MAMADOU Sakho is a beast of a player.
Of all the signings made in a busy summer the former Paris Saint Germain Captain is comfortably the highest profile. Breaking Liverpool’s transfer record for a central defender at somewhere between £15m-£18m, it is unlikely Sakho has been bought simply to add competition and warm the bench. However the question that won’t be answered until the international break is over is in which position will he play and who will he replace?
Sakho brings a lot of qualities to a Liverpool defence that is yet to concede a goal in the Premier League. Although the back five take a lot of credit for this (4 ever presents, while Skrtel replaced Toure for the United game) a large part of this defensive solidity is due to the excellent screen that both Lucas and Gerrard have provided. Lucas has been excellent in all three games and Gerrard has curtailed his attacking instincts to support the defensive cause whenever the opposition team has gained momentum in a particular phase of a match.
The defence itself has not been without fault. Enrique still has not looked that solid and while Daniel Agger has played well at times, the lack of pace amongst all our centre-back options (all be it less exposed as we have played rather deep) has been put to the test. More pace in the backline will allow us to play a higher line more effectively and not invite so much pressure, as we did in the second halves against Villa and United.
Sakho brings height, power and excellent pace to the defence. In addition he has captained teams from a young age and while his leadership of the Liverpool defence may take time to develop (with more experienced international captains already around him, and language being an initial problem) it is surely one of the characteristics that interested Brendan Rodgers.
At just 23 years of age he has already played 196 game for Paris Saint Germain with 13 international caps. He has European experience as well, but the French league is hardly of the highest standard.
Mamadou is primarily a left sided centre-back, and therein lies the conundrum. Our newly appointed Vice-Captain, Daniel Agger, is also a left sided centre-back, and it is difficult to imagine, injury and suspensions permitting, that Agger would lose his place. That leaves three options for Brendan Rodgers. After a bedding in period, that may or may not be necessary, Sakho can either be deployed as a left footed right sided centre-back, as a left-back, or in a defensive three.
Rodgers, for one reason or another, does not seem to rate Martin Skrtel. Despite winning player of the year 2 seasons ago, and a man of the match performance against Manchester United, Skrtel is poor in possession and somewhat prone to mistakes. His propensity to dive into tackles and challenges looks great when it comes off, but too often leads to costly free-kicks. However Kolo Toure has really impressed and alongside Glen Johnson, who has started the season as well as he finished last, has been Liverpool’s best defender so far in my opinion.
Of the back 4 it is Jose Enrique’s position that would seem most under threat. The powerful Spaniard knows he’s got real competition this season, after the signing of Aly Cissokho on loan who is unfortunately out for up to 6 weeks with an ankle injury. Enrique has pace and power, and uses both to recover defensive positions well, but he can be erratic in possession, liable to make positional errors and holds onto the ball too long when he should release it. However he is a natural left-back. I’ve only seen Sakho play centre-back, where he’s always been impressive when I’ve watched him, but he is much less experienced at left-back. We’ll have to see how he performs in such a position if given the opportunity.
The final option is for Brendan Rodgers to deploy three centre-backs. He has done this on the odd rare occasion last season, but given how we have started the season with 3 wins and none conceded, again this seems unlikely on a regular basis.
Wherever Sakho plays, one thing for certain is that from being rather worried at the end of last season of how we’d replace Jamie Carragher and recover some defensive solidity, the start of the season and the signings of Toure, Ilori and Sakho have certainly calmed a lot of nerves. Many media pundits have been saying how we have had the best Summer’s activity of any of the Premier League’s teams. We’ve certainly got numbers in to bolster the squad with good variety, but such positive statements by the media are easily made when we are the only Premier League team with maximum points and there hasn’t been long to assess the quality of the new players.
I’m looking forward to see all three of our deadline day signings in action, and am particular eager to see how ‘Kirikou’ further strengthens the first team. I’m less eager to see what fashion faux pas (e.g. crystal studded football boots) and famous bad hairstyles (blonde highlights are a favourite) Sakho comes up with, but if he plays well and keeps us top of the table…well, who cares!
You can catch more from me on my own blog: http://taintlessred.blogspot.co.uk/
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Not entirely sure why we bought sakho. Agger, skrtel, toure, ilori, kelly and wisdom is enough surely? Another central defender wasn’t necessary unlike the man is a genius which is unlikely
Unless the man is a genius I meant!
i think rodgers has succeeded where roy hodson and kenny dalglish failed.They never created competion amongs the playing staff,no wonder players like ‘stewalt downing’ played over 38 matches as an attacking player without a PL goal or assist, at the expense of maxi Rodrigues who occationally chip in with goals on his rear appearances.But for Rodgers you must earn your place in the team,which is why Henderson is picked ahead of Joe Allen, Aspas ahead of Borini,As for the defence one of Agger and skrtel will be jetisson in the winter or summer tranfer windows, due to the obvious fact that one of them will not be happy on the bench.
It took Rodgers over a year to learn to drop Allen. His stubbornness cost us European football and resulted in an awful league position. It looks like he’s learning, but if it takes him this long to learn from future mistakes (as he, or any manager, is bound to make them) then we’ll be in trouble again. Brendan is a nice guy, but it’s imperative he learns much quicker in future. As for squad depth, that’s more about expenditure. Kenny no doubt wasted loads of money and opportunity – but most of that was from Torres BD Babel sales. Brendan has spent far more than even Rafa did in the total of his time in Liverpool.
It’s possible that with Rodgers uncertainty of Skrtel and the injury problems that Toure and Agger have had in the past the opportunity to get Sakho was too tempting. Ilori is too frail at this moment to compete in the Premier League. Maybe Sakho ability to play left back swayed the decision given Cissokho will be out for over a month more.
Play toure and sakho in the centre back, Johnson toure sakho cissokho or agger
I’d be tempted to start Sakho on bench. If we are comfortable in Swansea game or the next game, bring him on either to sub Enrique or Agger. I’d like to see how good he is in both positions.
For now cissokho is out injurt,still play toure and sakho in the centre,right Johnson,and left agger
Agger’s no good at left back. Far too slow on the turn. Better play Sakho left back if you’d rather Enrique didn’t start.
bye bye skrtel
We should have sold Skyrtl to Napoli, I can’t undersatand why we didn’t sell cos Napoli offered £10mil.. And with another 1.5mil we could have bought Erriksen for 11.5mil??? Our transfer comity dropped the ball on that 1. Look at how Erriksen played for Spurs??? He gave 2 assists and was really bossing things. That in my opinion was the signing of the transfer window bar Ozil, but if u look at 11.5mil for Erriksen compared to 42mil for Ozil, I’d take Erriksen and we don’t really need illori
I agree with mohammed id play johnson when fit right back toure and sako and agger left back
Agger is not a LB. Keep him in the middle with toure. I’m sure 2 right footed cbs have played alongside each other. Sakho is very much like abidal as good on left as he is in the middle. Good options all round. Sjrtels days are numberd
I agree Aaron. Abidal is a good analogy, media reports also compare him to Thuram (though if course left footed) so he’d be a much better option at left back than Agger.
If he is even close to how good Abidal is i will be more than DELIGHTED. Seems hard to believe though. Hope I’m wrong.
Btw to all the ‘Agger to go LB’ speakers, you probably went nuts. Sakho, Henrique and Cissokho are all better option’s for that spot [not even referring to the possibility of Johnson playing there because i don’t like it, but theoretically it’s a better option as well].
Use your eyes for a few seconds.
Prime back should be: Johnson, Toure, Sakho, Cissokho/Henrique [and improvement-wise i would like to see Montoya arrive as well – Wisdom on loan, and if Cissokho doesn’t out rise himself this season then a top quality LB in as well]. You wanna maximize your team game or what? Control of the play is what we need. Undiminished creative confidence of the ball before all. Preventing the idea of being held up to an all out defensive game from our side. Think on that [and it’s not that my idea of our back line is weak in any way on the defense essence]. . I really really hope that Rogers comes to figure this out sooner than later. Really really do. I believe that he does have it in him.
Skrtel should be sold to rafa’s napoli and sakho should be ahead injured kolo even when back.
pls it a competion so let them so there’s talent
I am an lfc fan but it pains me that some of our fans do support our players with sentiments,favouritism and likeness sakho is a better all round defender than agger,as for all those who want sakho-agger partnership u wish us failure in this current epl era.For me wisdom/kelly/tiago,toure,sakho,enrique/sakho
Next game i would like to see Toure and Sakho pair. I agree with you completely just so you know.
I remember lot’s of bad decision of this kind during Benitez’es last season in charge: Traumatized by them. A name should never walk in front of a player (I would like to here Brendan blurt this one out). And also, in this specific case i don’t believe in the ‘Keep a winning squad’ slogan: Our squad had lot’s of heart threw the first few games but the level of play was not one to be satisfied by nonetheless.
I think one position Rogers didnt consider was right back, nw Johnson is out injured n it seems all d other new recruits cant help us wit dat position except d inexperienced Wisdom n Flanagan…either dan that Rogers is doin a very good job…thumbs up Coach.YNWA.
Martin Kelly, home grown, England international and in my opinion a very very good player. I think he is fit again now and I hope he gets a game tonight
We have an excellent set of young right backs so I’m glad we did not get another one. Kelly is a great option, better than Wisdom, but it sounds like he’s been struggling to recover fitness and form after his injury. He was on the bench last time so hope he’s close to starting. Both Capello and Hodgson rated him enough to call him into England squads.
Primly i’m in for Kelly to be first choice after Johnson as well. Just don’t trust Wisdom. I don’t see it happen though. Hope it’s because Rogers knows something the we don’t.
—————mignolet——————-
jonson—-sakho——agger—–enrique
———-gerrard——–lucas———–
—————–coutinho—————–
suarez———sturridge———moses
Given that we have Johnson,Wisdom,Kelly and Flanagan who can play there and probably Toure too at a push it would be irresponsible to have brought another fullback into the squad from a financial perspective. Unfortunately this isn’t fantasy football (and even that has a budget!!!!) we have been unfortunate with Johnsons injury but let’s not beat the manager over it please… A little common sense!!
Talking about Johnson big blow as I thought that the Manu game was on of his best in a red shirt(defensively)
i believe liverpool will get to thier position we just have to give braden time to that on top of that mignotel i will be the best keeper this season in premier
Pls coach gv kelly chance 2 play dat 2..Coz johnson better than kelly,but kelly better than wisdow..Coutinho is my best player in d world..Y.N.W.A
i would prefer playmaker than defender 2 cover coutihno.17 m not good when ericsen 12m n modric 20m .that where football lies