Liverpool FC Forum

[Owzat]

"It is three days after the incident and he is still suffering from the concussion. He has no memory of the game.

Lucky beggar!

[In and Out]

Definately a better option than Insua at LB and more reliable than Aurelio, if he doesn't mind playing there I'd carry on playing him there.

[bunglemark2]

"It is three days after the incident and he is still suffering from the concussion. He has no memory of the game.

Lucky beggar!

Just read the whole piece on lfc.tv and couldn't stop laughing....i didn't see the cause of it but reading here, it sounded like a pretty innocuous ball-to-head, no ?

[Benny The Noon]

The ball hit him square on the side of the head at a great rate of knots and he was all over the place . We need either a new left back sharpish or Aurelio fit and playing so we can get him back To his best position soonest

[jimmy brighton]

The thing about Agger is that he's shown a bit of versatlity by settling into the left back position so readily. Thing is, despite the tats and the hard demeanor, he's coming across as a bit of a pussy!  Maybe he's just unlucky (know how he feels) and that aint the case!

[Raoul]

I like him as cover for LB, but I think he is better (and more dangerous) in the centre. It looks like we might be stuck with Aurelio and Insua though, all the talk about other left backs seems to have died down, doesn't it? I like Aurelio, have hope for Insua, but would like someone quality coming in for that position.

[aCe']

Agger at leftback is a bit of a funny one for me...
A few years ago I was covinced he'd make a good leftback.. Solid defensively, knows how to time his runs when he's on the ball, and knows when to come deeper to cover the 2 CBs...
However, im not too convinced about it now for a number of reasons...

- CBs : Both Carra and Skrtel arent the best when it comes to starting attacks from the back... With us seemingly playing a deeper line, that puts alot of pressure on Mascherano and (more importantly) Gerrard to come deeper and receive the ball to get the players moving forward rather than sideways.. Personally, I'd much rather have Gerrard playing a bit higher (closer to the halfway line) when we start our attacks.. Mascherano for all his effort will never be the sort of player to provide the smart -well timed- pass to provide that much needed transition..
Point is: Agger at CB would take alot of pressure off the likes of Gerrard and Mascherano... He HAS TO be closed by opposition forwards or else he takes the ball forward and opens up spaces... That in turn gives us something of an advantage in our own half to be more useful in terms of possession and moving the call forward..

-LB: Agger lacks the quick feet on the turn to ever become a solid long-term LB starter.. Whether it be getting back to cover on the counter, or even simply attempting to stop a winger from cutting inside, it'll be an issue in the long term... I have no doubt that if we continue to play him there, other sides will target him as a weak link and try to get winger going 1on1 with him closer to the touchline..
Another problem with him playing leftback is his inability to provide width when we go forward... He's much better when running/playing through the middle because he will always struggle to use pace to get past his man.. That usually implies us playing a natural left winger to provide better balance down that flank... With Jovanovic, Babel, Cole being our options higher up, I just cant see that happening.. He will more often than not find himself rather isolated wide down the flank and will probably forsake his attacking duties in favor of defensive cover.. 

He's better than Insua, but I would much rather have have Aurelio playing there with Agger down the middle when everyone is fit..

[Bad Bob]

Agger at leftback is a bit of a funny one for me...
A few years ago I was covinced he'd make a good leftback.. Solid defensively, knows how to time his runs when he's on the ball, and knows when to come deeper to cover the 2 CBs...
However, im not too convinced about it now for a number of reasons...

- CBs : Both Carra and Skrtel arent the best when it comes to starting attacks from the back... With us seemingly playing a deeper line, that puts alot of pressure on Mascherano and (more importantly) Gerrard to come deeper and receive the ball to get the players moving forward rather than sideways.. Personally, I'd much rather have Gerrard playing a bit higher (closer to the halfway line) when we start our attacks.. Mascherano for all his effort will never be the sort of player to provide the smart -well timed- pass to provide that much needed transition..
Point is: Agger at CB would take alot of pressure off the likes of Gerrard and Mascherano... He HAS TO be closed by opposition forwards or else he takes the ball forward and opens up spaces... That in turn gives us something of an advantage in our own half to be more useful in terms of possession and moving the call forward..

-LB: Agger lacks the quick feet on the turn to ever become a solid long-term LB starter.. Whether it be getting back to cover on the counter, or even simply attempting to stop a winger from cutting inside, it'll be an issue in the long term... I have no doubt that if we continue to play him there, other sides will target him as a weak link and try to get winger going 1on1 with him closer to the touchline..
Another problem with him playing leftback is his inability to provide width when we go forward... He's much better when running/playing through the middle because he will always struggle to use pace to get past his man.. That usually implies us playing a natural left winger to provide better balance down that flank... With Jovanovic, Babel, Cole being our options higher up, I just cant see that happening.. He will more often than not find himself rather isolated wide down the flank and will probably forsake his attacking duties in favor of defensive cover.. 

He's better than Insua, but I would much rather have have Aurelio playing there with Agger down the middle when everyone is fit..

Good post...completely agree.  He's good cover but Aurelio has to be first choice when fit.

[Benny The Noon]

Agree as well - need agger back in the middle asap

[aCe']

Agger at leftback is a bit of a funny one for me...
A few years ago I was covinced he'd make a good leftback.. Solid defensively, knows how to time his runs when he's on the ball, and knows when to come deeper to cover the 2 CBs...
However, im not too convinced about it now for a number of reasons...

- CBs : Both Carra and Skrtel arent the best when it comes to starting attacks from the back... With us seemingly playing a deeper line, that puts alot of pressure on Mascherano and (more importantly) Gerrard to come deeper and receive the ball to get the players moving forward rather than sideways.. Personally, I'd much rather have Gerrard playing a bit higher (closer to the halfway line) when we start our attacks.. Mascherano for all his effort will never be the sort of player to provide the smart -well timed- pass to provide that much needed transition..
Point is: Agger at CB would take alot of pressure off the likes of Gerrard and Mascherano... He HAS TO be closed by opposition forwards or else he takes the ball forward and opens up spaces... That in turn gives us something of an advantage in our own half to be more useful in terms of possession and moving the call forward..

-LB: Agger lacks the quick feet on the turn to ever become a solid long-term LB starter.. Whether it be getting back to cover on the counter, or even simply attempting to stop a winger from cutting inside, it'll be an issue in the long term... I have no doubt that if we continue to play him there, other sides will target him as a weak link and try to get winger going 1on1 with him closer to the touchline..
Another problem with him playing leftback is his inability to provide width when we go forward... He's much better when running/playing through the middle because he will always struggle to use pace to get past his man.. That usually implies us playing a natural left winger to provide better balance down that flank... With Jovanovic, Babel, Cole being our options higher up, I just cant see that happening.. He will more often than not find himself rather isolated wide down the flank and will probably forsake his attacking duties in favor of defensive cover.. 

He's better than Insua, but I would much rather have have Aurelio playing there with Agger down the middle when everyone is fit..

mmm...

The game today makes for an excellent 'exhibit A' on the matter..
Adam Johnson ripped Agger a new one and pretty much all their play went throught that left side that Agger had to defend... Going forward he offered precious little and at the back he found it hard to deal with Johnson cutting inside or getting behind him...

At CB, Skrtel tried to do an Agger and take the ball forward a few times.. He doesnt have what it takes to start attacks from the back though and more often than not we had to give up possession far too easily because our CBs and CMs couldnt get the ball out effectively...

Personally, i think this game should mark the end of Agger at LB for good... If Aurelio and Insua and both not good enough according to Hodgson then neither should Agger be... Sell Insua and bring in a decent LB because i can see other sides doing exactly what City did out there and targeting Agger for 90mins..

[Zidane]

We should go for Salcido, he's cheap and is a solid LB.  Agger should not be played there again imo, he offers nothing going forward and anyone with a bit of pace/trickery can run at him all day long.

[JamCar05]

Simply put he is a central defender (and one of our best - should be playing in there regularly with Carra imo) and shouldn't be playing at LB. Agree with the sentiments that if Roy doesn't trust neither Aurelio nor Insua, then we should be looking to get a new LB in asap (I know he's supposed to have been looking at that as well, but we really need it to actually materialise before the transfer window shuts).

[TarnRed]

We should go for Salcido, he's cheap and is a solid LB.  Agger should not be played there again imo, he offers nothing going forward and anyone with a bit of pace/trickery can run at him all day long.

I agree with this especially with money being more or less non existent. Salcido is a player that has got better with age and is solid defensively and offers an excellent attacking outlet, he's also got a use for his right foot other than standing on. We could do a lot worse in terms of funding and players available for the said position.

Regarding Agger I would never have thought Johnson would have mullered him down the right yesterday as he did he constantly kept letting him cut inside which was rather than trying to shove him onto his much weaker right foot. This has already been said and Agger needs to be at the side of Carragher what he offers at CB is alot more than at LB his composure on the ball and ability to carry the ball out of defence and with Carraghers no nonsense style Agger at the side of him compliments both players and the defence immensely.

[stmichael]

Was awful last night. Isn't confident at all in that role and was frequently caught out of position and exposed for pace.

[Benny The Noon]

He isnt a left back - never been a left back and last night just confirmed it more .