I’m sure I can’t have been the only one surprised to see a certain young player’s name on the team sheet yesterday but what was perhaps even stranger was that Jay Spearing lasted the full 90 minutes. There was a time, not all that long ago, when a large section of ‘the Kop’ was adamant that Jay should be a part of Liverpool’s first team squad. Having watched him play in (and often captain) the reserves, I was at a genuine loss as to why the youngster had such a huge – almost cult – following. Watching his performance yesterday afternoon I would find it ever-so-slightly baffling if he wasn’t loaned out or sold on before too long. It would be even stranger if he made many more appearances in the squad this season.
It doesn’t take a genius to work out why Reds fans were so eager to see him in the side. After all he gains 10 points just for being a Scouser. He is a passionate and eager player too; always hounding the opposition midfielders and making himself available. Unfortunately, there is not enough quality. Too often, he gives the ball away with little pressure and lapses in concentration see him spend a lot of his time chasing back to make up for his own errors. We again saw this several times yesterday, he gave the ball away needlessly very early on in the game and was nearly anonymous from there on in. A decade or more back, I remember a similar player to Spearing being a regular for the Reds for a season or two – David Thompson.
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Shelvey is twice the player of Spearing, can pass is good at set plays and never goes missing, t.b.h I thought Spearing did nothing at all yesterday he seemed abit lost.
Shame that Shelvey is a Londoner and wont get the same respect as Spearing even though its evident Dalglish likes both.
On other news Downing is signing for you, the most weirdest signing in the history of football the last thing you need a winger with no pace to duplicate Kuyt.
I’ve got to say I agree 100% with the article. Okay Spearing’s a local lad who’s desperate to put on that red shirt and has a real desire to play for Liverpool but he’s just not good enough for us. His mentality and attitude is fantastic but that counts for nothing at the end of the day. He’s 22 and he’s average at best. He works hard but he offers very little in midfield. His passing is average and his defending isn’t good either, I just don’t see what he offers to midfield. If he’s 18 or 19 then he would be considered a great prospect but he’s already 22. Against Everton, I was very very surprised to see him start and even more so considering we had other options available, such as Babel, Joe Cole and even Poulsen. Surely any of these players could offer a lot more than Spearing? It’s nice to see that Kenny Dalglish is giving youngsters a chance as we’ve seen with Kelly and Shelvey but for me it’s obvious that Spearing is not up to the task. We have better youngsters like Pacheco and Mavinga who perhaps Kenny should have a look at. Spearing is a nice lad, a player who works hard for the team but for me, it’s clear that his future lies elsewhere.
It’s good to see that Kenny is giving youngsters a chance but now it’s clear that Spearing is not good enough and at 22, never will be. Kelly is already a very solid defender and will become a great player for us, Shelvey has potential to be top class but he’s not ready quite ready yet. Kenny has said that he will give Wilson a chance which I’m looking forward to but I want to see Mavinga and Pacheco in the team. Spearing is only in the team because he’s local but he won’t make it at Liverpool.
couldn’t agree more david, jay will NEVER be good enough for Lfc, don’t mean any disrespect to the lad but the quality just isn’t there
just another point on yesterday’s line-up.
GJ isn’t even a great right-back, so to pick him at left-back ahead of aurelio (and even the truly awful PK) really baffles me!
for me, this is the perfect opportunity to turn glen into our very own gareth bale! young kelly is more than holding his own at RB and GJ has shown his attacking qualities (MY GOD! anything has to be better than dirk kuyt!)
until we bring in some better players (ie suarez, downing and insomnia imo) then my starting 11 would be
pepe
kelly skrtel agger aurelio
GJ SG RM maxi
babel/cole
torres
i think Spearing got the nod as Kenny wanted 5 in midfield again and Poulsen doesnt have the pace or energy needed in a derby.
Spearing is low cost to the club and probably knows he wouldnt get a better chance of Premier League footie than with his home town club. he will likely stick around for a while yet with little purchase value and not a drain on the clubs wage bill….
as for players, GJ was involved in the 1st goal and to me doesnt seem out of position on the left. hes too good to be out of the squad and may keep his left back role for a while yet, or until Liverpool get a replacement for Mascherano who will cover in when GJ bombs forward. GJ on the right wing? ? i dont know. might be worth a try…
i also have to say, Skertle looks much improved. his possesion and confidence with the ball are very good. pity he was caught out for a goal yesterday…..joys of not having Zonal marking. but overall, he seems strong and committed. i lost track of the number of times he cleared ranks against Utd.
bring on Wolves and hopefully Kennys first win !
Poulsen is miles better than Spearing. He’s actually a proper defensive midfielder who can cover the back four and he’s also stronger than Spearing. In terms of pace, Spearing isn’t fast either. Starting Spearing was a bad decision, we had better options such as Poulsen, Cole, Babel and Pacheco who can offer a lot more.
Saying you can put cole, babel or pacheco in for spearing is like saying you could put torres in for konchesky; just because the lad is a more valuable player, it doesn’t mean he will play the position better.
Spearing is hardly mascherano, but he was the right man for the job, given the resources available.
You don’t have to replace him directly position by position. Cole, Pacheco and Babel can all play behind Torres with Meirles dropping back. You should have a little think before you say something cause you’re making yourself look stupid mate.
I think Spearing play OK in this game since there’s not much pressure in the middle. If there are alot, im not sure he can survive that.
shelvey is surely a better option than spearing, if owen and gerrard were old enough WHY OH WHY cant suso get near the subs bench. come on kenny you must be able to recognise a STAR when you see one. you have the best set of youngsters in our history, next season they will be hard to keep out, in 2 seasons 4 or 5 will be first teamers. SUSO can do it right now.
Forget Spearing (who I agree we are wasting time in continuing to nurture with any squad appearances), but why on earth do Kuyt, Maxi and Skrtel continue to get selected game after game after game after game???
They consistently fail to deliver as supposedly senior members of the first team, but it is only the fringe players that ever get dropped for failing to deliver matchwinning performances in their cameo appearances!
Just as Spearing will never be of the required quality, at the ages of 30 (and 26 for Skrtel), neither will they, and in fact they are only going to continue to decline from their already low levels and consequently should be shipped out asap!
I’ve got a feeling Kenny is testing his squad out to see what is at his disposal. Poulsen and Jovanovic started against Blackpool who have not looked up to scratch all season and now Spearing plays the full 90 against Everton.
Given the option I would happily sell Kuyt, Skrtel, Maxi, Poulsen, Konchesky, N’gog, Jovanovic, Kyrgiakos, Spearing, irwin, Darby, Cole and any other failures, or under performers (I have a soft spot for Ryan Babel though!).
The reality of course, is that unless we get a pile of cash like Man City, there is no way we can get rid of the dead wood without gutting the team. Players like spearing are likely to be fixtures for a season or 3 yet, while the manager slowly builds a competitive squad.
Spearing was (as usual) pretty bad. Still, better starting him than Poulson.
Passion, determination and work rate. That’s what you get from Spearing. A week or too that’s what we were crying out for after the laclustre performances against Wilves and Blackburn. I can’t beleive there is a single true red who would rather see Poulsen turn out for us than Jay.
I also find it hard to understand the constant criticism by some supporters of Dirk Kuyt. Again, with Stevie and carra, one of the only players to consistently show pride in wearing our famous shirt. He’ll never have the pace or skills of Ronaldo or Messi but has given his all 220 times for us averaging a goal every 4 games. I’d take Dirk over Johnson, Cole, Maxi or Babel any day.
You might have been calling out for more work rate and passion but ive been calling out for quality and athleticism – the experiment with talentless triers has gone on for long enough, i want to see players with actual tangible characteristics!
yeah, that’s why dirk was talking to other clubs in the summer, because he has so much pride in wearing the lfc shirt!!!!!and robbie savage gives his all every time he laces the boots and he’s a cabbage! why the obsession with kuyt’s sweat because that’s all he offers?
and a goal every 4 games…
Passion, determination and work rate…what does that count for at the end of the day? Quality and class is what is needed and if Spearing doesn’t have that then no matter how hard he trys he’s not up to the task
Funny whilst i was reading your analysis of jay spearings performance and abilities in his first real chance for us in difficult circumstances i had to keep reminding myself that you were talking about jay on his first big opportunity for the club and not lucas who matches that description word for word (except the scouse bit of course) after being a first teamer for 18 months but who most people on this site still seem to think walks on water because he has the right mental attitude. one difference jay cost nothing and wouldn’t sell for much more right now and lucas cost six million and may raise up to 8 million towards a true world class defensive midfielder as a replacement if the club sold him! i know which one id sell and which one would stay on my bench!
Lucas Leiva, a Brazilian international who cost 6 mil from Gremio. The guy captained Gremio and was player of the year in Brazil. He might not be as good as Alonso and Masch but offers a lot more than Spearing in midfield. His defending, positioning and passing is much better than Spearing and you’d be stupid to drop him for Spearing.
Eric to answer your points, yes lucas was SLIGHTLY better than spearing in the derby, after 18 months of first team football with the likes of masch, gerrard and raul around him to work with and learn off he managed to be slightly better than a guy called up from the reserves, that ain’t good! and yes a brazil international who wasn’t good enough for dungas world cup squad despite gilberto silva being good enough and dunga using two defensive midfielders, he is back in the squad now because it’s his old manager at gremio. i like lucas he plays with passion but skill wise he should be on bench at most i just don’t like people having a go at spearing then praising lucas at same time when the current skill levels aren’t exactly miles apart, give jay 18 months of first team with great players around him and im sure you’d see a player better than lucas!