The worst loss for Liverpool to Manchester City since 1937 is a huge disappointment but somehow it does not seem totally surprising to me. It’s still early days yet but it is now absolutely clear that the ‘Citizens’ are no longer pretenders. All the lagging questions were answered in my mind and if there was still even that small trace of hope that we were really not that bad after the first game v Arsenal, we had better think again. It’s no consolation to say that we are in a rebuilding mode but contrary to what is believed in some quarters – we have no depth; plain and simple. If Ngog and Lucas are starters on this team then there is no need for discussion, simply not good enough. Furthermore, I wouldn’t take much heart from ‘El nino’s’ previous goal scoring records for us because it might not get even close to that again, at least not for some time to come. In fact, what even worries me more is that with so many other rivals on a goal scoring spree, I fail to think which Liverpool player will actually kick ours into gear now…if at all. I know it’s not the perfect answer but I would actually start with Babel over Ngog and obviously Mascherano would be there if his head was right – or Poulsen(if fit) so in essence, with no Joe Cole, this brings me to the most terrifying fact of all – our bench is a bit too ordinary, almost like one step below-Premier League level, and even that sounds somewhat generous. So there you have it, at least for me, the depth argument needs no more regurgitation, period.
Too many distractions
If ever there was a ‘quick-fix’ or panacea waiting around the corner then Liverpool can’t grab it fast enough. Realistically though, we need to get the many distractions out of the way, there is just no doubt about this. Firstly, Mascherano needs to go now – If Roy and/or Purslow have to fly to Spain for this deal to be happen then so be it. Secondly, sort out the left-back slot, Agger is not doing a great job because he is obviously out of position – Konchesky or Salcido have been favoured to come in and that should be high priority now. The third issue is that Torres not only needs help and time to get going but he also needs competition for places up front as well. It’s not one more goal scorer that is required but at least two. If Torres is off form, like he is currently, then just think where the goals will come from and who will create them, very disparaging position to say the least and LFC should never have been in this position in the first place…Thanks Rafa, we will never forget your weird business acumen and vision. Nevertheless that is ‘spilt milk’ so let’s get over it and take the steps to kick our plans into gear now. Finally, we need wingers who can cross, mainly on the left and that could be the final piece of the puzzle in this initial rebuilding stage. Jovanovic needs to do this job with Cole and Babel so keep working on it, there are signs of promise.
As I have said before in one of my earlier posts, Toivonen seems like a very decent option and I hope we get him. The other players I really would like to see move to Anfield are Van der Vaart, Pedersen, Ruiz and Georginio Wijnaldum. In addition, acquiring the services of Trezeguet is actually a brilliant idea but at 32 years the Frenchman is a bit too old so taking him on loan is probably the most prudent decision at this time.
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David Trezeguet – a brilliant idea? That’s why all the elite clubs in Europe are queueing up for him. NO no no!
If the player is not top drawer we shouldn’t sign him.
If we can’t afford top drawer players we shouldn’t sign anyone.
If the team isn’t good enough try the youth players.
If they are not good enough, pray for investment.
If there’s no investment expect a gloomy future.
There is no point accumulating players in the short term if long term they have no role in the club long term.
What about organisation, team spirit, effort? Is the quality of the team really that bad that we can’t soldier on this season? Hicks and Gillett cannot continue.
Play Spearing!
Spearing should be given a chance. He’s a talented player and is at the age now, where ironically, Lucas was given lots of first team chances. Spearing has everything. He can tackle, run all day, is good in the air for a midget and I think he’s the best passer of the ball we have.
Put it this way, he’s nowhere near as poor as Lucas!!
Ngog should just be kicked out. Nobody would want him anyway.
WE did get beat by a good Man City team but Roy’s team selection was also to blame. Agger was still feeling unwell and feeling the effects of his concussion so why play him? Aurelio was on the bench so why didn’t a fit and focused LB start ahead of a groggy CB?
Also why spend £5 million on a defensive experienced midfielder then leave him on the bench and play the much derided Lucas?
Also why play Kuyt as a right winger when he could have played behind Torres instead played one of our real right wingers like David Amoo?
WE got beat by Man City because Roy got his team selection very wrong. He’s just like Rafa, asking players to play in an unnatural position.
Sort it out Roy before everyone starts to think your out of your depth.
Seriously ‘Dude’? Spearing better than Lucas? Have you ever even watched him for the reserves? He’s one of the most mediocre players we’ve had come into the first team in years. Compared to the likes of Kelly, he’s got no chance of getting a game. It’s because of decidedly average players like Spearing that we’re having to sign youngsters from abroad in the first place.
Well written article, but I personally think that Lucas and Ngog are good young players. I would only agree that it’s worrying that Ngog is a regular starter now because it means we have no other options. He’s a good prospect but a club like Liverpool should have many more options up front. Compared to City’s striking options our’s are an utter embarrassment.
David Tyre,
Lucas isn’t a good young player. He’s average, at everything. Which all adds up to not much of a player. He should not be near the first team at Anfield because he can do nothing of any note.
Kuyt should also be removed. Ngog would struggle to hold down a place at West Brom so how he plays at Anfield so much is a joke… on us.
What worries me is not alone that these players are so ordinary, but we have managers who insist on playing them even when they have options not to. Hodgson would need to keep Lucas far from the first team if he wants to avoid the sack. Because Rafa got himself sacked by being obsessed with Kuyt and Lucas and losing 19 games in the process.
There’s decent quality in the Liverpool ranks. Why all this doom and gloom just because of a draw and a loss against Arsenal and City. Sure, it’s not the ideal start, but if these games were spread out somewhere mid-season, we’d just take it in our stride and figure a draw against Arsenal is an okay result, and losing at Eastlands is bad but it happens.
Seriously, this is practically the same team that almost won the league two seasons ago. Major changes are we’ve lost Alonso and Yossi has been replaced by Joe Cole. How is that suddenly a bad team? Sure, maybe someone like Fergie would say it was an anomaly and we were punching above our weight then. But we certainly weren’t winning those games by luck, unlike some of the results his team ‘grinds’ out through own goals and dubious decisions.
The worst thing to do now would be an overhaul, bringing in every other player that fantasy football addicts think we should get.
There is a section of liverpool fans who get pleasure of slagging liverpool less experience and cheaper players such as Lucas and Ngog when result does not go for us. Agaisnt Man C, many stars including Gerrard, Kuyt were not good enough but this section of fans are quick to have a go at Lucas and ngog who by the way were amongst our better palyers in previous games. I may have ot remind you that Ngog goal against Aresnal showed as a young player he has potential.
I think the tactics and some invidual mistakes agaisnt Mancity lost us the game.
People have been saying we have a decent squad for years, when in fact we have one of the weakest squads in the top half.
You make some good points (except the Trez one!), but until those money grabbing yanks are out the door don’t expect any quick fixes, it doesn’t mater who we sell for what money because ROY WONT SEE ANY OF IT!!
Mikearm why was it RH fault? The JUDAS mascherano lets him down at the 11th hour, he has planned for 3 days to play with him in the side against city and then has to change his plans, the players were clearly affected no? I think you need to look no further than the JUDAS to see where are problem was on Monday, as good as city played Reina had very few saves to make! Dont blame the manager for player power!
We appeared to have some depth in the team while Aquilani was around, but literally giving the player away (most ridiculous Liverpool transfer of all time??) while inferior counterparts remain, immediately makes the squad look a lot weaker. Whereas central midfield used to be the stronghold of our team, all of a sudden now it just looks average also 🙁
Agree with red2death, it’s too early to start getting so egative. Sure we have our limitations and need more quality and options but it annoys me when people constantly knock players like Kuyt and Lucas. You’d struggle to find many players who can cover as many positions as Kuyt (lone striker, joint striker, in behind, right mid)and give you 12-15 goals a season. And Lucas is improving, was one of our most consistent performers last season and always gives 100%.
spearing is better than lucas
amoo is a better WINGER than kuyt
pacheco is better than n’gog
n kelly n wilson shud get a chance
how ever lucas is slowly improving
I agree wth u jay da loan deal of aquilani does’nt make any sense espesialy since masch made it clear frm da start of da season tht he wnts 2 leave bt i have 2 agree wth da otha guys i dnt thnk playing da 4 4 2 formation wrked 4 us on monday coz apart frm on da training field whn have we eva seen ngog nd torres playing 2geta
honestly, i can’t recall a game Liverpool won with Lucas on the starting lineup…both Rafa & Roy kept their faith in Lucas…it seems they able to see something in this prick no one else in the world can…Lucas should go, i’d pay to get rid of him…Spearing’s a good player and should be given a chance…these are the sort of players Liverpool needs right now..players who’ll go all out to prove a point…only thing is his height :p
couldn’t agree more!!!
Babel is far better option than Ngog, n that’s where he should have been playing upfront with torress while we can get jova and kuyt on wings we still got dani pacheco as good attacking option he’s young and got pace and skillful, take in spearo instead of lucas and at the back darby should be good holding the left back while we sort this prob out!!! and damn skirtel avoid those restless tackling!!!
Spearing is nowhere near Lucas as a player… watch him for the reserves… He’s not a bad player but there is a reason experienced managers pick Lucas over Spearing. Lucas played well for Brazil against the US as well alondside a player Chelsea just payed £17m for and definitely did not look inferior to Ramires at all.
It’s not just Ngog and Lucas who aren’t good enough. You can add the useless, waste of space Dirk Kuyt to that list too.
I wouldn even go as far to say that Carragher should be replaced in the starting 11 too.