21 Jun 2012

'Not good enough' - Unsettled LFC star slams poor league season. Time to sell?

Since the end of Liverpool's catastrophic league season, rumours have surfaced about the future of Martin Skrtel, who reportedly wants to leave the club this summer. The Slovakian International's Agent confirmed last month that he hoped to meet with Brendan Rodgers to discuss the defender's contract situation, but Skrtel's latest comments suggest that he's still unhappy about last season, which could impact on his decision to stay or go this summer.

Speaking to Reporters yesterday, Skrtel slammed the club's underperformance under previous manager Kenny Dalglish:

"It wasn't a great season because we finished in eighth position and that's not good enough. There were too many games in which we didn't get three points, and there were too many games in which we didn't get what we deserved"

It seems to me that Skrtel still harbours some resentment over the way last season panned out, and that's understandable given the 8th placed league finish. He's not happy, and that could play into the hands of any club that wants to sign him this summer. In May, Skrtel's Agent Karol Cstonto said:

"He [Skrtel] wants to know what Liverpool's aims and ambitions are. And of course, we will discuss the issue of Martin’s new contract".

Maybe it's just me but these kind of comments are really irritating. It's the arrogance of it - Skrtel has has ONE good season for Liverpool in the six years he's been at the club and now he clearly believes he has the status to demand answers from FSG/Brendan Rodgers. Why should LFC have to kowtow to player-power in this manner?

What Skrtel is basically suggesting here is that someone from LFC has to sit down with him and convince him that the club has ambition. Then, if Skrtel likes what he hears, he'll deign to sign a new contract. How demeaning to LFC is that? It's as if he's suggesting that the club doesn't have ambition, which it clearly does.

We never heard the likes John Barnes, Robbie Fowler or Sami Hyypia demanding to know if the club's ambitions matched their own, and that's because those players respected Liverpool, and were too humble to allow hubris to rear its ugly head.

The club's ambitions are always the same: strive to be the best; win the league, but failing that, finish as high up the table as possible. If Skrtel doesn't know that, or needs reassurance, then he's at the wrong club.

It doesn't sound like Skrtel is sold on the Brendan Rodgers vision, and if the privilege of playing for Liverpool is not good enough for him then the club should just cash-in while they can and sell him to the him to the highest bidder.

In my view, when a player demands answers about LFC's ambition, he is basically insulting the club.



Jaimie Kanwar


119 comments:

  1. Maybe he's just a critical realist.

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  2. How are these (very few) comments "irritating"?  I would imagine any footballer would have these questions for a new manager.  Why go into panic mode over nothing?

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  3. If he doesnt want to play for us, and we can get £20m for him, then sell him and use the money to buy players who are committed to the cause. It's true he did have a great season for us last year, but it should not be forgotten that for much of that time he was playing alongside Agger, who would make any half decent center half look so much better. 

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  4. or he just says it like it is!!!

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  5. Spot on. The writer of the article is a hypocrit in no uncertain terms.

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  6. Panic mode? What are you on about? I'm not panicked; just expressing my view.

    I explained my point in the article: what right does Skrtel have to demand that LFC explains its ambitions to him? That's a self-important display of player power, and it should be slapped down IMO.

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  7. he is a disgrace he has 1 good season and then he thinks he is too good for us but i still dont want to sell him lets hope he signs a new contract

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  8. Since Skrtel's just expressing his opinion, I'm going to express mine about him.

    He looks good next to Daniel Agger. Without Agger to hold his hand, he's rash, tactically-undisciplined and slow to see play develop.

    As someone else said, he's had one good season and funnily enough, that is the same season in which Agger played a decent amount of games.

    Everyone (even KK loyalists) admit that finishing 8th isn't good enough. We all know that. He's not saying anything that the rest of us aren't thinking.

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  9. He just being straight-forward about it. Nothing wrong until he show no heart playing for LFC then yes sold him away.

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  10. I think you've avoided the issue somewhat; I don't have a problem with Skrtel expressing his view about LFC's season -it's the fact that he's gotten too big for his boots, as evidenced by his insistence that LFC sit down with him and basically convince him that the club has ambition. Why should the club have to demean itself in this manner?

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  11. I think the club should rob Man City blind and buy 2 cb who are just as good with the money.
    Skrtel was good this season i dont rate him as highly as some and i think there is better out there esp considering the money city are apparently offering.

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  12. So you think that it's okay for players to basically hold the club to ransom by demanding to know the club's ambitions before signing a new contract?

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  13. He's had his best season for Liverpool.the last few seasons he's been average.if he wants to go sell him.i would part exchange him for mica Richards plus 10million..think we would be better off if we done that deal

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  14. Maybe he's a critical realist.

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  15. I'd been saying we should sell him for years now, so was glad to see him finally prove me wrong and deliver consistently over a season, but I'm not convinced that it wasn't a one off still. 

    If a big fee was on offer, I'd definitely be looking to accept it, and there is no way Skrtel should be able to use the one good season to elevate himself into a mega contract which leaves us stuck with him if he does revert to his old ways again next season...

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  16. If Liverpool can get 20m for him, then i would be happy to see him go but still don't think there is anything in his comments which would irritate anyone. He's being a realist and just wants what's best for him like any other player.

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  17. Would rather sell him and keep agger.get Richards as part of the deal plus cash.Richards is a much better player than skrtel..what do U guys think???

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  18. Kjaer to replace skrtel

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  19. Imagine being in a football player's position, this is the fourth manager we've had in the last three years. Sounds like he just wants to talk to the new manager. Wouldn't you? Skrtel's being very reasonable as far as I am concerned. I want him to stay but won't shed too many tears if he wants to leave and we can get a decent sum.

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  20. Hes not the first player to do it, so its not that shocking.
    Players do deserve to know what a clubs plans are for the future under new management if they are going to sign on for X years.
    i just dont like it being said in the media.
    wish everyone was behind closed doors like i wish we would HURRY UP AND SIGN SOMEONE!

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  21. if he wanted out i'd be happy with 15m and leave england but if man city was to come in and offer 20m i'd drive him myself.

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  22.  I wish there were more of our players who were unhappy with our performance last season and would also *demand* success rather than making excuses or saying "oh we were unlucky, poor us..."

    If we are to improve and find success it will be because the players have learned to fight for it tooth and nail.

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  23. OMG! what a post! you want the disgrace to sign a new contract? i give up, i really do, what a muppet!

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  24. We should be trying to get a player in with the deal, such adam johnson, or striker at the least plus the 15-20mil if not, its not good business. one player id let go for th right money is LUCAS, i know or think jamie likes him but for me he is a bright example of when, where and how it all went wrong. remember he got LFC player of the in DM, last season skrtel got it? defedning palyers gettin LFC plyr of the yr when we one tin cup or nothing is a sad stae of affairs. IMO

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  25. if that were to happen then mancini would be as crazy as you!

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  26. How is wanting to play at the highest level "to big for his boots"? get a grip Jamaie he is entitled to spout of a bit after last season he was immense, We were crap last season and he wants an improvement and wants to see what improvements will be made, fair enough in my opinion.
     He is good enough to play in the CL and it will be another season without for us.

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  27. right with ya on this one JK, sell his ass and buy shawcross for half the reported £20m !!

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  28. Wouldn't drive any player that wants to leave Liverpool any were.tell him to get the fkn bus like most people.haha

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  29. omg noooooooooooooooooooooo! he is worse the Piechnik

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  30. "I would imagine any footballer would have these a new manager"
    Why Agger didn't ask these questions and asked about "ambitions" and ready to sign a new contract !? even thought Agger is our best defender and better then Skrtel

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  31. Again, the quotes attributed to Martin Skrtel are fair enough.  We (LFC) weren't good enough last season.  The comments that have irked you are just the usual crap that comes out off agents mouths when their player is linked with a "big money move".  
    I'm pretty sure Skrt's is on his honeymoon right now, and is not too bothered about much else.  If Martin's agent is fixing to improve his playing contract by implying he's a wanted man, well, what a surprise.  Kuyt's agent used to do this every season too--is it the same guy? :-)

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  32. Skrtel is a no-nonsence centre-back who reminds me of Jackie Charlton, but in Coates Liverpool already have a player with greater potential. Let him go for 20 M, and use the money, plus what's left in the kitty, to get a truly world class young midfielder.

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  33. shawcross? pls exlain more why u think shawcross will do a better or equal job at lfc, considering the fact skrtel is not franco baresi if u know what i mean

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  34. I totally disagree. The privilege of playing for Liverpool...don't make me laugh. This isnt the 70s JK. This is a professional era. It not about player power. Like any staff member at any company you would want to know what plans, vision etc is for future.  He has a right to ask that. In fact I would question the ambition of any staff member that just accepts things as is...you know easy come easy go. He is ambitious, the type of soldiers we need at this club. He should be asking, does the clubs ambitions match my own.  

    Like you say on this site: lump it or leave it. This is your site and if you don't like something go read some other blog. But Liverpool is an organisation with stakeholders: owners, manager, player, fans etc. He is part of that big ship and he has every right to ask questions. 

    You say Hypia never asked...provide proof? How do you know he never walked into managers office sat down and had a conversation about the clubs and his own future.

    Having said all of that...if we can get a stupid offer say 30million plus I would sell. l 

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  35. Obviously, I mean Hyypia et al (or their Agents) never made public statements on the issue. I don't have any issue with stuff that goes on behind closed doors.

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  36. 20 million would be a very good deal for Liverpool. Skrtel was good last season, but looked like his average self in the absence of Agger. Plenty of better CB's we can get.

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  37. This is a weak post. Skrtel's comments are fine. It is what we're all saying. The season was a disappointment. As for the ambitions remark, it is hearsay from a non-native speaker. Don't get so worked up.

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  38. shawcross is every bit the player skrtel is! and he's a lot younger with the potential to get even better!

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  39. its what all players do now, it basically means he wants to see who they're thinking of signing and the ambition of the club, so he can make an educated guess as to whether we're ever going to get back into the top four. Personally i like the way he's come out and admitted that we weren't good enough last season, he's not shying away from criticism or directing it at anyone else, i think you've got the wrong end of the stick jamie...

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  40. I remember fans arguing that we should buy Roger Johnson and Scott Dann last year - they're in the same boat as Shawcross imo, useless cloggers and I'd much rather see Coates/Kelly/Wisdom step up as centre-backs than see the club waste money on the likes of them!

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  41. JK I'm not saying you do have a problem with him expressing his views. Everyone connected with LFC, be it player, fan, board member or whatever is entitled to their say.

    Every player nowadays wants to know what the club's ambitions are so I have no problem with Skrtel demanding talks either.

    I was simply pointing out that he has had one good (good - not great) season and is, for me, a pretty average player when the chips are down.

    Where I do take issue with what you said JK is that demanding clarification is akin to insulting the club. Any player with ambitions to play at the top level is going to want to know what's going on and from my point of view I think they have a right to ask this, the same way they have a right to know how much football they can realistically expect to play.

    It's not demeaning for Liverpool or any other club to spell out what it's intentions are going forward. Any club who turned round to a player and simply said "you either sign or you don't" won't get very far - unless its Barca or Real because everyone knows what their ambitions are.

    Could you spell out to me now what Liverpool's ambitions are? Is it to improve on last season or to get into the Champions League as a bare minimum? These are questions the fans want answering and it's only natural for players to want to know as well.

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  42. When has LFC ever *not* been an ambitious club? LFC's goal is always to achieve the highest level possible. Indeed, the club's current goals are stated in the accounts (I'll be posting an article about this later), and FSG/Rodgers/Dalglish have repeatedly stated and restated the club's ambitions over the last couple of years. For example: at the start of last season, John Henry publicly stated that the club's main goal was CL qualification. Why would that change this year?

    If players want clarification then they should seek it behind closed doors, not allow their Agent to apply indirect pressure by making statements in the press.

    The idea/implication that LFC are not ambitious enough for Skrtel to commit himself to a new contract is, IMO, insulting to the club. As a comparison, Daniel Agger recently made a public statement about his future; he said that he's happy at the club and is willing to sign a new deal. He said nothing publicly about wanting to know LFC's 'ambitions'.

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  43. ok i hear u on the age and potential but messin with defenders worries me, but i will agree to sell him for the maximum fee and bring in RS for less than half the fee recieved is good business. im still fully 100 on RS and agger is always injured, JCara cost us games/goals when he plyd last season, and coates even tho his goal will live long in the minds of many hes still rather unproven, RS is seasonsed.

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  44. Ask Skrtel to see Kenny if he thinks last season was not good enough. Kenny will help him see the progress in last season.

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  45. Jaimie , Here's a fact for you , Last season was Skrtel's one and ONLY good season in a Liverpool shirt . If he's unhappy , let him go . In fact , i wouldn't be against anyone in the current squad leaving the club , We already suffered by Losing Alonso and Mascherano a couple of seasons ago and none of the current squad are fit to tie their boot laces

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  46. to be honest its amazing how kanwar always turns against lfc, first he was asking for suarez to sell him now skrtel, and thats our best players, i dont really understand you kanwar, no insults but really how can you call yourself a lfc fan, you will soon say we should sell gerrard as you already said he shouldnt be lfc captain any longer, do you really have feelings for this club, what is this all about? can you stop writing negativity for this club? if i was you id check twice my feelings for lfc, you look so untrue , offending lfc best players.

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  47. Sell and buy Subotic/Hummels from Dortmund, both 23 and a very good pairing. If Manchester City come in with a very good offer I'd say sell and let him warm their bench and buy the two players I mentioned above.

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  48. No one player is bigger than any football club. Liverpool should sell for nothing less than 30 million pounds.

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  49. This is the first occasion I've bothered to post a comment, and also the last occasion I'll bother to read the unqualified drivel that emanates from the human sh!t-spouter that is Jaime Kanwar. His contributions consistently demonstrate lack of insight into football in general, Liverpool FC in particular, and frequently shows a blatant lack of respect for the personnel at the club. On what basis is Skrtel unsettled ? I would be more concerned if Skrtel had commented that he was overjoyed about the club he represents finishing eighth last season. I would warrant that Maeve Binchy can formulate more credible opinions about Liverpool Football Club.

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  50. The ambitions may change for two reasons - 

    1 - the dire state of our squad
    2 - a new manager bringing in new ideas, which inevitably take time to implement.

    Both of these factors play a huge part in what we can hope to achieve over the course of a season.

    Your statement "achieve the highest level possible" is a bit vague. The highest level possible with Downing, Adam, Henderson etc is not very high at all, certainly not Champions League level and if a player has ambitions, he is going to ask for more than that. It's ok saying we want to be the best but it needs to be backed up with actions and I think that's what Skrtel/his agent is getting at.

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  51. Just had one improved season, I won't say good season. He looked better because the other defenders were poor most of the time. Someone need to breakdown the mistakes made by the various defenders that resulted in Liverpool losing points at home and away. Then we will be able to see how much Skertl has contributed to the eighth place finish. You must see the fouls that Skertl creates during corners in every match. Most of the time he is wrestling with an opponent and is always out of position. He does not watch the ball more often than not. It is a surprise to me that referees have not picked him up for these fouls and given away penalties.

    Liverpool should sell him to the highest bidder now and earn maximum profit. There are better defenders eg Shawcross in the league and elsewhere who can be bought at a cheaper price.

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  52. This is a load of $#%¥ in my opinion it all depends on how you want to read in to it, i'v read the same stuff on another news site except its heading was "Skirtal open to contract talks" more media $#%¥

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  53. You're on form again Jaimie, publishing total CRAP!!!

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  54. Jaimie - if your intention was to write some tossy crap to draw reactions from people then congratulations.  Otherwise this report is a load of rubbish.  This is a professional era where players wish to make the most of their carreer.  Why should any player show loyalty to a club when a club can sell or loan out the loyal player with the drop of a hat.

    Being upset and continuing to be upset about finishing 8th in the Premier League is a feeling I would hope all 2011/12 LFC players feel.  Skrtel is merely voicing this frustration.

    It is his agent who is making commentary about LFC aims and ambitions - you need to read what you are actually writing and subsequently commenting on

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  55. Why would ambitions change? What historical precedent is there that suggests LFC changes its ambitions? The club's goal is always to finish as high up the table as possible; last season, the stated goal was CL football; why would it be any different this season?

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  56. Crazy?? Richards is unhappy with being on the bench at city..would be a great new start for him plus he wouldn't have to move house if he didn't want to.

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  57. Realistic ambitions are those which are based on the resources you have at hand and those of your competitors.

    FSG stated CL qualification as a minimum because they believed Dalglish and Commoli when they said the signings we made last season would push us forward. We (or they) now know that was wildly optimistic and we will have the same players next season. While we have got a new manager, the players' limitations will still be the same and Rodgers can only do so much.

    Nobody would expect the squad as it is to achieve CL qualification and so it is only fair to the players and manager to set realistic targets

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  58. Henrywinchester5:47 pm, June 21, 2012

    Stirring the shit again eh? Every player is going to want to sit down with our NEW manager and discus the future of the club. Its a players right to know the clubs ambitions meet their own. He only said recently that he is happy at the club and instead of looking into a slightly muddy portion of one quote maybe you should stop scare mongering as usual and get behind the team you supposedly support

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  59. No its not its called ambition obviously Skrtel has them. That`s what I have asked my employers and I dont work at a football club. We have been going round in circles and underachieved for while now that`s why Torres and others have left. You have your opinion so why should players opinions be as you say,slapped down? Maybe that should be written in their contracts?

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  60. Henrywinchester5:55 pm, June 21, 2012

    Jaimie why are comments that challenge you removed? no swear words or anything bad in it yet they are removed nonetheless. its sad to think that anything you cant answer are just hidden. shows your true class that. 

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  61. i'd sell him.as you said,he's had one very good seasn out of six.if city are willing to pay 20million which has been suggested we should take it.why didn't he have problems with ambition in rafa's last season or under hodgson? probably because his form wouldn't have got him a move.

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  62. swap skrtel /adam johnson + 10m  

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  63. Henrywinchester6:01 pm, June 21, 2012

    again scare tactics. 'ransom' demanding to know? Grow up JK. He has not mentioned wanting to move, nor has he done anything wrong by wanting to know the clubs new plans. 

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  64. Henrywinchester6:05 pm, June 21, 2012

    footballers these days, although loyal for the most part, do have ambitions in their own lives. skrtle wants to know that the club are going in the right direction and to see if the manager has any ideas on this. its not a ransom, he is not demanding things. he has every right to ask to sit down with the manager, and on another note he is also looking to sit down for a new deal. seems like that ransom would be short lived when he holds none of the cards. wake up

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  65.  Ok your opinion of players shows you are up there with Stevie Wonder when looking to review players abilities...!!! I think you spoke before you let your brain think for a minute. Lucas would walk into most the Top 4 sides in the PL and most sides across Europe and you want to get rid of him...!!! One word.....Idiot !!!

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  66. Two hopes...!!! If either of those two come on the market...they will be £20 mill a piece each....!!!

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  67. I'm not interested in your bitching. Your last post was sniping, pure and simple, thus it was deleted. If you want to debate football, go ahead; if you want to cast aspersions on me or the site, your comment will be deleted. If you don't like that, go to some other site.

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  68. The amount the players are paid weekly, I am glad that he is not happy. Improvement definitely needed from all players. KD was not responsible for the dismal season, the players should take their fair share of blame too.

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  69. Lucas would walk into any of the tpp 4 teams.. and u say i didn't think before i spoke.. I never said he is shit but if the right bid came in id sell and by ur standard bein better then all the dm in the top 4 tjay should put him in the 35-40m if not more. Would u turn down a bid of that amount? Also do u remember who hr replaced? Also can u tell me how long it has taken him to earn the fans rrspect? I like luvas but not that as much as the 2 he replaced. Anyways thats my ppinion. A constructive response will be appreciatef. bit to waste uur time to say I didn't think before I speak or to class him better than the other dm in top 4 come on

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  70. i'm saying mancini would be crazy to let him go and you are crazy to think he would let him go! richards is a class act, way better than martin skrtel !

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  71. Henrywinchester6:45 pm, June 21, 2012

    the comment also had an argument and didnt attack you. it said that you were stirring shit by taking a fragment of the whole article and when read as a whole has a different meaning than that of the cut and pasted piece you gave. it also had other arguments about whether a player should have every right to see the ambitions of the club match his own. I then took one snipe at you for the way you cut the comment to induce a sense of fear and to put a new meaning on what was originally meant. its also not the first to be deleted in the same manner

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  72. Henrywinchester7:01 pm, June 21, 2012

    Ok ill try again and see if it suits you better. 
    1) the comment you quote is but part of a comment on the whole which suggests that not only does Martin Skrtle want to sit down for talks on a new contract, he also wants to be sure that the club has ambitions which are high in standard and he, as a player is quite entitled to ask for (not demand) this.
    2) RE assurances. Every player likes to know that the club is trying. they like to know that the club is moving forward, not backwards, because players have their own ambitions and for most players these are not club specific. he wants to stay at the club and win. but he also will not sit by while the club takes one step forward and two steps back. And any players, besides childhood fans (maybe) would have to look elsewhere if they could not see this. 
    Reina has done it, Gerrard has done it, Torres, mascherano, alonso, arbeloa all did it. 
    to get back to my original point, if you show half an article then we only get half the facts and cannot, based on the biased opinion of the article, make a non biased judgement on it.

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  73. agree with you,shawcross makes carra look like franco baresi.brutal player,very overrated,don't know how he continually gets linked with top sides,bit like matthew upson used to.

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  74. shawcross is a brutal player,maybe 20 years ago he might have gotten away with the 'hard man' tag but he's no better than where he is.

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  75. Henrywinchester7:10 pm, June 21, 2012

    But surely that one season is this season and he can keep it going. look at Lucas. Shall we sell him too at first sniff because he has 'only' come good now? Also stat attack. Last season was the only one worse in the last 4 in terms of goals conceded so its hardly his best.

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  76. Didn't Alonso & Mascherano say the same after they had a very good season. Too many players rattle their cages when they perceive they have had a good season, maybe he is just after a better contract and his agent some more commission.

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  77. I'm not an LFC fan, admittedly, but I can't help but disagree with you here. I would regard Agger and Skrtel as one of the better centre back pairings of the Premier League and to have rid of Skrtel would be to meddle with a relatively proven defensive formula.

    Furthermore, to have ambition as a player who's paid such astronomical wages that he needn't care at all what the club's up to as long as he's getting his pay cheque isn't something to be criticised. Perhaps his wording might be a little off but I'd be disappointed with my players if they weren't voicing discontent towards the underachievement of the club in recent years. FSG hasn't exactly made such a good account of themselves with their signings and it's admirable that he's genuinely curious as to what the new manager wants to do and how he wants to achieve it.

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  78. Jamie....this is probably the first time that I am going to agree with you. If those words came out of skrtel's mouth, then it indefinitely time to cash. I don't believe LFC owe him any explanations. If anything the players owe the club and fans an explanation for there poor performance's last season. The core principals and values about LFC is based on success every season.

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  79. Another pointless article from yourself, just give it up mate

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  80.  oh here we go again...
    lucas used as the benchmark for every single player who has ever turned himself around from a bad beginning.
    two completely different players.
    if you read what i wrote i said if city are 'willing' to pay 20mil for him then we should sell,that money can be reinvested.
    i think you'll find that skrtel was most fans choice for player of the season.
    as for your 'stat attack' i couldn't give a crap.

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  81. i must say i enjoyed it.

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  82. Henrywinchester8:16 pm, June 21, 2012

    nice intelligent reply. And we need to maintain some core of a team without another rebuild so why sell him if he is "was most fans choice for player of the season" If we cannot maintain a core of players then we will never have a platform to rebuild on. And grow up with your "i couldnt give a crap" attitude. It was a comment not an attack

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  83. Well that's the point lad..liverpool tell city if U want skrtel then we will have Richards?? They will run or do the deal simple...

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  84. why keep him if he doesn't want to be there?
    why does he need to be reassured on where the club is going?
    surely he can see that by sacking kenny after getting to 2 cup finals that fsg obviously want titles and champs league football.
    i didn't mean to offend you but seriously people throw stats around here all the time rather than look at the issue at hand.
    his agent is obviously hawking him around.agger has said he'd like a new deal,simple as.
    skrtel could do the same or keep scthum til he meets rodgers.

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  85. People just never learn (!) You're now banned. Anyone who posts pointless sniping comments like this will be banned. Makes no difference to me, so keep it coming!

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  86. No, that is your opinion. The comment from Skrtel's agent doesn't change it's meaning just because some of the quote is allegedly missing.

    He [Skrtel] wants to know what Liverpool's aims and ambitions are

    This is unambiguous.

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  87. Funny how he has his first decent season with liverpool now thinks he is bigger than the club

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  88. Henrywinchester8:16 pm, June 21, 2012

    fair point. but just look around nowadays agents do alot of talking, I see what JK was saying about the older players never doing that but its common practice now and its too easy to do it. I agree now that he probably should see the basic idea of where the club is going but besides the agents comments everyone will be sitting down with BR and discussing this with him anyway. I mean its a whole new way of thinking that rodgers has compared to KK or RH so its understandable that all the players need to know where they stand. 

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  89. Henrywinchester8:16 pm, June 21, 2012

    Fair play agree 100% 

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  90. Aren't we forgetting one thing? We live in the digital age..every utterance by any player is broadcast/tweeted/blogged within minutes. Your own site wouldn't be here if we were in the 80s. Simple truth is that players opinions etc are more likely to be made public today than say 10 years ago. The way we handled our search for a new manager is testament to that. The media made us look like a job centre advert but I'm sure the process is similar to those in years gone by. You didn't hear direct quotes from FSG, but every paper and betting site had their say on it. The fact is, its the same deal, just more people know about it now

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  91. got to laugh, one decent (full season) and skrtel thinks hes to good for the club. 20 mill we should take it or we take adam johnson and maybe nigel de jong for a swap deal. coates needs to be given a run of games to see wat hes all about. skrtel needs to remember how poor hes been most of his time at liverpool, shocking at times. go warm the bench at city.
    agger makes you look ever more average on and off the pitch

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  92. Yes. It's their career that's on the line. Suarez did it soon after Rodgers was appointed..

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  93. when hicks and gillet were in charge and decided that it would be a good idea to sack Benitez and bring in Hodgson. THAT, my friend, is a huge lack of ambition. And the club has gone backwards every season since. When Skrtel arrived we were on the up, had just won a champs league, were the no1 ranked team in Europe, had the 3rd largest fanbase in the world according to reports, had just put together the 'best midfield' in the world, had a manger who had (at the time) the midas touch and were chasing world class players.

    Move on six years, we're on our 4th manager in 4 years, 3rd season in a row without CL football, just finished below our city rivals and a team that were in the Championship 2 seasons ago, been replaced in the Benitez era top four by Spurs and City, employed a manager that despite looking very good has no experience of managing at the top level and have so far been linked with players that are not traditional world beaters.

    The rhetoric from the owners is to get us back to the top of the league and that we can compete in the market with anyone but that we have to do it more sensibly, which really means without spending City style money.

    Therefore I think all the players at the club, especially those that stood by us during the last 3 seasons on the promises of owners that have so far not come true, should be allowed to ask what the true ambitions are. We all know Hicks & Gillet lied to the manager, the players and the fans. Torres left based on being told lies, Meireles was promised contracts that never came about. At the end of the day, footballers have relatively short careers and there is only so long they can wait and hope that what they are told comes true. They need to be able to see tangible evidence and so far those promises have not been met. It's the same in any job, this is their life at the end of the day and it's a life that whether we like it or not is played out more and more in the public eye and media. You, as a member of the media world, should be more aware of that than anyone.

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  94. don't have a problem with his words at all. He has been told each year for the last three that we would improve and each season we have gone backwards.

    He must look at the likes of Alonso, Mascherano, Arbeloa, Torres and Meireles and see what they have won since leaving and think - 'I stayed to finish eighth, no f*#king way! I want to know that I'm going to be playing top class football again soon otherwise I'm going to go somewhere that can give me that!' And why not? fair play to him for having ambition! That's the kind of player we want to hold onto, not players that accept mediocrity and just tow the line. That's why some of us loved Benitez Jaimie, because he cared enough to question the last owners and tried to make us realise that they were breaking promises.

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  95. Right where to start then with a constructive response....!!! Ok....he would definitely walk into most of the top 4 sides...Citeh having Yaya would be his biggest opposition....but even when he played against him he had him in his back pocket and made him look a right fool....!!! Carrick/Fletcher...please....Alex Song...not a hope...might be great at finding RVP with a pass but that's it....Mikel....would only be fit to lace Lucas's boots...Essien has gone completely off the boil since his bout of injuries....!!! So Yes I back up my statement of walking into most top 4 teams....and also none of those mentioned are worth anywhere near your so called 35-40 mill. !!! Now....in regards to the two he replaced...yes they were big boots to fill...but my god has he gone about doing it....I wouldn't have Masch back if it meant losing Lucas...Lucas is a far better tackler, passer, and less likely to get himself sent off....and in terms of Alonso...yes Alonso's passing was brilliant...but Lucas's right now is not far off...and he is a lot more mobile than Xabi ever was and again is a far better tackler. Stating that you would be willing to get rid of Lucas for the right offer shows no logic based on the fact you curse the fact we lost two similar players already. Do you suggest we continue to become a selling club....Also he will fit perfectly into Rodgers style of play and I imagine the midfield will  be based around himself, Gerrard and Henderson...as well as Siggurdsson if he arrives...with Gerrard nearing the end of his career the other three being the future....!!! But hey....what do I know...!!!

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  96. A centre back for a left winger, yeah makes sense that

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  97. skrtel might be worried that he doesn't fit into rodgers style,agger is tailor made for it and coates is a ball playing centre half,skrtel not so much.

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  98. Jaime, aren't you the one whose justifying criticism all the time? Saying we need to criticise ourselves to improve?
    I think Skrtel's comments are in that frame. Questioning our ambitions is more than legitimate. If BR would pursue a top 8 finish next season(for rebuilding reasons), I can understand why Skrtel will want to leave. A winner always want to improve, and after wanting to get to the top 4 at the beginning of last season, any lower ambition is wrongdoing in a winner's perspctive.

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  99. At the end of the day lads.this is all part of skrtel having a good season for Liverpool..he probably doesn't want to leave Liverpool but now he can say to Liverpool more money for me..or I will go..he will get his pay rise and city have helped him to get that pay rise..the end now all have a horlicks and go to bed..haha

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  100. never mind Skrtel, i demand to know what ambition the club has.As per usual your untrained eye has got it wrong.Whatever type of football you grew up watching you are missing the point.He is 27, he wants to know if the club are going to buy the type of players that have a chance of competing against the best.What is wrong with that? Also if you read what he says he is only expressing the views we all felt over last season. I think it is time you started a little site on a sport you may know something about and leave L.F.C to the real fans.

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  101. Overrated by Liverpool, underrated by other fans. There is no reason to sell him, but he is replaceable if we do. I would be more concerned if Reina leaves!

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  102. Jamie are ou a Man Utd fan? Because most of your stories are a negative view a out our top players. He didn't slam our performance he said it wasn't good enough......hello it wasnt FACT! The rest of the quotes in this article are from his agent who lets be honest is after a bit of cash. I just don't see who would make your team you even run basically a hate campaign against Suarez

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  103. 'Speaking to Reporter's yesterday' ...........Rubbish! Skrtel made those comments in an exclusive interview with Liverpoolfc.tv on 16 May, 2012. He went on to say ' "I have a contract at Liverpool and I am happy here at the club. I haven't thought about leaving the club. The things that were in the press are rubbish."

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  104. skrtel struggled when agger was absent, he is a player that can't organise without someone to guide him through games. it is agger who is the dominant centre half. i would rather keep agger any day of the week over skrtel.

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  105. If City truly want to pay £20 million we should play them a bit and get £25 million

    But I fear this is just agent BS to try and get Skrtel a better deal for him at Liverpool, but Liverpool would jump at the chance to sell

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  106. i agree with every word Skrtel said, an i would be more unhappy if he was happy about last season, i would rather see any Liverpool player who was happy about our position and performances last season sold, because every word he said is how every Liverpool fan felt. 

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  107. If we were to get the £20mil fee mooted in some quarters I would sell him regardless of his comments. 1 good season. Sell him, move Kelly into the centre and let him and Coates battle it out. If that doesn't work out, bring in Kjaer- he will be affordable.

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  108. Player who wants a new contract so agent makes a comment suggesting he might leave. Sitting down to discuss ambition is way of saying sitting down to get a better contract.

    Mountain and Molehill come to mind.

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  109. 20 million plus adam johnson... 

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  110. What a load of sensationalist bollocks. How you can draw such wild conclusions from such tame quotes is beyond me. What he said about last season is spot on and I'd expect him to want to have a chat with his new boss before he commits to a long term deal. Terrible article.

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  111. We have to remember we stuck with agger thick and thin(when hes injured). He is just returning the favour

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  112. No, no 20m+ Adam Johnson. Then, we hav a deal.

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  113. i agree coates and agger are the future centrebacks that can play a bit of football...rodgers will love them 2

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  114. If City really wants him, what about asking for Johnson and Richards? Skrtel has been a calamity. U r right..he only had one good season, and now thinks that his ambition is bigger than the club. By getting Johnson and Richards, we get two players to solve our current problems, ie a replacement for Skrtel, and a wide player that we craves.

    Sell him to City. He will warm their bench.

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  115. The only thing that is pushing for a move, is the people who voted YES and the nature of this article. IF Skrytl does leave, it would be to a team that is in a better league standing than 8th in any league around the world.  I'm sure that categorizes  Skrytl as a decent player? He is an agressive player and works hard for the color of his shirt and not the name on the back. If Skrytl leaves, who is going to replace him? I don't like the sound of a hoofing Carragher or a developing Coates, add that to injury record of Agger, its suicidal. If people think we can sign a Vincent Kompany or a Sergio Ramos think again!

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  116. i agreed with you jaimie, and i also sicked with big headed player nowadays..

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