Still Liverpool’s top goalscorer this season (after the departure of Torres), the Frenchman started this campaign in a rich vein of form. He scored three goals in the two legs against FK Rabotnicki in the qualifying round for the Europa League, and followed it up with a league goal against Arsenal on the opening day of the season. He has since scored two against Steaua Bucharest in the group stage of the Europa League and one against Northampton Town in the Carling Cup. His last goal against came against Aston Villa at the start of December though, and it his only goal in the past five months. Only 2 of his 8 goals this campaign have come in the Premier League, and with the likes of Gervinho, Bojan Krkic and Karim Benzema all being linked with the Reds over a move in the summer, Ngog’s playing time could be reduced even further.
Milan Jovanovic has had an equally tough time for Liverpool this season. It certainly hasn’t helped that he has entered a team that initially struggled for form this campaign but it is telling that both Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish initially started the player in their first games in charge, and later dropped the player. The 29 year old is a very direct runner with the ball and has a fair bit of pace, but there must be something about the player that hasn’t convinced either Hodgson or Dalglish.
It was always going to be a big step up from the Belgian league to the Premier League, but his experience at international level with Serbia, should have a least held him in good stead for the challenges that he would face in English football. After only five starts for Liverpool this season and one domestic goal for the Reds in the ill fated defeat to Northampton in the Carling Cup, Jovanovic’s Anfield career could be ending before it has even begun. In January, Liverpool accepted an offer from Wolfsburg for Jovanovic but the Serbian rejected the move, and has set his sights on proving his worth in the Premier League.
With Liverpool looking for better and younger talent on the wings and up front in the summe rthough, it looks as if Jova’s days on Merseyside are numbered and if he can’t prove himself in the coming months until the end of the season, he will be shipped out in June only a year after signing for the Reds on a free transfer.
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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!”