IMHO, one of the factors that is a clear sign of a improved squad from 2005, is that, back then, we needed more badly our key players.
I remember regular members saying for instance that without Gerrard, we would have been 7th or 8th.
IMHO, one of the best news this season is how the squad has answered when one of our key players is not available.
We have responded well when Torres, Mascherano and Gerrard have been unavailable and that's great news. Because a tittle winning squad can't be too depending on a specific player, they have to be able to win without him too. And we have passed that test incredibly well.
The key players these days are Reina, Mascherano, Torres, Gerrard... but it's great news that the not key players have stepped on when one of the key players haven't been available. One day it will be Keane, one day it will be Kuyt, another day it will be Alonso, but it's very important that the squad is responding well when our world class players are not there.
This is something we didn't use to have in 2005. Alonso was key back then, Gerrard was key back then, and when they weren't available we wouldn't look like winning.
The reasons of it? IMHO a stronger squad. Others might think that playing a consistent side gives confidence to the rest of the squad and it would be fair enough.
But what do you think? is our squad stronger now than in 2005? Or is it this lack of dependancy one of the good things of a settled team?