Liverpool FC Forum

Agree on McLaughlin

He is going to be a very good player

I think all 3 CBs has been underwhelming this season.
Agger is so poor at real defensive work, Skrtel loses his marker sometimes and misses assigmments and Carra is
too slow and have mental lapses every now and then.
Embarrasing to say but even a player like Dawson(who I think is ok, no more) is much better at actual defending than those 3.

if this season has taught us anything it`s not to rely too much on youth.
the likes of sterling, suso and wisdom are 3 of the most exciting prospects in the game and are going to be top players in the future but when they were regulars in our side we had our worst start since before the first world war.
kevin miralles couldnt make a dent in enrique (who was actually having an off day!!) last weekend but he took wisdom the cleaners at goodison. if miralles would have come out for the second half in that game they would have won.
that sama lad recently got sent off in a U21 game against united after he proffessionally fouled a united player who had left him for dead, that was after 7 minutes!! imagine he did that in the first team?
we should bring our young players into the side one or (at most) two as a time.

Ben Patrick » Thu May 09, 2013 10:24 am wrote:

damjan193 » Wed May 08, 2013 10:15 pm wrote:

Benny The Noon » Wed May 08, 2013 7:38 pm wrote:If Skrtel is to be sold then i wouldnt mind seeing Wisdom giving a run in the middle.

I agree. Wouldn't mind Sama either.

Also, I'd like Johnson to be rested as well. It's very frustrating to watch him at the moment. I'd like us to give McLaughlin a go.

Good shout on Johnson, the lad is fecked and needs a rest.
Young Mcloughlin is going to be a top player and it would be nice if he was rewarded for his progress with a first team appearance.
Maybe QPR at home would be ideal.

Couldn't agree more on the lad McLaughlin.  I remember he played in the School's cup final in Northern Ireland before he went over to Liverpool and put on a beast of a display.  You might be able to get it on youtube still as the game turned into a full on brawl!  He played for St Mary's.  I think at that age he played central midfield but at Liverpool he's been converted into more of a right back.  I wouldn't be surprised if he was shifted back into midfield at some point - he's a very good athlete and can get around the pitch.  Reminds me a bit of Gerrard at that age with his running style, tackling and athleticism - not suggesting for a minute he's the next Stevie though!  I do think he'll be LFC first team material one day though.

Back on topic I don't particularly rate Skrtel, but with Carra definitely going, Coates most likely going and Agger needing work on a back problem this summer simply isn't the right time to sell him.  He's not bad, he's just not that good!

Skrtel staying with Reds says Rodgers..Liverpool manager says the defender is 'very much part of my plans here'

Brendan Rodgers insists Liverpool FC have no intention of selling Martin Skrtel this summer.

The 28-year-old has started just one Premier League game since the defeat to Manchester United in January and speculation about his Anfield future has continued to grow.

“It has been difficult for him and I’ve acknowledged and recognised that,” Rodgers said.

“The great professional he is means his focus has been outstanding and he’s trained very, very hard everyday and has been there when he’s been required.

“We made the change a few months back and I think Jamie Carragher has arguably been one of the best defenders in the league, and Daniel Agger has been fresh and played very well.

“It has been unfortunate for Martin but he has been a loyal member of the squad and is still very much part of my plans here.

“He’s happy here, he’s not in any rush to leave but players want to play. I haven’t had any concerns with Martin at all, his attitude has been first class.

“It is important they know where they stand and he knows where they stand. He is very much a part of what we are trying to do here. We are trying to build up a group with a winning mentality and he’s got a winning mentality. It’s just unfortunate he lost his place.

“It wasn’t so much through his form, it was just I felt we needed more of an organiser and a leader.”

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-fc-defender-martin-skrtel-3601793?

So that puts that one to bed for a while .

Which makes Rodgers look like an idiot....
The season was over before xmas as we wen't ever close top at any time this season.
And then you let Skrtel, who is part of your plans for the future, to rot on the bench, making him feel not a part of the team and being rusty, etc.
Instead you let Carra,legend as he may be, play all of the last 20 games of the campaign, when he will retire and has no part of the future.
Just another season wasted in letting him develop his game and try to get some bad habits out of his game.

I would have though Skrtel may attract decent money especially from the Russian
clubs who are willing to pay over the odds.

Perhaps Rodgers is simply attempting to create the illusion bidders are buying an
important player for us to keep the price high, something he has not done before
of course particularly with Carroll which was a mistake.

Penguins » Sat May 11, 2013 12:06 pm wrote:Which makes Rodgers look like an idiot....
The season was over before xmas as we wen't ever close top at any time this season.
And then you let Skrtel, who is part of your plans for the future, to rot on the bench, making him feel not a part of the team and being rusty, etc.
Instead you let Carra,legend as he may be, play all of the last 20 games of the campaign, when he will retire and has no part of the future.
Just another season wasted in letting him develop his game and try to get some bad habits out of his game.

Mate, think about it.

We can all talk about the future but ultimately it's what you do now that determines your future.

BR gave a vote of confidence to Skyrtl for the longer term but decided for the here and now to pick a player whose particular leadership and organisational skills were needed now , I thought he made the right decision, good management imo .

woof woof ! » Sat May 11, 2013 4:31 pm wrote:

Penguins » Sat May 11, 2013 12:06 pm wrote:Which makes Rodgers look like an idiot....
The season was over before xmas as we wen't ever close top at any time this season.
And then you let Skrtel, who is part of your plans for the future, to rot on the bench, making him feel not a part of the team and being rusty, etc.
Instead you let Carra,legend as he may be, play all of the last 20 games of the campaign, when he will retire and has no part of the future.
Just another season wasted in letting him develop his game and try to get some bad habits out of his game.

Mate, think about it.

We can all talk about the future but ultimately it's what you do now that determines your future.

BR gave a vote of confidence to Skyrtl for the longer term but decided for the here and now to pick a player whose particular leadership and organisational skills were needed now , I thought he made the right decision, good management imo .

Might be true if Carra was any good. But he wasn't ,he was terrible ,so benching Martin (especially if you plan on keeping him) ,was a stupid decision.
If BR stands behind this comments then I have to agree it was an idiotic decision and a waste of a year.

Can't believe Rodgers is getting stick for playing Carra ahead of Skrtel, it was a really good decision imo.

Skrtel's form had dipped (even though Rodgers is defending him saying that the decision was based on the team needing leadership and not on Skrtel's form) and a change was needed.

We've kept 7 clean sheets in 14 league games since Carra came into the team by my count.  We've kept 15 clean sheets in the league overall in 36 games.

Rodgers may plan to keep Skrtel, but it probably won't be as a starter - I think he'll look to bring someone in to play with Agger this summer.  But like I said with Carra and possibly Coates outgoing this summer we probably should keep Skrtel around.  If we get a massive bid from a Russian club then perhaps I'd consider it if we can get enough centre backs in this summer though.

john craig » Sun May 12, 2013 11:18 am wrote:Can't believe Rodgers is getting stick for playing Carra ahead of Skrtel, it was a really good decision imo.

Skrtel's form had dipped (even though Rodgers is defending him saying that the decision was based on the team needing leadership and not on Skrtel's form) and a change was needed.

We've kept 7 clean sheets in 14 league games since Carra came into the team by my count.  We've kept 15 clean sheets in the league overall in 36 games.

Rodgers may plan to keep Skrtel, but it probably won't be as a starter - I think he'll look to bring someone in to play with Agger this summer.  But like I said with Carra and possibly Coates outgoing this summer we probably should keep Skrtel around.  If we get a massive bid from a Russian club then perhaps I'd consider it if we can get enough centre backs in this summer though.

It depends ,if Martin isn't on our future plans then of course ,Play Carra. But if he is then Yes it was an idiotic decision ,Carra had a bad season (he and the rest of our defense) and is retiring ,then what's the point??? Personally I don't rate Skertel ,I think he has no football smarts and no composure ,but he had a good last year so why bench him??? Play or Sell him but not bench and keep him.

And back to Carra ,come on he was terrible ,he was panicky ,shaky and totally not confident with the ball ,he was a major part of our failing defense.

woof woof ! » Sat May 11, 2013 4:31 pm wrote:

Penguins » Sat May 11, 2013 12:06 pm wrote:Which makes Rodgers look like an idiot....
The season was over before xmas as we wen't ever close top at any time this season.
And then you let Skrtel, who is part of your plans for the future, to rot on the bench, making him feel not a part of the team and being rusty, etc.
Instead you let Carra,legend as he may be, play all of the last 20 games of the campaign, when he will retire and has no part of the future.
Just another season wasted in letting him develop his game and try to get some bad habits out of his game.

Mate, think about it.

We can all talk about the future but ultimately it's what you do now that determines your future.

BR gave a vote of confidence to Skyrtl for the longer term but decided for the here and now to pick a player whose particular leadership and organisational skills were needed now , I thought he made the right decision, good management imo .

Exactly, our squad is thin as it is, if you get rid of every under performing player this season our squad will be nonexistent. We can't afford to replace numerous under performers so the only sane strategy is to improve the squad with additions and work with the under performers to improve. Henderson being a prime example of this.

only me » Sun May 12, 2013 11:34 am wrote:

john craig » Sun May 12, 2013 11:18 am wrote:Can't believe Rodgers is getting stick for playing Carra ahead of Skrtel, it was a really good decision imo.

Skrtel's form had dipped (even though Rodgers is defending him saying that the decision was based on the team needing leadership and not on Skrtel's form) and a change was needed.

We've kept 7 clean sheets in 14 league games since Carra came into the team by my count.  We've kept 15 clean sheets in the league overall in 36 games.

Rodgers may plan to keep Skrtel, but it probably won't be as a starter - I think he'll look to bring someone in to play with Agger this summer.  But like I said with Carra and possibly Coates outgoing this summer we probably should keep Skrtel around.  If we get a massive bid from a Russian club then perhaps I'd consider it if we can get enough centre backs in this summer though.

It depends ,if Martin isn't on our future plans then of course ,Play Carra. But if he is then Yes it was an idiotic decision ,Carra had a bad season (he and the rest of our defense) and is retiring ,then what's the point??? Personally I don't rate Skertel ,I think he has no football smarts and no composure ,but he had a good last year so why bench him??? Play or Sell him but not bench and keep him.

And back to Carra ,come on he was terrible ,he was panicky ,shaky and totally not confident with the ball ,he was a major part of our failing defense.

Personally I don't rate Skrtel either mate.  But if Rodgers is asked if he's part of his future plans what is he supposed to say?  Whether he is or he isn't he can't say no, because if he does then his market value immediately drops and you have a sulking player.

Have to disagree on Carragher though, I think his performances have been solid.  Not perfect, but solid.  He's still a better out-and-out defender at the age of 35 than either Agger or Skrtel and he's a natural leader too.  Gerrard may wear the armband but Carragher has always been our organiser and most vocal player on the pitch.  We have the youngest team in the league and Rodgers recognised leadership needed addressing, as well as an out of form Skrtel needing dropped.  Good management.

What he could have said?

Like for example:

"We are going to evaluate all our players in the summer and are not going to make specific comments on any player at this time until we are done."
Carra has been doing somewhere between decent and poor. Would Skrtel had made it worse?
Perhaps but not by much imo. And that's beside the point.

The point is we were in a season of transition from old to qouth and we were never at any stage of the season involved in the fight for top 4.
So where does Carra fit into this transition??
A retiring player who we couldn't build on no matter how he performed, no future market value and would mean a start from scratch for another cb, be it Skrtel or someone else.
If now Skrtel is a part of the future at this club then throwing him under the bus and shatter his confidence going forward makers no sense.
At most this season it would had been the difference between 7th and 8th At most.
And with  a season for Skrtel to maybe work on some on his flaws in the game. And real gametime is the only way to do that. 
Now he will be rusty starting next season and with little gametime for a long time.

Have to disagree on Carragher though, I think his performances have been solid.  Not perfect, but solid.  He's still a better out-and-out defender at the age of 35 than either Agger or Skrtel and he's a natural leader too.  Gerrard may wear the armband but Carragher has always been our organiser and most vocal player on the pitch.  We have the youngest team in the league and Rodgers recognised leadership needed addressing, as well as an out of form Skrtel needing dropped.  Good management.