StuYesThatStu » Sun Nov 17, 2013 5:35 pm wrote:metalhead » Sun Nov 17, 2013 1:25 pm wrote:I'm not sure I will agree on this one stu, I thought some of his decision making against Arsenal was spot on and looked a lot better from the previous ones. What did you not like about him?
I do agree, I don't think he is anywhere near the top bracket for me and not for the 17m we paid for him, he is a good defender and I think as good as Agger once he adjust himself
I don't like his decision making. I think its poor. He leaves the back line far to often and he goes that far out he can't get back. He also goes to ground far to often. There have been a few examples very early on of ball watching.... which is a major issue for defenders. Skrtel is a prime example of this. I also don't believe him to be as good in the air as people are making out. He's won a few headers against weaker strikers but I think if he comes up against the likes of Stoke he'll be found wanting in that area although on saying this I haven't actually seen the lad play live so I could be a tad harsh.
I think he's fairly average pace wise aswell. I was expecting him to be quicker.
In terms of strength and use of the ball, I think he's sound. He seems to want to get it on the deck and play it into midfielders on the turn which is always a positive, I don't think he's a bad player to be fair. He's not a Borini by any stretch... but for £17,000,000 I'd expect ALOT better. If we'd signed him for £7,000,000 or £8,000,000 I'd have been fairly content and could see the reasoning, but to spend £17,000,000 on a player who's coming into the squad as the fourth best centre half... for me at least... is absolutely CRAZY!
Just to add to that...
Coutinho was signed for £8,000,000
Sturridge was signed for £12,000,000
Both of which represent good value and are good signings.
Lovren, the Southampton centre half, who is a quality player and only a year older than Sahko, and for me, is slightly better than Agger and Skrtel was signed for about £8,500,000.
For that £17,000,000 we spent on Sahko we could have had Sessignon and Lovren which would have unquestionably improved two weaker areas of the team by a fair bit.