The King Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 Reds close to £6.5m Skrtel dealLiverpool are on the brink of breaking their transfer record for a defender with Rafa Benitez poised to fork out £6.5million for Martin Skrtel. The Zenit St Petersburg centre-back was due to have a medical on Monday having arrived on Merseyside on Sunday evening, hours after Liverpool had been embarrassingly held 1-1 at Luton in the FA Cup third round. The replay will now be at Anfield next Tuesday, with the added incentive of a potential home fourth round tie against non-league Havant and Waterlooville or Swansea, who must also replay next week after a 1-1 draw in South Wales at the weekend. Chief executive Rick Parry was in Russia at the weekend concluding negotiations for Skrtel, and returned to pour cold water on claims that he was flying to the US later in the week for talks with owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett over Benitez's future. Liverpool's tie at Kenilworth Road was overshadowed by media speculation that Benitez would be sacked at the end of the season. Hicks and Gillett have already announced that they would be making a decision this week on the design of the revised new stadium plans. But Parry pointed out in the Liverpool Echo: "The appointment is a diary engagement to discuss the new stadium plans, it has been in the diary for a long time to discuss the stadium." Skrtel, who was last in Liverpool in early December to play for Zenit against Everton in the UEFA Cup, is rated as one of the most promising young defenders in Europe. The deal will mark the end of Benitez's search for a new centre-half that began with the unsuccessful pursuit of Gabriel Heinze and which became increasingly urgent in recent weeks following injuries to both Daniel Agger and Sami Hyypia. Skrtel, 23, has 15 caps and joined Zenit in 2004 and has gone on to make more than 100 appearances in the Russian league. Benitez's defensive problems started when Agger damaged a metatarsal in September, and he has still not returned to action. Hyypia made his comeback at Luton from an ankle injury sustained at Derby on Boxing Day, but he looked rusty and short of pace. Benitez has had to use Alvaro Arbeloa in central defence, but a calf injury ruled the Spaniard out at Luton, and 19 year-old Jack Hobbs was on the bench as the only other option. Benitez will be keen to see the deal for 6ft 4in tall Skrtel tied up as quick as possible so he can be added to the Liverpool squad, possibly even in time for the trip to Middlesbrough on Saturday.Who is he? Any good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gundam Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 Lol Rafa >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Masch is out of there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anelka Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 Lol Rafa >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Rafael is becoming a laughing stock...60 players Liverpool F.C have on der books and they cant beat cash strapped, league 2 Luton lmaoI said last yr he shoudda got Woodgate... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lot To Learn Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 Lol Rafa >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Masch is out of there!How do you no were not going to sign Masch and Skrtel?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LemonGuy Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lot To Learn Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 Lol Rafa >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Rafael is becoming a laughing stock...60 players Liverpool F.C have on der books and they cant beat cash strapped, league 2 Luton lmaoI said last yr he shoudda got Woodgate...Bruv your the laughing stock of this forum.At the end of the day Rafa>>>>you.If you no what Rafa should be doing then you become a manager and show everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gundam Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 Lol Rafa >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Masch is out of there!How do you no were not going to sign Masch and Skrtel??Are the yanks going to let aunder pressure Rafa spend another 17 mil on Masch?!Props if they do, but i just can't see it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anelka Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 Lol Rafa >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Rafael is becoming a laughing stock...60 players Liverpool F.C have on der books and they cant beat cash strapped, league 2 Luton lmaoI said last yr he shoudda got Woodgate...Bruv your the laughing stock of this forum.At the end of the day Rafa>>>>you.If you no what Rafa should be doing then you become a manager and show everyone.LOL, dnt get upset matey...Is getting held at home by Wigan acceptable?Is having 60 players on the playing staff acceptable?Is drawing against lowly Luton Town acceptable?Is being 12 points off the pace acceptable?-----------------------------------------------------Rafael = Becoming a laughing stock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lot To Learn Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 Lol Rafa >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Rafael is becoming a laughing stock...60 players Liverpool F.C have on der books and they cant beat cash strapped, league 2 Luton lmaoI said last yr he shoudda got Woodgate...Bruv your the laughing stock of this forum.At the end of the day Rafa>>>>you.If you no what Rafa should be doing then you become a manager and show everyone.LOL, dnt get upset matey...Is getting held at home by Wigan acceptable?Is having 60 players on the playing staff acceptable?Is drawing against lowly Luton Town acceptable?Is being 12 points off the pace acceptable?-----------------------------------------------------Rafael = Becoming a laughing stockThey are not acceptable but as you said Come May we will seeI deal wid factsand the fact is there is stil half a season of football to be played.Plus there is something seriously going on behind the scenes at Liverppol it is clear to see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bane Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 lol @ andy gray browsing the thread...rafa benetiz - lmaowere will it endbuys and buys and buys and buys andddd buys and he still cant build a title challengei would put money on the fact that if david moyes had all that money to spend that rafa has spend liverpool would not finish 4th everyseason same with probably ramos and hughes maybe couple more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest haze-e Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 I had Skrtel on pro6 in my Master League.Good Defender Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DINKY Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 liverpool might aswell get mourinho in and prepare for the 2010/2011 season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bane Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 I had Skrtel on pro6 in my Master League.Good Defender Im sure Kuyt, Voronion, Arbeloa, Aurelio, Risse, Sissoke are all good on pro aswell.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaRe UnO. Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 shambolic.. rafa thinks he playin a football management game like transfers r the answer to his problems. I swear he aint actually gotta clue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bane Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 boi even he knows time is ticking.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lot To Learn Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 shambolic.. rafa thinks he playin a football management game like transfers r the answer to his problems. I swear he aint actually gotta clue.Of course not have a little read.Rafael ("Rafa") BenÃtez Maudes (born 16 April 1960, Madrid, Spain) has been the manager of Liverpool F.C. since June 2004. On June 2, 2006, BenÃtez signed a new four-year deal with Liverpool. He has previously managed Valencia CF and five other La Liga teams. BenÃtez became the most successful Valencia CF manager in their history after just three seasons in charge. In 2002, he led the club to their first La Liga title since 1971, and in 2004 he led the club to a La Liga/UEFA Cup double. In 2005 he guided Liverpool to victory in the UEFA Champions League and the European Super Cup and in 2006 he led them to victory in the FA Cup and the FA Community Shield.BenÃtez became only the third manager, after Bob Paisley and José Mourinho, to win the UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League in successive seasons. He is also the first manager to achieve this with two different clubs. He became the second Liverpool manager, after Joe Fagan, to win the European Cup/UEFA Champions League in his first season in charge. Throughout his career BenÃtez has also won several individual awards. He was awarded Manager Of the Year titles by both Don Balón and El PaÃs in 2002 while at Valencia CF and was named Madrid Coach of the Year for 2005 by Seven Stars Sport.BenÃtez has achieved success at both Valencia CF and Liverpool FC with mainly inherited squads. Of the fourteen players used in the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final, twelve were at Liverpool when BenÃtez arrived. However, his transfer policy at Liverpool of bringing exciting young players from around the world indicate he is trying to build his own squad to compete on all fronts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Q Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 Lol @ everyone on the Benitez dont know what hes doing bandwagonOi arsenal fans Arsene has taken how long to win a european trophy.United Fans Fergie has taken How long to reach 2 finals?Hes been there four seasons, Alex ferguson how many to win his first prem title?What did benitez inherit when he came to liverpool?What did Wenger inherit when he got to Arsenal?The difference is apparent is it not. Arsene has won f*ck all for two seasons, chat sh*t about him.Aint even trying to say He hasnt f*cked up, but some of you lot chat tooo much sh*t.No constructive criticism Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ibn Khaldun Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 good signing , knows how to defend can compare him to vidic , props benitez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bane Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 Lol @ everyone on the Benitez dont know what hes doing bandwagonOi arsenal fans Arsene has taken how long to win a european trophy.United Fans Fergie has taken How long to reach 2 finals?Hes been there four seasons, Alex ferguson how many to win his first prem title?What did benitez inherit when he came to liverpool?What did Wenger inherit when he got to Arsenal?The difference is apparent is it not. Arsene has won f*ck all for two seasons, chat sh*t about him.Aint even trying to say He hasnt f*cked up, but some of you lot chat tooo much sh*t.No constructive criticismI aint on no bandwagonI think hes the wrong man for the job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ibn Khaldun Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 Winning the Champions league and your the wrong man ?Liverpool fans and i understand he needs time to let them get this season over and next season try keep same squad and they will be more dangerous with torres and babel having 1 year under there belt they will merc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bane Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 Winning the Champions league and your the wrong man ?Liverpool fans and i understand he needs time to let them get this season over and next season try keep same squad and they will be more dangerous with torres and babel having 1 year under there belt they will merc Im pretty sure the liverpool fans would rather win the premiership then winning the champions league and cumin 5th in the league.Hes wasted so much money were as people like Wenger, Moyes, Sven, Fergie spend money much more wisely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ibn Khaldun Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 Im sure he didnt go out his way to waste money , he got who he felt is suitable for his team and he got great players tbh just need more time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bane Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 The thing is he is not going to be given time it seems.Not half of his buys were worth bringing inHe jus seems to have sh*t scouts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Rollins Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 Yeah yeah yeah, go for broke in the C.L this season.By the time Rafa realises he won't win that this year he'll look at the league table and see Man City 7-10 points clear in 4th.Batter teams like Marseille and Besiktas (and just about scrape through), and drop points at home to Wigan, Birmingham, Tottenham etc as well as fail to beat the big 3 (Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd) at home.Yeah, good to see Liverpool fans keepin up the hype they had at the start of the season about having a squad just as good as the top 3.Since early December there's been nothing but crying from Rafa about buying in Jan. He knows your squad right now is poor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Q Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 GO back to the summer threads and see how many liverpool fans on here actually said we would even win the prem this season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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