We've had very conflicting opinions about squad depth in the past; with John Henry admitting it wasn't very good, with Rafa saying he left a team with good squad depth if used right... I think it's time we had a look at the individuals outside of the first 11 or making the odd appearance and see if they have a future in the team. Brad Jones Brad is surplus to requirements at the moment. He's possibly 3rd on the list of backup goalkeepers behind Gulacsi, but even then I wouldn't be surprised to hear Hansen get in front of him. He was a panic buy by Hodgson who admitted he doesn't do academies; when we had a perfectly good keeper in Gulacsi sitting on the wings. Middlesborough supporters were delighted when they got a few mil for him; I think that says it all. OUT for roughly 1.5-2m Johnson I must say he's made himself useful again when we discovered he can play LB and RB; I'd like to keep him as first backup for the 2 fullbacks and/or a RW. But it may come down to whether he will accept being 2nd choice or covering for injuries. Either way I'd like to keep him as he could make himself useful. KEEP. Konchesky Obviously he's going: we have no need for him, he's doing fine with Nottingham forest, he's not good enough. There's enough reasons for him to go, and I don't think he'll even want to stick around after what his mum said. OUT - 1m max. Aurelio Well, he's been a great servant for the club and despite him only coming back because no other club wanted him he's been loyal to us. Unfortunately his injuries make him unsuitable to what we need, not to mention his age and probably high wage package as we got him on a free. OUT - Free/Small sum perhaps 1m. Joe Cole Well I still feel he has something to give so I'd prefer to keep hold of him as a squad player. He proved the other day that he can be useful and that if we could get him fitter he may be able to justify his wages. KEEP - Unless we get a offer of 4-5m for him. Pacheco Has really impressed at Norwich and I think he has a place with us. I expect him to be a regular squad player next season so I'd like to keep hold of him. He has the skill and would probably be best utilised as a supporting striker; perhaps to replace Suarez when/if he gets injured. Jovanovic Unfortunately just hasn't hit it off here. I feel sorry for him in the fact he's a foreign player come here thinking Rafa was going to give him opportunities, instead he had to put up with no opportunities under Hodgson and finds himself surplus to requirements after Suarez, Carroll, Ngog and Kuyt. OUT - 2-3m if we get the right buyer. Kyrgiakos Unfortunately I think he's reached the age where he starts to become a liability. Whilst he was good for us when we were doing badly I think he'll slowly drop down the pecking order as Kelly, Agger, Wilson etc.. begin to go up the pecking order. I'd rather get rid of him now so he's off the wage bill and give us some more transfer fees. OUT - 2m. Maxi Well; he showed us the other day he's capable of pulling things out of the bag, and I think it's all down to Kenny and the confidence he's given him. Although it doesn't change the fact for the rest of the season he hasn't looked too good, his crosses aren't brilliant and far too often he misplaces crucial passes. I still think however with Kenny in charge he can excell, but I think if the right price comes through we should sell him. KEEP - Unless we get an offer of 6m. Wilson He still has potential and whilst he hasn't looked too good when thrown in games so far, he hasn't been put in his natural CB position and rather been put in LB. I think he needs a few more games in the carling cup, FA cup, Europa league etc.. games like that so that he can get a feel for the game again and perhaps click with his team mates. KEEP. Ngog Well; It was a tricky one but I think we should probably get rid of him. He's not going to improve anymore with us, he won't be given the opportunity to either I don't think. It will be better for both him and us if he went somewhere where he can get regular games and he can be the lone striker. Perhaps we could ship him out on loan, but I'd rather we sold him and gather up some transfer money. OUT - 2-3m, perhaps 4m if we can bargain a bit. Spearing Looks to be the future of our club. Perhaps another Kuyt in the making aswell, as he works incredibly hard and if he loses the ball he'll run hell for leather to make sure he gets it back again. Whilst he's not the best technical wise; he works very hard, he can run quite fast and his shot is fierce. I can imagine a partnership of him and Suso could do wonders with the technical approach of Suso and the work of Spearing. KEEP. Poulson Well; his time at the club was numbered from his first game when he didn't impress all that much. I don't think he'll get another game with us now, especially with Shelvey and Spearing ahead of him in the pecking order. I suspect he'll be back off to denmark to finish off his career. OUT - 1m. Darby A tough one but he's 22 and on loan at the moment. Some could say he may be like Spearing and break into the team late, but with the emergence of Kelly and Flanagan who can both play RB, I don't think Darby will get a look in and I'd rather he went to somewhere where he will play regularly than be sent on loan to a different club each season. Although if Dalglish decides to call him back for next season, then he may have a good chance of breaking through. It all decides on the luck of the draw. KEEP - Unless he wants to leave or we get an offer. Skrtel He's been very good for us; but whenever I see him play I do get worried he's going to foul someone in the box and pick up a red card in the process. He's a bit too rash; although he does fulfill a role and can really bully attackers. KEEP - Unless we get a good offer for him. Degen 28 years old, brought in by Rafa as a stop gap and never really got used because of the aweful injuries he got. Perhaps if fate had gone differently he'd be playing RB for us now. Although as it is I think he'll stay with Stuttgart, his contract runs out in 2012; so I can see him going for a small sum to Stuttgart. OUT - 500k-1m. El Zhar Signed a contract extension to keep him here until 2012; yet in the 5 years he's been here he's made 20 appearances and hasn't scored a goal. I'd expect more than that even from a squad player, so I think it's time to let go of him. Most likely he'll go to PAOK where he's on loan, for how much? Probably the first offer PAOK come out with. OUT - first offer. Insua Tricky one. I feel he's a lot like Lucas in the fact that if we gave him game time, he'd probably improve dramatically in time. The question is, do we have time anymore? No. I'm afraid I don't think Insua will ever become our first choice LB, whilst he didn't have a brilliant 2009-10 season I think he did as well as can be expected of a youngster being thrown in the deep end expected to string a season of good games together. Although Dalglish did bring him back from his loan period and I'm unsure as to whether he will stay with us or go. UNDECIDED.
This would leave us with a squad of: Johnson, Pacheco, Wilson, Spearing, Skrtel. Add to that: Kelly, Shelvey, Suso, Ince, Sterling, Coady, Flanagan, Robinson, Ayala, Wisdom. Who can all play for reserves and slot into the team I think we have a very good squad depth. CB: Skrtel, Kelly, Ayala, Wisdom - along with Carragher and Agger starting. LB: Robinson, Johnson - New LB RB: Flanagan, Kelly, Johnson. CM: Shelvey, Spearing, Suso, Coady. Wings: Sterling, Ince. Strikers: Pacheco. I personally don't think we'll have any problem with Squad depth whatsoever. We just need a LB, a HM, LW, RW. With those; we could be looking a title chase. Disclaimer: In no way shape or form did I just say "Next year is our year"
Ze Liverbird. Excellent post. FSG want to get rid of the big earners that are as much use to the club as a chocolate tea-pot ie Poulsen,Jova,El Zhar,Degen,Aquilani,Cole,Konchesky,Insua and some that just need to be moved on,Soto,Ngog,Darby.Most will be replaced.
Yea; I didn't include Aquilani because I honestly don't have a clue what's happening with him. If he comes back, then he'll fulfill a purpose and may be good for us, if he goes I can't say I'll be disappointed as we'll get a tidy sum for him (or should do, Juventus won't get him on the cheap).
We need about 4 star signings for our first team. Left back, centre back, centre mid, winger. That would mean we could have Carragher or Skrtel, Meireles or Lucas and Kuyt as squad players, giving us lots of strength in depth.
I thibnk Ngog is an example of what Rafa meant. Is it just coincidence he did far better under Hodgson, him being more of a Zamora-type player? Question is are we likely to need a player like that on occasion? If we're going to play Europa games in July then damn right. Top stikers won't play a 3rd/.4th striker role, whereas Ngog might. And he's been steadily improving, as Lucas did. He scored some Torres-like goals last season, just like the one against Arsenal first game, but can also score unTorres-like ones such as his diving header against Villa.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...-to-refresh-the-playing-staff-at-Anfield.html Looks like a complete overhaul might just take place. If you believe the papers!!
I was hoping in Europa like games we'd see a partnership of Morgan and Pacheco. Although Morgan may be a bit too young yet.
Wouldn't it be worth keeping N'gog as a 3rd choice striker? The way I see it only Carroll, Kuyt and N'gog in your team can lead the line (Suarez is more of a second striker) and it would make sense to keep him as he can't be on high wages can he?
Suarez can lead the line, he's done so before - I think he plays best wherever he's positioned up front, on the wings or in the striking role. Meanwhile I see the likes of Pacheco, Morgan, Saric etc.. to be better options despite their age than Ngog who I think is on 40k a week. Not to mention he was being valued at 6m last summer (who'd pay 6m for him I don't know).
He's atrocious though, he doesn't add anything when he plays, we might aswell play with 10 men instead. Saric is crap, Pacheco isn't a striker and Morgan isn't old enough. And Ngog is on nowhere near 40k a week. I would personally try and sign Wickham from Ipswich as a 3rd choice striker.
I wouldn't say Saric is crap.. Pacheco is originally a striker, just stupid Roy trying to turn him into a winger, and "if he's good enough, he's old enough." Wickham would cost far too much and he's not a lot older than Morgan.
He was our top scorer early doors and clearly not "atrocious". That's a ridiculous assessment, like the idea that he only scored against rubbish Europa teams when he scored good goals against Arsenal and Villa. Connor Wickham is 18. Why would we need to sign another youngster to replace a bloke who's just turned 22 with all that premier League experience? As much as he shouldn't have been 2nd striker last season you can't buy that kind of experience and it shouldn't be given away lightly. Wickham's also just extended his contract to 2014.
My problem with Ngog is that he's clearly got talent; but he isn't going to improve anymore whilst he's here because I don't think he'll given the opportunity too. He's got Suarez, Carroll and Kuyt ahead of him. The only way he'd get a game would be if Suarez and Carroll were to get injured and even then I don't think he'd impress enough quickly to warrant a place in the side. By sitting in the reserves he isn't going to realise any of that potential. Not to mention when I watch him play I think he'd much more suited to french football where it's less brutal and a little bit slower.
Fair points but it'll be the same for any replacement. I think he's the ideal sub for Carroll because he can play the same role without affecting the shape. Allardyce paid tribute to the way he affected the game when he came on against Bolton last season. And that's the Allardyce who'd never compliment Rafa.
Excellent article. Looking at the squad and looking at some of the younger players that are coming through, our squad depth is a lot better. However, we still need players to come in the summer. Wingers and a left-back, I believe, is a must. Robinson has been doing well at left-back in the couple of games he has played but he is still young and learning. Having a top-quality left-back would give Robinson more time to develop and learn.
Won't a lot of the young players you've mentioned be likely to go on loan next season? I'd have thought players like Suso, Coady, Sterling, Ince and Pacheco would go on loan for at least half the season to get more experience. It's a big ask to go from doing the business against 19-21 year olds in the reserves to playing against 28-30 year olds at the sharp end of the PL, and a lot of young players have had their confidence ruined by being thrown in too early. I'm not saying that some of them won't be ready, and Ince and Pacheco already have some experience, but I'd be surprised if they were actually considered part of the squad for next season and got any games outside the Carling Cup.
Coady was on the bench against Birmingham and was in the squad to face Arsenal. Ince and Pacheco as you've said already have loan experience. Sterling was involved in the Europa league squad. I don't think throwing them out on loan in necessarily what we're going to do with them. Don't forget we have Pep segura and Rodolfo Borrell in charge now and as top class academy directors they'll be wanting to keep an eye on how their players are treated so they can get the best out of them, where better to do that than at Liverpool?
That's true, but then I think there is a difference between being on the bench for a game you're expected to win comfortably and being thrown in to the full squad when a couple of injuries could mean you're playing most of the season. I'm sure your academy staff will do what's best for them, but I would expect that to involve blooding them into the team gradually when the team is performing at a high level, and not risk them being burn out if they are the only cover for the first team if you have an injury crisis. But then maybe they'll turn out to be the kind of players who will thrive under that sort of pressure.
