Liverpool FC Forum

[Fowler_E7]

FFS He is how old 19/20? He may not be a Messi but he is trying and bagging a goal now and again. Give him time.

wots time gonna do? make him world class!  you either have it, or you dont. David N'gog dosnt have it

Henry was written off as useless by Inter at 23 and didn't perform in PL until gone 25 so the give him time arguement stacks up well if you consider somebody whose now defined as 1 off if not the best stricker of the PL era!!!!

well thats the biggest load of rubbish ive ever read! considering that Henry was banging in goals for arsenal by the age of 22

[Owzat]

re N'Gog, he's scored a few goals but not exactly against the best sides. If Kuyt showed the same record he'd be slated, although he scores more goals per app than N'Gog despite playing a lot on the right in the past 2-3 seasons. N'Gog has scored 9 goals in 38 appearances, Kuyt scored 12 just in the league last season, and more as RM than CF, but still gets stick.

N'GOG

08/09 1 vs PSV Eindhoven
08/09 1 vs Sunderland
08/09 1 vs Blackburn

09/10 1 vs Stoke
09/10 1 vs Leeds
09/10 1 vs Man Utd (late 1-on-1)
09/10 1 vs Birmingham
09/10 1 vs Debrecen
09/10 1 vs Wigan

Hardly a set of great opponents, I doubt he'll make it here as more than a bit-part player. He's quite good, but is he exceptional at anything?

re Thierry Henry. He joined Arsenal around his 22nd birthday (both happened in August 1999) and scored just twice in his first 17 games for the goners - and not until his 9th appearance. He managed to finish the season with 26 goals in 47 apps, so perhaps "Henry was banging in goals for Arsenal AT the age of 22" would be more accurate. By 22 he'd scored 39 goals combined at Monaco and Juventus at a not prolific or "goal banging" rate.

I seriously doubt there's any great significance in mention of Henry in the same thread, let alone post, as N'Gog. Henry was a great striker, even at 22, while N'Gog may go on to be a good striker. He's got a lot of goals to score in 14 months if he want's to have scored 39 goals by his 22nd birthday - he's currently on 12. Perhaps the significant indicator why Henry was great and N'Gog won't be is in the fact that N'Gog struggles to get starts, Henry had played 161 times before he joined Arsenal compared to N'Gog's 59. Even if N'Gog played every LFC game from now until his 22nd birthday he'd struggle to get close

[shawnk]

I think the main reason some people have a problem with Ngog is because Rafa seems to be ignoring the youth system. Personally I like him, hes a good squad player, but I also think we could have got the same out of sme of our reserves/youth.

Exactly, some youth prospect has shown much better skill and sharpness (in just few games) than some first team players but was never given more chances, such as Pacheco. Young doesn't mean he's bad, just look at the current world player of the year at 22 years old. And I disagree that Ngog's a gamble, more like favoritism to me.

I think he's not good enough so far for Liverpool's current system, reminds me of Anelka.

[JamCar05]

reminds me of Anelka.

Is that so bad though

Anyways I'm still undecided on N'Gog but willing to give him more time. Imo the problem is that he isn't ready to be our second "main" striker, which is what Rafa is using him as atm. This means people expect great(ish) things from him, which he isn't (and might never be) ready to fullfill. He has however shown some very good things along the way I think. For example some might dismiss his goal against the mancs as a simple one-on-one, while I on the other hand thought he did quite well to calmly slot it past one of the best and most experienced keepers in such an important game. Other young strikers might have choked I suspect. Also I liked his cameo against Spurs the other day. He isn't ready to play from begin on though, I'll definitely agree with that sentiment.

[Yossi_Benaloon]

Just when you think Ngog is starting to show some potential and development he goes and misses an open goal like the one against Bolton - people are going to be asking questions again after that horror show of a miss. open goal, keeper down, tap the ball in - no he bobbles it against the bar from six yards, oh dear.

[Owzat]

I doubt he'll ever be more than a squad player at Liverpool, clubs like Stoke or Burnley might find more use from him and maybe even he could drop down a league and excel. That was just poor from him the other day, not that I base his progress on one miss, but if he's missing those kind of Keane chances then will players look for a pass to him or take a pot at goal themselves. For all the criticism Kuyt gets, a fair number of his shots do hit the target and force a save of some kind, even if the contact isn't always the most convincing. N'Gog needs to use the ball better too, rather than try and dribble into a shooting position lay the ball off and move, pass and move, pass and move. I think it can be contagious with our players, especially if we're playing a weaker side (perceived or otherwise)

[made in UK]

I doubt he'll ever be more than a squad player at Liverpool, clubs like Stoke or Burnley might find more use from him and maybe even he could drop down a league and excel. That was just poor from him the other day, not that I base his progress on one miss, but if he's missing those kind of Keane chances then will players look for a pass to him or take a pot at goal themselves. For all the criticism Kuyt gets, a fair number of his shots do hit the target and force a save of some kind, even if the contact isn't always the most convincing. N'Gog needs to use the ball better too, rather than try and dribble into a shooting position lay the ball off and move, pass and move, pass and move. I think it can be contagious with our players, especially if we're playing a weaker side (perceived or otherwise)

Is Kuyt your brother?

[metalhead]

Has few good skills and good pace, but he first touch is really poor, lacks game intelligence and poor finishing. Squad player at best, can do well when he come on.

[tubby]

FFS He is how old 19/20? He may not be a Messi but he is trying and bagging a goal now and again. Give him time.

wots time gonna do? make him world class!  you either have it, or you dont. David N'gog dosnt have it

Have you ever heard of giving a player time to develop? He has shown he can finish when given the chance and at 1.5Mil I think he could prove to be a handy signing.

[heimdall]

FFS He is how old 19/20? He may not be a Messi but he is trying and bagging a goal now and again. Give him time.

wots time gonna do? make him world class!  you either have it, or you dont. David N'gog dosnt have it

Have you ever heard of giving a player time to develop? He has shown he can finish when given the chance and at 1.5Mil I think he could prove to be a handy signing.

You see this is where I disagree, sure a player can develop, look at Stevie, Nando, reina etc but they must be at a high standard to begin with, you can't have ambitions of winning anything and playing players on a regular basis who have so much to learn, it will never work.

[Ben Patrick]

I think he has done a decnt job at times in difficult circumstances.
But i agree with Fowler regarding development.
His first touch and decision making isnt likely to make drastic improvements. That just doesnt happen.
He should be a squad player at best but given our chronic lack of options he has had to play far more than he should.

[Dundalk]

He is starting to catch the eye and is scoring a lot of goals. Took the one yesterday against Arsenal very well



"I am happy at Liverpool. I am focused on the club and I'm trying to do my best for Liverpool," Ngog told his club's official website.

"I am a striker and I want to score a lot of goals for Liverpool. I work hard for this and so it's good when it comes off.

"When Javier passed the ball to me in the box I couldn't see so many solutions so I took a shot and that's that."

Liverpool played the second half of the game with ten men after Joe Cole was sent off just before the interval.

Although Ngog's goal came in the second half, the Frenchman was still pleased that the Reds had managed to hold on for a point in the end.

"Yes, it's a good point because when we went down to 10 men we realised it was going to be difficult to get a point," he said.

"I don't know if he deserved the red card. He just wanted to do well. But after that we fought together and did well."

Ngog is also pleased to be working with new boss Hodgson.

"So far it's been really good," he explained.

"He talks really closely with the players. He has a lot of experience and this will help us to be at a top level.

"He has managed for a long time and he's good for the club."

Despite the opportunity the Spaniard's being named on the bench handed him, Ngog is keen to see the return of Fernando Torres to the Reds staring line-up.

He added: "He really helps us. He's a key player and it's good for our future. It was a boost. When big players like him and Stevie say they are staying it's a good thing for Liverpool. We are a big club and we need big players."

LINK

[stmichael]

You can tell the boy's been in the gym. Looks a lot stronger than last season.

[bunglemark2]

Has few good skills and good pace, but he first touch is really poor, lacks game intelligence and poor finishing. Squad player at best, can do well when he come on.

Agreed, mate. I think his first touch is pi$$ poor, and you can't train that "into" a player

[andy_g]

i really believe that there is something to him and now and again we see a flash of brilliance from him, the finish for his goal yesterday being one example. i don't know whether its a confidence that comes and goes through matches, his concentration, footballing brain, or talent or what thats holding him back though. like others have said, he really epitomises the saying 'to blow hot and cold' - if we can find a way for him to blow hot more often then we'll have a decent player on our hands. still a country mile of a full time torres understudy but a decent striker nonetheless.