Liverpool FC Forum

[The Good Yank]

I thought Degen had a pretty solid game against Spurs.  It seems he got alot of grief for not shooting on his one opportunity.  I thought when he got the ball he'd have a tough time scoring from where he was.  And the ball on his left foot.  Add that he's a fullback and I'll give him a pass on that one. 

Seeing as what we had been getting from Kuyt on the right, I don't think Degen's performance was much of a downgrade.  He brought a bit of pace out there as well.  He also was getting kicked all over and still showed a bit of toughness by still getting stuck in.  He's a fair squad player, he came on a free, I've got no problems with him.

[muzza798]

Degan has always looked good. Everytime he's played he has played well, taken on players and belted down the wing with skill. I could never understand why people thought he was easily expendable and then i realised they know nothing about LFC.

[JoeTerp]

He can't play as a fullback. Even though he is much faster than Dossena, he isn't strong enough to take on that role by himself.  He would only be useful as a wingback in a back 5 or as right midfielder with pace and decent defensive skills for a midfielder. He is useful, while Johnson is out, because Carra could use someone with pace on the right flank to help him out, and Degen needs Carra to tell him what to do.  I think opponents like Spurs at home are going to be good for him because we certainly need to be strong defensively because Spurs are going to come to play some football, but he is also fast enough and brings enough energy to contribute in the offense in things like winnings free kicks or making dummy runs, or long runs with the ball that end in short passes.

But against the smaller teams, I think we ought to be using Maxi at RM, and although there could be an argument to play him at fullback against these teams of little threat, I am still not sure he can be trusted there.

And of course a lot has to do with where Kuyt is playing, and that has to do with Torres's fitness and if we want to go with N'gog instead.  Its all interrelated.

[Zidane]

He was okay, could have done better in a lot of situations though, and like many of our young players he needs to put on a lot of muscle before he can be effective day in day out.

[Owzat]

I think hes an alright player, quite good at dribbling and fairly pacey. A nice backup for right back.

But i question his consistency, at the start of the season he looked absolutly w@nk.

There you have it, you've stumbled straight upon the stupidity of the situation. He is our back-up right back and yet when back-up is needed, Rafa puts CARRA there...................

I think he's too much like Riise, well except for a massive difference in shooting and scoring ability - decent going forward and decent defending, but neither a RM nor a RB. He'd maybe make a decent RWB, but we can't afford to play that kind of system being so poor defensively at the moment and lacking many scorers in the side. The one thing Riise could give you is the odd goal, I wasn't too unhappy with him at LM.

I think the suggestion Degen hasn't been mentioned is not right, I've seen a few mentions of him without reading every post and every comment and spending 24/7 on here. The major problem which is quite natural is people won't want to recognise a player having a decent spell if it goes against the impression they have, or want to have, about a player. Same goes for Kuyt, Lucas etc, best ignore them playing well and pass it off as a 'blip' of good form that won't last.

I wouldn't be too surprised if Degen is moved on in the summer, might as well if Rafa's best use of him is to play him out of position, some games we must have 3-5 players out of position (hadn't counted but Carra at RB and Degen at RM is two to start with)

[dawson99]

I think he's had a lot of injuries and will actually end up playing a lot of games for us. Decent ability, still learning but seems to want to play for the team which is a good thing

[leep33]

He isn't a right mid (although he had a decent game against spurs) but looks a decent back up to Johnson as an attacking RB although i am not sure about the defensive side to his game.

[JamCar05]

I thought Degen had a pretty solid game against Spurs.  It seems he got alot of grief for not shooting on his one opportunity.  I thought when he got the ball he'd have a tough time scoring from where he was.  And the ball on his left foot.  Add that he's a fullback and I'll give him a pass on that one. 

Seeing as what we had been getting from Kuyt on the right, I don't think Degen's performance was much of a downgrade.  He brought a bit of pace out there as well.  He also was getting kicked all over and still showed a bit of toughness by still getting stuck in.  He's a fair squad player, he came on a free, I've got no problems with him.

I pretty much agree with this post. While he could have done better in the debated situation with Kuyt, I also thought the latter somewhat overhit his pass and made the angle more difficult for Degen than needed be.

I still don't trust Degen's defensive capabilities though and wouldn't like to see him at rb against decent opposition. If he can maintain the level he had against Spurs he's an ok squad player, as he has pace to burn which can at times be very handy going forward.

[Scottbot]

Realistically, I don't think he's anywhere near good enough. You'll probably be able to get a few hard-working performances from just about anyone who has some kind of professional pedigree (hence cup giant killings and the like...) but players who aspire to be successful in the long-run - at the level we need to be at - have to have a lot more quality than this guy, IMO.

Wot he said.

[stmichael]

I still don't trust Degen's defensive capabilities though and wouldn't like to see him at rb against decent opposition. If he can maintain the level he had against Spurs he's an ok squad player, as he has pace to burn which can at times be very handy going forward.

It's plain to see that he's not a defender. His positional sense is awful at times. Decent going forward though.

[Igor Zidane]

You get what you pay for and we payed nothing for this fella . Not sh!te but not good ,headless chicken if you ask me . No positional sense whatsoever , just likes to run with the ball alot .

[Bad Bob]

Deggen threads merged

[tubby]

You get what you pay for and we payed nothing for this fella . Not sh!te but not good ,headless chicken if you ask me . No positional sense whatsoever , just likes to run with the ball alot .

Nail on the head Igor.

[Owzat]

Philipp Degen told he can leave Liverpool

New Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has told defender Philipp Degen he is free to look for a new club.

The Switzerland international has struggled to make an impact since arriving at Anfield on a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund in July 2008.

The 27-year-old has made only eight starts and five substitute appearances.

"We have had an amicable conversation and he wants to play football," said Hodgson. "We won't stand in his way and he is free to look for another club."

The move continues Hodgson's rebuilding efforts since leaving Fulham to take over at the club on 1 July.

England international Joe Cole and Serbian forward Milan Jovanovic have already arrived at Anfield on free transfers, while Liverpool have also agreed a deal with Rangers to sign teenage defender Danny Wilson.

And captain Steven Gerrard, who has long been linked with a move away from the club this summer, appears to have committed his immediate future to the Merseysiders.

Hodgson will now be hoping to convince two of his other key players - striker Fernando Torres and midfielder Javier Mascherano - to do likewise.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/8840878.stm

So how many full-backs does that leave us? I'd have thought we'd at least get in one before telling Degen he can go, he could possibly have played LB as cover until signings start coming in. Or maybe whispers Woy is going to play three CBs are true, I certainly hope not

[Greavesie]

so Johnson and possibly Agger can play as our full backs this season then? Roy'd best have someone lined up otherwise one injury will cripple us