I was sat watching the Liverpool v West Ham on Monday Evening and after the game I was left wondering whether I had perhaps been too critical on the young Frenchman. He is after all a young player who is still learning his trade in a foreign country with the almighty expectation of filling in for the injured Fernando Torres.
Ngog however has been at the club since July 2008 and after his second season in England, surely it would not be asking too much, to ask a bit more from a player who was signed with such high expectations. Rafa Benitez praised his scouts in finding Ngog hailing the Frenchman as one of the greatest prospects around.
‘’They are finding players like Ngog, players with quality who are not a high price.’’
Ngog tucked away his eighth goal of the campaign during the 3-0 victory over Gianfranco Zola’s West Ham and has now made 37 starts for the reds since his move from Paris Saint-Germain. Whilst it cannot be easy being the replacement to the world-class Torres, Ngog has looked more and more assured as the season has progressed and first-team action is certainly benefiting his game. I do watch him sometimes though and think to myself that there is just that bit of quality missing.
What is certain however, is that it says a lot about the state of Liverpool’s current squad that a player with such limited first-team action in arguably the most competitive league in the world, should be named as Liverpool’s second choice striker. None of the other top sides in England would use a player such as Ngog as immediate back-up to a player such as Fernando Torres.
Chelsea have world-class strikers in Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, Manchester United have Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov whilst Arsenal can rely on Robin Van Persie, Eduardo, Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner.
Surely deploying the more experienced Dirk Kuyt into his old role of being a striker, or using fellow Dutchman Ryan Babel more wisely would have made better options for Benitez throughout the course of the season.
Whilst there is no denying that David Ngog has the potential to be a good player, it raises the question as to whether Liverpool will ever have enough to win the Premier League title with players such as Ngog in reserve.
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I think you will find Ngog is a better striker than Kuyt and will progress even further, i still dont consider Ngog a better player yet, but i think in time he will be.
A great pick up at the price.
I find it strange when talking about a back-up striker you use other teams 1st choice strikers as your example.
Rooney and Berbatov are 1st choice for Manu. Ehy not compare him to Wellbeck or Macheda?
The same with Chelsea, Drogba and Anelka are 1st choice, compare him to Sturridge and you’ll see N’gog has scored more.
As for Arsenal, again RVP Eduardo and Bendtner are all 1st choice and have been at their clubs alot longer. Compare him to Vela.
This is 2nd season where as the rest have been here for years, he rarely starts but is doing a good job for his age. To expect anything more is not right. In a couple of years then expectations should be placed.
I have to agree with previous statements about Ngog.I feel that he is unfairly compared to Torres , he has come in and done well , yes at times you can see hes rough round the edges. hes not a first team player like the other guys you have compared him to. Walcott and eduardo are two players that are to big un acahievers they have been @ arsenal for a few years now. Granted Eduardo’s injury he has not looked the same players. When you look over the season you have to ask why kuyt and babel not been used in thier favoured positions?
Hi,
I partly agree with you.
For me the problem is that Ngog is playing as a lone striker and leading the line like Torres does.
In my opion its another situation were we are not picking the best system for the players we have avalible.
I would like to see Gerrard droped back to central midfield and Ngog given the chance to play up front with pacheco as they do in the reserves.
Ngog has done well when called upon. Please consider that he is young, in his 2nd season in England, and is not a full international like those you mention.
Having said that, he works defenders more than Kuyt or Babel, and has his fair return rate of goals/match when compared with both. He will develop for sure.
Its not his fault that he is considered good enough amongst the players we have to be a replacement of Torres. Yes LFC needs a more experienced or threatening striker as back up to Torres, but as you all know, those we had left as they never wanted to warm the bench. Strangely, ManU, Arsenal, ManCity or Chelsea never seem to have sulking players when playing second fiddle. Is it Rafa who can’t accommodate them?
At the start of the season was very clear for everyone that we neede another 1st choice striker to pair with Torres or in his place,we have had chances for Saviola-Huntelaar-Sneijder-Van der Vart,even Owen,but Rafa said no,so watch the results now.
Dynamic liverpool- well said mate!
Isn’t it missing the point to say that Ngog is doing well given his age, that he’s not a full international, etc? The point is that to challenge for trophies we need someone better! I’m hoping that we can get better backup for Torres over the summer, and that Ngog can get a season on loan where he’s playing every week.
DynamicLiverpoolFan – just because those counterparts are older than N’gog, doesn’t mean that they aren’t backup strikers for their clubs. Players like Berbatov, Bendtner, Eduardo et al ARE backup to the likes of Rooney or RVP.
I do rate N’gog as a striker with decent potential but imho Sturridge is a better player than him. However neither is ready to perform consistently at a high level at the moment. The difference is that Rafa has used N’gog as if he were “complete” whereas Sturridge has sat on the bench all season