Some would beg to differ, but Skrtel is by far our best all round defender, and the one most likely to score goals too! I would like to think Sakho would have convinced me by now (after a whole season) that he should be an automatic starter, but he hasn't yet.
The lad can tackle, but in possession he still worries me. I'd like to give him a run beside Skrtel to see how they work together, as Lovren is looking a little average ATM.
It's odd isn't it mate, because I don't worry as much about Sakho in possession as I do when he's trying to defend. Yes he can put the odd pass astray, he also plays some of the best passes out from the back that we see, ones with real zip that allow midfielders to actually do something with the ball more than just receiving it.
In defence, I'll admit it's ever since Carra and Neville highlighted it on a Monday Night Football, that I have seen his propensity to just back off endlessly. He's a nervous type, because the few times where he doesn't back off he makes rash tackles and rash decisions to rush out, twice already we've seen him rush out and get passed either between the legs or by whatever means to people running in behind him, those have resulted in goals. Lovren has shouldered some of the blame for those goals and while he is meant to cover for his CB partner, he also shouldn't be expect to carry the entire burden of defending.
These types of poor decisions, without forethought of his actions, are what worry me most. He isn't reading the game well at all and that is one of the key talents a defender needs in open play. He has to see where the threat will develop and when you add in the odd bad pass too then it's easy to see why he doesn't make the XI.
Looking more and more like he might be one of those players that has all the tools to make it at the top level but not the application. His little moment storming out will help nobody and hurt himself the most.
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