Re: Stoke City vs LIVERPOOL - Sunday 12 Jan 2014 - 16.10ko
Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 2:12 pm
redno7 » Mon Jan 13, 2014 12:43 pm wrote:would you buy a new defender this month?
Personally I am of the opinion that these units are so finely tuned nowadays that you only need one thing to be a little off and it throws everything to pot. I think we're struggling with EXACTLY the same problem as we were at the beginning of last season and that was righted by bringing Carra back into the team. I don't think we've righted the balance since he dropped out. Who's to blame, or where would I put my money, I dunno. Personally I think that Toure should be able to do a job, but doesn't have the right support around him and I'm not convinced that Skrtel is having the blinder everyone sees him having. He's doing well in the chaos, but is he really able to survive in a proper organised back 4? That's what he accused of not being able to do and why he was on his way out the door. I think that Johnson is impacted hugely by this too.
So to answer your question, I think we need to plug the holes in the back to stand any chance of hitting a top 4 place as we'll probably ride our luck too many times in the minileague that's running just below us. Everton are a major concern for me as they have a pretty tight defense relative to those all around. I doubt we'll get a great long term value buy here, but we need someone who can come and bring an additional element of order into the group. As much as it doesn't seem fair, I think it comes from the centre 2 and I'd sooner see Toure paired with someone trustworthy while Agger is out and Skrtel benched.
Either that or put Stevie in the back 4 and spUnk some decent cash on a new midfield center pairing....I am not convinced about this holding position function. Seems like we're making a position for him rather than doing what is right and on top of that subliminally admitting that the back 4 is a shambles at the moment.