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by **115-1073096938** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 3:48 pm

Make that 14 clean sheets in 18 games.

I'm sorry, you don't acheive that if the defence doesn't have quality in every position.

by **JC_81** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 5:03 pm

Hyypia is still quality. A pacey centre back to partner Carra may improve the defence, but only if he is also as aerially dominant and positionally sound as Hyypia. Such a player does not exist within our price range, so we must keep Hyypia.

Someone mentioned Hyypia being dodgy positionally, I'm sorry but that's complete rubbish. He's one of the best defenders in the world when it comes to positioning. He's been caught out ONCE positionally all season, and that was in the game away to Betis where he left too much of a gap between himself and Carra for their goal.

As Stu says, 14 clean sheets in 18 games doesn't lie. But we still need to buy a centre half, we have absolutely no cover if Sami or Carra gets injured or suspended.

by **Judge** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 5:57 pm

stu_the_red wrote:Glad you're ok anyway lad, thought you'd died or something.

No seriously, come on. Banana, how on earth can you argue with 13 clean sheets in 17 competative games lad?

I'm sorry, but you don't do that if you have a weak link at the back. Hyypia isn't what he was, but to say he's past it, not upto it or not good enough is madness.

Yes AT TIMES, he's sloppy with the ball (others he isn't) and he does lack pace, but he's got more or less everything else.

Someone made a point the other day about Sami, saying if he had the same attributes, but with the ability to play the ball better, we'd have probably the worlds best defence.

has your brain picked up speed yet stu ??

by **banana** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 6:04 pm

Well man, I guess we will never agree on this one. I still think Hyypia is a weak spot, and his game is also not going to improve (age!!). I think he profits enourmously from playing alongside Carra and behind world class athletes like Hamann/Alonso/Gerrard. Compare it to Rebrov/Schevshenko in Dinamo Kiev a few years back. Rebrov looked like a star, but it was only because he played with a person that made him look better. If you have ever watched Hyypia for Finland you'll notice how vulnerable he is without world class cover around him.

by **66-1120597113** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 6:17 pm

Cant believe some people on here are slating our Sami! WTF like?
The reason our team is more solid lately as a unit(not just defensively) is because of Carra and Hyypia's partnership.As a whole the rest of the team benefit from their solid foundation!
They totally understand eachother and know which balls to go for and which ones to leave for their partner!Sami will always go for the aerial balls and may i add win and clear 90% of them whereas Carra keeps to the low balls and making tackles(mostly)

As for people who say we need a pacey defender?
Pace is a great attribute in any position,but when Sami goes the most important thing we need is a defender who can get up and take out as many balls from the air that Sami always does and also has his world class ability to generally be in the right place at the right time!
It does'nt really matter if he aint Linford Christie !
We need the player who can give us exactly what Sami has or as close as we can find.
Good in the air before pace any day,both will be a bonus!!

by **115-1073096938** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 6:40 pm

banana wrote:Well man, I guess we will never agree on this one. I still think Hyypia is a weak spot, and his game is also not going to improve (age!!). I think he profits enourmously from playing alongside Carra and behind world class athletes like Hamann/Alonso/Gerrard. Compare it to Rebrov/Schevshenko in Dinamo Kiev a few years back. Rebrov looked like a star, but it was only because he played with a person that made him look better. If you have ever watched Hyypia for Finland you'll notice how vulnerable he is without world class cover around him.

Rebrov and Schevchenko had an excellent partnership and complimented each other superbly.

They were both excellent players. Rebrov lost confidence at Spurs and only shown it in fits and starts and of Course a class defender won't look as good with 4 weeker players around him.

Its a team game, Sami is an excellent individual and has other excellent individuals around him that compliment him, hence the reason that defence is so strong. To question his positioning though is truely shocking.

You also state he benefits from playing alongside Carragher, correct, he did with Henchoz aswell, but vice versa. Hyypia has more ability than both of those players.

by **Leonmc0708** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 7:47 pm

I must agree that Sami is (still) class, and I would like to add that we will only see him get better when he has someone pushing him for his place.

Remember how well he played when Pelligrino came in last season ?

by **neilE** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 10:58 pm

I think Hyypia suffers on here from having been excellent for years, and people are picking up on performances that aren't perfect nowadays. His "problem" is that whilst he's still got the same ability as always, he can't be expected to produce it twice a week, week in week out at his age. We badly need a new defender not because Hyypia isn't good enough, but to make sure we have him available for the most important games.

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