Admittedly, we’ve lost 2 very important players since 2008-09 in Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano and they are both world class players. Can nobody see that we’ve had two very capable replacements since the start of the season though? Certainly, Lucas and Raul Meireles may not quite be Mascherano and Alonso; nobody could argue that either are world class. Yet. However, Lucas has easily been the Reds best player this season and not in a ‘best of a bad bunch’ kind of way. For the most part, his performances have been a revelation and he’s matured into one of the best holding midfielders around. Once he starts adding goals to his game he will be one hell of a player to have in a Red shirt. Likewise with Meireles; since Roy stumbled into finding his best position he has probably only been second to Lucas as our best player this season. So while we may not have ‘replaced’ these two players in the purest sense of the word, we’ve filled their positions with two very competent young players. Young being the operative word here, as they are both only going to improve over the next few years. With experience and time playing together, I predict they will become a formidable force as a central midfield pairing.
As for the rest of the squad, we’ve lost a couple of very useful squad players over the last 18 months: the likes of Benayoun, Cavalieri and Insua are all sorely missed for what they contributed. It would also be hard to argue that we’ve replaced them well either, as the likes of Joe Cole, Brad Jones and Paul Konchesky have hardly been successes. There is also the fact that Jamie Carragher is getting on a bit now and won’t be a first choice before too long and he has been a key player over the years. With these in mind, we do certainly need to make some moves in the transfer market. To get the squad as a whole back up to scratch may take 2-3 transfer windows. One thing is sure: it won’t all be done this January and certainly not with a temporary manager in place. But looking at our current squad, we are not in that bad a state at all. We easily have 3 world class players: Reina, Gerrard and Torres and we have a more than capable supporting cast of the likes of Agger, Skrtel, Aurelio, Johnson, Lucas, Meireles, Kuyt, Babel and Ngog. We have a number of capable youngsters that have been showing promise too in Shelvey, Kelly and Pacheco. By my estimations, that makes up one first team and almost an entire subs bench too. So I will re-iterate: this is not a bad team. It needs some tweaking; it needs a man that knows talented footballers when he sees them, and then knows how to use them when he has them. It’s something we’ve not had in 6 months, so it’s no wonder the team has looked so shoddy. But by the end of the season, I’m hoping we’ve been re-introduced to something that resembles the Liverpool side of the 08-09 season, and I’m confident we will, as most of them are still here.
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This week it is former Liverpool WAG Jennifer Ellison!
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It’s funny how when things don’t work out, you just blame the players and the previous manager. Only an inept, clueless manager would do that.
Our squad is not as bad as some people say but that’s not to say that we don’t need improving. 2 years ago, we had Cavalieri, Hyypia, Arbeloa, Mascherano, Alonso, Benayoun and Riera. These are some important players who contributed to our second finish that season but I don’t think we’ve fully replaced them. Hyypia, Arbeloa and Mascherano all played a part in our tremendous defence. Alonso, along with Masch, formed a formidable partnership and I do think we can all feel their absence. Meireles isn’t quite as good as Alonso while we’ve no one to replace the likes of Masch, Benayoun and Riera who were all important players. We’ve brought in players like Jones, Johnson, Soto, Konchesky, Poulsen, Meireles, Shelvey and Jovanovic to replace them. If you compare the 2 lists you can see there is a big difference in terms of quality and also only the likes of Soto, Johnson and Meireles have really made an impact. Our team isn’t that bad but it’s still pretty clear that the squad needs strengthening if we are to compete for a top four finish.
Finally, something on the internet that talk sense. A team containing Carragher, Torres, Gerrard, Reina, Cole, Kuyt, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel (you may want to disagree), Aurelio is a match to anyone on their day. Stoke, Blackpool, Blackburn, Northampton would bite our hands off any of these players. I mean come on, Roy’s statement on how weak the team is complete rubbish. How long does it take to realize that? Don’t be a hypocrite, say that Roy’s done a s**t job. No need to offer support and let ppl think you sympathize on him. It’s fair, if you are bad, you get the boot – same applies to any companies you work for – minus the 7.5m payoff.
Nice article…agree with you pretty much 100%…why is it that the best analysis on football is almost entirely on the net (along with a lot of dross unfortunately)? the quality of the English football reporting media is shockingly bad, particularly when compared with the high quality of the EPL and the TV coverage (I mean the quantity and amount of £ it generates for the clubs NOT the commentary and analysis)…the tabloids will always be full of sh*te but sky (and I know they’re owned by Murdoch) really ought to get their act together..when you look at how good the cricket coverage AND analysis/commentary is, it stuns me that they’re prepared to serve up the sh*te they do on football (Stelling, Le Tissier and maybe one or two others excepted)
I have to disagree for the most part with your article! Regards RH, I do agree..LFC fans didnt really want him. Everyone tried to support him and this part a large section of the media and pundits (even some lFC legends) seem oblivious to this. The reason RH lost the fans (and I believe some of his players) is what he managed to achieve..or rather destroy in 6 months. Add to this his mentality and the drivel that he started to come out with post results against Bolton, everton etc. yes the players need to take a good hard look at themselves, something the King in his own way has just eluded to aswell ! But RH has led this team downwards as you say.. what are LFC supposed to do.. give him a ‘chance’ let him loise with x millins of pounds so that he gets a ‘fair’ crack at the whip? Lets get real. The team needed some immediate inspiration and injection of belief.. cue the King ! He may not do any better than RH and may be gone in the summer but he cant be any worse surely!!!
As regards the squad.. sorry but Rafa DID leave a poor squad. yes we still have some class players who are not doing it at the moment. But surely when they look around the team and see all those square pegs in round holes and see the bench and lack of quality coming in.. it must destroy all hope! How many of our players can actually collect a ball and run at or past a player? We lack pace and width throughout the side.. too many of the same type of player.. forwards playing out wide..and players not being played in their best or natural positions.
As for Lucas.. sorry NO! I will concede he has come on… He was DREADFUL and now he isnt. he has even played well in some games. But as i heard some very knowledgeable players say on LFCTV.. he does a job ! Thats it !! I disagree.., Masch DID a job.. he was great in the tackle, had pace, was mobile, broke up the play and he gave the likes of Gerard confidence to play his game! Lucas is none of these things. he certainly isnt Alonso ! Lucas cannot run with the ball, he is not mobile in the least, because he is so slow and weak, thankfully he does get us a few free kicks. But he needs to add alot more to his game than just a few goals in order to be my choice as a holding midfield player.. any type of midfield player for that matter!
You ask stevie G.. is Lucas the man you want to keep in the middle of the park, is he the man to be the new spine of the side… to build the team around. NEVER in a million years ! I have been lucky enough to watched this team since 77 .. with Lucas in this team, we will not challenge the top 4 let alone win the prem.
some of you may feel this is harsh. yes i know Lucas has overcome alot, worked hard and I respect him for this at least. But in the same way RH is not LFC standard neither is Lucas.. To rebuild this team.. we need to be looking for the next Whelan, Souness, mcmahon,Alonso, or Gerard… Not LUCAS !
Well said re Lucas, even those who praise Lucas know that deep inside hes not the Masch type and some skills cannot be learned and improved, Lucas is decent but not a title winning star player….
Perhaps the Man U, Arsenal and Chelsea fans would like him at their club when their current manager retires/ is sacked?
No….. what a surprise. Says it all really.
Roy was hired off the back of one good season in Europe. I dont blame Roy and I wish him luck for the future, but all the fans knew he wasnt right for LFC.
Indeed the degree of journalism in the EPL is quite poor. Looking especially at how non british managers are attacked.
Benitez IMO left @ least a decent squad. I forsee a lot of fans saying they neva realize how much quality we have in the squad now that kenny has taken over. An example is aurellio’s free kick against manu and I realize that all our free kicks this season has been wasted(to say the least)
No two player plays the same, they definitely have their strength and weakness and all we need is someone to motivate them and galvanize this strenght towards winning and I think we have
Roy’s sacking was the final act which ended the hicks/gillett era. They sanctioned his hiring, along with Purslow (aclown worse than Parry).Who knows how good we would be know if they’d give Rafa money, and I mean proper money not having to balance the books money. We may have won the league and anyone who thinks Rafa was to blame for the squad’s decline I will just point out that in the last 4 windows we’ve made a profit every single time. The current squad is probably the 6th best in the EPL despite the wreckage left by hicks and gillett. Finally Parma leave Lucas alone he gives his all and is playing in a position (holding midfielder) which is alien to him. He can’t be a bad player he’s now a regular for Brazil, it’s hardly his fault Gerrard is superb is it?
Oh well said Yogi – agreee totally
CHEAPEST OPTION TO SACK THE MANAGER, NOT VIABLE TO PAY OFF ALL THE HALF WITS TRYING TO PASS THEMSELVES OF AS FOOTBALLERS! HODGSON’S PLANS FAILED HOWEVER WHAT CHANCE TO CREATE? WHEN YOUR UNDERMINED FROM THE START!
£1OO,OO0 A WEEK WHEN THEY CANT TRAP THE BALL AND HAVE A 1ST TOUCH LIKE JACK THE RIPPER .
THINGS HAVE BEEN DEEPLY WRONG FOR TO LONG, ON & OFF THE GRASS.
HODGSONS PLANS GOING ASTRAY NOT REALLY A SUPPRISE WHEN HE WAS UNDERMINED BEFORE FINDING HSI OFFICE!-
INSIPID PLAYERS NOT PUTTING IN A FULL SHIFT.
INEPT SENIOR STAFF HAMPERING PROGRESS.
NO ONE HAS COME THROUGH THE LAST FEW YEARS WITHOUT SOILED HANDS. A FEW LOUDMOUTHED FANS? ALSO –
THE PREMATURE ANHILIATION OF PLAYERS TRYING TO EARN A RED SHIRT WAS APPALING.
SPITEFULL IS THE TREATMENT OF SOME PLAYERS RECENTLY LUCAS AND EVEN KONCESKEY (YOUD THINK HE DROVE OVER A CHILD!)
GOODNESS NOWS THE LOGIC OF PERSECUTING SOMEONE EARLY IN THEIR LFC CARREER! AS FOR THE EMPTY SEATS RECENTLY – DINT EVEN SEE THAT WHEN THE PREVIOUS YANKS WHERE DESTROYING OUR CLUB!
QUITE BAFFELING
GOOD LUCK KENNY (BUT WATCH OUT! )
Agree with the main points of article but disagree with these points:
1-Lucas has improved a lot but was really bad so still not tpp class
2-merieles &Lucas our best 2players? No. gerard&reina have been the best while Lucas has been vgood alongwithmaxi more recently.
3-our bench is turd. no team are gona worry when shelvey, ngog or Kelly come on, good as they are.
we need heavy investment particularly upfront & on each wing. a proper lb is also a priority…
nesv won’t pay up under a temp manager so expect nothing & if they do buy a big player or 2 bonus….
Great article! At last someone talking sense! Can anyone honestly tell me that Manure’s squad is that much stronger than ours! A couple of world class players, some youth players and a fair number of workman like pro’s. That’s Them and us! The only difference up until the weekend was the class of manager. Sadly the old red nosed w@n£er is still the best manager in the league. With the King back now however we can compete!!
Lucas is not and never will be a topclass player. Just because he plays for Brazil does not mean he is anything of note ie Ramires of Chelsea (another waste of space and money). Benitez wasted money on rubbish like Dossena, Josemi, Leto, Gonzales, Keane, Aquilani, Babel, Lucas, Skyrtel, Pauletta, Pennant, El Zhar and Morientes. Houllier wasted money on rubbish like Diouf, Diao, Cheyrou, Biscan, Kippe, Le Tallec, Pongolle, Ferri, Traore. This club has had its most recent managers including Hodgson (23.5 million) squander money big time.
RAFA managed well under the circumstances!!! The thieving ‘YANKS’ are to ‘blame’. G & H took all the profits! and the ‘NEW YANKS’ are doing the same!!!
What is happening to the profits now that they are not having to make repayments ??? (140million went on a contract for a ‘RED SOCKS PLAYER’). The 300million they paid for LFC will be recouped in very little time because they are getting clear profit!!! ALL THIS PROFIT SHOULD BE GOING BACK IN TO THE CLUB!!! And it all would if LFC were owned by the ‘FANBASE’!! Governments should help ‘FANS’to own their own clubs!!!
Lucas is a very good all round footballer. He’s got just about everything and is clearly improving at an impressive rate. Sure he’s not the same type of player as Masch (a defensive midfielder sitting just in front of the central defenders) but he is a better all round footballer and if he’s played a bit further up the pitch as an all round central midfielder he could become a much more important player for us than Masch was. Those still slagging him off either aren’t watching or just don’t want to see.