El Zhar

[Assassin]

He has been brought on as a sub in recent games at critical times to change the game. I am not looking to knock the guy. But, I am just not seeing anything to justify him getting match minutes ahead of some of the other players.

I am not sure if it is nerves or him not wanting to fail, but he looks like a shorter version of Pennant

Has anyone seen him performing in the reserves earlier, if so, how was he playing?

[Resu]

I have to disagree on this one.
I think he brings something different when he comes on, we seem to be creating more chances.
Yesterday he was involved in two of the biggest chances we had after he came on.
IMO he`s better that Pennant, and different to Yossi and Kuyt. He might not be as talented as Babel, but he creates more chances and work harder defensivly.

[The_weatherman]

He has been brought on as a sub in recent games at critical times to change the game. I am not looking to knock the guy. But, I am just not seeing anything to justify him getting match minutes ahead of some of the other players.

I am not sure if it is nerves or him not wanting to fail, but he looks like a shorter version of Pennant

Has anyone seen him performing in the reserves earlier, if so, how was he playing?

I think he usually holds his own when coming on as a sub, just needs a bit more luck, but he is trying things, I prefer him over Pennant.

[ric.williams]

i think he has made much more of an impact than babel coming of the bench this season. nearly scored last night, played a nice ball into kuyt and linked up well with arbeloa. he works hard to and looks like he gives a **** unlike babel (though i think babel should have a run of games to have a fair chance and give riera a rest)

[Crazy-Horse]

He has been brought on as a sub in recent games at critical times to change the game. I am not looking to knock the guy. But, I am just not seeing anything to justify him getting match minutes ahead of some of the other players.

I am not sure if it is nerves or him not wanting to fail, but he looks like a shorter version of Pennant

Has anyone seen him performing in the reserves earlier, if so, how was he playing?

I'm going to go off on a tangent here a little. (Warning: possible thread hijacking )

The extra players on the bench with the increase from 5 to 7 is actually (IMHO) making it hard for managers. Take out your spare keeper, who you don't want to use... and in the past you had four players who you could give game time to 3/4 of the time. Now the subs only have an opportunity 3/6 of the time.

In previous years, if Babel was struggling the way he has been this season, the gaffer would have dropped him to the reserves to get some game time under his belt, and try and play himself back into form. However with the increased number of benchwarmers, being dropped to the Reserves is a real slap in the face (Take note, Pennant) and in most cases, players with any gumption will recognise that they are beyond the first 18 players, and will bite the bullet. I recognise that Ressie football is not the best opportunity for quality footie, but it offers more than getting splinters in your @rse at the @rse as did Hyypia, Benayoun, Plessis yesterday or Agger, Keane, Ngog last week in the Hull game.

[captain-caveman]

I have to disagree on this one.
I think he brings something different when he comes on, we seem to be creating more chances.
Yesterday he was involved in two of the biggest chances we had after he came on.
IMO he`s better that Pennant, and different to Yossi and Kuyt. He might not be as talented as Babel, but he creates more chances and work harder defensivly.

I agree with you, i think he brings something different to the team and we create more chances with him on the pitch. definitely better then pennant.

[dww]

I have to disagree on this one.
I think he brings something different when he comes on, we seem to be creating more chances.
Yesterday he was involved in two of the biggest chances we had after he came on.
IMO he`s better that Pennant, and different to Yossi and Kuyt. He might not be as talented as Babel, but he creates more chances and work harder defensivly.

I too think he looks a useful player. He goes apart a bit in the box though. Needs to calm down and become more confident IMO.

[Imy]

I have to disagree on this one.
I think he brings something different when he comes on, we seem to be creating more chances.
Yesterday he was involved in two of the biggest chances we had after he came on.
IMO he`s better that Pennant, and different to Yossi and Kuyt. He might not be as talented as Babel, but he creates more chances and work harder defensivly.

Agree with all of that.

[The_weatherman]

I too think he looks a useful player. He goes apart a bit in the box though. Needs to calm down and become more confident IMO.

That's not unusual though given his lack of experience, I think he is proving that we should grow our own bit part players and spend our transfer funds mainly on big buys and cheaper players to grow like him. If we had him in at this stage of his development at the time we probably could have saved us a Pennant.

[dww]

That's not unusual though given his lack of experience, I think he is proving that we should grow our own bit part players and spend our transfer funds mainly on big buys and cheaper players to grow like him. If we had him in at this stage of his development at the time we probably could have saved us a Pennant.

That's true - I think he, along with Insua is a good indication that some have been too eager to judge the policies for developing young players at the club. The problem is that we do now need to show that like Arsenal we can shine rough diamonds.

[MrsB]

I like him.

And I love his name, El Zhar looks great on a Liverpool shirt.

[The_weatherman]

That's true - I think he, along with Insua is a good indication that some have been too eager to judge the policies for developing young players at the club. The problem is that we do now need to show that like Arsenal we can shine rough diamonds.

We have a lot of rough diamonds to shine though, someone is bound to work out. El Zhar will be a good squad player IMO and N'Gog could be as well. Insua can go a step further and hopefully Nemeth will turn out decent as well, then we have even younger players, Dalla Valle seems to get on the score sheet every week and Pepper is supposed to be good. Kelly and Darby might make it as squaddies so I think we are not in a worse position than Arsenal were after four years of Wenger.

[dww]

We have a lot of rough diamonds to shine though, someone is bound to work out. El Zhar will be a good squad player IMO and N'Gog could be as well. Insua can go a step further and hopefully Nemeth will turn out decent as well, then we have even younger players, Dalla Valle seems to get on the score sheet every week and Pepper is supposed to be good. Kelly and Darby might make it as squaddies so I think we are not in a worse position than Arsenal were after four years of Wenger.

I certainly agree with that last statement. However I do think that the final preparation of top level players is not as inevitable as you make out. It is a long term project and judging now is farcical but at the same time I think it is a legitimate concern that players may not develop.

[Assassin]

I have to disagree on this one.
I think he brings something different when he comes on, we seem to be creating more chances.
Yesterday he was involved in two of the biggest chances we had after he came on.
IMO he`s better that Pennant, and different to Yossi and Kuyt. He might not be as talented as Babel, but he creates more chances and work harder defensivly.

I think he usually holds his own when coming on as a sub, just needs a bit more luck, but he is trying things, I prefer him over Pennant.

I tend to agree with both of you. But when we are bringing on wide player to spice things up I would like to see them running at the defenders and trying to get past them down the lines at every opportunity, rather than playing than checking up and playing square or back passes the majority of the time.

I would just like to see more impact from an offensive player brought on as sub, several times yesterday he had the opportunity to skin the fullback and he chose the safe route. We were up against 10 men and they needed stretching to allow to make chances, not playing safe, negative type passes

[Matt]

I too think he looks a useful player. He goes apart a bit in the box though. Needs to calm down and become more confident IMO.

I'd go along with that. Think his first touch yesterday was to knock the ball out for a goal kick and he does seem to get the ball caught under his feet at times.

He's a nice option to have on the bench though.