EXACTLY 12 months ago this column’s postbag bulged.
Nothing to do with belated Christmas cards or even early birthday wishes (Sunday, in case you’re interested, and Lagavulin is fine, thank you). No, it was the unveiling of the Everpool team for 2006 which caused the traditionally lively response.
Those that disagree usually provide a humorous response, some point out what I can do with my selections and some of those suggestions are medically possible.
But only one player took me to task over his omission, and he’s back in this year – in a period when selection has been harder than ever.
The squads on both sides of Stanley Park are as strong as they have been for years – and only four players from last December’s team keep their places.
So, donning the hard hat – and based on performances in 2007, remember – my combined Everton and Liverpool team was:
GOALKEEPER
ALL too often the most difficult position to choose. This year it’s almost impossible.
You can slide a razor blade between the performances of Pepe Reina and Tim Howard throughout 2007. Both are outstanding shot-stoppers, both command their penalty area and both take crosses confidently (a quality Reina has added to his game). Heck, they even distribute the ball equally well. But Howard endured one dodgy afternoon in 2007 – the FA Cup defeat by Blackburn – while REINA was almost faultless. And his penalty saving record is also better, which just gives him the edge.
RIGHT BACK
IT’S been a shoo-in for years for Steve Finnan, but not this year.
Missing for much of the autumn through injury, and also large chunks of April, he has been replaced at club level, and in the Everpool team by an eternally under-rated Spaniard. ALVARO ARBELOA is quick, snappy in the tackle, quick to support attacks and precise in his distribution. This latter quality pushes him ahead of the inspirational Phil Neville and the terrier-like Tony Hibbert.
CENTRE BACKS
Daniel Agger and Joleon Lescott are two of the best centre-backs in the country, but neither makes it in . . . at least not in their preferred position.
Agger’s injury problems (no appearance since September 15), and Lescott’s versatility, coupled with a lack of available left-backs, creates a couple of vacancies. JAMIE CARRAGHER has been consistency personified throughout 2007, while JOSEPH YOBO missed just five matches throughout the year. As a pair they offer pace, reading of the game, power, a guarantee of clean sheets . . . and the chance to use Lescott elsewhere.
LEFT BACK
LEIGHTON Baines and Fabio Aurelio have offered us tantalising glimpses of what might be, but injuries have prevented them appearing often enough to claim a place in the Everpool XI.
LESCOTT is not just consistent, he’s versatile enough to claim a place in his second best position. John Arne Riise? A previous Everpool player, he has endured a year to forget – one glorious Catalan moment apart, while Nuno Valente and Gary Naysmith were also absent more often than they were available. Lescott, on the other hand, oozes consistent class.
RIGHT MIDFIELD
CONTROVERSY time. Leon Osman has been a shining light of consistency at Goodison, while across the park Yossi Benayoun has been one of Rafa Benitez’s most admired acquisitions.
But throughout 2006 JERMAINE PENNANT finally started to show the quality his game had always lacked throughout his Anfield tenure . . . consistency. Still the best crosser of a ball on Merseyside (he matched Steven Gerrard for goal assists in 2006/07), he was excellent in Athens the night the Champions League was lost. He might still think ‘zoo’ is a high scoring word in Scrabble, but one reckless evening in Porto apart, his performances usually added up and he gets my vote.
CENTRE MIDFIELD
ONE place is nailed on, and STEVEN GERRARD would be my captain, too.
But who would provide the anchor to let Gerrard do what he does best and maraud around the periphery of opposition penalty boxes? Javier Mascherano would probably get the Anfield vote, with support for Xabi Alonso, while across the park some might champion Manu Fernandes for his brief but exciting cameo. But a man who is almost always under-rated, except by his team-mates, is LEE CARSLEY. A pro’s pro, he showed against Birmingham he can provide stunning finishes, too. He also played more minutes in 2007 than any other player in my Everpool side and is my choice.
LEFT MIDFIELD
HE’S the best little Spaniard they know . . . and MIKEL ARTETA certainly put rivals like James McFadden, and the promising Ryan Babel in the shade.
A sumptuous footballer in the School of Science mould, he can also play right across the midfield line if necessary. He’d also be my penalty taker.
ATTACK
PETER CROUCH was the most prolific Mersey marksman in 2006. But in 2007 he wasn’t allowed to be.
Andrew Johnson was held back by injuries, while Dirk Kuyt and Andriy Voronin aren’t ruthless enough in front of goal. You can’t say that about the two men who get in. TIM CAHILL is not, strictly speaking, a striker, but you wouldn’t guess from his incredible goals return. He would provide the work-rate and the attitude which would let FERNANDO TORRES loiter with deadly intent. The Spanish conquistador is the most gifted striker I’ve seen on Merseyside since Dalglish hung his boots up and would probably get in a World XI right now, let alone a Merseyside select.
Subs? How about Howard, Yakubu, Agger, Mascherano and Alonso.
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-f...00252-20292746/
How can Tim Cahill be even mentioned in the same breath as Torres? Cahill's a midfielder
Ryan Babel is nothing like Mikel Arteta.
And Lee Carsley should not even be mentioned in the same breath as Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso or even Sissoko. How is he first choice in Prentices Everpool side
There havin a good season so far but Delusions of Grandeur setting in again.
They always have to compare themselves with us dont they?
You have to laugh, Lee carsley ahead of Alonso, them bitters, always game for a laugh !
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