Mamadou Sakho (Liverpool > Crystal Palace)

I also thought Sakho was our best defender last night. I suppose when you pay as much as we have you expect a natural born leader rallying the troops. He may still be that player considering its his first season and English his second language.

Like him.  Think he's done fairly well in his first season in the Premier League. 

I also thought Sakho was our best defender last night. I suppose when you pay as much as we have you expect a natural born leader rallying the troops. He may still be that player considering its his first season and English his second language.

I don't think language is a major factor for being a dominant defender, I do agree that if he becomes fluent in English we would see him communicate more with his teammates. However, he isn't dominant enough in terms decision making or aerial challenges.

I don't think language is a major factor for being a dominant defender, I do agree that if he becomes fluent in English we would see him communicate more with his teammates. However, he isn't dominant enough in terms decision making or aerial challenges.

Think the language remark was made in reference to him being a leader on the field. If he can't communicate quickly with his teammates, it's hard for him to be a vocal leader.

His aerial challenges were fine last night. He was a beast.

Yeah I also thought Sakho was the best of a back line that capitulated yesterday. He isn't the problem.

Yeah I also thought Sakho was the best of a back line that capitulated yesterday. He isn't the problem.

To attempt to draw some positivity from the defensive shambles yesterday really is a trial, it is a case of who was least worst - it is that bad to be honest.
To reiterate I would support the lad as long as he wears the shirt but do not see him as a first team choice at the next level to which we have to aspire, he is not on his own it has to be said. 

To attempt to draw some positivity from the defensive shambles yesterday really is a trial, it is a case of who was least worst - it is that bad to be honest.
To reiterate I would support the lad as long as he wears the shirt but do not see him as a first team choice at the next level to which we have to aspire, he is not on his own it has to be said. 

Completely disagree, he wasn't the lease worst, he was "good" yesterday as he normally is. And he absolutely is of the caliber we will need going forward. Doesn't mean I'm not in favor of signing a world class defender, we can always strengthen in that respect. Buf if we don't "replace" Sakho, I won't have any problems with him starting next season.

Completely disagree, he wasn't the lease worst, he was "good" yesterday as he normally is. And he absolutely is of the caliber we will need going forward. Doesn't mean I'm not in favor of signing a world class defender, we can always strengthen in that respect. Buf if we don't "replace" Sakho, I won't have any problems with him starting next season.

I saw the word good and started with the reply, how was any aspect of our defence 'good'.
The opposition were far from challenging, we have seen exactly the same situation all season and our goals for and against screams at you that the defence is not up to the job.
Replacements en masse are required, if the issue isn't addressed replacements for some of our outstanding players might be needed.

Starting to see why we paid that much for him. He is brilliant, for me. Strong, good on the ball, a bit of pace and wins headers all day.

Love the lad.

I am still filled with doubts about him, he doesn't seem to have a partnership with Skrtel .... they both seem to just do their own thing rather than helping and covering for each other. His heading lacks power and he tends to get under the ball rather than moving to meet it.

His passing is excellent and his pace while he is not lightning fast is much faster than Skrtel or Agger. There is definitely a good player in there, but he seems too individualistic at the moment for me.

Probably a better player overall than Agger but not a better team player than Agger.

I am still filled with doubts about him, he doesn't seem to have a partnership with Skrtel .... they both seem to just do their own thing rather than helping and covering for each other. His heading lacks power and he tends to get under the ball rather than moving to meet it.

His passing is excellent and his pace while he is not lightning fast is much faster than Skrtel or Agger. There is definitely a good player in there, but he seems too individualistic at the moment for me.

Probably a better player overall than Agger but not a better team player than Agger.

I'd pretty much agree with that at the moment S@int.

I thought Demba Ba gave him quite a tough time and beat him a fair bit in the air and out muscled him too.

But I'd echo your point that there is a good player in there and he as at times (earlier on in fact) looked the business.

I am still filled with doubts about him, he doesn't seem to have a partnership with Skrtel .... they both seem to just do their own thing rather than helping and covering for each other. His heading lacks power and he tends to get under the ball rather than moving to meet it.

His passing is excellent and his pace while he is not lightning fast is much faster than Skrtel or Agger. There is definitely a good player in there, but he seems too individualistic at the moment for me.

Probably a better player overall than Agger but not a better team player than Agger.

Spot on that Saint, good assessment.

I don't think the partnership with Martin is the best one for him or Martin I think they are too similar. Still first season and only played in fits and starts so too early to judge and Brendan obviously has a flare for improving players

1 clean sheet in 19. Dyou think PSG would give us our money back?

Fills me with zero confidence I must admit. Very rash at times, still think Agger is a better fit for us.

I think he's great. He's only 24 (just a few months older than Coates and Kelly), which isn't that old for a defender. His English will only get better (which for me has been the source of some of his issues this season) and he has a brilliant attitude.
Also I don't think the clean sheets tell much of the story, though I understand the other chaps' concerns.

He's getting on well, will only improve. I also think Agger should partner him though.

He's getting on well, will only improve. I also think Agger should partner him though.

I don't think Rodgers rates Agger to be honest

Not fully adapted to the PL in my opinion, this is not to say he won't. He has a terrible habit of kinda crouching down just before he passes the ball which adds time and results in him being caught in possession from time to time, this needs to be coached out of the lad.

Not fully adapted to the PL in my opinion, this is not to say he won't. He has a terrible habit of kinda crouching down just before he passes the ball which adds time and results in him being caught in possession from time to time, this needs to be coached out of the lad.

Any stats on how many times he has been caught in possession?

Any stats on how many times he has been caught in possession?

Not really a fan of stats as they can be twisted to meet ones argument. However he does need to improve in my opinion.

Not really a fan of stats as they can be twisted to meet ones argument. However he does need to improve in my opinion.

I'm not a fan of eye witness statements.  Taken far too many of them and you soon realise most people should have gone to Specsavers.

Bit soon to be criticizing Sakho too much. His first season in the prem and he hasn't done too badly. Certainly Vidic struggled much more when he first went to the mancs.

I do think he needs to work at his game, but if he does, he seems to have all the physical attributes to be a success.