Liverpool FC Forum

by **stmichael** » Tue May 23, 2006 1:57 pm

...for Hyypia to be replaced?

I ask the question because it seems that every season for the past 3, the subject of his value to the team given his advanced age and lagging speed comes to the fore. Every summer I read countless posts writing him out of the lineup in favour of a potential transfer or emergence of a young reserve player. Comments such as "he's finished" (no pun intended) have been proved to be way wide of the mark.

Looking over our stats, Sami Hyypia has played the most matches (55) of any player in the team this season. Not only that, but he did so on a team that set defensive records in terms of clean sheets and consecutive clean sheets. Infact I'd say that he probably had his best full season for us since he signed way back in 1999. Whatever way you look at it, the guy is a modern day Liverpool legend.

I am well aware that he won't be able to go for ever. And that in Agger, and to a lesser extent Paletta, we have ready replacements in the squad. But doesn't the sight of a Hyypia-Carragher partnership still give you a sense of great confidence? Personally, I am expecting at least one more full season by the big Finn before we see Agger (or Paletta) brought into the team as a permanent replacement.

So it's simple:

1. Where does Sami Hyypia rate in the history of modern Liverpool FC centre halves?

2. Has this season been his best in an LFC shirt?

3. How many games do you expect him to play next season?

4. How many seasons do you think he has left at the top level (not necessarily at LFC)?

5. Looking back now, did you ever really think that he was LFC captain material? Is he vocal enough?

by **red37** » Tue May 23, 2006 2:30 pm

good post.

1. Where does Sami Hyypia rate in the history of modern Liverpool FC centre halves?

2. Has this season been his best in an LFC shirt?

3. How many games do you expect him to play next season?

4. How many seasons do you think he has left at the top level (not necessarily at LFC)?

5. Looking back now, did you ever really think that he was LFC captain material? Is he vocal enough?

1: the best since hansen.
2: no. but in fairness up until last season he was solid.
3: more than we expect i should imagine. maybe half.
4: 2 or 3. then again look at maldini,carboni etc...
5: not quite captains stock, sami's way too laid back!

by **Espionage** » Tue May 23, 2006 2:33 pm

1. Awesome positional sense, great in the air, if he was a bit quicker then I see no reason why he couldnt be one of the top centre backs in the world.
2. Yes!
3. Around 35, the rest go to Agger/Carragher
4. 3
5. I think that (apart from Carragher) he would be the best to fill in Gerrard's shoes if he had left last season. In an interview recently one of the players said that he is the most professional, works hard in training. As to the vocal aspect, he seems like the type of player that leads by example, he would have had no trouble as captain i believe.

by **red37** » Tue May 23, 2006 2:36 pm

stmichael wrote:2. Has this season been his best in an LFC shirt?

tbh sami has been exposed several times this term..

by **Redman in wales** » Tue May 23, 2006 2:43 pm

I for one do not think he's finished, or anything of the sort. He is still a rock. OK a couple of seconds may have come off his pace, but that does not matter when you are as solid as Sami. so....

1. Right up there. Maybe not no. 1 but up there

2. It has been awesome , but i think this was the season for the whole back 4 and the keeper together to get praise as a unit for all the clean sheets. Sami at his best imo was when he was partnered alongside Henchoz a few seasons ago

3. A majority again. I think he can still do a job next season, and while Agger will feature more I still feel that Agger-do needs more prem experience to be first choice

4. Difficult one. Tony Adams played on till he was 39 didnt he? - Not sure prob 3 or 4. I can see him at LFC 1st team def for next season, after that, he may well step aside for agger and leave, or stay in much the way didi has done for us and just be an awesome stand in when we need it. I personally would love him to stay on with us and maybe end up coaching

5. No. He is a great centre back, but - with hindsight, we already have the best captain we could ask for. After stevie, I'd opt for either Sami or Jamie.

by **stmichael** » Tue May 23, 2006 2:47 pm

red37 wrote:tbh sami has been exposed several times this term..

and what did those games have in common? that's right, traore was playing.

by **neil** » Tue May 23, 2006 2:54 pm

he reached his peak in 2001-3, he is still very assured and seems to have a calming influence over the defence(ying to Carras yang) however this season has seen his pace drop alarmingly and Drogba constantly gets the better of him. I agree with the theory he has a few more seasons at Anfield if he is prepared to accept that Palleta and Agger will start to play just as many games as him from now on. Look at this way, Hyppia is 10 x the player Pellegrino was and Benitez obviously sees that as an important role.

by **stmichael** » Tue May 23, 2006 3:01 pm

neil wrote:this season has seen his pace drop alarmingly

eh?

hyypia never had pace in the first place so he has always had to rely on his positioning.... thats why he's soo danm consistant

by **madred** » Tue May 23, 2006 3:04 pm

1. He's up there almost with the likes of Hansen but what always let him down in that respect was his passing. Dont think i've seen anyone better in the air at the club.
2. No. I still believe one of his best seasons was the treble winning one. He was easily one of the best players that season.
3. I still expect him to play a lot of games still while the new defenders get to grips with the premiership.
4. Hopefully he will still have 2-3 seasons playing in the premiership but not all of them will be at Liverpool.
5. When he was at his peak he was definetely captain material but the time was right when Stevie took over.

by **stmichael** » Tue May 23, 2006 3:39 pm

I'd also like to see the LFC board offering him a coaching job or something after he decides to hang up his boots.

by **JC_81** » Tue May 23, 2006 3:42 pm

Great post St Mike. Every summer people tell me Hyypia needs replaced and in fact after the Chelsea game at Anfield this season there were plenty of people on this forum who wanted him replaced. The fact remains that he is still our best defender, and I include Carra in that. Everyone points out his lack of pace and says we need a 'Gallas' or a 'Milito' because they are quicker. Bollox. What Hyypia lacks in pace he makes up for by being the most positionally sound and aerially dominant centre half in the Premiership. He played 55 games this season? I can only remember him having 3 poor games - home to Chelsea, away to Betis and the FA cup final.

He initially struggled to adapt to the new high line we now hold defensively under Benitez - which is why he was left out of the side a few times last season - but it's even surprised me how well he's now adapted to it.

In answer to your questions:

1. The best imo. Trouble is alot of people won't appreciate that until he leaves us.

2. No. Apart from last season when he had a bad spell just after Xmas, he has been just as consistently good every other season he's been here, including this season.

3. He'll still play over 40 games next season

4. 3-4 more at top level. Probably just the 2 more seasons with us.

5. To be honest I thought he'd be a good captain, but it just wasn't to be. To be fair to him the team was going through a bit of a slump in general when he was captain which made it even harder for him.

by **neil** » Tue May 23, 2006 4:20 pm

eh?

hyypia never had pace in the first place so he has always had to rely on his positioning.... thats why he's soo danm consistant

no he was never Alan Wells however I often felt this season I could hear the theme tune to steptoe and son whenever I watched him try to retrieve a situation.

by **akumaface** » Tue May 23, 2006 4:20 pm

He can't get slower than he is already but he is doing more than great. He is so poised and still superior in the air. He is really hard to replace IMHO. He also compliment Carra really well. Just think of how many CB is as good as him.....Can't really name one. Maybe Rio but he is far more younger and can't really compare the two unless Rio is at Sami's age. THe way he is playing, I;m sure he can last a lot longer than most of you think. After all is said and done, Sami will rate as one of the best CB we ever have.

by **LiverpoolMadman** » Tue May 23, 2006 4:27 pm

Its about time to replace him .....

by **woof woof !** » Tue May 23, 2006 4:46 pm

I was certainly concerned about Sammi's lack of pace and how often it had been exposed at the end of season 04/05 , but as him and Carra continued to forge their partnership the understanding between them more than compensated for Sammi's slowness. I don't know if on his own Sammi merits a "legend" tag but in tandem with Carra they certainly deserve legend status as one of the best central defensive pairings that have worn the red shirt . I think in the last year they have been the best central defensive pairing in the world.

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