Liverpool FC Forum

by **115-1073096938** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 9:42 pm

Am i mistaken in saying Mellor has 4 first team goals in 7 or 8 games?

Doesn't look that bad does it?

I'm sure Owen had something like 3 in his first 16 or somthing, also, Cisse has 3 in 14.

Mellor has scored against Boro and Arsenal and Sheffield United...

Boro and Arsenal for me are two of the top 6 defensive sides in the country, maybe even the top 5.

2 of Owens first 3 were against a poor wimbledon side and one was a penalty.

Owen and Cisse were also given a run in the side, Mellor wasn't.

Now don't all read this and start acting like kids and saying I'm saying Mellor can be as good a PLAYER as Cisse or Owen, that would be silly and rediculous as he clearly isn't at there level... but what i'm saying is, maybe with experience, the right coaching and fitness work he could become a decent player.

by **who the hell is diarra** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 9:46 pm

Had n't actually noticed that Stu thats a bloo*y good start in my book. Mellor isn't the most technically gifter of strikers but that is a bit irrelevant as the lad knows how to score goals . His record for the reserves & U 19's is awesome and his first team start had been good

by **JBG** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 9:48 pm

100% agree.

I thought last summer that Mellor's chance was gone, although I wasn't basing that on his performance at West Ham. He struggled at West Ham not because he was poor, but he had problems with injuries, problems settling down and West Ham were also in crisis, changing manager and the new guy that came in, Alan Pardew, didn't fancy him and bought a few other strikers.

No one is saying that Mellor is going to be class, but the guy has effort and heart in abundance, and he has always been able to find the net. He deserves a chance over the next month, and he is a better bet at leading the line than Pongolle. I'm won't be too harsh on Pongolle and I think better times are around the corner for him as well (he needs a goal, which he will get soon).

by **who the hell is diarra** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 9:52 pm

Yeah i agree about the Pongelle thing JBG now is not the time to judge him it may seem odd considering the Mellor thing but playing him as a lone striker really doesn't seem an option he's too lightweight Mellor is tailor made for this role too . He's shown glimpses of his ability n needs games now

by **JBG** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 9:56 pm

The system we played yesterday is actually the way forward for the next month or so, but under that system Pongolle couldn't possibly be asked to lead the line. He'll get a few runs, no doubt, but he showed some glimpses last year of electric pace and if he manages to get himself a goal, it should get him going. Baros took a long time to establish himself, so hopefully the same goes for Pongolle.

by **who the hell is diarra** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 9:58 pm

Yep ! Patience will yield it's reward like it has with Milan

by **bigmick** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 10:01 pm

I personally think that Stu's Mellor stat is living proof that stats aren't everything. I don't need a stat to tell me whether Mellor is good enough or not, and I suspect if they're really honest, other people know the truth as well. If that stat is gen', then I'll put it on the line right now. Mellor isn't up to it, not today, tomorrow or next year. Sorry but no. If I'm wrong, I'll eat my keyboard.

by **banana** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 10:04 pm

bigmick wrote:I personally think that Stu's Mellor stat is living proof that stats aren't everything. I don't need a stat to tell me whether Mellor is good enough or not, and I suspect if they're really honest, other people know the truth as well. If that stat is gen', then I'll put it on the line right now. Mellor isn't up to it, not today, tomorrow or next year. Sorry but no. If I'm wrong, I'll eat my keyboard.

Nice to se some realism in here. Don't hide behind some numbers. And statistics Stu is a big numbers game. 7 games is not statistics, it is random observations. Mellor is first to leave when the transfer window opens in january. If Sheffield has half a million to spend, we should take it.

by **who the hell is diarra** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 10:10 pm

Ian Rush and John Aldridge were no John Barnes, or even Ronaldo

what they did do was find the net very very very very very very very very very regularly

A bit more polish n a bit more work n who knows . N i agree that stats mean nowt goals are what counts n Mellors got 4 the kid is doin fine for me

by **JBG** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 10:11 pm

Evenin' Mick.

No, stats aren't everything. There used to be a guy on this forum last season called Owzat who used stats for every arguement he made, but as the old saying goes, there's "lies, damned lies and statistics".

I'm not saying Mellor is the answer (nor do I think Stu is) but beggars cannot be choosers, and I think he is the best solution we have to our short term strikers problems. The real solution, of course, is the midfield, particularly with Steven Gerrard in a free role, but I think that to make that work we need a big guy in a lone role up front who is prepared to kill himself out on the pitch, chasing down defenders and throwing his weight about. Obviously that can't last forever and we'll be caught out, but for the moment, I think its the best option available. Sinema has been disapointing (he looked like an ersatz Owen at times last year, but I won't be too hard on him and he might - albeit just might - come good) and Kewell is neither a forward nor is he, apparently, fit nor up for it, and that leaves Mellor as the only "solution" available. All the same, I'm going to be a very nervous bunny until January.

by **A.B.** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 10:19 pm

I agree with JBG. We are in a difficult situation so we will have to stick with Mellor. So he is not a class striker but if he can get the job done like he did yesterday who gives a ******? If he can do what he did yesterday then he will be "good" enough until Baros returns and until we sign a new striker.

by **bigmick** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 10:20 pm

JBG, if he's achieved one thing in my book, its to elevate himself above the the fitful ping-pong. Really though, lets be serious for a second. Is he a beter player than Marcus Bent? Than Kevin Phillips even today? Than Shola ameobi? Than Johnathon Johannsson? than Andy Cole even today? than Yakubu? than Emile Heskey or Darren Huckerby? than Kanu or Stern John or Johnathon Macken? Is he really better than any of the above? Or equal to?
Also, the most important question of all, is he anywhere near as good as Robert Earnshaw?

by **who the hell is diarra** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 10:24 pm

bigmick wrote:JBG, if he's achieved one thing in my book, its to elevate himself above the the fitful ping-pong. Really though, lets be serious for a second. Is he a beter player than Marcus Bent? Than Kevin Phillips even today? Than Shola ameobi? Than Johnathon Johannsson? than Andy Cole even today? than Yakubu? than Emile Heskey or Darren Huckerby? than Kanu or Stern John or Johnathon Macken? Is he really better than any of the above? Or equal to?
Also, the most important question of all, is he anywhere near as good as Robert Earnshaw?

I take your point but you've just named the 1st choice strikers of the teams there would any of those that would be happy a to be 4th choice

by **fivecups** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 10:28 pm

bigmick wrote:I personally think that Stu's Mellor stat is living proof that stats aren't everything. I don't need a stat to tell me whether Mellor is good enough or not, and I suspect if they're really honest, other people know the truth as well. If that stat is gen', then I'll put it on the line right now. Mellor isn't up to it, not today, tomorrow or next year. Sorry but no. If I'm wrong, I'll eat my keyboard.

I just think its far too early in Mellor's career to make that sort of judgement yet. As Diarra says we dont have to have a striker who looks perfect on the ball, with dazzling footwork, and brilliant vision, we just need someone who scores goals. Great strikers like the aforementioned Ian Rush just seem to have that instinct, and Mellor for me has done well so far.

He's got heart and commitment and he's scored a few goals. Im going to wait until he gets a decent run in the team and then make my mind up. We haven't got much choice until Baros comes back anyway.

by **bigmick** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 10:30 pm

No mate i deliberately didn't name all 1st choice strikers. It's a debateable point of course but I would say that Beattie is 1st choice at Southampton, Shearer/Bellamy/Kluivert at Newcastle etc. You may have something of a point and so might I. Sorry to be dogmatic, but we could debate this at the rate of one post each per hour until this time next thursday and absolutely nothing could convince me that Neil Mellor is worthy of being a squad member at liverpool.
To those who say "he's all we've got" I say, of course he is but thats not the debate. We've got to play him now 'cos we've got nobody else. I'm talking beyond our current desperate situation.

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