Quantcast
View from the Kop

Is it time to cut our losses with this inconsistent centre back?

|

Rumours have emerged this week that Bundesliga side Wolfsburg will table a £5m bid for Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel in the summer. Despite the emergence of these reports, the Slovakian centre-back has refuted suggestions that he is seeking an Anfield exit:

“I have learned about the interest of Wolfsburg only from the internet and don’t even know how true this news is. One thing is for sure, though – I have a valid contract with Liverpool, I am happy there and if they are happy with me, too, I am not going anywhere.”

Whilst Skrtel’s commitment to the Liverpool cause is commendable, question marks have undoubtedly arisen over his form and ability over the last two seasons. The Slovakian international appeared in half of Liverpool’s Premier League outings during 2009/10, and he has appeared in every single Premier League game for the Reds this term. The side’s performances over this period have been inconsistent, sometimes downright appalling, and a backline once renowned for its organisation and rigidity has markedly deteriorated.

A recent resurgence under the stewardship of Kenny Dalglish, which has included four clean sheets in five league games, has seen Skrtel demonstrate glimpses of his early Anfield form. However, with Liverpool’s new owners Fenway Sports Group notorious for their ruthlessness in the pursuit of success, doubts persist over Skrtel’s long-term Anfield future. Should Liverpool look to cash in on Martin Skrtel this summer?

After arriving from Zenit St. Petersburg in January 2008, Martin Skrtel quickly settled at the club, and established himself as a vital component of Rafa Benitez’s starting line-up. The tall centre-back played a key part in the side’s title challenge of 2008/09, and impressed with his strength, determination and no-nonsense approach. However, a head injury sustained against Tottenham Hotspur on the opening day of 2009/10 seemed to act as a catalyst for a decline in the Slovak’s performances.

The defender, who is 6ft 4, is often unusually timid in the air for a man of his size. Despite a fearsome physical appearance, Skrtel is frequently bullied by opposition forwards. His inability to successfully cope with new team-mate Andy Carroll during Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat to Newcastle United earlier this season highlighted the defender’s physical inadequacies and decline. His positional sense has been questionable, and his hesitancy and unimaginative distribution have been evident on several occasions this season.



Although Skrtel is not the only Reds defender to have performed poorly during the last two seasons, it is his mistakes and performances which appear to have attracted the most attention and criticism from the club’s fans. Injuries to Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger facilitated Skrtel’s regular inclusion in Liverpool’s starting line-up, but it remains to be seen whether Kenny Dalglish will pick the player when everyone is fit.

Club stalwart Carragher still commands a starting berth in Liverpool’s defence, and Danish international Agger has continually been picked by Kenny when fit. Whilst Dalglish has deployed a three centre-back system in two of Liverpool’s last three games, it is unlikely that he will continue to use this formation in the long run. Carragher’s leadership qualities and Agger’s composure and ball-playing abilities almost certainly guarantee them a starting berth if and when Dalglish reverts to a two centre-back set-up.

In addition to this, Liverpool have a fine crop of young defenders ready to make the step up to first-team football over the next few years. The first-team emergence of 20-year-old Martin Kelly this season has threatened Glen Johnson’s hold over the right-back berth, but the England under-21 international is expected to switch to his preferred position of centre-back at some point over the next few seasons.

Summer recruit Danny Wilson, who has been used frequently in Liverpool’s Europa League campaign this season, will almost certainly be afforded more first-team opportunities in the Premier League next season. Spanish centre-back Daniel Ayala, who is currently on loan at Derby County, has been praised by Jamie Carragher, and England’s under-17 European Championship-winning captain Conor Coady has been tipped to make his first-team breakthrough soon.

27 later this year, Skrtel will soon be approaching his prime. Unfortunately it appears as though he hasn’t progressed and developed as well as anticipated at Anfield. Parting ways may prove to be the best move for Martin Skrtel and Liverpool this summer.

The article was written by Zarif Rasul for FootballFancast.com. Make sure to check out the latest news, blogs and podcasts at FFC – ed.

Follow us on twitter @live4Liverpool or like us on Facebook

Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at live4liverpool@snack-media.com

INTRODUCING THE WINDOWS PHONE 7! . . .

Share this article

30 comments

  • Joker says:

    What are u thinking ? Were u on something when u wrote this article? Skrtel is quality and if anyone has to make way, its Carra unfortunately. Carra, plays his heart out. But Skrtel is just as committed. So please lay off the slav. We need him everytime Agger crumbles.

  • tom says:

    As others have pointed out what would be the point of getting rid, as a unit/team the clean sheets have come, with that comes confidence and trust in one another, this is the same thing these guys had under Rafa when we finished second and also included the demands of a regular champions league schedule, and this resulted in one of the best defenses in the league. £5 million is not worth the hassle and is to cheap anyway. Skrtel provides the consistency we need as Agger does tend to suffer with injury’s and i agree with others 1 quality full back is needed but to eventually replace Carra.

  • julian remedios says:

    There are a number of players that are good but we can have better or great in their positions. Unfortunately Skertal is such a player. Good as back up but not first choice. Agger injury record is not good and Carragher in last year of his career. As is Stolios. We miss Hyppia. And we have to be careful that buying new commanding centre back doesn’t block route of up and coming youngsters. Apart from Kelly, Ayala and Wilson, we have a youngster called Andre Wisdom that could be very special. So Kenny needs to think carefully but feel Skertal 1st team chances will decrease next year and he may choose to leave if he gets less game time.

  • Dennis says:

    Agger, Carragher and skrtel are our three best centre backs at club: Krygiakos is poor and the liability at the back.

    Carragher has a year or two left at best playing at this level, so i think krygiakos should sold/shipped out in the summer and Two centre backs should be brought in:

    S Kjaer Of Wolfsburg should be brought for £8-£11M

    and G Cahill Of Bolton, S Danns Of Birmingham Or R Shawcross of Stoke should be brought for £10-£16M.

    That would be £27M spent on two qulaity class centre backs for future, whilst chelsea spent £24M on Luis 1 centre back.

    And Carragher,Kjaer, Skrtel, Danns/Cahill and Agger would be complementing and competing with one another!!!!!

  • Gaz says:

    I know this article is about Skrtel, but Kelly has been mentioned a few times in comments. I just wanted to put it out there, but when seeing Kelly make his marauding runs down the right flank and putting in his top quality crosses, does he remind anyone else of certain RB that Houllier bought from Fulham, one Steve Finnan?

Comments are closed.