Last Chance January Sale Transfer Thread

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Liverpool Confirm Skrtel Signing (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/7176502.stm)

I know someone brought this up in the transfers thread, but this thread is specifically about Skrtel. What are your thoughts? Have you seen him play? Will he challenge Agger for a starting spot and/or Hyypia for the first backup position?

I am excited about this signing. He is obviously a decent player if we ponied up this much cash for him. I think he could be an enforcer of type, someone who is willing to kick someone. He is a big guy, so hopefully he makes his presence felt. I hope he makes Rafa and the club look like a genius.

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10 Things You Didn't Know About Skrtel

Link (http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N158340080111-1217.htm)

1. Skrtel was a competent hockey player and could have followed a career in the sport until his passion for football took over and - fortunately for us - he opted to ply his trade in the world of the beautiful game instead.

2. He has already had a taste of what it means to play football on Merseyside having featured for former club Zenit St Petersberg in a 1-0 UEFA cup defeat against Everton on December 5, 2007.

3. At the age of 23 Martin is already an established international with Slovakia. He has 15 caps to-date and scored his first and only goal for his country in a Euro 2008 Qualifier when he netted the opener in a 6-1 win at home to Cyprus.

4. A move to Liverpool has left him so excited he has had trouble sleeping. He said: "I have realised that in all likelihood a new era of my life is beginning. I struggled to get any sleep on Saturday night, and I normally have no problems sleeping."

5. The 6ft 4 defender came second in the list of the best football players named by Slovak Football Union and newspaper 'Pravda' in December 2006.

6. He was a key member of the Zenit side that clinched the 2007 Russian League title - their finest achievement since winning the USSR Championship in 1984.

7. If Liverpool qualify for next season's Champions League he could well come up against his former teammates as a result of their title success.

8. He becomes Liverpool's most expensive defender, with the fee surpassing the previous record for Daniel Agger in January 2006.

9. Martin was born on December 15, 1984, on the very same day as guitarist Joshua Third, of cult rock band The Horrors.

10. He rose through the ranks at Slovakian outfit FC Previdza and also played for FC Trencin before leaving his homeland for Zenit in 2004. He played 113 matches for the Russian side, scoring five goals in total.

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FgVBEGTKzvg

[usscouse]

10 Things You Didn't Know About Skrtel

Link (http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N158340080111-1217.htm)

1. Skrtel was a competent hockey player and could have followed a career in the sport until his passion for football took over and - fortunately for us - he opted to ply his trade in the world of the beautiful game instead.
Got tired of getting hit with sticks?
2. He has already had a taste of what it means to play football on Merseyside having featured for former club Zenit St Petersberg in a 1-0 UEFA cup defeat against Everton on December 5, 2007.
Now that's a plus!
3. At the age of 23 Martin is already an established international with Slovakia. He has 15 caps to-date and scored his first and only goal for his country in a Euro 2008 Qualifier when he netted the opener in a 6-1 win at home to Cyprus. A goal scoring defender

4. A move to Liverpool has left him so excited he has had trouble sleeping. He said: "I have realised that in all likelihood a new era of my life is beginning. I struggled to get any sleep on Saturday night, and I normally have no problems sleeping."A life long Liverpool fan?

5. The 6ft 4 defender came second in the list of the best football players named by Slovak Football Union and newspaper 'Pravda' in December 2006. Pravda..Is that like the Mirror?

6. He was a key member of the Zenit side that clinched the 2007 Russian League title - their finest achievement since winning the USSR Championship in 1984. We won some cups around that time ....didn't we?

7. If Liverpool qualify for next season's Champions League he could well come up against his former teammates as a result of their title success. No problemo!

8. He becomes Liverpool's most expensive defender, with the fee surpassing the previous record for Daniel Agger in January 2006. Hey, it's nowhere near Rio the lip's fee.

9. Martin was born on December 15, 1984, on the very same day as guitarist Joshua Third, of cult rock band The Horrors. Absolutely fascinating!!!

10. He rose through the ranks at Slovakian outfit FC Previdza and also played for FC Trencin before leaving his homeland for Zenit in 2004. He played 113 matches for the Russian side, scoring five goals in total.That's 6 more than Carra....:)

Welcome, let's hope he's the guy we've been looking for.

What do we call him other than the "Skirt?"

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A life long Liverpool fan?


"He says he's a Red, but they all say that when they sign, don't they?"
-Steven Gerrard

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Skrtel Unveiled in Pictures (http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N158381080111-1521.htm)

A big goofy looking, no?

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Some Quotes from the Gaffer (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0500liverpoolfc/)

“Skrtel is more similar to Carra than he is to a centre back like Daniel Agger,” he said. “He is good in the air, very aggressive and quick.

“Our scouts first knew of him when he was playing for Slovakia and we have been monitoring him since the start of the season.

“We saw him play against Everton in the UEFA Cup match at Goodison and during the last few months we have been checking him closely.

“I don’t think he will be ready for Middlesbrough because the Russian league season ended more than a month ago and the last competitive game Martin played was in the UEFA Cup in December.

“He has been training but I don’t think that will be enough. He needs to get to know his team-mates and the league but I will look at him in training because he has a very good physical condition.”

[liverbird]

His first interview -- came because of Rafa -- Dick Advocaat ran Zenit in English so he can speak "football" English.

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N158382080111-1622.htm

[Ghostface]

He looks pretty big and strong which is obviously a positive. We could use someone that can rough up the oppositions strikers. We're the most disciplined side in the league, and I wouldn't mind Skrtel making his presence known from the get go. Let's hope for the best out of another young signing from Rafa

[catenaccio_L'pool]

Thanks to that vid, we now know how to pronounce his name...

[110toyourleft]

i think with carra, agger, hobbs, and skrtel, we should have stability in the central defense for several years to come. it will be sad when sami leaves

[Bobinhood]

What do we call him other than the "Skirt?"

K-Tel . Call this Goal-Free number now.



six four 23 carra-style attitude towards defending. Turn him loose on luton and lets have at it. sounds bloody marvalous.

Everybody should remember though, vidicule and nevra took a while to settle in as did danny dagger so i wouldnt count on a torres style bump-free introduction. But now maybe cara can get a day off before the season ends.

Poor Hobbsy.

[jchae]

Hopefully this turns out to be a good signing, our central defense needed the depth as it showed with the loss of Agger.

[RCCook]

K-Tel . Call this Goal-Free number now.



six four 23 carra-style attitude towards defending. Turn him loose on luton and lets have at it. sounds bloody marvalous.

Everybody should remember though, vidicule and nevra took a while to settle in as did danny dagger so i wouldnt count on a torres style bump-free introduction. But now maybe cara can get a day off before the season ends.

Poor Hobbsy.

I think Hobbs will take Sami's place with the first team next summer, so I wouldn't worry about him too much.

Good to see the Skrtel signing completed. Hopefully he plays as tough as he looks!

[ForeverRed]

Hobbs and Skrtel are good young prospects and for my money, two solid backups for Carra and Agger after Sami leaves. I can't wait to see more of our new Slovak.

[revelationx]

Hopefully he'll make the adaption to English football well. If Sami leaves then we will have cover in that position. We can now look to strengthening in other areas.

[ChanceTheDog]

Rafa's got a good history with signing defencive players so I'm sure this lad will be good.

[lfcfan858]

K-Tel . Call this Goal-Free number now. Skrtel the Turtle? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yertle_the_turtle)

[Gandalf The Red]

Rafa's got a good history with signing defencive players so I'm sure this lad will be good.

agger and thats it:confused:

[ChanceTheDog]

agger and thats it:confused:

I said Defencive players, not just defenders. So Arbeloa, Reina, Mascherano (hopefully), Alonso, Fabio (when fit), Jack hobbs, Insua (both of these hopefully in the future), Scott Carson and like you said Agger. That lot IMO are better than Rafa's good attacking buys.