The much anticipated partnership of Agger & Skrtel failed to materialise last season for a variety of reasons. Injuries, contract wranglings, political problems, all these things conspired to prevent us from witnessing what could very well become our greatest ever central defensive partnership.
Both Agger and Skrtel are blessed with pace, power, tactical awareness, and an awesome defensive prowess. Yet they differ in their playing styles, with Agger able to make defending look like an art form due to his sheer grace with the ball, and also his attacking nous.
Don't get me wrong, Carragher is still an excellent defender, but the lad is going to have a real fight on his hands next season. Agger & Skrtel represent the future of our central defense, and injuries aside (or Carragher being awesome), we should get to see that future very soon.
14 comments:
zzzz nothing new pal.
I think the reason it is largely untried is that both defenders are subordinate to Carra. Neither are great leaders and organisers at the moment and that can lead to silly mistakes etc, if no one takes the leadership role... Experience for both players will no doubt improve their leadership skills. The future looks bright.
Benitez is obviously thinking the same thing. Even for Hyypias last game he kept those 2 at the back to see how they got on instead of bowing to the kop and playing Hyypia. Carra is great leader like someone else said but he is not as good as used to and is getting old. I think he will become more a quality backup player. Benitez isnt too sentimental.
I think Carra still has one more season as first choice left in him. After that then its definitely Agger/Skrtel all the way.....
Yeah its obvious that they are going to be the centre backs of the future. I was a bit disappointed with Carragher at times this year, some of his games were pretty average by his standards.
I remember a terrible own goal at Anfied against Hull, where he basically gifted them a goal, and since then I have thought he is better at right back.
Skrtel was fantastic until he hurt his knee at Eastlands, and maybe struggled a bit after that. He looks like a future star, if he can channel his aggression in the correct manner.
And Agger is the best of the three of in my opinion. He can go forward and create goals, which the other two can't. He shows good composure and uses the ball well.
Along with Insua I think we have the back 4 pretty well settled going into the new season.
i have said it before and i will say it again, Owen & LFC are in advanced talk's he will be with us.
@Waz - that's a really good point there, but like you say, a little experience should do the trick
@Inderjit - I don't think any of us would think of Rafa being the sentimental type
@Robbie - possibly, can't wait to find out ;-)
@Scott D - there was a drop in standards, but Carra strikes me as the sort of person who can thrive on a challenge, and next season we might get to see the Carra of old. Do you not think we need another right back though ?
For me I would use a different system at the back, play the 2 centre halves and play Carra behind sweeping, Carra is a great reader of the game and can organise the 2 in front of him, we also have enough quality to play wing backs.
yes, i agree that Cara has one more season to go. he has been slow already. by the way, i don't feel happy with gerrard having a plea for lucas to stay. i think lucas should be on loan in south africa for two years before playing in the liverpool's first team line-up. he was the reason why liverpool draws, draws and draws. it is a mistake for gerrard to make a plea for him simply because he is praised by lucas as model. lucas knows that gerrard at anfield is a big voice...but why gerrard is so stupid then? the rumours of owen's coming back to anfied is nonsensical. own chose to leave anfiled and now his glory is over already. why do gerrard and cara try to be idiotic in pursuading rafa to bring owen back? they are doing out of friendship, not owen's ability to score goals because owen's years have gone already.
I don't think Agger and Skrtel will make a great combination. They lack the leadership of Carra. Carra is obviously getting older although there is life in the old dog yet. What worries me now though is our weakness in the air. Agger is the best of the 3 in the air but he ain't no Sami. I feel we need to find an imposing centre-half of Sami's quality otherwise I can see teams making the most of our dead ball inadequacy.
@SI - I would've thought both Agger & Skrtel were excellent in the air, no ?
True both players currently lack the leadership of Carra, do you not feel that one of them can grow into that role though ? (as far as I can remember, Carra wasn't always an outspoken fella on the pitch)
are you sure?
skrtel is a tough uncomprimising defender who is suited to the physicality of the english game, but isnt comfortable passing the ball or finishing.
agger is a top notch ball playing centre half who has a tendency to wander out of position fairly often during a game.
carragher may have lost elements of his pace, but in terms of reading the game and organising the backline, he is easily the best of the three.
I agree that in time martin and danny could learn all that carra has to offer, but to coin a phrase, there's plenty of life in the old dog yet.
I believe that Skrtel and Agger are both quality defenders and will without doubt play regularlyfor us in the future. But I feel that Carragher is still stronger than both of them. He has great leadership and never has a bad game. Agger and Skrtel haave both made many mistakes this season (esspecially Skrtel vs Boro) I feel that Carragher is still able to compete as a Liverpool player and do a good job. I can see him staying for a number of years.
I feel that even if carragher cant make a place at CB it would benifit the team with him on the pitch playing left or right back just for his sheer determination and aggression.
SKRTEL AND AGGER NEED TO LEARN HOW TOO TAKE CHARGE OF THE BACK FOUR WHEN CARRAS NOT PLAYING
@KURT - I wouldn't want Carra to leave any time soon, he can do a job anywhere across the back four. Would love to see him stay for at least another few years. One thing I wonder about, is which one of Agger/Skrtel is likely to grow into the leader we need at the back.
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