The strength and depth of our squad

[RafaShanks]

f*** me, what an array of talent Rafa has assembled. All of them hungry for success.

 

No Carra or Stevie tonight.

 

Not to mention the amount of talented youngsters.

 

We must have the most talented squad in the Premiership bar none.

 

Time to rule at home and in Europe me thinks like the good ol' days!!!

[Shirohana]

Indeed.

 

The workrate was astounding, all game. It seems like everyone is hungry fo places, add to that the quality we have added and this campaign is looking very promising.

[meepins]

calm down. Toulouse were the epitome of poverty.

[Earl Hafler]

It was poor opposition. It's August. I'm trying to remain calm about our chances but the options available and the desire of the players...could be a very, very important month ahead.

[Romario]

Indeed.

 

The workrate was astounding, all game. It seems like everyone is hungry fo places, add to that the quality we have added and this campaign is looking very promising.

Agreed. Hopefully thats the end of games like Villa last season. Great night indeed. So so many top players here now.

[genghis]

Just said in the match thread about how good we look. It's not about scoreline or anything, it's about the fact that we're starting to play a very attractive style that looks like it can rip crap teams apart, and that's what we've been missing for 10 years.

[RafaShanks]

calm down. Toulouse were the epitome of poverty.

 

True, but it epitimised our start to the season thus far.

[surf]

I'm going to wait with an early opinion until after the Portsmouth away game.

[Cheesecake]

thats the only game until Everton that isnt a 'we must take 3 points from' type of game. Up until Everton (Pompey) aside 3 points from every game is a must considering who we are playing.

 

Pompey away is a tough one though...

[Bootle Buck]

Don't forget Rafa's Premiership Champion Goatee. He grew it specifically for number 19.

[Nebraska Red]

pick of the bunch for me were Arbeloa, Mascherano and Momo.

 

Mascherano is worthy of a place in our first choice 11 ahead of Momo and Alonso when Gerrard is fit to play again, he never stops working and always manages to put in the important tackle.

 

Arbeloa looked good going forward and did everything right at the back.

 

Momo played slightly more forward and played some nice passes and even the odd crossfield ball.

 

Hyppia was class again and his passing was amazing at times, having said that he had plenty of time.

[growler]

I can see now why Rafa wanted a large squad. He wants every player on the pitch to run and run for the whole 90 minutes, and youi cannot do that the whole season.

 

My only concern is with 2 players for every position, what chance for a Hamill, hobbs, lindfield to break in?

[mooks]

My only concern is with 2 players for every position, what chance for a Hamill, hobbs, lindfield to break in?

Yeah, I'm REALLY concerned about that too

[Tommy Cockles]

Yeah, I'm REALLY concerned about that too

 

Bit harsh, that.

[Knox_Harrington]

I can see now why Rafa wanted a large squad. He wants every player on the pitch to run and run for the whole 90 minutes, and youi cannot do that the whole season.

 

My only concern is with 2 players for every position, what chance for a Hamill, hobbs, lindfield to break in?

Agree with that. You aren't getting a Gerrard more than every ten years realistically and in this day and age with footballers disconnected from fans then having players who represent the city on the football pitch is more important than ever.

[RafaShanks]

I can see now why Rafa wanted a large squad. He wants every player on the pitch to run and run for the whole 90 minutes, and youi cannot do that the whole season.

 

My only concern is with 2 players for every position, what chance for a Hamill, hobbs, lindfield to break in?

 

If they are good enough, then they'll break through.

 

The truth is that none of them are really ready with the exception of Insua.

[Knox_Harrington]

If they are good enough, then they'll break through.

 

The truth is that none of them are really ready with the exception of Insua.

Carragher probably wouldn't break through now.

 

You take a local lad and he could come on 10% for playing with better players and a second 10% for playing for Liverpool at Anfield. If any player from the area has an outside chance then he should be given games. To be fair to the manager he's given Peltier and Guthrie a go and neither were good enough. There's nothing wrong with that as long as these lads keep getting a go occasionally. I wonder if we'll see Threllfall (sp?) in the league cup.

[_00_deathscar]

Threlfall's a left back isn't he? Reckon we'll see Insua instead, who to be fair, does seem to be more than a half decent player.

[Guest Ant]

It's So Exciting and re-assuring in many ways, The Press said we put out a weakened team, yes, but how can the follwing be judge as weak...

 

Mascherano

 

Crouch

 

Kuyt

 

Sissoko

 

Hyypia

 

Arbeloa

 

Yossi

[Guest Anders Honoré]

I think people tend to forget what a talent carragher was seen to be when he broke through, particularly after his move to centreback from midfield.

 

When the likes of Paletta can still get games for us, I think there's room enough for youngsters to at least get a chance. If they are good enough they will probably get more. The only youngster who seem to have really taken the chances he has got to make an impression that he could be good enough for the first team under rafa has been Insua for me. Be interesting to see if he makes it.

 

It is difficult but it shouldn't be that difficult to at least cement your place as a backup player over the first two years as a youngster if you have any talent worth sticking with.

Edited August 29, 2007 by Anders Honoré

[_00_deathscar]

It's So Exciting and re-assuring in many ways, The Press said we put out a weakened team, yes, but how can the follwing be judge as weak...

 

 

Arbeloa

 

I don't think the press have cottoned on to how able he is yet though...

[Guest Ant]

The Press just see him as another Spanish Buy, he is vast becoming one of my favourite players and I am very happy Rafa got him in...

[Gilps]

My only concern is with 2 players for every position, what chance for a Hamill, hobbs, lindfield to break in?

 

Well Hammill did get a new contract before going out on loan again. Suggests he'll get a chance at some point. Hobbs should get a few games this season, especially if we don't bring in another centre half over the next couple of days.

[honourablegeorge]

I don't think the press have cottoned on to how able he is yet though...

 

I saw Arbeloa cited as an example of Rafa's dodgy trasnfer policy by some hack or other not long ago.

[Poolfrog]

Agree with that. You aren't getting a Gerrard more than every ten years realistically and in this day and age with footballers disconnected from fans then having players who represent the city on the football pitch is more important than ever.

As a born and bred scouser I couldn't care less where our players are from. It's how they play that matters. It didn't do us much harm 21 years ago when our double-winning team played in the cup final without any local players. It didn't matter then and it doesn't matter now. If there is another local youngster in one of the junior teams he'll make it if he's good enough