When it rains, it pours: perpetual sick-notes Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana are injured again; Steven Gerrard is suspended; the Reds are five points off a Champions League place (with Arsenal to come), and defensive lynchpin Martin Skrtel will be missing for three of the most crucial league games of the season. The problems are mounting for Liverpool, and according to LFC legend Steve Nicol, Skrtel's absence is the biggest threat to the Reds' Champions League hopes.
Speaking to TalkSport this week, Nicol - who slammed Skrtel's'silly' decision to post a clown picture on his Instagram account - also hailed the defender as one of Liverpool's most effective players this year. He enthused:
"Skrtel has been Liverpool's best defender this season, and perhaps the best player this season. If he's suspended, I'm not quite sure where they [Liverpool] go from here".
Nicol also slammed Skrtel as a 'silly boy' for posting a clown picture
Along with Gerrard, £12m-rated* Skrtel is one of the elder statesmen of this Liverpool team, and without those two, the experience level is significantly weakened.
The Slovakian is the glue that holds the defence together, and his experience will be missed over the next three games. As such, Kolo Toure should (IMO) view be the man come in and cover the suspension.
As for 'Player of the season'?** There are very few players who've consistently performed for the whole season, and there are no truly outstanding candidates, but taking everything into considering, the options (for me) are:
* Skrtel: The glue that holds the defence together. One of Liverpool's most consistent players, and an integral part of the club's superb defensive record this year.
* Mignolet: The first half of the season will hurt his chances, but his transformation since the turn of the year is admirable, and is a testament to his professionalism, and dedication to improvement.
* Sakho: Massively improved this season, and his positive, direct passing is often a joy to behold. The France international has rarely let the side down, and he's arguably been steady and consistent since the he returned from injury.
* Henderson: Continues to go from strength-to-strength, and this season, he's become a bona-fide match-winner for the Reds. Still needs to score more goals, but his overall goals/assists ratio this season shows steady improvement.
For the record, Skrtel got it absolutely right with the clown photo incident. I enjoy that kind of low-key defiance, and I love the fact that there's absolutely nothing the clowns at the FA can do about. Nice one, Martin :-)
* Last reported valuation
** Shameless, money-grabbing mercenaries ineligible for consideration.
Worth a watch: Carra and Stevie make a really funny double-act :-)
Author: Jaimie K
Speaking to TalkSport this week, Nicol - who slammed Skrtel's'silly' decision to post a clown picture on his Instagram account - also hailed the defender as one of Liverpool's most effective players this year. He enthused:
"Skrtel has been Liverpool's best defender this season, and perhaps the best player this season. If he's suspended, I'm not quite sure where they [Liverpool] go from here".
Nicol also slammed Skrtel as a 'silly boy' for posting a clown picture
Along with Gerrard, £12m-rated* Skrtel is one of the elder statesmen of this Liverpool team, and without those two, the experience level is significantly weakened.
The Slovakian is the glue that holds the defence together, and his experience will be missed over the next three games. As such, Kolo Toure should (IMO) view be the man come in and cover the suspension.
As for 'Player of the season'?** There are very few players who've consistently performed for the whole season, and there are no truly outstanding candidates, but taking everything into considering, the options (for me) are:
* Skrtel: The glue that holds the defence together. One of Liverpool's most consistent players, and an integral part of the club's superb defensive record this year.
* Mignolet: The first half of the season will hurt his chances, but his transformation since the turn of the year is admirable, and is a testament to his professionalism, and dedication to improvement.
* Sakho: Massively improved this season, and his positive, direct passing is often a joy to behold. The France international has rarely let the side down, and he's arguably been steady and consistent since the he returned from injury.
* Henderson: Continues to go from strength-to-strength, and this season, he's become a bona-fide match-winner for the Reds. Still needs to score more goals, but his overall goals/assists ratio this season shows steady improvement.
For the record, Skrtel got it absolutely right with the clown photo incident. I enjoy that kind of low-key defiance, and I love the fact that there's absolutely nothing the clowns at the FA can do about. Nice one, Martin :-)
* Last reported valuation
** Shameless, money-grabbing mercenaries ineligible for consideration.
Worth a watch: Carra and Stevie make a really funny double-act :-)
Author: Jaimie K
Or Falcoa.
ReplyDeleteHe was our best Player in those games though. For me anyway. Cout found it harder in those early months. That is my point that if we are talking of the whole season theb the most good performances came from Sterling.
ReplyDeleteSkrtel, beast!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd neither actually performed on the level needed, throughout the season..
ReplyDeleteThanks for your shared vote, but I haven't played this season!
ReplyDeleteIt's great to have defiance if you've been wronged but occasionally you have to admit you're the one acting like a clown and admit you made an error albeit in the heat of the moment.
ReplyDeleteTHIS season?
ReplyDeleteI think our scouts have been knocking on my door looking to sign me up for next season.
ReplyDeleteOr it could be debt collectors:)
There's absolutely no evidence to back up any claims of arrogance, greed or anything else. It's all pure speculation from people no more in the know than you and me.
ReplyDeleteI am confident an agreement will be reached with both him and Hendo in the summer
Sterling and Henderson start thought Sterling had toe injury
ReplyDeleteYou too are betting on us...
ReplyDeleteGood thing I'm false-tall.
ReplyDeleteHe's a quality player. The price is a little high, but then again at least andy carroll would no longer be our record transfer which is a little bit of a plus :P
ReplyDeleteWhen have fitness concerns ever stopped Liverpool players playing for England in meaningless friendlies?
ReplyDeleteOops. Didn't realise it was a qualifier. That's puzzling, yes. Guess they're eking the last bit of health out of him for the fatherland in the hope that he scores before he breaks down completely.
ReplyDeleteHahaha Sterling uber alles
ReplyDeleteHere is a worrying stat
ReplyDeleteOn average Daniel Sturridge gets injured every 4.6 appearances he makes for the club
Next season we are going to see the massive negative side of FFP.
ReplyDeleteMan Utd will once again be able to outspend everybody by a considerable amount whether they make the CL or not.
Fact is that Man Utd will come to dominate the PL much like Bayern do in Germany as no other team generates as much revenue as the Manc's do
Depressed now. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteCan't believe Sterling only got 5% of the vote. Shows that if you keep telling people he's a money grabbing mercenary and over rated and the slightly more dim-witted believe it.
ReplyDeleteSterling has been our most important player this season bar none. Anyone who can't see that has an agenda against him
Perhaps they need to play him for four matches then rest him for one match before playing the next four.
ReplyDeleteIt's the rest of the X-men looking for you and Logan
ReplyDeleteDo any of the X-men have super healing powers?
ReplyDeleteOnce again Jock your dead right. Don't expect this to stay up long though.
ReplyDeleteWho voted for Mignolet and Lucas? As the SEASON'S best player? One was abysmal for half the season and the other has missed half the season through injury
ReplyDeleteThree and a half just to make sure.
ReplyDeleteI'm not...
ReplyDeleteOne of only reasons Sakho shouldn't be I'm the running is because he has only played half the games too. And I am his biggest fan.
ReplyDeleteSterling scoring for England
ReplyDeleteOh God sterling's wage demands will be going up now
ReplyDeleteDon;t know about the scouts it's more likely to be the brownies ;-)
ReplyDeleteSterling absolutely terrorising Lithuania
ReplyDeleteI actually think Sterling has performed above and beyond what you would expect of any normal player his age
ReplyDeleteThere is a decent amount that needs ironing out in his game but he can dobthat within the next couple of years. He does and we have a top top talent.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. How far he goes will come down to him but he has the natural ability to go right to the top of the game
ReplyDeleteHe is leaving. Stop hoping he stays .
ReplyDeleteLiverpool were 8th before Sterling and we are close to 8th with Sterling . So he is not a big loss .
Against Lithuania , big deal .
ReplyDeleteH cannot do it vs Man u at old Tratford
Why is everyone so worried about Sterling leaving ?
ReplyDeleteHe is not Fernando Torres,Luis Suarez or Xabi Alonso .
some absolute legend.
And don't give me "he is only 20 he will improve"
He has regressed since that Nowrich game last year .
No shame in that. Lot's of players can't.
ReplyDeletePlayers who think tehy are bigger then the club should be able to
ReplyDeleteHe's not yet 21 though and will get better still
ReplyDeleteI think Jordan Ibe has more potential
ReplyDeleteAnd Harry Wilson, Sheyi Ojo, Ryan Kent
ReplyDeleteHarry Wilson will win the ballon'dor in 8 years time .
Yes but as we seen with players who solely rely on pace they get worse as time goes on.
ReplyDeleteExhibition A : Micheal Owen
Exhibition B : Shaun Wright Phillips
Exhibition C : Aaron Lennon
They were beasts of players better then Sterling at same age .
Micheal Owen a million times more better , at this age won the Ballon'dor:
I wouldn't put Owen in the same category... His decline was for different reasons. If he were to live his career differently (and perhaps avoid injury), he could've been a world star.
ReplyDeleteI see Raheem doing the same thing. The decisions he makes now regarding contract and dedication will affect the rest of his career.
Logic a bit faulty, but we all know who that's directed towards, and I can't help but agreeing...
ReplyDeleteDon't rate him that highly.
ReplyDeleteIn what way are we close to eigth? We are closer in position and points to second than eighth so your argument is...well....awful.
ReplyDeleteStick to being madcap it doesn't work when you try and talk about football.
Based on what?
ReplyDeleteI think you mean exhibit.
ReplyDeleteI voted yes, but not for those prices.
ReplyDeleteCry me a river. I give my opinion, and if you can't hack it, tough luck. Sterling is a money-grabbing mercenary - I couldn't care less how well he plays. And he has not been Liverpool's most important player by any stretch of the imagination.
ReplyDeleteYou mean the Lithuania currently ranked 94th in the world? What an achievement! It's like lauding Gerrard for terrorising Total Network Solutions in the qualifying round of the 2006 Champions League.
ReplyDelete