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The resurgence of Liverpool’s Terminator

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martin-skrtel-liverpoolTHE date is October 11th. It is the 44th minute of the World Cup Qualifier against Greece. Slovakia are preparing to move up field and Martin Skrtel rolls the ball back to his keeper (who is 35 meters from his nearest opponent) to initiate a distribution of the attack from his clear central vantage point.

The ball takes the slightest of bobbles before it reaches the keeper (unlike the major bump that frustrated Paul Robinson in the 2010 World Cup) and goes between his feet for the opening goal of the game.

And like Gary Neville before him, Skrtel is charged with an OG even though, compared to the Slovakian keeper, his was by a country mile the lesser cock up. The Robinson goal has been referred to as the ‘Gary Neville Own Goal’ as I’m sure Jan Mucha’s laughable goal will forever be known as the ‘Martin Skrtel Own Goal’.

My question is, if you were the keeper in these two scenarios, would you rather have your post match talk with Neville or Skrtel? The Liverpool defender, affectionately known as ‘The Terminator” or the other guy? I mean, he could easily play Death in the next Terry Pratchett movie without a lot of time in the makeup chair.

Ever since the big {6’3”) Slovakian came to Liverpool from Zenit Saint Petersburg in January 2008, he has left his mark on games. Although he fell out of favour after the Reds’ meltdown on defense, he has been a stalwart who takes no prisoners. The knock on the big man is that he is often too aggressive in lunging at opposing strikers but he seems to emerge from most clashes with nothing worse than a warning.

There is no questioning his commitment to the team nor his high level of performance at centre-back. His true shortcoming seems to be in organizing the people around him, as became painfully obvious when Carragher was left out of the line-up for a long stretch of games.

Neither Agger nor Skrtel seemed to be able to co-ordinate the defense as Carra had done with the result that the back four didn’t play as a unit. Couple that with Johnson’s tendency to play more as a wing-back regardless of the formation, and Enrique’s inconsistency at times last season, and the stage was set for some rather sketchy defensive performances.

This season, the arrival of Kolo Toure from Man City has made a huge difference to Martin’s game. The experience that the Ivorian brings to the defence is invaluable, not only because of his strong play but also because of the leadership and stability he has brought.

For defenders with a lot of energy and drive (Sakho gets better with every game), the mentorship that Kolo provides is invaluable in developing each defender’s organizing skill.

For a team of Smurfs, Skrtel adds height on offense and the small concession that football is a three dimensional game. He and Daniel Agger are two Liverpool FC players who can see over top of opponents without those cardboard periscopes of a bygone age. Martin’s aggression in the opposition 16 yard box is tangible and draws coverage away from our more vertically challenged snipers.

In the past few weeks, Martin has expressed his joy at being back in the first eleven and the manager has shown confidence in his defender, not only in what he has said to the press, but in his reliance on the Slovakian as a team regular.

Gone are the niggling rumours of a trade to Napoli. Gone are the frowns of an unhappy Brendan Rodgers whose three man backfield depended so heavily on sound play at the back. The formation should prevail this weekend as well, since West Brom employ a two striker system that is well suited to a three man backfield with two wing-backs.

3-4-2-1 isn’t a heavy favourite with many fans (who also insist that Brendan Rodgers is a reincarnation of Edward Smith, of Titanic fame) but we may very well see it manifest itself this weekend. Meanwhile the competition among a very talented group of central defenders promises to remain a feature of the club in the weeks to come.

“[Competition] It’s important because it pushes everyone to do better. You have to show what you can do every day in training and you know that if don’t perform there’s someone waiting to take your place” offered Skrtel. And he will succeed because he epitomizes the warrior and competitor who rises, bloodied but unbowed, to hold against the opponent again and again.

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Retired High School English teacher. Coached high school football (soccer) and basketball. Played football (soccer) in high school and at university. Live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with my wife and 2 cats. Have been a Liverpool fan since we started receiving broadcasts in Canada. Love to golf and read Terry Pratchett.

6 comments

  • FSG Out says:

    Shankly would have loved Skrtel and got the best out of him, Brenda however is a midget brained nobody.

    • Emile says:

      Go home, go back to mamma you idiot commenter

      • FSG Out says:

        LOL! Another pea brained idiot, is this the level of debate you can come up with?

        • aaron says:

          Another example of @FSG OUT using his masters degree in comment and debate. Insulting from the safety of his (or HER) armchair.

          Is Skrtel playing well, has Rodgers kept him in the team after fine performances. Has he improved after more competitive players, in his position were added. Who bought these players that have had a positive effect on Skrtel’s performance?

          Oh it was Brendan Rodgers!!!

          It’s almost as if BR & FSG have had an orgy with your wife you delude, such is the animosity you so enjoy sharing with everyone else on this forum.

          It’s as if you wish Liverpool to fail just so you can say ‘told you so’ like some three year old child.

          Support the team (which includes the manager) and stop talking absolute drivel!!!

    • Paul LFC says:

      I agree fsg out . Rodgers is incapable .

      • aaron says:

        Incapable of what exactly Paul LFC? Or is it Paul MUFC???

        Difficult to tell from your unique insight into football!

        How many coaching badges do you have?

        Ever managed a team of any note? Probably not. Just as I thought.

        But please do quantify your opinion otherwise it’s nonsense, although it did make me laugh so thanks for that you football messiah!!!

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