For some while now, it has been argued that while Liverpool’s first XI could beat anyone on their day, it has been a lack of any squad depth that has been the undoing of the team, hence leading to the lazily reached conclusion that Liverpool are a “2 man team” in some sections of the media. However, fielding an All-Reserve XI for Liverpool, new manager Roy Hodgson could easily call upon the following team: Cavalieri, Kelly, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Rodriguez, Shelvey, Aquilani, Babel, Pacheco, Ngog. What should be immediately obvious is that there are 6 regular internationals in this squad, 4 of whom featured in the World Cup, players with undoubted skill in Aquilani and Babel, and in Daniel Pacheco, the star of the recent U-19 European Championships.
While much was made last year when Chelsea came to Anfield, and boasted £60M of talent on the bench compared to a home bench with not one £2M+ player, looking at the line-up above, it can conversely be argued that Liverpool are one of the best equipped teams to deal with the gruelling schedule that Europa League Football may bring this year.
For Hodgson this could be interpreted as a win-win situation; between the Europa League and the Carling Cup it is conceivable that fringe players,(and promising youth players such as Darby, Amoo, Eccleston and Dalla Valle among others) will get crucial game time; something essential to their development, and especially important considering they could never be guaranteed match time in the Premier League where points will surely be at a premium this season. This has the added benefit that the first XI – should they stay injury-free, where new club Doctor Peter Bruckner and his team will have a large part to play – could be exclusively played in FA Cup and Premier League games.
With Liverpool’s ownership situation hanging in the balance, it’s likely that after the imminent signing of Christian Poulsen, Hodgson may have little more money to spend this summer. Therefore Hodgson will undoubtedly have to turn his attentions to the fringe players to unearth a few gems. He certainly has a sparkling talent already in Dani Pacheco; a few more of the same ilk could save Liverpool FC millions in transfer fees and set the club in fine stead for future seasons.
Follow us on twitter @live4Liverpool
Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at editor@live4liverpool.com
Liverpool had Kuyt and Babel both of them can play as strikers. I value Kuyt but you say he is as good as Anelka or Drogba.
Gerrard could have played as a secund striker behind Torres, in center midfield, on the left side or right… But there is only one Gerrard.
I’ve missed all of Aquillani’s quality passes last season, you must forgive me.
So how come Liverpool didn’t win the title?
We have Joe Cole now maybe that’s what was missing. I do fear his threat!
Ladies, please!!!
The author has a point. We are well covered in certain positions and a bit short in others. Roy has said he wants a bit of time to get to know all the players and what they can do. No biggie huh?!
The other thing is, I am fed up with this outdated thinking that a player HAS to stick to one position. Flexibility is everything in the modern game and even in previous eras (Steve Nicol anyone?).
If Maxi isn’t a winger, I’m not then sure what he is. Also, we have player with right/left sided forwards for many years now rather than ‘wingers’. Many teams do it. What is the problem?
FREE YOUR MINDS…….
So can we now dispel the myth that Liverpool have strength in depth?
Hodgson’s promised Cole he can play central in the hole. This is not his best position.
He’s promised Gerrard he can play cm, this too is not his best position.
Aquilani is to be loaned out.
Masch is to be sold.
Babel, Kuyt and Jova are not wingers. There are so many ignorant posters on here unaware of this its untrue. Maxi is a decent right sided midfielder but in a 4-4-2 of strict formation with 2 banks of 4 and a deep lying defence, he is too slow to offer an offensive outlet.
Gerrard plays too deep, Cole is isolated, there is no width or pace on the wings. The squad left by Rafa is for 4-2-3-1 and that squad too lacked depth.
But this is even worse now. Roy Hodgson’s tactics are a generation out of date. If he is to persist with 4-4-1 or 4-4-2 then the lack of depth in this squad is going to be harshly exposed very very quickly.
Gouda? Pure ignorance.