Liverpool FC Forum

by **gaz31** » Thu Jan 08, 2004 3:52 am

There seems to be a growing trend on most LFC forums to dismiss legitimate 'excuses' for why Liverpool have struggled so far this season. One 'excuse' which has been dismissed by many is the injury crisis we have suffered.

If every player was fully fit who would be in your starting eleven? Well mine would be

Kirkland
Finnan
Henchoz
Hyypia
Carragher
Diouf
Hamann
Gerrard
Kewell
Owen
Baros

Some may disagree but I think this is as near to our best eleven. Out of the 25 games we have played thus far that selection of players have never been available to Gerard Houllier. Since Carragher and Baros were injured Gerard Houllier has been without at least 4 of those players on SIX occasions, 5 of them on ELEVEN occasions and as many as 6 on FOUR occasions.

We have been without our first choice strikers for SIXTEEN games. Our defence has lacked at least 3 of our first choice defenders on TWELVE occasions. The season up to mid November saw Liverpool deprived of Kirkland, Henchoz, Carragher, Hamann & Baros for at least 50% of the matches. When Hamann finally returned Finnan, Kewell and Owen all simultaneously joined the injury list.

Many have picked apart the performance against Yeovil. Yet Liverpool had SIX of the first team eleven OUT!!!!. Yes thats right SIX!!!!.

Now some will look at these facts and still shy away from them. They will NEVER give Gerard Houllier even the slightest acknowledgement that he has had to work with a seriously depleted team.

They argue that the squad is weak. Yet they havent even bothered to look more closely at those squad players. Most of them have also been injured also. Diao, Cheyrou and Smicer have also suffered with injuries. Thats the only reason the two French Kids have played as often as they have.

And lets look also at the quality expected of a squad player. Are they to be an equal to our first teamers. I dont think so. A squad player is there to fill in when required due to injury and suspension. They are there to give valuable backup. They are there as an adequate replacement.

We all know that Heskey isnt a patch on Baros and Owen. Yet had Owen or Baros missed a match or two I am sure Heskey would have filled in admirably. NOT for SIXTEEN games though. And especially when both strikers are also out for that duration. And then consider he was also expected to play with a youngster who is new to the game and is plying his trade in a foreign country at the tender age of 18. Yet this is what our squad player has been asked.

We havent asked Biscan to stand in for Henchoz for a few games. It has been months. We havent expected Traore or Riise to marshall the left back position for a few games either. Carragher has been missing for TWENTY games. And we havent expected these players to come in in ones and twos like with most teams. We are bringing in up to SIX squad players at any one time. And still people shake their heads and wonder why we have struggled. Off course all these injuries are Houlliers fault.

For years we have been told by the knowledgable that Cheyrou, Biscan, Smicer, Murphy, Diao and Traore are all cr#p. Yet when Gerard has been forced to field nearly all of them aswell as a couple of French youngsters they are amazed when we struggle. For your information those players are not cr#p. They are all very low on confidence. And no, Gerard is not at fault here either. Not one of these players recieves an ounce of support from the fans. NOT ONE!!!!. They never have. And yet the very fans who have abused and ridiculed them wonder why their confidence is ruined. Again this is down to Houllier. He plays them out of position so he obviously has sapped their confidence. Thats cr#p. Not one person, and I defy anyone to say otherwise, could carry out their job satisfactorily if they were constantly criticised every single day.

So we have had a situation this season which is unprecedented. Liverpool FC have been hit with a huge injury crisis to their very best weaponry. Imagine how the war in Iraq would have faired had the Americans been denied their best attacking weapons. Take away there aircraft and the war would have been tougher. Take out their tanks also and the backup infantry pales in comparison. Yet the infantry are nothing without the heavy backup of the tanks and aircraft. And this is the same with Liverpool's squad players. They have been asked to do most of the work when they needed the help of the injured guys at the same time. We could have coped with injuries to Owen, Hamann, Henchoz and Kirkland. But take out Finnan, Carragher, Baros, Kewell and Gerrard also and we are in trouble.

The same could be said of Arsenal and Man Utd. They havent been placed in a similar position. Where do you honestly think Arsenal would be in the league if Henry had suffered the same injury as Baros. If Pires had suffered the injuries Owen has. If Lehmann was as injury prone as Kirkland. If their two first choice fullbacks were removed for most of the season. Does anybody honestly think that Arsenal would be still be up there challenging? Do they honestly think that a depleted Arsenal would have won at Anfield? I think not. So lets hear no more cr#p about injuries being no excuse. Because if you deprive anybody of their tools how are they supposed to work productively. And its not Gerard Houllier's fault his star players have been injured.

by **gaz31** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 2:38 am

what do you think???

by **Chinesegirl** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 7:09 am

"OK＂is well.

by **Coley** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 10:21 am

Chinese girl - is that you and your sister? if so, nice one!!!

by **Gareth G** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 1:21 pm

That must be the first time i have seen two Chinese people who don't look the same!

Anyway my starting Eleven would be much the same only with Dudek.

by **Coley** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 1:29 pm

Mine would be the same, but i'd have Murphy for Diouf and Heskey for Baros.

by **Owzat** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 2:25 pm

KOP-1892 wrote:Anyway my starting Eleven would be much the same only with Dudek.

Same here. I don't think there's too much scope for anyone to have a vastly different XI, I think most of us would have Hyypia, Henchoz, Finnan, Gerrard, Hamann, Kewell and Owen which leaves only four places

by **gaz31** » Sun Jan 11, 2004 11:41 pm

IM NOT SURE KIRKLAND OR DUDEK???
WHO IS BETTER ?

by **Chinesegirl** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 6:57 am

KIRKLAND is better.
DUDEK often made some easy mistakes.

by **HOMELEIGHKOP** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 9:22 pm

hi china girls but kirkland better keeper:p

by **Dalglish** » Tue Jan 13, 2004 12:03 am

How about this 11 ?

1. Luzi
2. Ostember
3. Biscan
4. Trare
5. Finnon
6. Smicer
7. Murphy
8. Cheyrou
9. Mellor
10.Heskey
11.Welsh

I know I know , but with injuries ALL these players have played a significant role within LFC this season
:cool:

by **Dalglish** » Tue Jan 13, 2004 12:04 am

P.s. Yes I KNOW its a POOR 11

by **DAV** » Tue Jan 13, 2004 1:14 am

injuries are part of football. and injuries are no excuse.
If your suppose to be one of the best teams in england u should have a squad big enough to cope.
The fact is we have a squad big enough but just not much talent around
people say chelsea are trying to buy the premier this maybe true
but we have spent £110 since houlier took over and mostley on french cr#p
get rid of houlier and soon

by **big al** » Sat Jan 31, 2004 12:17 am

True to my drunken promise of last night and having left the pub early tonight I now submit for your perousal Gaz 31

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