We're getting to a stage now were we're seeing players as the first names on the teamsheet - much more now than at the beginning of the season, certainly. Reina - Obviously going to be the main man. Doni has had precious few opportunities to show what he can do. Of course we're happy to see this, given the level of performances from Pepe. Luis Enrique - He's brought a strength and stability to the left back slot we've not had really since John Arne left the club. Agger - Since regaining fitness, he's made the left sided CB slot his own. Perhaps the only question was over his fitness, and, touchwood, he's now answering those questions. His distribution (for a CB) and composure on the ball has always been magnificent, but being available is being added. Skrtel - Only with Carragher's recent absence has Martin grown into the position. He's clearly more settled with Agger to his left than being there himself. More of a ball winner, his previous flakiness and tendency to lose possession in key areas appears to have receded. Once seen by many (when alongside Carra or Kyrgiakos) as a liability or a pen/freekick waiting to happen, he's shown the ability that convinced Rafa to part with a good wedge of money in the first place. Johnson - some good performances defensively, allied with good attacking runs and a game winning goal. Since coming back into fitness, he's fought hard to retain the shirt and has shown good commitment. Still not as defensively sound as he perhaps could be, there's still room for improvement in his game. Gets up and down that right hand side very well and adds width to the team. Adam - seems to have worked very hard on improving his fitness and positional play in midfield, providing a surprising amount of protection to the back 4, as well as good distribution and vision for passing. Some of his passes lately have been Alonso-esque in accuracy. He's been better than I expected him to have been and his price tag shows that you can get value with home-grown (i.e. UK) players. Lucas - A fixture of solid gold. Herculean performances in the centre of the park, providing (at times) bullet-proof protection to the backline. Solid if unspectacular distribution of the ball, with miserly wastefulness figures when passing about. His transformation from the Rafa-haters' pet whipping-boy into the heir of Mascherano and Hamann appears to be pretty much complete. Suarez - the man, the myth, the legend. Able to conjure space and time on the ball in the smallest of places is becoming everyday. Can wriggle through the tightest of defences to almost pointblank range, if only we could graft God's finishing abilities into him, he's win the Prem by himself, end world poverty and eradicate disease all by May 2012. We have to make do with his talent and current abilities for now. These are the players I see as the 'fixtures' in the side currently, those 'first names on the teamsheet'. Does anyone disagree with them? Who are the best to complement them, and do we still have deadwood to move on? Are there any additions to the squad we still need?
With Johnsons recent form he definitely warrants a place on this list but with Kelly lurking close behind its less of a given than the others. Skrtel on merit certainly there, but until recently I still thought Carra would be straight back in after recoverin (not on merit used to be a given). At the start of the season I had hoped Downing would be on a list of this sort but he has not produced. It will also be interesting to see the CM when Gerrard isfit again, until recently i would simply have taken Adam out but I think there are better ways to fit Gerrard in.
Got to agree on all those points - Johnson HAS to keep producing because Kelly is too good to keep out simply on the basis of Wages/England caps/Transfer fee (delete to taste). Skrtel has been a different player alongside Agger, they have the makings of a great pairing. Carra will have to step it up to win back the shirt IMO. Gerrard is the biggest quandry, as he'll not fit into a conventional 4-4-2. We'll have to see what happens when he's fit, as I can see him playing behind Carroll in a 4-4-1-1, but because Suarez moves about so much, I'm not sure whether he'll be able to do the same behind him.
I actually agree with the OP in most every cooment he's made. i think the players mentioned are certainly kennys first team picks at this point. Yes there is still dead wood to be honest, or should i say players who won't get us where we want to go but are nothing like the trash kenny and comolli had to shift in the summer.... My "dead wood" would have to be lower contributors who need to move on to allow one or two top players come in or alternaitvely free up space for the next kids on the way. Darby, spearing, maxi come to mind. I'd be looking at kuyt but he'd been given a new contract so thats moot. I think gerrard will envitably be one of the players in the first 11 so the question has to be what formation we play with the rest. Will doowning and carroll step up and cement places in this first 11? I'd like to think of a 4-3-3 right now of Reina Johnson skertl agger enrique gerrard lucas adam Suarez Carroll Downing The thing is 2-3 guys need to step up big time to make that happen.
Skrtel is proving that he is a solid defender, I think he played all Liverpool games last season and was part of that defense that kept that shut out for a few games (can't remember how many from the top of my head). I don't get the bashing he gets from others saying he is a liability, he is part of a much more solid defensive unit since Woy left.
