Liverpool FC Forum

by **SouthCoastShankly** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:03 pm

The Ace1983 wrote:Agger does look very promising, and may well be the answer to Sami's possible departure, but until Sami says "that's it", it's pointless talking about it.

Yeah but i think its a little naive to think that Sami makes the decisions on his future at Liverpool.

There is nothing stopping Rafa putting Agger into the starting 11 from next season and using Hyypia as his replacement

by **The Ace1983** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:15 pm

SouthCoastShankly wrote:
The Ace1983 wrote:Agger does look very promising, and may well be the answer to Sami's possible departure, but until Sami says "that's it", it's pointless talking about it.

Yeah but i think its a little naive to think that Sami makes the decisions on his future at Liverpool.

There is nothing stopping Rafa putting Agger into the starting 11 from next season and using Hyypia as his replacement

But ultimately it's up to him. Why should another year make a difference to his attitude. Between the ages of 30 and 40 your body changes less than at any other time in your life. If Sami is coping now, he can cope next season. If he continues to keep himself fit and sharp, good in the air and possitive, Rafa won't have a choice to make. And next season should be less games than this one.

There is nothing stopping Rafa from throwing Agger into the starting XI for next season, but if Sami doesn't change, how can he? Why break up the stingiest defence in the league, when you don't have to?

by **stmichael** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:58 pm

sami's got years left. just look at pellegrino :lookaround

by **tommycockles** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:58 pm

you've also got to wonder whether Hyypia would be happy sitting on the bench- he may feel he still has it in him to start matches and look for somewhere where he'll keep getting games if he loses his place here.
As much as Agger will surely be our cb for the future- i still hink Hyypia has a big part to play in our near future!!

by **7_Kewell** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:30 pm

next season will be a testing one for Sammi because i think Agger will get more football.

by **Ace Ventura** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:42 pm

Cant see there being any change in the centre backs for next season really.
Sami is in superb form and was at his best against Bolton.
Barring injuries/tiredness i think he will start most games next season.
Agger looks quality and more than capable when he comes in and for certain games he will get his chance, but my guess is if it was a big game, Hyypia will be in, and tbh on current form so he should be.

by **Bad Bob** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:58 pm

The Ace1983 wrote:Why break up the stingiest defence in the league, when you don't have to?

Spot on.

There's been nothing in Sami's game this season to suggest that he can no longer cope with the pace and power of the League or the Champions League. In fact, just the opposite--our defense has never looked stronger and he's a big reason for that. Hell, his worst game of the season--against Chelsea at home--came when he was sick with the flu! Don't 'fix' what ain't broken.

Sami's still got plenty left, IMHO, and should still start many games next season barring injury. Agger's shown glimpses of his worth but he still has much to learn and so I expect we'll see him more in early rounds of both cups next season, as well as deputizing for Sami or Carra in the event of injuries or suspensions.

And, I feel it's important to put Sami's age in perspective: he'll be 33 this summer. That's only 2 years older than Robbie and we're all pretty much sure he's still got plenty to offer the team. Bottom line for me, if Robbie's still good enough--and he is--then Sami's still good enough.

by **redmikey** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 7:44 pm

agger will play in alot of cup games imo next year to get him up to full strenght against players like horse head, heskey,sutton,big drunk

sami still has alot to offer so i won't be calling for his head yet , the people on here who were know who you are ....shame on you

by **Gracias King Rafa** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:27 pm

Perhaps from next season onwards we'll probably see Agger feature more,but for the time being I'd definitely stick with the Sami/Carra combination.
Agger's arrival has certainly seen him respond to the challenge as I'm sure the likes of Horse Face,Beattie,Shearer & Davies will verify...

by **Fowler_E7** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:44 pm

with the form hyppia's in id be very suprised if he wasnt our starting center back next season, he's been first class all season and has only a handful of bad games, he's generally been immense. Agger will probably get more games next season, but he will have some big shoes to step into to replace hyppia. I mean is there a more dominant defender in the air than the big finn?

by **ivor_the_injun** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:52 pm

For Hyypia's future, see Hamann. Maybe he won't play as many matches next season, but how reassuring is it to look on your bench and see a player of his quality ready to step in if needed?

by **anti-hero** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 11:01 pm

Hyypia's always been consistent thats why he's always been in the starting eleven.

Agger wont be replacing Hyypia as starting center-back anytime soon, he still has lots to learn and it wont be easy to break into the first team squad when there's a huge rock playing in your position every game.

Credit to Hyypia though, Agger will face a lot of pressure to perform as well and as consistently as his predecessor once Hyypia may have moved on.

by **stmichael** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 11:08 pm

fantastic player and a fantastic servant to this football club. i think he's still got a few more years in him yet. look at the likes of gareth southgate who are still knocking around the top flight at the age 0f 35.

some idiots on here like banana have had it in for hyypia for the best part of two seasons saying that he's "finished". mind you banana also recently described sissoko as "world class" and michael owen as "average" which pretty much sums up his knowledge of football. quite simply, if hyypia was past it we wouldn't have the best defensive record in the league and the most clean sheets. i agree that agger has been brought as his eventual successor but hyypia still has a lot to offer. he dominates EVERY striker in the air and his reading of the game is still exemplary.

people say he struggles against pace but all defenders struggle against pace. hyypia always looks at his most vulnerable when he's got "bambi on ice" playing next to him and f#cking up every five minutes so he has to cover.

by **Lando_Griffin** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 12:35 am

stmichael wrote:Hyypia always looks at his most vulnerable when he's got "bambi on ice" playing next to him and f#cking up every five minutes so he has to cover.

Exactly what I was going to say.

I actually think that Sami could play on until his late 30's, providing he steers clear of injuries, and still maintains his physical fitness, and reading of the game.

He has been the best centre-back in the Premiership since the day he arrived, and his aerial domination is literally second-to-none.
He has faced some of the World's greatest strikers, and not once has he looked out-classed. (Yes, he HAS had his off-days, but that's a different matter.)
I, like many others, have championed Jamie Carragher for England, and do believe that he should be a starter for the World Cup, but for my money, Sami will be harder to replace IMHO when he does leave Anfield. No other player I can think of can dominate the likes of Ferguson, Sh*trer, Horseface, etc in the air so consistantly. Carra is better as the second CB, clearing up the ground-level play, but Sami has an uncanny ability to get his head to the lofted ball EVERY time.

My personal view on his Anfield career is that he will stay until the sands of time catch up with him, which could possibly be 38/39 if this season is anything to go by.
I would play his as the central CB of 3, with JC on the right, and Agger on the left. This would take the pressure off him against speedy opponents, but we would still have the calm-headed seasoned-pro there, sheparding the backline.

Well done Sami, and thankyou.

You are a legend.

by **stmichael** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 12:53 am

Lando_Griffin wrote:I would play his as the central CB of 3, with JC on the right, and Agger on the left. This would take the pressure off him against speedy opponents, but we would still have the calm-headed seasoned-pro there, sheparding the backline.

i'll be honest, when we signed agger (who is naturally left footed) and also signed paletta, it does make you think if rafa is thinking about playing three at the back on a more regular basis. we played it at newcastle and produced our best away premiership performance of the season.

in this system, it also allows players such as riise, finnan, warnock and kromkamp to get up and down the line more as wing backs.

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