Saturday the day to spot new players - Cup tied players not on wish list
Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 12:39 pmI think it was pretty much common knowledge that last nights game, if it had gone ahead would have seen a "Carling Cup Style" Liverpool team featuring a lot of youngsters. Now I do think that Rafa will have used the League Cup games to get a good look at the youngsters at his disposal. However I do not think he will have been treating the FA Cup game with as much contempt.
I genuinely think that Rafa was going to rest the first teamers last night more than play the youngsters. However the reason we would have seen so many inexperienced lads is that our squad is really inadequate. Whereas Chelsea now boast two really good players in every position, we have maybe one or two positions where this is the case. With such a demanding schedule (even more so now the game is to be rearranged) it is important, in fact no it is essential all players are kept fresh and the squad rotated.
Rafa will I am sure want to play his whole squad throughout the season, but I'm equally as sure that he would rather have a blend of both experienced and younger players in each and every match. As opposed to playing full strength for games in Europe and "the kids" in the Carling Cup. In order to ensure this happens, signing (very much like Pellegrino who will do Zak Whitbread the world of good should they play together) more players, both experienced and young is essential.
The big problem we have had this season is, with one of only two "main strikers" out for the season, our top striker, Milan, has to either play up front alone, or work alongside (and to a certain extent educate) Mellor or Pongolle, who are both largely inexperienced.
If we do (and I pray every night we do) sign Fernando Morientes, with Milan being currently injured, we still only have young but established forward, and God forbid he should get injured we are again back to the kids. Therefore we also need a forward who is eligible for CL, which rules out most experienced foreign players, as they have probably already featured in the Champions League this season.
I think that leaves him with the option of the English based players, such as Anelka and according to some reports Yakubu of Portsmouth.
That is why, and I know its taken me some time to get to the point, I think watching the games this weekend in the FA Cup will be a really good indicator as to the possible transfer targets for us during this window. Obviously if either of the aforementioned strikers play today I think we can rule them out of the reckoning due to being cup tied in the FA Cup. This would create an unbeleiveable headache for Rafa if we had forwards trying to form a partnership who where inelligble for various compatitions.
These reasons for me will be the biggest indicator as to who is really up for sale and who we might be interested in this January.
The news of Anelka's refusal to take a fitness test, and reports today that his "injury" rule him out for the FA Cup speaks volumes for me.
I genuinely think that Rafa was going to rest the first teamers last night more than play the youngsters. However the reason we would have seen so many inexperienced lads is that our squad is really inadequate. Whereas Chelsea now boast two really good players in every position, we have maybe one or two positions where this is the case. With such a demanding schedule (even more so now the game is to be rearranged) it is important, in fact no it is essential all players are kept fresh and the squad rotated.
Rafa will I am sure want to play his whole squad throughout the season, but I'm equally as sure that he would rather have a blend of both experienced and younger players in each and every match. As opposed to playing full strength for games in Europe and "the kids" in the Carling Cup. In order to ensure this happens, signing (very much like Pellegrino who will do Zak Whitbread the world of good should they play together) more players, both experienced and young is essential.
The big problem we have had this season is, with one of only two "main strikers" out for the season, our top striker, Milan, has to either play up front alone, or work alongside (and to a certain extent educate) Mellor or Pongolle, who are both largely inexperienced.
If we do (and I pray every night we do) sign Fernando Morientes, with Milan being currently injured, we still only have young but established forward, and God forbid he should get injured we are again back to the kids. Therefore we also need a forward who is eligible for CL, which rules out most experienced foreign players, as they have probably already featured in the Champions League this season.
I think that leaves him with the option of the English based players, such as Anelka and according to some reports Yakubu of Portsmouth.
That is why, and I know its taken me some time to get to the point, I think watching the games this weekend in the FA Cup will be a really good indicator as to the possible transfer targets for us during this window. Obviously if either of the aforementioned strikers play today I think we can rule them out of the reckoning due to being cup tied in the FA Cup. This would create an unbeleiveable headache for Rafa if we had forwards trying to form a partnership who where inelligble for various compatitions.
These reasons for me will be the biggest indicator as to who is really up for sale and who we might be interested in this January.
The news of Anelka's refusal to take a fitness test, and reports today that his "injury" rule him out for the FA Cup speaks volumes for me.