Rafa - Win illustrates squad strength

[Tee]

Well Rafa thinks the result illustrates our squad strength and without watching the game you would agree with him.

However, I am not convinced yet.

I mean, in all honesty we did look out of sorts for large parts of the game and could have been embarrased if it weren't for some bad finishing and a bit of luck.

My point is, this match shows that we lack genuine strength in depth and reinforces my belief that we have several players who are simply not good enough, and whilst there are some promising younger players slowly making an impression I honestly feel the squad needs more to give it genuine strength in depth.

This is not a Rafa bashing thread OK, just an honest assessment of our squad and the point about our squad strength.

[SB]

IMO if we had of played the spine of our team and only brought in a few fringe players we would have had better cohesion/ understanding from the players. It's hard when we just throw in players like we did and then expect them to play as a team.

Leeds are a team that plays and trains together as a unit and should have a good understanding of each other and that was the equaliser in the contest IMO.

Nothing to worry about (with one exception = Dossena)

[The Birdman]

It depends on how much we are going to use some of these 'squad' players, as long as they only need to play ever now and again and make more regular impacts as subs then I'm not concerned. N'Gog is progressing really well imo but we wouldn't need him to replace Torres (god forbid) because Rafa would play Kuyt or Voronin ahead of him on a regular basis.
They're called squad players for a reason

[Redspin]

Well Rafa thinks the result illustrates our squad strength and without watching the game you would agree with him.

However, I am not convinced yet.

I mean, in all honesty we did look out of sorts for large parts of the game and could have been embarrased if it weren't for some bad finishing and a bit of luck.

My point is, this match shows that we lack genuine strength in depth and reinforces my belief that we have several players who are simply not good enough, and whilst there are some promising younger players slowly making an impression I honestly feel the squad needs more to give it genuine strength in depth.

This is not a Rafa bashing thread OK, just an honest assessment of our squad and the point about our squad strength.

Or, to put it another way, Leeds played their nuts off yet only managed two attempts on target. Liverpool never needed to get out of second gear, scored and then went on cruise control, should have scored more and it was obvious that, in the event that Leeds had scored, it was clear that Liverpool would easily have upped the pace and taken control. Job well done, with key players rested and fringe players given a good run out. Top marks for Spearing and Ngog, who both showed great improvement

[Tee]

When I say several players who are not good enough, I mean not good enough to come in and do an effective job in the first team. This could cost us points if we are in the hunt and lose players to injury.

[-V-]

But Rafa is always going to praise his team after a win and try to give the squad players confidence so that next time they are called upon they are not shy. Its good management. Obviously a few of them are not good enough to cut it in the first team but you do the best you can with the resources you have

[JohnDoe]

But Rafa is always going to praise his team after a win and try to give the squad players confidence so that next time they are called upon they are not shy. Its good management. Obviously a few of them are not good enough to cut it in the first team but you do the best you can with the resources you have

[PTP]

Well he is hardly going to come out and say "jeez, how did we scrap through that, are back up players are wank" is he

anyway - i think starting XI and one or two others are good but after that we do struggle a bit

forget about form or where players heads are etc - i'd go with

World class or certainly i wouldn't swap for anyone else
Gerrard
Torres
Reina - criminally underrated by it seems everyone but liverpool fans - he is a ****ing superstar!

Very good, top players that arguably are good enough for any top team
Skrtel
Agger
Johnson
Carra
Mascherano
Kuyt
Aurelio
Yossi - bumped up - he is good enough but i think my judgement was clouded by his time spent struggling to get a game

Good/should be decent enough players
Riera
Babel

Promising youth
Insua
Lucas
Ngog


I'd say the above, no complaints with them in terms of ability on paper - maybe a few questions marks on form or motivation - i haven't included aquilani as i don't know where he will fit - though you hope it would be at the top end of the very good group.

After that we really struggle though and thats where we may have issues - thats 16/17 players named - i reckon you would want to fit 20+ into the above

Another way to look it at is - ideally you want 2 people capable of each position

GK
Reina - top class
Cavlieri - he is what he is, a 2nd choice

RB
Johnson - top class
Degen - ???

CB
Carra
Skrtel
Agger
Kyriakos

maybe lacking in a bit of form/confidence - i think a fit agger is vital as he would add something different and a bit if competition - on paper though no complaints really with them 4 as a group

LB
Aurelio - 1st choice but needs to stay fit!
Insua - more than capable promising back up
Dossena - Wank

CM
Mascher - we know he is good at what he does - maybe needs a slap round the ear hole
Aquilani - please be good
Lucas - does a job and hopefully will get better
Gerrard - superstar

RM
Kuyt - no complaints
Yossi - again no complaints
babel - needs to step up

AM
Gerrard - Superstar
Yossi - no complaints when he is there
Kuyt - again as above cover if needed

LM
Reira - just about average maybe a bit better
Babel - like above needs to keep improving and step up
Yossi - prob not his strongest position but better than the above options?

CF
Torres - superstar
Kuyt - Will do a job
BAbel - is he up to it?
Ngog - Promising but can't expect to much
Voronin - wank


I'd say our lack of strenght in depth or quality is a top class left winger, and as i said all summer, someone inbetween torres and ngog in terms of quality who would offer us someting different up top! that would have to be the priority, and then after that i'd look at cover for right back.

Moving forward, hopefully aquilani settles well and gets the side ticking, degen can get some fitness and a run of games giving us adequete cover, and then we either need to find say £15m to £20m to improve our atatcking options (lw and striker) - or we hope that one of Riera, Babel, Ngog really step up to the plate benayoun stylee

[Craig_H]

Excellent summary there PTP.

[Shaggy]

Benayoun is so in the category above the one he's been disgracefully lumped in!

[billy_mac]

Well Rafa thinks the result illustrates our squad strength and without watching the game you would agree with him.

However, I am not convinced yet.

I mean, in all honesty we did look out of sorts for large parts of the game and could have been embarrased if it weren't for some bad finishing and a bit of luck.

My point is, this match shows that we lack genuine strength in depth and reinforces my belief that we have several players who are simply not good enough, and whilst there are some promising younger players slowly making an impression I honestly feel the squad needs more to give it genuine strength in depth.

This is not a Rafa bashing thread OK, just an honest assessment of our squad and the point about our squad strength.

But I did watch the game. I'm going to agree with Rafa on this. I do think we have decent squad depth, if you take that as 2 players for every position I think we are only short up front and that is perhaps in quality rather than numbers. Ngog is impressing, can he do the lone striker? Hope not to find out too soon.

It was my first time seeing Degen in action and he was very good. Can he not stay injury free at all? Dossena is a terrible defender. I hope I never see him in first team action again and if it does happen not as left back. Complete and utter liability.

Look at the squad:

GK: Reina/Cavaleri
RB: Johnson/Degen/Kelly/Darby
LB: Aurellio/Insua/Dossena
CB: Carra/Kyrigakos
CB: Skrtel/Agger
DM: Mascherano/Lucas/Aurellio
DM: Aquilani/Plessis/Spearing/Gerrard
AM: Gerrard/Yossi/Babel/Kyut
RM: Kyut/Yossi/Babel/Gerrard/El Zhar
LM: Riera/Yossi/Babel/Dossena/Aurellio
S: Torres/Voronin/Ngog/Kyut/Babel

I think we have a decent squad. There was a lack of cohesion in the team last night, as can be expected. The first team isn't playing great football at the moment never mind a team with so many changes.

[RedSince1964]

But Rafa is always going to praise his team after a win and try to give the squad players confidence so that next time they are called upon they are not shy. Its good management. Obviously a few of them are not good enough to cut it in the first team but you do the best you can with the resources you have

Well put my freind

A couple of those should !! be tasting 1st team action sometime this season eh

[Tee]

Excellent summary(!!) PTP.

Agree with Shaggy, Benni is in the wrong category but that aside it looks spot on.

[billy_mac]

PTP. We are at the same work at the same time but you get full marks

[PTP]

Benayoun is so in the category above the one he's been disgracefully lumped in!

aye he is i should really have gone up one with him but wasn't sure if i was looking at him through rose tinted glasses on recent form. - I shall bump the dude up