For the first six years of his Anfield career, Daniel Agger spent a whopping 24 months on the sidelines with injury. That's 43% of his time on the treatment table (!), and it should therefore come as no surprise that the Dane is one of the most injured players in Liverpool FC's history. Things are markedly different this season, however, and Agger is playing regularly and avoiding injury. What's changed? Ho does a player go from perpetual injury to consistent fitness?
In an interview with Sporten DK last night, Agger - on international duty this week with Denmark - said that he 'feels fine at the moment', and described his lack of injuries this season as a 'great achievement'. When asked why things are different this year, he explained:
"There is a clear plan for the way I train, and the way I recuperate, and that is what has carried me through. I'm getting the right amount of exercise and the right number of games.
"I feel that it makes me feel better physically and more fit. I really feel comfortable, and that's obviously why I've played all the matches I've played."
Agger's injury history: 2006-2012
Agger has made 27 appearances so far this season, and he needs just 8 more to beat his entire total for last season. Let's just hope he doesn't get injured against Macedonia tonight (!)
Agger may be playing more games these, but as much as it pains me to say it, he's made quite a few defensive mistakes this season, the most recent of which came against Manchester City last Sunday, when his suspect positioning allowed Edin Dzeko to ghost in and score for Man City.
Agger is definitely a fan favourite, and he has many great qualities (leadership, technique, passing accuracy, running with the ball, comfort in possession), but like Martin Skrtel, he's increasingly prone to mistakes, and it's no exaggeration to suggest that his errors - along with those of Skrtel and Pepe Reina - could ultimately end up costing the club a place in the Champions League.
Having said that, there's still time for Agger et al to redeem themselves - if the defence puts in solid, error-free defensive displays for the rest of the season, and the club finishes in the top four, I'm sure all the goal-inducing mistakes from the first five months of the season will be forgotten.
Jaimie Kanwar NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
In an interview with Sporten DK last night, Agger - on international duty this week with Denmark - said that he 'feels fine at the moment', and described his lack of injuries this season as a 'great achievement'. When asked why things are different this year, he explained:
"There is a clear plan for the way I train, and the way I recuperate, and that is what has carried me through. I'm getting the right amount of exercise and the right number of games.
"I feel that it makes me feel better physically and more fit. I really feel comfortable, and that's obviously why I've played all the matches I've played."
Agger's injury history: 2006-2012
Agger has made 27 appearances so far this season, and he needs just 8 more to beat his entire total for last season. Let's just hope he doesn't get injured against Macedonia tonight (!)
Agger may be playing more games these, but as much as it pains me to say it, he's made quite a few defensive mistakes this season, the most recent of which came against Manchester City last Sunday, when his suspect positioning allowed Edin Dzeko to ghost in and score for Man City.
Agger is definitely a fan favourite, and he has many great qualities (leadership, technique, passing accuracy, running with the ball, comfort in possession), but like Martin Skrtel, he's increasingly prone to mistakes, and it's no exaggeration to suggest that his errors - along with those of Skrtel and Pepe Reina - could ultimately end up costing the club a place in the Champions League.
Having said that, there's still time for Agger et al to redeem themselves - if the defence puts in solid, error-free defensive displays for the rest of the season, and the club finishes in the top four, I'm sure all the goal-inducing mistakes from the first five months of the season will be forgotten.
Jaimie Kanwar NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
I feel as if Agger is the type of defender who needs a partner is defense that will physically dominate. Someone who will win his fair share of aerial duels, tackles, and interceptions. The partnership last season between Agger and Skrtel last season worked extremely well as Skrtel was an absolute machine, which distracted the attention away from Agger's shortcomings (few they are).
ReplyDeleteA center back in the mold of Mats Hummels would give us one of the best defensive pairings in the world. Not quite achievable if we fail to secure a Champions league spot though....
sometimes young players are given to much game time before there bodies have fully developed which can lead to lots of injuries some players get over it and come through sadly over players don,t and find there careers over before they have begun it looks like agger is getting stronger ps jaimie hope you have not put the mockers on him:-)
ReplyDeleteI totally agree and that is why I thought we should have signed Samba when he was leaving Blackburn. Always thouight him and Agger would make a good partnership. Hummels would be great though but I am not sure if we would get him.
ReplyDelete"if the defence puts in solid, error-free defensive displays". Yes, that would be nice, but if our defenders were able to play error-free for four months, or even longer, the worlds richest clubs would throw a lot of money at us to get them. I think you'd be hard pressed to come up with defenders who can play error-free. Players make mistakes all of the time, some of those are avoidable though. They are more costly when defenders or even a keeper makes them, but what clubs are looking for are players who only make few mistakes. Our of Skrtel, Reina and Agger the Dane is probably the one who makes the fewest costly mistakes.
ReplyDeleteThe figures for missed matches are shocking. Lets hope he can carry on like this season with none or only very few matches missed for the rest of his career.
jaime re your appearances and games missed charts something dose not add up your saying since the day agger 1st signed he was 1st chose for every game not dropped once not rested once and not suspended once based on your figures
ReplyDeleteFrom different interviews I have seen, and stuff I have read, one of BR`s things is his training systems, which he reckons will reduce the amount of injuries players get, which so far has worked, two of our most inured players (Agger and Gerrard), of the last few seasons have been fit all season. You can`t stop leg breaks, or things from bad tackle,s but he has reduced other injuries.
ReplyDeleteI agree. physical training and weights training customized to each individual to maximize but reduce injuries. Sports science has developed by leaps and bounds.
ReplyDeleteNot so sure I'm going to blame Agger for the goal the other day. It was good movement by Dzeko so you've got to give credit to the attacker rather than blame Agger. It's quite hard trying to keep on eye on the striker whilst watching the guy with the ball at the same time.
ReplyDeleteEvery time the international games come, my biggest fear is Gerrard will come back crocked. I hope all our players come back with no injury concerns. we need these guys now for our final push until the end of the season.
ReplyDeleteThe things you mentioned are taken into account in the overall figures; they're just not accounted for in the actual table itself.
ReplyDeletecheers m8
ReplyDeleteDo you EVER write anything positive about Liverpool?
ReplyDeleteshhhhh .. Don't suggest that Rodger's might actually be doing something right... you'll start a riot in here !! :)
ReplyDeleteOur defenders did brilliantly under Rafa and Steve Clarke. This is something Rodgers needs to work on.
ReplyDelete