Liverpool 2010/11 Season Thread

[SharkSkin-Man]

So, looks like Agger is off then. Great stuff.

[Adrock]

I think, with Carragher and Skrtel the two mainstays of the team Agger has no choice.

There is no way he is gonna be able to break up that partnership this season and maybe even next. He is an excellent defender and offers us a passing option too but he is at the age where he needs to play regular games. The ideal situation would be to have him at Liverpool until Carragher becomes a burden. Then Skrtel and Agger would be a dream, but it isn't gonna be.

Best to cash in on him now too.

[SharkSkin-Man]

Apparently he just wants more money than is being offered...and the fee looks like it's going to be very low, so no cashing in.

[saif]

where is this info from? I like Agger a lot, he has taken some time to get back but he is better than Skrtl at all non-defensive stuff and so is a better option when it is not a war.

[hudson]

Dont want Agger to go either.

[SharkSkin-Man]

where is this info from?

Italian press via Gabriele Marcotti in The Times, apparently there is also TV footage of Agger's agent and the sporting director of Milan having a meeting...

[hudson]

It's on Sky Sports News this morning too.

[Street Turk]

If he wants to go then let him go.

That has always been my motto with players, no matter how good he is.

Maybe Rafa can get him to change his mind but this has been roumered since last year.

[saif]

But, not on the SSN website. I would have thought that stuff would go there even when dubious.
I don't think he *wants* to go but he does want to play. He was doing that before Martin came and Sami has now shown a new lease of life. But Agger is better than him and (I feel) will/is better than Skrtl.

[Adrock]

The thing is, you mentioned Agger is better when its not a battle. The big thing about the Premier League is that, really, the only team it never is a battle against is Arsenal.

That basically means Skrtel would be first choice for everything bar Arsenal and Europe? Agger has been surrounded by rumours concerning his leaving for a good while. Its a big big shame to lose someone of his quality/potential but right now the best defenders for Liverpool are Carragher and Skrtel in my opinion.

With a first choice partnership sorted you've got to worry about cover for either. Thats where, in my opinion, somebody like Jack Hobbs needs to step up and get into the first team squad. He was just an example, Antwi has been around for a while too so maybe him. Kelly is another. There must be somebody of quality within the club.

[saif]

I don't agree with the Premiership always being a battle.
Most teams, weaker (as a team or physically) do not get to the centre backs against Liverpool. Against a hell of a lot of teams, our problem is to break them down, and Agger can do that (or help) better than most. Skrtl is a good player, great in fact. I would liken them to Alonso and Mascherano - and against some weaker team, we just do not need Javier to be playing. Agger spreads play and stretches midfields.
His reading of the game is also excellent and, post Drogba roughing him up a bit, has not had a problem with physical players. And Drogba can do that to most.
I've still not seen anything about it and BBC's gossip bit quotes the Guardian. And the Guardian have plenty of reason for trying to get good players out of Liverpool.

[Steakman]

Hmmm, i would not really liken them to either of them to be honest. Skrtel is very strong defensively which i like and agger can certainly go forward but i do witness him giving away possession quite a bit, by no means though do they really play-make imo.

I really like Agger though as a defender and i hope he stays but have to agree that Carra and Skrtel should be first choice, sure we can't persuade Milan or whoever to buy Dossena??!

How much was he rumoured to be off for if it was mentioned?

[SharkSkin-Man]

How much was he rumoured to be off for if it was mentioned?

?7.5m

[hudson]

Rafa Benitez has rejected the contract offered to him by George Gillett and Tom Hicks because of a row over how much input he has at the club.

Rafa said: "The owners feel that the manager's decisions need to be subject to the chief executive.

"But I know that I am subject to results and to our fans and they are the best judges I will ever have."

[MonkeySteve]

Uh-ho, that doesn't sound good. Our best chance of winning the league for years and off-field antics threaten to ruin it.

Is that new info, or something from a while ago that has only just been leaked? I know the contract situation has been rumbling for ages now.

It's going to be a tough game against Everton, especially as we're struggling to put it away at present and Everton are tight at the back. Hopefully Torres will start and Keane will get a proper look in.