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| Reds in £6.5m Martin Skrtel swoop | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 7 2008, 04:54 PM (167 Views) | |
theonlymerseyside
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Jan 7 2008, 04:54 PM Post #1 |
League Two
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LIVERPOOL are set to break their transfer record for a defender by paying £6.5m for Slovak international centre back Martin Skrtel. The Zenit St Petersburg star arrived on Merseyside last night ahead of a medical today and the club are confident the deal will be finalised within the next 48 hours. Chief executive Rick Parry thrashed out a deal with Zenit officials during talks in Russia at the weekend. Skrtel is rated as one of the most promising defenders in European football and Liverpool have had to beat off competition from some of the continent's top clubs to set up the deal. Should the transfer go through as expected it will mark the end of Rafa Benitez's search for a new centre-half that began with the ultimately unsuccessful pursuit of Gabriel Heinze and which became increasingly urgent in recent weeks following injuries to both Daniel Agger and Sami Hyypia. Skrtel is a 23-year-old full Slovak international with 15 caps to his name. He joined Zenit in 2004 and has gone on to make more than 100 appearances in the Russian league. Standing 6 ft 4 ins tall, Skrtel has a reputation as a no-nonsense defender who does not shy away from the physical side of the game. With Agger – who was named Denmark's player of the year at the weekend – still not ready to make his return to first team action after suffering a metatarsal injury last September, Benitez has been short of cover at centre back for several months. That situation worsened recently when Hyypia picked up an ankle injury at Derby County on Boxing Day, leaving Benitez with only Alvaro Arbeloa, a full-back, and teenager Jack Hobbs as his options to partner Jamie Carragher in the centre of defence. Benitez will be keen to see the deal for Skrtel tied up as quickly as possible so he can be added to the Liverpool squad, possibly even in time for the trip to Middlesbrough on Saturday. Meanwhile, Rick Parry today dismissed suggestions he is flying to the USA for an urgent meeting with Tom Hicks and George Gillett regarding Benitez's future. The appointment is a diary engagement to discuss new stadium plans and Parry insists no discussions about the manager's position are on the agenda. He said: "It's been in the diary for a long time, to discuss the stadium." |
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theonlymerseyside
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Jan 7 2008, 04:55 PM Post #2 |
League Two
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i've never heard of the guy before this random bit of news though? |
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Lord Gonzo
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Jan 7 2008, 05:15 PM Post #3 |
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Hang em first. Question em later.
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Indeed, almost reminds me of the days under Souness when no name signings were a regular sight at Anfield. £6.5m? Interesting how they don't name the top continental clubs chasing him. Maybe they were reluctant to pay the £6.5m asking price for some reason. |
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Berethorn
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Jan 7 2008, 06:42 PM Post #4 |
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Mister B-man
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That's a very negative view. How much did we pay for Agger? |
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| El Nino | Jan 7 2008, 06:54 PM Post #5 |
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Your saying someone else is being negative :shock: :whistle: |
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Berethorn
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Jan 7 2008, 07:13 PM Post #6 |
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Mister B-man
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I'm not negative. I'm realistic. Rafa ain't Houllier. He's not above making mistakes but I can't imagine him busting a transfer record for dross. |
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| El Nino | Jan 7 2008, 07:17 PM Post #7 |
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you have said nothing positive for weeks . |
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chilli sauce
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Jan 7 2008, 07:42 PM Post #8 |
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Premier League
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citeh, pompey, barcodes and bolton by all accounts oh and lets not forget chelsea :whistle: |
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| The Nutmeg King | Jan 7 2008, 08:24 PM Post #9 |
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Newsflash: boundless and baseless blind optimism isn't everyone's cup of tea. :ale: |
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Berethorn
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Jan 7 2008, 08:34 PM Post #10 |
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Mister B-man
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Thank you TNK. I have been realistic for weeks. Ever since the Reading game in fact. |
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| El Nino | Jan 7 2008, 08:37 PM Post #11 |
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and constant negativity and doom and gloom isnt everyones cup of tea . |
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| The Nutmeg King | Jan 7 2008, 08:41 PM Post #12 |
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Wishing something to be the case doesn't make it so. |
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| El Nino | Jan 7 2008, 08:51 PM Post #13 |
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who says it does ?i havent have i ? supported the club for nearly 30 years now and the support i give wont change no matter what , my expectations for the season are closely being met and in my opinion my expectations for the end of the season are within the rhelms of possibilty and while it is still possible to win or challenge i will continue to think so until its not possible but even then my support wont change . |
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| The Nutmeg King | Jan 7 2008, 08:57 PM Post #14 |
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Mine will, I'm going to be a Chelsea fan next year!!! No, no, I'll be a Man Utd fan instead!! Or maybe an Arsenal fan!!! Who knows!?! Why the hell is that relevant?! Blind optimism in spite of what's clear to see to everyone is what's relevant! |
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| El Nino | Jan 7 2008, 09:01 PM Post #15 |
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its relevant cause your having a pop at me for being positive when im fully entitled to be positive . i can be as positive about liveerpool as much as want without it having to be put in question by yourself or any others . im a fan of liverpool and will continue to be positives and look for positives for as long as i see fit . |
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| The Nutmeg King | Jan 7 2008, 09:11 PM Post #16 |
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And then you'll accuse people who's opinion is grounded on more than the fact they're a Liverpool fan and always will be, people who's opinion is informed by what they see with their eyes, people without your blind baseless optimism, of negativity, when they disagree... :doh: |
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| El Nino | Jan 7 2008, 09:14 PM Post #17 |
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have i had a go at your opinion ? im sorry but i dont think i have , i see what i see anf form my own opinion without conforming to anything you say and will make my own mind up if thats ok with you ? you arent any more qualified than myself |
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| The Nutmeg King | Jan 7 2008, 09:18 PM Post #18 |
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You've accused Berethorn of negativity, when he's calling it exactly how it is. Based on facts, informed by what we can all see but only some choose to ignore. But it's brilliant - here we are again, what it always comes down to with you. :rolleyes: There there diddums... :voddie: |
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| El Nino | Jan 7 2008, 09:21 PM Post #19 |
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what does it always come down to then ? i was just messing with berethon hence why i sent him a pm earlier on stating that fact but you couldnt resist leaping in to have a pop because someone else sees things differently and has a different opinion . |
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Berethorn
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Jan 7 2008, 09:23 PM Post #20 |
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Mister B-man
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My opinion is based on what I've seen and heard and read, combined with experience of previous seasons. Right now there is nothing to suggest we are any further forward despite signing some solid gold talent. That's a worry for me. El Nino, you've every right to your opinion but it's largely based on what MIGHT happen should circumstance favour us. I have only pointed out that, based on recent history, circumstance is unlikely to come to our aid. Players help themselves and team spirit, fighting spirit, WINNING spirit, makes it's own luck. I thought at the start of the season that third was a minimum expectation. I now believe it's the best we can hope for. |
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