IT’S that time of year again when people start to compile the lists of those players who have performed well for their club during the previous season with the goal of anointing one as Player of the Season, and at Live4Liverpool we are no different.
Our list has been shortened to Martin Skrtel, Luis Suarez, Danny Agger, Jose Enrique and Pepe Reina, and in a continuation of my player reviews for the season I will be casting my eye over these contenders to give my thoughts on their year.
So, let’s start with the beast that is Skrtel. I think it is fair of me to say he fully deserves to be in the running for our player of the season and as well as being a stand out performer in a red shirt this year I am also of the opinion that along with Vincent Kompany he has been the best centre back in the league.
Of course he won’t get the positive press a title winning centre back will get or the favourable reports the media darlings Terry and Ferdinand seem to constantly get despite poor form, poor behaviour and pending Crown Court trials but his consistency throughout the year despite the teams downward turn in form in the latter stages are to his credit.
For me this has been something of a coming of age for Skrtel in a Liverpool shirt, and the aforementioned consistency a key ingredient to that. He has become a rock at the back throughout the year, standing up to be counted when the pressure is on at both ends of the pitch. Thinking back to the Cardiff game at Wembley for example, it was the big Slovak who brought us back into the game, providing that much needed kick up the rear. Whilst undoubtedly he formed an excellent partnership with Agger for much of the season, one which may have made a more significant difference had the Dane stayed fit throughout, Skrtel continued to impress with Carragher and Coates, dominating, leading and chewing up opposition centre forwards along the way. He was aerially dominant, bullied players off the ball, tackled well, organised well and was very comfortable on the ball playing in a way Kopites expect their centre backs to play.
We want to see the ball played about we want to see our centre backs bring the ball out of defence instead of lumping it, and whilst Skrtel has not reached Aggers level yet at doing this he has looked a lot more composed. I could continue to rave about the performances he has put in this season, quote stats and highlight specific performances but for me this is only part of the story as to why I have been impressed with him this year. Football is all about the long term, that is how you truly succeed and become great, anyone can make a knee jerk reaction on the back of a game or a season, but in order to appreciate what has just been you need to understand where it has come from.
Liverpool FC has always prized itself on, amongst other factors, a strong defensive setup with elegant and hard centre backs capable of defending and playing and we have been blessed with some serious talent in that role down the years from Yeats to Smith to Hansen and in the last 10 years or so with Hyypia, Henchoz, Carragher and Agger. Speaking more recently Hyypia and Henchoz were dominant and worked well together, bettered by the partnership between Hyypia and Carragher, I mean I could lavish praise on Sami all night – love that guy.
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With Hyypia ageing and playing less before eventually leaving, Agger was the obvious replacement, himself a wonderful player with an eye for a tackle along with the ability and confidence to drive forward and play in the Liverpool way and had it not been for a number of injuries I think people away from Anfield would be talking a lot more about him. With Agger’s troubles we saw the emergence of Skrtel, a player Rafa signed with a view more to the future, but someone capable of coming straight in as well. Whilst combining well with Carra, the partnership did not reach the levels of those preceding it, and whilst being effective we did not see the best of Skrtel. Sure, it was clear for all to see the potential of the lad but more often than not he would be over-exuberant or clumsy allowing the opposition to pile on pressure which will have affected his confidence. Some of this can be explained by his positioning in a back two, in that he is naturally right sided, but as Carra was also right sided and the senior member of the partnership Skrtel was forced to play on the left hand side, and whilst competent you could see this was not comfortable to him.
Unlike park football where you could play any position dependant on who turns up and be as (un)effective as you would be anywhere else, football at the highest level is a game of fine margins leading to players specialising in positions right down to which side of a the pitch they cover. Players who can offer themselves in differing roles effectively and genuinely are like gold dust but can often find themselves becoming a jack of all trades. So while Skrtel continued to be a solid member of the squad, with an unarguable talent, the thought always was that he was warming Agger’s seat, and in fact with the left back troubles of recent years Agger has been called into that role once or twice so not immediately demanded that centre back berth back. However, this year through an injury to Carra and the impressive form of Skrtel and Agger as a pair we have truly seen the best of the Slovak which has coincided to him playing on the right hand side of the centre back partnership. Of course this is not the sole reason for his form but in my eyes it is certainly contributory to it.
It is clear his confidence has grown and that he and Agger have a good bond which is crucial in any partnership, and he will have also settled at the club after his move from Zenit and found himself as one of the more senior members of the squad and fully embraced this, which is yet again another cracking advert as to why patience is needed with players.
To surmise, Skrtel for me is one of two choices for Player of the Season. It has been a year where he has fully arrived and started to truly deliver on the promise he has always had. He is developing into a crucial part of the spine that every team needs, and his partnership with Agger is excellent and his ability to now adapt to other partners will be key, especially with a talent like Coates waiting in the wings. He has been a rock throughout this season and a clear bright light in what has at times been a gloomy year. The fact he was named Slovakia Player of the Year beating off the likes of Hamsik to achieve that honour is an indicator of the player he has become. Also, let’s all be honest here, going into battle you would rather have him on your side than coming up against him!!
Stay tuned for more analysis of the short-listed L4L Liverpool FC Player of the Year contenders, coming over the next few weeks!
Love chatting footy and meeting fellow reds! My twitter following is sadly low, perhaps I should start being a right wally on it to boost numbers? Maybe not! Anyway, come find me @timdibs
Other L4L Player of the Year Contenders: Luis Suarez, Daniel Agger, Jose Enrique, Pepe Reina
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