I don't know how much praise you can give Skrtel when he's been a regular and consistent feature of a defence that has become infamous for it's leakiness. I don't know the exact number of how many goals we've conceded these last two years but it's obviously quite a bit. Rather than being a part of the cure, he is in my opinion a part of the disease.
It's a fair point and on that basis you could argue praising any of our defenders over the past few years is the wrong thing to do given the issues we have had. Posters used to kiss Agger's ass all the time when it wasn't warranted. I think Skrtel has been much better the past couple of years after a very poor season when Brendan first came in. There is absolutely no doubt he is at his best when defending a little deeper, he was (along with Kompany) the best CB in the league IMHO a few seasons back. He would (for example) be superb if he played at Chelsea with their organisation and attention to team shape and the patient way they build attacks. He doesn't get ANY of that protection at LFC since Brendan came in, ditto the other centre-halves (and Lucas as well) and that should be accounted for whenever we appraise our defenders. The CBS in particular are often left on an island (if you like) with one or both fullbacks buggered off high up the pitch and only Lucas ahead of them. So many times we have lost the ball high up the pitch, got turned around, flooded with midfield runners and those three having to deal with it is untrue. We also get found out at goal kicks, Brendan spreads them out, makes the pitch as deep, long and wide as he can, then Mignolet hits that shi....ty floated kick to one of the full backs, we lose and ditto same again, our middies are all wrong side of the ball and it's the three buggers in the triangle (2 CBS and the DM) dealing with midfield runners and a full on cavalry charge coming their way. To use Mourinho's side as a comparison, when they have the ball they still give thought and attention to the shape of the team IN CASE they lose the ball ie. if they do lose it they are still in position to defend, we don't! We often lost it and we're in big trouble, there is too much space to either play into or run into. Another issue is our full-backs, I don't believe they are coached to get tight and prevent crosses, we allow FAR too many to come in and that also exposes our CBs.
It's not easy being a centre-half in a Brendan Side.
On the subject of Lovren, I think he has struggled partly because of the reasons highlighted above and partly because he lacks quickness on the turn and top end pace. You need it in this side and he doesn't have it.
« Last Edit: Jul 24, 2015 09:32:22 pm by Scottbot »
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