When all is said and done regarding Liverpool’s season, nobody will argue that Rafa Benitez’s men have endured a tedious campaign both on and off the field and it looks more and more likely with each day that goes by that Rafa Benitez will have left the club by time Liverpool participate in their first game of next season.
1500 miles east in the city of Athens, young Hungarian striker Krisztian Nemeth, currently on loan at the club, is enjoying a highly successful spell and despite an apparent lack of first team action for the Greek side, when he has figured the youngster has been nothing sort of exceptional.
On 30th August last year, Nemeth made his debut for the Greek outfit coming on as a first-half substitute against Atromitos. The Hungarian international constantly tormented the Atromitos defence and went on countless runs from his own box, at one point providing the assist in the only goal of the game allowing Ismael Blanco to tap in the only goal of the game.
Nemeth scored his first goal for his new club in a 1-1 draw with PAS Giannina and a week later in the Greek derby against Olympiakos which AEK subsequently lost 2-1.
Rafa Benitez has had to cope with an alarming amount of injuries this campaign and the absence of players such as Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard has meant the Spaniard has often had to call on the services of untried players such as David Ngog and Nabil El Zhar. Both of these players have struggled to make any impact at the club and Benitez’s limited amount of attacking options can be seen as a major factor behind Liverpool’s dreadful season.
Nemeth’s international career has been as impressive as his club form. Having played 33 times for Hungary’s youth team the striker has notched an impressive 29 goals which has seen him named in Hungary’s team of the year and Europe’s team of the year at U-18 level.
The striker took part in Liverpool’s pre-season campaign last summer and scored a fabulous brace against club Singapore in a 5-0 victory. It raises the question as to what Benitez was thinking when he let the talented youngster go and what Benitez would now give to have Nemeth at his disposal.
Whether Rafa is at the helm of the club next season remains to be seen but Krisztian Nemeth should certainly be considered a first-team player next season.
Although I had high hopes for Nemeth, it is clear why he was not in Rafa’s plans this year. Aside from the handful of successful games mentioned in the article, he has not played for AEK since autumn, either through injury or because he has not been fit enough to even be included on the AEK bench.
Now, if Nemeth cannot even make it to the bench of AEK, how does DavidRyder expect him to make it to the Liverpool team?
“the absence of players such as Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard has meant the Spaniard has often had to call on the services of untried players such as David Ngog and Nabil El Zhar.” Nabil El Zhar come on please, that lad has been injured for the better part of this season. He has been laid off with injury longer than even Torres! If you don’t know what you’re talking about, why should we even respect your opinion in this game?
the loan deal was part of the Kyrgiakos deal. and as for preseason, i think it was only a couple of seasons ago Lindfield grabbed a preseason hattrick, where is he now? Nemeth always looks like he lacks the pace to make it in the PL.
“call on the services of untried players such as David Ngog”
Exactly what Nemeth is, but even more so than Ngog who at least had made a hand full of appearences.
he looks a good prospect , but could Nemeth really have saved liverpools season?
he’s only managed to get on the pitch 11 times in greece and scored 3 goals – a decent return, but the fact he’s not in the team tells us everything.
If Ngog has “struggled” (15 starts, 7 goals by the way) then i’m not sure what you’d call what Nemeth is doing ?
Agree with everyones comments. He is slow and can’t even make the AEK bench. He’s already given it the big about moving there, talk of 3.5m. 3.5m for him and the same for san jose is 7m for the kitty.
yes please
nemeth is not a bad player, but like most say he does lack pace. but then again fowler was,t the quickest. was he better than voronin? yes ngog? not sure, keane? not sure, i would of still kept him thoe. but the best of the bunch? pacheco…
“He would save Liverpool’s season” –
who does realy belives it!
I’d like it if he could, it would mean that he is €20+ mil. player that can score 20+ goals in PL.
We should all be litle more realistic.
If Benitez is not even playing Pacheco, it’s no surprise he thinks he doesn’t need Nemeth. Just a very poor manager.
Having watched this kid at youth and a few reserve games prior to going to Greece I was convinced he was better than Ngog, I still believe he is.
I highly doubt he will play for Liverpool again as I think Benitez will off-load now his value has gone slightly up after this seasons experience in greece.
one word – the bane of our season – INJURIES. He hasn’t played because… he’s ALWAYS getting injured (sound familiar, kopites?).
So how could an inexperienced, to date largely unsuccessful (although promising), player who is constantly getting injured – “have saved Liverpool’s season”??? – as much chance of me winning the lottery (and I don’t buy a ticket!).
Perhaps a little homework to go with your fledgling journalistic career?
Nemeth has an eye for goal, but his style isn’t suited to Rafa’s way of playing which involves pace, as everyone else has commented. Yes I would keep him at Anfield next season but I feel he is going slightly backwards in his progress as the young lad Delle Valle is starting to overtake him as the next red hot striker. I also think his place is under threat from Ince and Ecclestone, so he has a lot to do next year. I hope Pacheco gets a run though, miles better than Voronin and it would free up Gerrard to play in Midfield.
Don’t make things up to back up your argument! It makes you lose all credibility as a writer. As far as I’m aware El Zar has only played once all season.
Liverpool away from home have scored just 13 goals this season!!!!
That’s worse than struggling teams such as Wolves, Sunderland and wigan Athletic.
For whatever reason Rafa has not fancied David Ngog on a regular basis and as you rightly state Nabil El Zhar has had his injury problems for large proportions of the season!!
Fernando Torres has been injured for much of the season and Dirk Kuyt has been converted to a right sided midfielder.
Krisztian Nemeth therefore would have got into Liverpool’s side at least on the bench and who knows may have contributed his fair share of goals as well!!
This is Nemeth who has said that the AEK supporters are more passionate than ours?! Is he really the kind of player that we want, or is this the kind of comment that puts him in Riera-Class loyalty?
Nemeth isnt a bad player and would love to see him play for liverpool. but we do have better potential players in his position – Pacheco, Ecclestone, Browyer (apologies for incorrect spelling), Amoo and Raheem Sterling.
So to be honest, if we do get £3.5mil for him, then its a no brainer!!
if liverpool dont have the money to bring in any top players in the summer, then we will be sure to see pacheco,delle vale and mavinga break in to the first team, ive seen these lads play a few times now and i can safey say they are better than alot of first team players plying their trade in the premier league at the moment.they have the talent,all they need is the expierience.
Definatly missed the mark here lad! Ngog… Little impact?! I’d say he has been one of the few ImpressIve performers! Young and willing he’s not the finished article but his strength finishing and awareness has come on leaps and bounds this season and his potential is fantastic! Definatly will be a first team regular in a couple of years! El zhar has been injured and is winger not a striker! Nemeth is one for the future though granted but he missed last season with a injury and that’s going to stunt his development perticulary as he has missed a lot of this season too!
Take a bow Mr Ryder!
You have won the drivel of the day award!
El-Zhar figured some last season. He has not been involved this season. Ngog has done ok, for un untested youngster, though the one, I’d like to se more is Pacheco.