WHEN an architect is designing construction plans for a new project, his or her starting point will invariably be the foundations.
They must be sturdy and reliable otherwise what lies on top will ultimately tumble to the ground.
The same principle applies to Brendan Rodgers’ imminent construction of a new Liverpool.
For all the talk of tiki-taka and fluid attacking football, perhaps the most crucial aspect for Liverpool this season is the base of the team and, in particular, it’s centre-half pairing. The centre of Liverpool’s defence is not an area of the squad that carries sufficient depth at this moment. Say what you want about Jamie Carragher’s experience or Sebastian Coates’ raw potential, as we speak, Liverpool have two just two ready-made central defenders of the required quality to move the club forward. To use one of Brendan Rodgers’ favourite phrases: Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel are fundamental.
A Liverpool starting XI containing Agger and Skrtel on a regular basis is what everyone, particularly the new manager, is surely hoping for this coming season. Unfortunately, there are currently some lingering doubts about how often the pair will be together in Liverpool’s team next season, if at all. Both players’ reputations have never been higher, as illustrated by reported interest from Real Madrid and Manchester City recently. After years of Agger seemingly flying under the radar of other top clubs due to injury problems and Skrtel’s inability to maintain his best form on a consistent basis, Liverpool now must face the problems that arise with having two in-form Premier League defenders in their prime years (both are aged 27). Other clubs with greater finances and more potential of immediate, tangible success are now apparently casting envious glances towards two of the Reds’ most important players. It is no surprise.
Skrtel is coming off his best season by far at Anfield. He was undoubtedly one of the outstanding defenders in the Premier League last term and was deservedly voted Liverpool’s player of the season. Meanwhile, Agger impressed a wide audience with his performances at Euro 2012 for Denmark and perhaps more significantly, made 27 league appearances last term, his level best total during an injury plagued 6 years at the club. Skrtel’s new found consistency dispelled the previous widely held assertion that he isn’t reliable enough to play week in week out for a team with trophy aspirations while Agger’s relatively high number of appearances will have eased fears about his previously terrible fitness record. The pair now look accomplished, reliable, proven top level players and it is Liverpool’s job as a club to retain their services in the face of interest from others.
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Which brings us neatly on to the pressing matter of contracts. Both players’ current deals expire in 2014 and offers need to be made soon by Liverpool if they are to secure the futures of their outstanding defensive duo. The club cannot afford to let negotiations drag on for too long and the ideal scenario would be both players signing new, improved, long term contracts in the coming weeks. Agger has talked of his desire for opening negotiations and Skrtel’s agent has made noises in the press about an improved deal which is encouraging for the club and its fans. Brendan Rodgers has himself made positive noises regarding the situation of both clubs and hopefully this will be ironed out soon enough, but if deals are not struck in relatively short time-frame then clubs like City and Madrid will likely be upping their current levels of interest.
The importance of retaining the services of Agger and Skrtel really cannot be overstated in a footballing sense for Brendan Rodgers. Liverpool badly need to keep both players on the pitch next season with sustained regularity. Agger’s technical ability, calmness and poise on the ball will be of paramount importance when it comes to the team implementing Rodgers’ methods successfully. It is debatable whether there is a more technically assured centre-half in Europe than the Dane and his quality will be a priceless commodity to Liverpool if they are to adopt, as expected, a more possession based approach to games. Rodgers’ likes his teams to play out from the back and in Agger, he currently holds a perfect player to do this. If he does indeed remain at Anfield for the forthcoming campaign, Rodgers’ medical staff will also be charged with keeping him fit and building on the progress that he made last season in this area. A fully fit Agger playing the vast majority of games is a luxury Liverpool haven’t had since he signed back in 2006 and this becoming a reality is more vital now than ever before.
Skrtel’s emergence as an ultra-reliable, dominant centre-half last season was one of the few bright spots for Liverpool as he finally matured into an indispensable member of the team. The worrying propensity to concede unnecessary free kicks was all but eradicated, his aerial presence in both boxes was improved and he became a leader on the pitch. That he compliments Agger’s more cultured approach is another bonus. When they are paired together Liverpool are an infinitely better team and it is of imperative that this remains the case next season.
The aforementioned transfer speculation, injury doubts and unresolved contract situations means that there are currently several obstacles lying in the club’s way regarding Agger and Skrtel but if the new manager, his staff and his superiors can overcome them, then Brendan Rodgers will have his foundation to build Liverpool’s future on. Exactly what an architect needs.
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I couldn’t agree more, Dave, we need to get them both signed up long-term. For all the stick Skrtel got over the years from fans, we don’t need a situation where his potential ability start to become actual and he feels no loyalty to the club because of the way some fans used to talk about him. Get them both signed up until they’re in their 30’s.