Liverpool defender Daniel Agger praised the impact of Kenny Dalglish since he returned to manage the club. He believes that the increase in confidence has helped the players perform to their optimum level:
“A big part of it is Kenny and Steve Clarke. They have made a major difference. But it is also something to do with confidence, because it is the same footballers as before. Confidence can win you games and somehow Kenny and Steve has put the confidence back in the players and the belief. I think we have shown that definitely in the last four games. It is looking good, although there is still a long way to go. What has Dalglish done? He is a positive guy. In football terms, he is positive. First of all because he likes to play positive football, going forward, and keeping the ball on the ground. and I think he is good among the players.”
The increase in belief has yet to be replicated in two high profile Reds players though: David Ngog and Milan Jovanovic. To start off with the French striker, Ngog has not featured in a Dalglish team since he came on as a substitute in the defeat to Blackpool. Absent for the Merseyside Derby and for the 3-0 victory against Wolves, the 21 year old has been an unused substitute in wins against Fulham, Stoke and most recently Chelsea. Under Rafa Benitez and Roy Hodgson, Ngog was Fernando Torres’s direct understudy, with all the criticism that went along with it.
After the sale of Torres, it would have been safe to presume that Ngog would be used on a more regular basis but King Kenny has opted to play forward Dirk Kuyt in the absence of the departed Torres. With the signings of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll who will probably become the Reds favoured front two, Ngog could have his options severely limited.
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Right now David Ngog isn’t even playing and Andy Carroll isn’t available yet and Luis Suarez has barely played so I honestly don’t know what’s going to happen with him when we have those 2 players ready. Ngog doesn’t score enough goals in the Premier League and offers very little up front, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him shipped out in the summer. I don’t know what Hodgson sees him in that made him play him up front with Torres so much but he clearly hasn’t done enough to convince Kenny. With Carroll, Suarez and Kuyt being reverted to a striker, Ngog will spend most of the time on the bench and possibly even with the reserves.
As for Milan Jovanovic, I’d like to see him given more of a chance since I think he’s a quality player, Serbian international and had a good record in Belgium. The guy is speedy and finishes well but for some reason he has not performed to the level we know he is capable of. He started against Blackpool but he was clearly out of sorts. He has between now and the end of the season to convince Kenny before he gets sent to Germany.
To me, both seem to be on the way out during the summer but Ngog has played quite a lot this season but has scored only 2 goals in the League. Milan Jovanovic has only started 5 times and deserves more of a chance but if both don’t perform, they’ll both be out by the summer. Also, the fact that both players have been playing with the reserves recently pretty much suggests they’re not in Kenny’s plans.
Check the stats for N’gog’s strike rate compared to Kuyt’s. Kuyt is far less of a goal threat than N’gog is and at his age (and wage) should be setting the standard at our club, not playing at the same level as our reserve striker.
N’gog and Jovanovich are fine as 3rd/4th choice strikers (behind Carroll and Suarez). Kuyt is more of a problem than either of them two, especially seeing as he is somehow considered a first teamer still… 🙁
Highly possible that Kenny could see the media would dump a huge amount of pressure on Ngog if he went straight into the team as Torres replacement, Kuyt has a lot strong more experienced shoulders to carry the burdon. I was actually really suprised we didn’t offer him on loan to Newcastle for the season as part of the Carrol deal seeing as theyre so short of strikers, first team football wouldve been great for him.
ngog will turn out good..the team is picking up confidence..he will be played once this rub into him too..same thing for pacheco….trust king kenny on that..
jova’s 1st season in the premier league..next one’ll be better..
pls guys let just give ngog some time to adjust i know is a wonderful player as well i wont like liverpool to make the mistake made sending Babel away.ngog is a good player as well. he will develope by time
@ lfc4life & lawal
Ngog is far from a good player he’s had two seasons with liverpool and he’s looked awful. Infact I’ve not kicked a ball for years but I’m confident I could do far better than Ngog did. Give him away for free if we have to but this kid should never play for lfc again.
As for Jovanovic he will get a runout with kenny at some point and as there’s competiton for the forward positions, he must impress and take his opportunities. Suarez came on as a sub against stoke and scored, he took his opportunity something Jovanic hasn’t been able to do.
I can see Kuty being a squad player next season, to be frank Kuyt only ever had one good season with lfc 2008 season. Rest of the seasons he’s been poor. Yes he’s industrious but we need skill and goals from him which he fails to offer.
Lucas is another player who should next season be a fringe player. He’s a few yards short of pace, gives the ball away and prone to making silly mistakes.
N’gog and Jovanovich are yet to shine but they’ve barely played!
Why not talk about Kuyt and Maxi! Two players that have featured waaay too regularly while offering our attack nothing (actually, Maxi has taken to just loitering around the opposition box and taking pot shots whenever the ball comes his way, so at least that’s a little something I guess…)
Kuyt has just two goals from open play this season (including the joke goal against Sunderland), while having a free role in attack, and Maxi has three (I think). “With Liverpool looking for better and younger talent on the wings and up front in the summer though, these two’s days should be numbered!”