Sotirios Kyrgiakos - the Wolfsburg days

Liverpool agree Kyrgiakos deal

Liverpool today agreed a deal with AEK Athens for centre-back Sotirios Kyrgiakos, subject to a medical.

The 30-year-old Greek international will arrive at Melwood for a medical examination before the weekend.
 
Rafa Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv: "We have nearly done the deal subject to a medical. He is a player with experience who can hopefully help us in defence.
 
"He has experience in British football and Rangers. After that with Frankfurt and the national team. He's a good player in the air, strong and aggressive. We were looking for a player with experience.
 
"He will have the medical this week, it has to be before the weekend."
 
On how the signing would impact on young centre-backs such as Martin Kelly and Daniel Ayala, Benitez added: "The young players know they need experience and so to learn alongside people with this experience is better."

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Cant say I'm pleased with this, especially when we saw a fair bit of potential from Ayala. Reckon it will be a disastor like when we signed Pellegrino

Cant say I'm pleased with this, especially when we saw a fair bit of potential from Ayala. Reckon it will be a disastor like when we signed Pellegrino

Hopefully not mate. But I know what you mean.

He could turn out to be a very good buy too though. I imagine he'll play on Monday seeing as Rafa says his medical has to be before the weekend.

Didn't see that coming... Oh well we won't see much of him anyway

With two centre backs out, this is good news.

at least he is in his 30's, so he won't mind being 4th choice.

couldn't see why we would buy a younger player who would expect to play plenty, as we already have 3 top class cb's.

Changed thread title.

Looking forward to see how he fits in.

It was needed really so I'm glad that this transfer has gone through.

Someone with experience that will hopefully be dependable when called upon. I'll look forward to seeing him play - just like any other new Liverpool signing!

Welcome to Liverpool and good luck, Sotis!

Dont know much about him but hopefully will turn out to be another steal by Rafa.

Great move IMO. We lack that tall, strong defender type when Sami left. I dont think it'll harm the youngsters' chances too much.

who is he? dont know much about him. another sami hyypia material? you know tall and all. maybe he'll be handy against teams like villa who have strong and intimidating forwards.

Cant say I'm pleased with this, especially when we saw a fair bit of potential from Ayala. Reckon it will be a disastor like when we signed Pellegrino

That was my first thought.

Pellegrino was good for giving experience to the younger defenders (showing this pretty well now being our defensive coach. ) Fingers crossed Sotis settles in a little better than Pellegrino did.

Not  a bad move bringing him in. Ayala was showing potential, but the lad is only 18, so we can't expect too much from an inexperienced player.

Never seen this guy play, but Rafa can spot a quality center back from obscure nations.

Happy we have some extra cover and im sure rafa has told him he will only play around 5 games a season

hes verry aggresive, doin a lot fights in the field. Hopefully he can kick rooneys and purple face ass:P

I've heard alot of bad different mixed things about this guy.....form some I heard that he's a good solid defender in the air but some said that he wasn't that good . But they all said the say thing : he has a hot temper which means that he has to keep his cool to make sure tat he doesn't get red carded . So I'm just afraid of his temper control .....but hopefully Rafa also went over that with him .

I think he isn't the next Pellegrino 'cos he is 30 years old and Pellegrino was about 34.

Welcome to the club big man.

Why did'nt we just stick with Darby, Kelly and Ayala? :/

Anyway Welcome Sotirios

what's the point in having a youth/reserve team if you can't rely on it to provide you with a 4th choice centre back?

By the way, I remember this guy from his time at Rangers and he was a disater - didn't last past his first year

what's the point in having a youth/reserve team if you can't rely on it to provide you with a 4th choice centre back?

By the way, I remember this guy from his time at Rangers and he was a disater - didn't last past his first year

Because experience is everything at center back. I can't see this guy being here more than at most 2 years, then we will start to see the likes of Kelly and Ayala breaking in.

But you only get experience from playing. Especially at the highest level

His best bits on youtube:


The Emperor's New Groove: Best of Kronk

 

what's the point in having a youth/reserve team if you can't rely on it to provide you with a 4th choice centre back?

Of course we can, they just need to be given a bit of time - and Kyrgiakos will also help them learn new things.