Martin Kelly signs.

[gingerhulk]

His crossing is one of his main attributes. When he starts playing again, look at how he crosses the ball hard and low into the 6 yard box.

 

He's a bit like Finnan, doesn't get the credit he deserves, i think hes a quality player.

[fowler9]

His crossing is one of his main attributes. When he starts playing again, look at how he crosses the ball hard and low into the 6 yard box.

 

He's a bit like Finnan, doesn't get the credit he deserves, i think hes a quality player.

 

I can't think of a more underrated player than Finnan, the guy hardly ever had a bad game and was usually very effective both going forward and defending, couldn't believe it a couple of years ago on a general football forum that I got slaughtered for suggesting Lucas bloody Neill wouldn't have been able to displace him from the side

 

 

however when he started to get past his best (probably about halfway through the 07/08 season) I don't remember many declines happening as quickly, let go the following summer as part of the Riera deal, barely played for Espanyol due to injury then moved to Portsmouth a year later and didn't do that much then retired

[Razoray]

Kelly is not as dynamisc or exciting as Johnson but he is a hell of a defender and gets up and down the right side and as mentioned earlier, can cross a ball. The big thing for me though is that he always plays well in the big games. He has the temperament to be a Liverpool player.

[jboy14]

Does anyone know how many years he signed for ?

[fowler9]

Does anyone know how many years he signed for ?

 

We don't announce them anymore just always referred to as long term

 

A hell of a lot signing new deals recently, think it shows that they think Brendan is the man to get us where we want to be

[Walton Park]

I just hope hosting the show 'Splash' hasn't hindered his rehabilitation.

[Biscao]

Brilliant news this. He'll get rid of the injuries soon enough and become one helluva player for years to come.

[Nightcat]

He might get rid of the injuries if he starts playing as CB. He is fast and he's a good footballer but I feel that the constant full back runs to attack and defend the pacy wingers are destroying his body. Time to move him more centrally.

[MLB]

He might get rid of the injuries if he starts playing as CB. He is fast and he's a good footballer but I feel that the constant full back runs to attack and defend the pacy wingers are destroying his body. Time to move him more centrally.

 

 

I agree with this. I can't see him staying fit for long making those lung-busting runs down the wings, and I can't see him playing ahead of Johnson for the next few years. We need another centre half and he fits the bill. He's tall enough, he's quick, he can pass and he reads the game well. With the right coaching he could be top class.

[Megadrive Man]

With Carragher retiring either Kelly or Wisdom should be earmarked into a centre back role, as I don't think Coates will make it here.

 

I just hope injuries don't ruin him. Has looked a very promising player so far.

[sir roger]

In a funny way it was probably a bad thing that he was so brilliant on his debut, as he has not really been judged as a raw newcomer thereafter.

 

Will be excellent for us if he can sort out the injuries.

[Captain]

Oh dear. I only read the first line of that piece before I gave up.

[Guest San Don]

Good deal all round.

[KopOut]

Excellent news.

I don't think he should play again this season, take the time to strengthen and be ready and hungry in August.

 

He may never play again, in any season. Hopefully though, being positive, he'll return and it'll be just like old times - albeit, with some improvement.

[lukastama]

Martin has very interesting haircut, like a Travolta ;)

[Guest LFD]

Rodgers: I wanted to sign Kelly

 

Brendan Rodgers has been a keen admirer of Martin Kelly's talents for some time - and the boss admits he even tried to sign the youngster on a loan deal during his time at Swansea.

 

Kelly has been sidelined since September 2012 after sustaining an ACL rupture of his right knee in the Anfield clash against Manchester United.

 

However, his importance to the Liverpool squad was underlined when the flexible full-back put pen to paper on a new long-term contract in February this year.

 

Today Rodgers emphasised how the 22-year-old's ability to operate in both the full-back and centre-back role can benefit the club going forward.

 

"I knew Martin when he was growing up and I've seen him develop both as a right-back and at centre-back," Rodgers told reporters gathered at Melwood.

 

"I actually tried to take him to Swansea on loan.

 

"He's a player that gives 150 per cent in each game. He started the season in the side and I thought he did really well.

 

"He's working very hard on and off the field at the moment and we're working so that he comes back physically and mentally a better player. Once he gets back, we can look at an individual plan for him.

 

"But I think the most important thing for Martin, and it's similar to what we've done with Steven [Gerrard] this year, is that we make sure he's going to be available.

 

"You can be as good a player as you want but if you're not available and you can't get a run of games consistently, then it's difficult for you.

 

"He has shown he is a talent and has shown that he can play at centre-half and at full-back - hence the reason why we gave him a new contract.

 

"But what we have got to do is get him out on the training field. And we have to get him on the pitch as often as we possibly can and then I think that you'll see he can be a quality player."

 

Rodgers: I wanted to sign Kelly - Liverpool FC

[Gym Beglin]

I hope for the best, but expect the worst when it comes to Kelly and his injuries. That's a you g age to be doing an ACL and it's a roll of a dice as to how a player comes back from that.

[Guest LFD]

I think moving him to centre back would be best.

 

We have a quality right back now in Johnson. We have a good back up in Wisdom and a fine prospect in Mclaughlin. So he isn't really needed at right back.

 

I also think all the running that Rodgers asks from the full backs is just going to increase the likelihood that he will get injured.

 

What we do need is a centre back. He is built like a centre back, it is the position he played coming through the youth teams.

 

I think it would make sense to start converting him to a centre back, for the good of the team and the good of Kelly keeping him fit more often.

[amli]

Lucas also signed a new contract today.

 

Lucas signs new Reds deal - Liverpool FC

[Fowlers God]

Vote Xabi, come on guys vote Xabi's team to win the draft and I will personally advise you that he IS going to sign at the end of the season.

[kalasoma]

I only just saw that Lucas signed. Came up on my twitter feed and on the radio. Very please for him and happy that he wants to stay.

[Paco]

Playing centre back for palace these days?

[Red House]

Playing centre back for palace these days?

 

Both Tomkins and Dann are out.

[Paco]

Seems to be doing well though

[TheHowieLama]

Beats flipping burgers.