Martin Skrtel: the new centre-back?

[Zoidberg]

http://www.nrksport.no/fotball/premier_league/1.4438664

This is a link from NRK, the Norwegian equivalent of BBC.

Roughly translated, it says:

Liverpool is, according to what NRK knows, in negotiations with russian club Zenit St. Petersburg over Martin Skrtel.

Skrtel, a Slovak, is 23 years old.

Skrtel will supposedly cost Liverpool 6,5 million £.



I don't know how reliable this is. And I've never seen the guy play.
Don't know quite what to make of this.

[Spy Bee]

He's the new Hyypia.

[rek]

And how would that be pronounced? ...reminds me of the turtle pokemon thing.

[Brownie]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was an unknown player such as this guy. I just hope he's fast because if we're buying a young centre half, he needs to be pacey IMO.

[Unrighteous]

Don't know a bloody thing about him.

[bobhorse]

Iv heard he's a Rainbow of Fruit Flavour



or is that something else mmmmmmmmm

[RSM]

Hope he's good.

But it just shows the level we are at in terms of financial power. We're expected to compete with clubs who have spent around £30m for defenders and we're spending similar amounts to teams like Fulham.

[Wigdahl]

A link with some info on the player.

http://www.fc-zenit.ru/eng/person.phtml?id=215

Seems to attract a lot of yellow cards.

[real red]

The Guardian: http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_...235695,00.html
Benítez defends his records and eyes £4m Skrtel
Andy Hunter
Saturday January 5, 2008
Rafael Benítez placed Liverpool's title credentials into stark perspective yesterday when he conceded the club are still playing catch-up with their main Premier League rivals.

The manager's admission came as the club stepped up interest in the Slovakian central defender Martin Skrtel - 23 and with Zenit St Petersburg - for a fee around £4m and Benítez mounted a firm defence of his reign, dismissing criticism that, after the home draw with Wigan that left his side 12 points adrift of Arsenal, he has not made significant progress in the Premier League in four seasons at the club.

*puts on Sheriff of Nottingham voice*

Hmm? Yes?

No...

Belfast Telegraph 6th December: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sp...cle3226492.ece
Though the returning Andrew Johnson looked like he is keen to prove a point or two, very nearly capitalising on a misunderstanding between the vulnerable centre-back Martin Skrtel and the goalkeeper in a first half that the hosts dominated, Everton's final pass will also need to be more assured when competition resumes. Skrtel provided three clear chances but James McFadden's cross, after he had slipped past the defender, went straight to Kin Dong Jin while Pienaar lacked the final delivery from a similar position.

[billybonzo]

So thats it then, he's rubbish because of a few column inches, nowt like giving the lad a chance is there. He's only 23 for fucks sake.

[Cardie]

Originally Posted by RSM Hope he's good. But it just shows the level we are at in terms of financial power. We're expected to compete with clubs who have spent around £30m for defenders and we're spending similar amounts to teams like Fulham.

30 million on a back up?

[Eiler]

Didn't Vidic cost roughly the same? He turned out pretty well. Except for him being a manc, obviously.

[PaddyBerger15]

Its not the first time that we have been linked with this lad....as I recall, we were linked with him last January as well.

[RSM]

Originally Posted by Cardie 30 million on a back up?

Regardless, it's the combined cost of our entire back four and then some. The original point still stands were not competing on even keel.

[RSM]

Originally Posted by Eiler Didn't Vidic cost roughly the same? He turned out pretty well. Except for him being a manc, obviously.

Vidic cost £7m - Rafa agreed a deal, parry was slow to act and Man Utd stumped us.

[Section_31]

I wouldn't get my nickers in a twist about the amount of money spent on a CB, Hyypia is one of our greats and cost what? 2.6m?

Besides if Rafa was thinking about spending 20-30m on a CB - even if he had cash to burn - I'd think he seriously needed a new scouting network.

[Cardie]

Originally Posted by RSM Regardless, it's the combined cost of our entire back four and then some. The original point still stands were not competing on even keel.

Our back four is up their with Utd's for a fraction of the cost, why pay over the odds?

[Unrighteous]

Originally Posted by Cardie Our back four is up their with Utd's for a fraction of the cost, why pay over the odds?

Agreed.

If we are going to dump £20m+ on a player... It should be a striker or winger, as we all know.