24 Jul 2015 09:36:30
Sakho:

Some interesting posts regarding our centre back and his possible exit from the club.

I have seen some suggest that he can't pass - he can. Yes he looks clumsy at times but he is very composed on the ball if he has options to pass to, and is about our only centre back who, with confidence, can pass into the middle and final thirds of the pitch.

Someone else has posted he is a leader and shows some character - would agree, and would hazard a guess as this being one of the reasons he could exit - all our leaders and vocal players have not survived under BR's stewardship - leading me to conclude he doesn't know how to deal with them.

I think the loss of Sakho would be massive, coupled with potential sale of Moreno we would need a new pairing on the left side of defence again as we did at the start of last season - and look how well that went.

I don't think we will ever learn.

1.) 24 Jul 2015
24 Jul 2015 10:19:23
It should be abundantly obvious at this stage that BR can't coach defenders or set up a back 3 / 4 properly, and thus far hasn't had anyone around him who can (hopefully that's changed this summer). Every combination of center backs we've tried since Carra & Agger two seasons ago have made loads of mistakes and it reached the point last season where I found it hard to say which of them should actually retain their place.

That being said, Sakho's always struck me as having the potential to be top class if managed & coached correctly, wheras Lovren probably won't improve much more, and Toure and Skrtel are past their peaks. I think we should do everything to keep him, but if the ship has sailed and he has irreversibly decided he needs to be elsewhere, there's not much point in trying to force him to stay.

2.) 24 Jul 2015
24 Jul 2015 10:21:26
Maybe if sakho stayed and digne came in, at least they could communicate better! The Gomez and clyne on the right.

{Ed002's Note - Why play Gomez out of position?}

3.) 24 Jul 2015
24 Jul 2015 10:52:50
Can I ask what you mean here Ed? I thought he was a natural centre back but was being eased in by playing fullback or is that completely wrong??

{Ed002's Note - He is a left sided player.}

4.) 24 Jul 2015
24 Jul 2015 12:17:41
Are yiu thinking of someone else Ed002? Gomez is a centre back, and right-footed, though he has no preference playing left or right as a centre back. I don't think he will get a chance at CB anytime soon at LFC, and expect him to cover both full back postions, which is what he has been doing this preseason.

{Ed002's Note - He was purchased to play on the left but you are right he is comfortable on either side. keep in mind Liverpool already has Skrtel, Toure and Ilori to play on the right.}

5.) 24 Jul 2015
24 Jul 2015 12:28:29
I'm not a great believer in this right footed left centre backs, if you are a good defender, it shouldn't be too tasking playing either side.

6.) 24 Jul 2015
24 Jul 2015 12:35:48
Good point. Also worth noting that Ilori is comfortable left or right in central defence; he played as the lefy-sided CB for Portugal. I think this is a good example of players beeing bought in by Rodgers who are easily adaptable, perhaps echoing the reasoning behind your comments regarding formations a few days back.

7.) 24 Jul 2015
24 Jul 2015 12:42:24
Have to disagree here ED002. Gomez is a right sided centre back, who can fill in anywhere across the back line. Ilori is predominantly a left sided centre back but can play either side.

{Ed002's Note - Ok fine.}

8.) 24 Jul 2015
24 Jul 2015 14:02:01
I disagree with Fencey on the issue of right and left footed centre backs. Sometimes it can work but definitely it didn't with our 2 lefties (Lovren and Sakho) last year. That might just be them but they looked uncomfortable together.

So today we have 3 left sided centre backs and Gomez who can cover there. My pick of them all is Sakho but perhaps he's right to see some writing on the wall and perhaps it is better for us if he does go now.