Liverpool FC Forum

by **akumaface** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 5:57 am

maguskwt wrote:
heimdall wrote:
maguskwt wrote:
burjennio wrote:
LFC2007 wrote:It depends on his fitness, mentality, how he looks in training etc..but Villa will go with Carew and/or Heskey so I think Rafa's likely plump for the Greek over the young Spaniard. It's that - experience, physicality, aerial presence - against getting undone by the pace and trickery of Young and Agbonlahor, but for me Ayala didn't look particularly pacey the other night (although it's very early days, I know) either. I'm assuming here that Kyrgiakos is quite slow - from the little I've seen - and especially prone to the 'nimble threat'.

Im pretty sure Rafa had the Villa game in mind when trying to get this signing rushed through, knowing what Carew and to a lesser extent Heskey bring to the table and the importance of having someone to win a fair amount of headers and physical battles against them. I shudder to think what a guy with the sheer presence of Carew could do to a young inexperienced defender like Ayala

Carew is not that good... not anymore...

Says who? I saw him play against Scotland, he was very very good.

says I...

I saw him play against us last season... he was very very bad...

Actually, he did played very well against us. He protected the ball really well and we were having problem contain him. But it was not enough since he didn't get any support. He really has good touch and don't mind him playing for us.

by **heimdall** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 11:41 am

maguskwt wrote:
heimdall wrote:
Reg wrote:Put it this way, Carew has never been bad.

I would love to have him in the squad, what an impact sub he would be, also great against park the bus teams.

what... like crouch?

Yes.

although I actually think Carew is even better because he is so good at holding the ball up, he is just so damned strong and I think if he got a better supply of balls he would be awesome.

by **Dundalk** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 11:59 am

LINK

Liverpool's new Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos plans to capitalise on his unexpected chance to be successful at the very highest level.

The 30-year-old central defender has signed a two-year contract at Anfield after a £2million move from AEK Athens.

Kyrgiakos was unlucky to miss Greece's Euro 2004 success through injury, and had to sit and watch his countrymen lift the title in Portugal.

Since then he has had spells at Rangers in Scotland and Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany.

And almost out of the blue he has been offered the chance to make his mark with the five-times European champions as he approaches the final years of his career.

Kyrgiakos is very much a cheap option for Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez due to the cash problems at Anfield.

But, unveiled on Saturday at the club's Melwood training ground, Kyrgiakos admitted it was an offer he just could not refuse.

He said: "I am very happy to have this chance at Liverpool. I know I had just signed a new contract with AEK.

"But although it was a good contract, you never stop having ambitions in life, and that is why I am here.

"When you are approached by a club like Liverpool, it is an offer you just cannot refuse.

"I hope that I can bring my strength to this squad, I am good in the air and I have a lot of experience now, so I hope I can be of benefit to Liverpool.

"There are a lot of real quality players here, so I hope to add to their squad and I know they will help me settle down here.

"I have played for Rangers in Scotland and Frankfurt in Germany, that has given me a lot of experience of competitive leagues so I believe I will adapt quickly."

Kyrgiakos is expected to be in Liverpool's squad on Monday for the home league game against Aston Villa.

He said: "I do not know yet whether I will be playing on Monday against Aston Villa, that is up to the manager, but I will be ready if needed.

"I know that there have not been many Greek players who have been successful in the English game, so I feel that I have something to prove for my country, that we can play at this level.

"For me it is a chance to have success at the very top. I was injured when Greece were European champions in 2004, these things happen in football.

"So I have plenty of motivation to do well in the Premier League and help Liverpool to be successful."

He added: "I only found out on Monday that Liverpool were interested, it was a surprise but I could not say no to this club, and I hope AEK fans understand. I will always have a place in my heart for them.

"My time at Rangers will help me play in England. I am a physical player and it will suit my game playing here.

"I had a few disciplinary problems in Scotland, but not too much. I feel I have learned now how to be physical in this style of football.

"This is the best stage for me to play football, I understand Liverpool's traditions and I am proud to have this chance. I have come to the best club, the biggest club."

by **metalhead** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 12:04 pm

I'm so going to have problems saying his name.

by **JC_81** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 3:24 pm

I reckon this guy is definitely the right TYPE of signing for us. We definitely needed another experienced centre back - going into the season with 3 would have been suicide, especially with Agger's injury record.

I also think we were crying out for an aerially dominant centre half and this is what this guy is. I remember watching him a few times in his Rangers days and he's not bad. He's not top class by any stretch of the imagination but to be honest with Agger's injuries and Skrtel's erratic form he might end up playing a lot of games this season if he's any way decent. Someone with his aerial ability might allow Carra to revert to his preferred role of mopping up second balls rather than being the first to challenge for the long punts up field, which I believe makes Carra look a worse player than he is.

Have a few mates who are Rangers fans, pretty mixed views on Kyriakos. One described him as a 'legend' and says Rangers simply couldn't afford his wages and he moved on to play in Germany. One described him as 'big lazy B@ST@RD' :laugh:

Who knows what we've signed :laugh:

by **account deleted by request** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 3:35 pm

Can't say I can remember ever having seeing him, but like you say John we needed someone who is dominant in the air, and he should be at 6' 5" or so. Fingers crossed he may just be what we need as an "option" once we are at full strength and in the meantime can do a decent job of filling in. I can't say I am confident but am hopefull anyway

by **Dundalk** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 3:38 pm

Chances are he will be playing on Monday night and im backing him for the first goal if he is

He is a cert to score

by **Highland Red** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 3:40 pm

I wish him all the best, but like i said earlier in the thread, I've seen him play for Rangers on TV a few times and he was absolutely murder. Good in the air, but his distribution with his feet is woeful and he's a clumsy tackler.

This is bad business.

by **JC_81** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 3:41 pm

Agreed s@int, I wouldn't say I'm that confident. Not as confident as Dundalk anyway :laugh:

First goal? I'd take that :laugh:

by **Dundalk** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 3:41 pm

Mark my words :;):

by **GreeksterPAO** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 11:49 pm

He is physically dominant and will take players out of the game fast. His ball distibution might not be EPL standard yet, but he will adapt. I hate when people judge him from his days at rangers and assume its what he is now. He has grown a lot since those days. Believe me since he started leading the NT he has been dominant. I have been following this player for years, his jersey is one of the few hung on my wall. He shouldnt be just a filling in the absence of skrtl. He is better than him. Skrtl will have to fight for his spot.

by **heimdall** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 1:08 am

GreeksterPAO wrote:He is physically dominant and will take players out of the game fast. His ball distibution might not be EPL standard yet, but he will adapt. I hate when people judge him from his days at rangers and assume its what he is now. He has grown a lot since those days. Believe me since he started leading the NT he has been dominant. I have been following this player for years, his jersey is one of the few hung on my wall. He shouldnt be just a filling in the absence of skrtl. He is better than him. Skrtl will have to fight for his spot.

I hope you're right, I guess we'll see on Monday, although we have to give him a few games to asses him.

by **bigmick** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 1:28 am

heimdall wrote:although we have to give him a few games to asses him.

Feck that, I'll be on at half time with the "I know it's early" thread :laugh:

.

by **Ciggy** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 1:32 am

bigmick wrote:
heimdall wrote:although we have to give him a few games to asses him.

Feck that, I'll be on at half time with the "I know it's early" thread .

Where as that gobsh!te will say I only started following Liverpool because of Carlsberg, hes sh!te him and Rafa out.

Carlberg dont do gobsh!tes but if they did hey?

Im not to pleased that this dirty big grock has signed but the prem is full of his ilk, and if he can do to defenders what they do to our Nando then I wont complain.

by **Highland Red** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 7:52 am

GreeksterPAO wrote:He is physically dominant and will take players out of the game fast. His ball distibution might not be EPL standard yet, but he will adapt. I hate when people judge him from his days at rangers and assume its what he is now. He has grown a lot since those days. Believe me since he started leading the NT he has been dominant. I have been following this player for years, his jersey is one of the few hung on my wall. He shouldnt be just a filling in the absence of skrtl. He is better than him. Skrtl will have to fight for his spot.

He shouldnt be just a filling in the absence of skrtl. He is better than him. Skrtl will have to fight for his spot.

That is quite possibily the most ridiculous comment posted on this entire thread. No worse than that, ever posted, ever.

The only similarities between Skrtel and Kyrkiagos is that they both have arms, legs and a head. That's where it ends.

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