Liverpool Boss Is Happy With Squad Depth But are the Fans?
by YNWA on August 31st, 2009 331 words | 40 commentsNothing left in the kitty!
“It is correct we had some young players on the bench the other night, but Fabio Aurelio is a senior player who is injured, Agger is injured and we have Aquilani to come back.
“That is three players and if we put them on the bench people will say we have a good squad. It is a question of trying to keep everyone fit and ready. The young players will also have more experience after this year, so if everyone works together we will have a very good squad.” (Rafa talking to Liverpool FC.tv)
So it Rafa trying to make the most of the fact that he isn’t getting the financial backing from Messrs Hicks and Gillett or do we actually believe what he is saying? An extra signing or two wouldn’t go amiss in my book but it doesn’t appear likely that we will make any last ditch additions.
This summer three players have arrived at the club, Alberto Aquilani, Glen Johnson and Sotiris Kyrgiakos, whilst a total of ten players have left. Anderson, Leto, Ajdarevic, Hobbs, Hyypia, Arbeloa, Pennant, Alonso, O’Connor and Hammill, and whilst a fair few of these are simply players who Rafa didn’t feel were going to make the step up from reserves to the senior set up, it does leave our squad a little light.
I am forever being told by my non-Liverpool supporting friends, with a certain amount of glee, that if we lose Torres or Gerrard for anything more than the occasional game then we are in big trouble. And whilst it’s a little simplified an argument, it is however pretty accurate.
Unless during these potential absences a number of players step up their games, we could be in trouble. Hopefully all our top players will stay clear of injury, that goes without saying, however if we had more depth in our squad then perhaps we wouldn’t wince every time our first eleven puts in a tackle.
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Liverpool Unveil Kyrgiakos & Q+A Session with New Signing









anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 11:56 am
Im sure as hell not happy
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 12:07 pm
You should tell your non-pool supporting pals to do one. Check the stats – Man U have been miles more reliant on Ronaldo and Rooney for a larger % of their goals the past few seasons. Of course it’s bad news if Stevie or Nando are out, but all teams have their star players. (Watch Spurs struggle now that Modric is injured.) There’s no doubt we’re being buggered financially by our owners in comparison to other big clubs, but I’m sick of this sign!sign!sign! superfan mentality. How’s about fans actually get behind the players that are at the club – huge, criminally underrated talents like Lucas – instead of booing them? How’s about aseeing past Voronin’s ponytail, actually watching him and comnig to the conclusion the lads actually bloody talented for a squd player (watch him do well this term) Sick of all the bloody superfans and knee-jerkers saying they’re not happy with this and that, copying the shite spouted by ignoramus pundits and not even gong to or watching entire matches to get the real story. Nobody has a divine right to win the league. If you think we do; bugger off and support Man City – Rafa, the players and us genuine supporters don’t need your ilk!
Kop King - August 31st, 2009 at 12:27 pm
The above was from me by the way.
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 12:28 pm
we have one forward who can score a goal and several below par wingers… that is the problem… of course im not happy. however we stil made some good signings.
vince in oz - August 31st, 2009 at 12:31 pm
wats wrong with getting van der vaart on loan with an option to buy? add good depth and quality and culd really help us wen say stevie is out..also provides good depth to the left side..allows rafa to play babel upfront, which is where rafa shuld start playin the lad..
wat bout baptista for dossenna? roma need a left back as riise seems to be headin to bayern munich, and they are linked to him…wuld be a perfect swap as he provides cover for torres and in the midfeild, and im sure liverpool fans remember wat he did to us on that one night…
YNWA
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 12:39 pm
I’m with you on your Voronin speach, as I feel that neither Rafa nor the majority of the fans has given him a fair chance. Concerning Lucas I must say that even if I see that the lad has upped his game, it’s not at the desired level and that he still have a lot to proove this year. Babel on the other hand looks more and more like a total flop, I’m afraid to say – and in that regard I’m actually a bit puzzled that he haven’t been sold yet
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 12:42 pm
i agree lucas is underated by most fans he is good but at the minute we need a bit more than good he’s more than capable of playing a part this season but we need a more direct attacking option to partner masch in my opinion know we’ve got bugger all money but we need van der vart or baptista in a more advanced role and not at the cost of another player, or drop gerrard back to cm where he will still get shite loads of goals and get yossi playing ‘the gerrard role’ and at the risk of sounding like his agent i’d get zaki as back up for torres or to partner him id like to see the following formation
—————————————reina—————————————-
———————carra—————————–skrtl————————
johnson——————————————————————–insua
————————————-masch—————————————–
—————————–gerrard/vdv/aqui————————————-
kuyt/gerrard———————————————————-riera/yossi
——————————–gerr/vdv/zaki—————————————-
—————————————–torres/zaki———————————
league won in my mind anyway
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 12:43 pm
With you fella. Voronin has, for some reason, been made a scapegoat while Babbel – who is an extraordinary athelete but lacks real technique but more importantly grit and desire – is continually lauded. All players are not equal! It’s a huge season for Ryan though, he looked really up for it in pre-season but hid as soona s the going got tough at Spurs. He needs to shape up or he’s a gonner next summer. Lucas has lots of potential but I agree he’s not yet consistantly delivering – what I’m saying is it’s up to us to get behind him, get his confidence up and then we might start seeing him really come into his own. By the time alberto is fit, I want to see him struggle to get into the team – competition is good!
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 12:49 pm
I liked the Gerrard/Lucas combo against Bolton with Stevie playing attacking mid and Lucas mopping up. If anyone is struggling in central idfield this term it’s Masc, sometimes I wonder if we need a destroyer against lesser teams as Lucas has upped the defensive side of his game significantly during the last 12 months and is a miles better passer than Javier.
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 12:58 pm
i agree against lesser teams who just park the bus assuming we dont buy any one else id play
—————————————reina———————————
———————carra————————–agger/skrtl———-
johnson———————————————————–insua
———————————lucas————————————-
——————gerrard———————–yossi——————-
kuyt—————————————————————–riera
———————————torres————————————
subs-cav,dossena,skrtl,masch,babel,voronin,n’gog
Mr. Chopper - August 31st, 2009 at 12:59 pm
It’s BABEL. Not BABBEL. It’s not the turn of the millenium!
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Sorry Markus ;op
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Dont agree.
Masch, except at spurs, has done extremely well. Just watch and u will see the workrate and great tackles.
Lucas cant tackle.
Lucas does have talent, but he cant handle the EPL, 2 fast. Just watch him against slower opposition, i.e. all other teams except thos from EPL, he does well – very suprised he is brazilian.
We have good wings, Riera is excellent, he provides width, drible and cross.
Kuyt, though not an out and outwinger, does score goals. I rate him highly.
And Benne – we all know his abilities.
Give Voronin a chance – lets be patient.
BTW: as a liverpool fan, will support no matter what, i dont feel we will win this league this season. And my belief is that our players dont as well – u can see it.
Its just the squad is 2 thin.
Suprising thing is, speak to any UTD fan, they also dont beleive they will win.
But rafa has made us part of the big 4, before him, who were we.
Lets take this year, and with the addition of Rodolfo who developed players like messi, lets develop our younger gen, cos stevie and carra are not gettin any younger.
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 1:07 pm
THE CHOSEN ONE
I keep saying this and nobody believes me. We lost the league last season because of our central midfield player. Our forward did more than enough as well as our wingers. How many goals did our midfield score all season in the league? yes 3. and only 3. I see what rather is doing in bringing in the roman.
We`d more more attacking minded.
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 1:15 pm
3 goals from midfield is shocking drop gerrard back to cm and play yossi behind nando until aquilani is fit
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Good points. Masch’s commitment and tackling abilities aren’t in question, maybe it’s just that Lucas and Masch don’t work well as a pair? I always thought Lucas played better alongside Xabi, actually. Lucas’ tackling still occasionally involves hauling people down in dangerous situations, but he’s become pretty adept at nicking the ball off the opposition and his positioning – whether defensively or offensively – is excellent. Agree with all your points about Yossi, Voro, Dirk et al. and I also agree we’ll struggle to win the league this season – and it;s particuarly frustrartign because with a bit more financial oomph we might just have put ourselves in prime position. Look at United though? They appear to have the same problem – do you really reckon Fergie wouldn’t have spent the Ronaldo money if it were made available? I don’t. Still, it promises to be an exciting season – we have some decent youth players and underrated squaddies who’ll hopefully step up this term – I reckon we’ll be pushing hard as per. And we’ll certainly finish above Spurs and Man City!!
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 1:18 pm
For all his genius passing ability, Alonso never, ever scored anywhere near enough goals. Mind you, he hit the post and bar about a million times!
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 1:27 pm
We seriously need to buy someone quick! i really dont think we have a chance of the tittle if we dont. Loan vander vaart sorted staright!
Reina
Johnson Carra skrtel Insua
Mascherano
aquilani Gerrard
Vandervaart Reira
Torres
Subs- cavalieri, agger, yossi, kuyt, aurelio babel/vorinin
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Why do people always think players we don’t have are better than ones we do? Why drop Kuyt for Van der Vaaart, for instance? Dirk was in our top 3 performers last season (alongside Gerrard and Alonso). What has VDV ever done to make you so sure we need him?
That said, if we could snap him up on loan this season – I’d take it lol.
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 1:38 pm
i agree he was had limited ability not great defensively not great going forward no pace but had an awsome delivery its sounding like beckham, bit harsh he did have good vision and passing range and good understanding of his team mates but for me we just needed something a bit more, like goals (and the fact he didnt want to play for us) i think we’ll get goals from aquilani when he’s fit and will look a completly different side we just need to soldier on till everyones fit and prey for torres and gerrard to stay injury free YNWA
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 1:47 pm
IMO Rafa is giving lucas match experience. Rafa’s making him a holding dmf like masch and will be backup for him when aquilani comes in. Rafa is also bleeding insua and ayala. I hope he tries out our other youths. Come on you reds fan. Get behind the players we have and our manager. This is what we have due to the dumb owners. No more booing our own players because it’s not the Liverpool way! They’ll never walk alone!
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Its not looking good at the moment with no decent CM because honesty Lucas? the boy is to inconsistent take Stoke for example he played great one tackles played good balls then before that the tottenham game terrible but hopefully Aquilani is the key we need him to be. Onto the striker situation as we all know Torres is so important to our squad remember last season when he was out we were depending on a youngster Ngog who is not worthy yet should loan him out for a season in the championship anyway the best option seeing as we have no money is a loan for julio baptista or even (i know its a long shot) Roman Pavlyuchenko
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 2:01 pm
No do not loan ngog! I’m already pissed nemeth got loaned. Cmon guys,if we don’t give the youth and our squad players(yes,they are not the starting 11) games,how would they become better players? Rafa is trying to develop a team for the years to come. Give the players who have not peaked a chance. I do not support real madrid. I support the mighty reds!
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 2:49 pm
hii everone keeps saying that insua should play left back,when it should be agger coz he makes dangerous runs and will score goals like johnson.the more goal scorers u have the better.we need another front man,zaki would do just to stop defenders taking lumps out of torres,another front man high up the pitch will take defenders away and leave torres to find space. i cant believe we havent tried to loan players like eider gudjohnson or tuncay.both players cause defences havoc and bring goals.if we dont get another front man nando will be injured from constant abuse or sent off for retaliation,he is only human for christ sake.
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 3:07 pm
I was disappointed we didn’t go for Tuncay. Well underrated.
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Mmmn, cos Insua is a left back and Danny is a centre back? We’d have to retrain him, it’s a totally different proposition. Our defence is at 6s and 7s as it is without rocking the boat further. I’d just like to see Agger fit and back in the team, that’d be a start!
Kop King - August 31st, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Last comment from me forgot to log in.
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Cheers for letting us know, I was really wondering who wrote it!
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 4:47 pm
My instinct says that the owners are gearing up to sell Liverpool fc, hence there s been lack of funding for new signings.. if i had a business and knew i was gonna sell in few months time then i would also hold on to my purse tight…
YANKS & RAFA out… DIC and MOURINHO IN!! well i may be being bit too wishful..JUS YANKS OUT THEN!!! PLeeaaSSSee!
P.S: i said RAFA out cause i dont thnk he will spend the money on TOP WORLD CLASS PLAYERS and he is tactically too stubborn and too slow to make game plan changes during games!!
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Mourinho in? The guy is everything we as a club hate! Rafa too tactically stubborn? He’s the best tactician in the game! Spend money on world class players? Like Torres, Alonso and (fingers crossed) Johnson? You’re no Liverpool fan mate. Just another TalkSport goon.
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 5:05 pm
hii agger has played left back lots of times,when a right winger comes down there and is smashed into by agger it might put them off a little,he also pushes down the left wing and has quality crosses or thunder bolt shots.insua is good and should be kept for cover or the future but not quite there yet.the prem is a tough league agger enjoys the battles not shy at all.
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 5:10 pm
But only when need be, and he hasn’t shone there. I actually think if you were to chnage his position he’d make a fine holding midfielder as he can pass, dribble, tackle and shoot. But he ain’t a left back. Also, he might enjoy a battle but from the amount of injuries Danny’s picked up the last 3 seasons the lad is made of glass! Big fan of his though, real touch of class about him. Let’s hope this latest op is his last for a while and sorts him out.
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Patience and our undying support is the key. lets be positive and let the players feel that as long as they pull on that red shirt and give 100% we will be behind them. We all know that the owners of the club have been untruefull and despicable not just to the fans but to the team and staff as a whole. It is clearly evident that no money is available, if it was i would be 100% sure it would be used wisely by Rafa and certain players would be moved on, this man is a genius,until such time we are in a position of financial strengh, then we are were we are. Do you really think he would have signed that greek player if he had the money to buy a english premership player, i would think not ? (AND I;M NOT KNOCKING HIM) i agree we need to offer support to lucas and vorin. As for Babel i really want him to do well as i’m sure other fans do. Surely his ommision from the Holland squad will give him enough time to reflect his own future. Y.N.W.A
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 8:41 pm
were fucked this season i dont think we’ll get top four
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 8:44 pm
I disagree. Tell you what though, if we really didn’t get top four it’d be a bloody fire sale. I hate what these various billionaire owners are doing to the beautiful game, but if we don’t get in some owners prepared to compete financially in this crazy market then LFC as a force are finished.
anonymous - August 31st, 2009 at 11:36 pm
no matter who you put up front with torres hes still gona get 2 defenders tracking him!! it anoys me aswell the way defenders are picking on him, the bully him because they no what he can do i think he needs to toughen up a bit moree and fight back!!
nanaghlfc - September 1st, 2009 at 12:51 am
i totally disagree
nanaghlfc - September 1st, 2009 at 12:58 am
and folks especially donavan reid this is nana.i’ve changed my username so please stop e-mailing me
anonymous - September 1st, 2009 at 5:37 am
10 out, 3 in………oh my, its looks like the long awaited cup is near………………LONDON! as much as it pains to say it, it probably will go south. NO TEAM is ever goin to improve when they get rid of 7 players…………unles the seven are Dossena, Lucas, Dossena, Lucas, Dossena, Lucas,Dossena. Our problem there is we only have 1 of each to sell!!! You yanks may run the club but its the people really, who OWN it. Its in their hearts, on their sleeves, they eat it for breakfast and sleep with it at night. And remember, a fan cannot lose his club, a club will always be there whether its in the top div or not. BUT a Club can always lose its fans( for H&G thats $$$$$$$$$-no fans, no $$$$$$$ ) Always, ALWAYS, deep down, somewhere in my sub-consciousness,even tho its politically incorrect or rude and stereotypical………………. I knew yanks were retarded! GET OUT OF OUR CLUB
anonymous - September 1st, 2009 at 11:06 pm
selling 10 players and only buying 3 spells out a few things to me:
1. less personnel being paid every week to build finances for other improved contracts.
2. only alonso, arbelloa, and hyppia would have had a game anyway.
3. rafa has replaced r back. cent back, mid fld
4. maybe the owners are loosing patience, are they ready to sell up?
5. at least there are fewer players for rafa to rotate.
maybe we will have new ownership i hte next few months
do you agree