sammie did and help develop the next generation.
Chelsea has not been the same in defense since Carvalho left and they have that wife stealing tw*t ageing as well. United having been priming their young talent and we have a large ageing Greek. Although he should be recalled for the Stoke game with Agger or we are in serious trouble.
Ayala possibly, future squad player. Need a first choice in the summer.
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January 27th, 2011 at 7:49 pm
We’re still nt being realistic! A lot of promising young CB are out there N they will come in & be worst than wat we’ve got.(its not impossible).
This two players in my own opinion just need game 2geda under the guidiance of a coach with good defensive ability.
A lot of us has condenmed johnson defensive ability claiming but it does’nt stop constant rumour of interest from ”Mourinho”(real madrid). May be he has something we are not seeing or did’nt value/appreciate.
If we’re to go by the mentallity most fans has then xcept torress & gerrard non of our players is good enof. (even man city star studded team can’t win the league, why? They need time together).
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January 27th, 2011 at 7:50 pm
This is not a matter of giving players a break. It is an assessment of our team and a reaction to a ridiculous blog. A dream partnership. Not in my bloody dreams. I have dreams of Liverpool being Champions and we need a solid bloody defense!
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January 27th, 2011 at 8:01 pm
No they need competition. I am not calling for skrtel to be sold. I think Kenny and Clarke will improve him. We just need better competition in that area. Torres needs competition to take his game to the next level. All players do. Thats unfortunately, the scums winning formula. Shrek might come good again. Games aint helping him is it? Thankfully
Man City might come good with good players but they are all driven by money so they might not be champions.
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January 27th, 2011 at 9:26 pm
@ joe Kelly
No Joe I don’t use pseudonyms..
I well aware that everybody has been in terrible form all season, but that doesn’t change my opinion on Agger which is based on his Liverpool carrer, when he’s not nursing an injury that is.
He’s not for me . Its all well and good wanting to be a cultured CB, but you have to do the basics right first before you think you can swan off like Franz Beckenbauer up the pitch. Bottom line is I don’t think he’s good enough at wahat it is he’s paid to do and that is to DEFEND.
Skirtel seemed to be comfortable and reasonably solid under the stewardship of Carra, maybe it’s as a result of his absense or ‘tired after the WC’ excuse but the guy looks like a petrified chicken everytime the ball comes near the box.
As for solutions Joe.. The only player that looks assured, strong and confident at the moment is playing at right back, Kelly is the business, why not put him in his natural and favoured position at CB, and see what the guy has to offer. Now that Kenny has given Jono the kick up the backside he needed by putting him on the left maybe he’ll appreciate his right back position a bit more and pull his socks up. He’s already got the haircut !! As for left back I’d have Warnock back in a heartbeat.
As For a Cb partner for Kelly I suggest Carra. Blend of youth and expeience and see what business we can do in the summer. I cant see it happening but I would TRY this back 4 Jono- Kelly-Carra-Warnock(provided we can get him)
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January 27th, 2011 at 9:38 pm
I can understand your opinion as there has been plenty of evidence to show Agger’s mishaps and lead you to that conclusion. He has not been convincing yet for sure. I personally think you will see a vast improvement in his form once he gets a run and hopefully stays injury free. But opting to slot Carragher back (after an injury) in and partner him with a young prospect and benching both Agger and Skrtel is just never going to happen. I hope Kelly proves himself as a pacey, assured centre-back. It is quite possible. I think you are right that a trip to the left will help johnson get better on the right.
Bench Skrtel we both agree. I would rather try Kelly and Agger, although I am not convinced about their heading ability. This would still leave us vulnerable against set pieces. Now bringing in someone who can dominate headers and give us an attacking edge would mean we have choices who to partner with that person.
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January 27th, 2011 at 10:04 pm
THE FOX
You are 100% right about Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel.
Both are useless. Agger has a permenant back problem. If we can get any money for him in the summer, I’d snatch their hand off.
I’ve never seen a pair of c/backs that can’t win a ball in the air.
To gauge how poor they really are, name me a team they would get in, in the top 6.
Can’t can you.
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January 27th, 2011 at 10:12 pm
@ Balfy
Well as I said, I know it wont happen, at least not til agger gets injured again and Skertel takes a knock at the same time.
I don’t personally see whats wrong with a bit of experimenting for the rest of whats been a season to forget. I think Kelly and Carra would comliment eachother well and Kelly would benifit hugely from Carra’s experience. He’s our futur CB for years to come. We just need a long term partner for him. Its not Agger who’s ‘Style’ is more suited to spanish or italian league. You canot build a CB pairing around an injury prone player. Full stop. He’s gettin as bad as Aurelio, and thats BAD.
How vunerable did we look in the air last night everytime a ball came into the box ? Our CB pairing is all over the shop and even Pepe is starting to flap at one or two which shows you how much confidence he has in them !!
To get back to the main point of the article.. DREAM PAIRING FOR 7-8 YEARS.. I don’t see it. I don’t even see half of a drem pairing !!
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January 27th, 2011 at 10:20 pm
i can name 180 teams they’d get in, unfortunately all the teams are in other countries and if we could find better replacements thats exactly were they would be ,but we have no better at the mo’ so stop whining about how crap they are and give them some encouragement , you never know if some people actually gave them support it might be enough to get them to pull their fingers out and play like we know they can as in 2009 ,they were good enough for you all then and playing under both rafa and roy since that time their confidence has been shot to pieces by being both injured and both played sparingly when fit ,give them a chance to get it together cos we ain’t buyin any new centrebacks til’ the summer,
SUPPORT THE GUYS WHOEVER PLAYS OR F***OFF AND FOLLOW A TEAM THAT WINS EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME
ME I’LL SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE ALL LFC PLAYERS TIL’ I DROP DEAD NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE COS I WANT WHAT IS BEST FOR THE TEAM AND CLUB NOT WHAT IS BEST FOR ME IMMEDIATELY
YNWA
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January 28th, 2011 at 2:10 am
Both Skrtel and Agger are still relatively young and still have at least 6-7 years at the top level. We can do with Skrtel and Agger for the time being until we get a top quality centre back in the summer, someone who’s also strong in the air. Skrtel is strong and aggresive defensively while Agger is good with the ball but they look shaky dealing with balls in the air. Against teams like Stoke we’re gonna get F***ED when all they do is get balls into our penalty area. Agger is class and you don’t see many defenders who can distribute the ball so well at the back. Skrtel needs to get his act together cause he’s been awful this season. Kyrgiakos should be used against physical teams like Stoke to deal with balls in the air. Carragher is past it and should only play when his experience is needed and he can also help developing the younger defenders like Ayala, Kelly and Wilson. For me, Wilson is not ready yet and it will be another 2 years before he’s ready for the first team. Ayala should be given a chance in the first team and the guy is for sure one for the future. We can stick with Skrtel and Agger for now but we need a quality centre back in the summer.
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January 28th, 2011 at 3:15 am
whatever happens let’s just hope none of them leaves cause then we’ll be in trouble can’t get good cover with aging carra and kyrgiakos while danny has yet to make his first run and ayala doesn’t play a lot in firt team!!! these guys are good in fact pairing them them gives a glimpse of hyypia-henchoz style but with more pace and shooting ability so they are the good for the job just give king k some time and they’ll be magical out there!!!
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January 28th, 2011 at 3:16 am
@rob
well that told us mate. Unfortunately the Internet allows people like you tell me what I should or should not go and do and judge my support for a team I have supported for about 35 years at this point. The point of the conversation that you joined was an answer to the slightly bizarre title of the blog. This was not about selling players but turned into a debate about our defense. The players won’t get offended and we all love and support LFC. Our defenders can’t win headers and hoping they will come good might not help. I still watch all our games and hope for the best. In Kenny I trust cos he was my childhood hero and I already see improvement. But let’s just blindly hope together shall we Rob and let’s not question anything or share an opinion.
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January 28th, 2011 at 3:41 am
I believe Rafa bought in Skrtel to play in his side and seemed to make less mistakes when they used zonal marking.
I believe he may now be better suited elsewhere Agger i am unsure of great player but not on the park often enough.
Carra is getting on it is getting to the stage where they need a replacement Ayala and Wilson are not ready yet.
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