Liverpool FC Forum

by **Dundalk** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 1:14 am

All we ever seem to be hearing lately is about Gerrard and Torres and how important they are to the team. if they both don't play then its simple - Liverpool will lose 4-0, no questions asked. I was wondering if we are getting to the stage that the same could be said about little Yossi?

His performances last season and so far this season have been superb and he is a different type of player than most we have in the squad. He slotted into the Gerrard role on Sunday against United and was arguably man of the match. It seemed Steve wasn't even missed! His importance in the eyes of the Liverpool faithful was shown when Rafa took him off last week against Lyon and the crowd shown their anger by booing loudly

In your opinion is he now our third most important player or just another Luis Garcia in disguise?

by **Emerald Red** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 1:20 am

Dundalk wrote:All we ever seem to be hearing lately is about Gerrard and Torres and how important they are to the team. if they both don't play then its simple - Liverpool will lose 4-0, no questions asked. I was wondering if we are getting to the stage that the same could be said about little Yossi?

His performances last season and so far this season have been superb and he is a different type of player than most we have in the squad. He slotted into the Gerrard role on Sunday against United and was arguably man of the match. It seemed Steve wasn't even missed! His importance in the eyes of the Liverpool faithful was shown when Rafa took him off last week against Lyon and the crowd shown their anger by booing loudly

In your opinion is he now our third most important player or just another Luis Garcia in disguise?

I'd go with Pepe being the 3rd most important as of yet. Alonso was arguably, but will Aquilani take his spot? I think so. I'd put Yossi in the same importance to the team as Riera, Agger and Johnson IMO.

by **account deleted by request** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 1:27 am

Kinnell Dundalk thats a hard question for this time of night mate.

I have to admit he has constantly proven me wrong. I didn't want him in the first place, then I thought he was only good enough to be a squad player and now he is usually in my team. Not sure if he can ever step up to the next level but he is certainly more than worth his place in the team on present form.

Maybe with Aquilani coming into the reckoning he may struggle to keep his place ...... but I have learned my lesson and won't back against him this time.

by **NANNY RED** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 1:27 am

Yes ive slated him in the past, but the little fella has proved me wrong Rafas best bargain buy imo 5 million, best little jew around

by **LFC2007** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 2:01 am

"Let's not get carried away..."

At the moment he's a nailed on starter, our most potent attacking threat after Torres and Gerrard, but he clearly isn't in their league and we aren't anything like as reliable on him as we are those two in the long-run. In the short-run - from the start of this season - he's been our third standout player in attack, and that's come about partly by default - because injuries and a lack of form throughout the squad have caused people to latch onto the game of the next best performer. In that sense I think his value has been augmented, but credit to him all the same for taking on that extra responsibility and frankly, making a vital contribution against the Manc's that might just see our season turn on its head. For the time being at least he's taken over from Kuyt as the hardworking/goalscoring/assist-giving/unsung-hero type.

Once we see Aquilani and Gerrard step into the centre, his responsibilities will likely diminish and if Riera can return to form and fitnes, his influence probably won't be as illuminating as it has been recently. Still, while he's in the groove he deserves to start and it will be the job of Riera and Kuyt to displace him.

by **Emerald Red** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:39 am

NANNY RED wrote:Yes ive slated him in the past, but the little fella has proved me wrong Rafas best bargain buy imo 5 million, best little jew around

Excellent buy, considering it cost the Mancs 17 million to sign a spanner called Nani. How many hat-tricks has Yossi scored, and how many has Nani scored now? Very understated purchase from Rafa by all, I must say.

by **Sabre** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:52 am

I don't think that Benayoun is more important than Mascherano or Reina despite his start of the season has been excellent.

But definitely he has become a important player, a player that didn't need countless opportunities to show his stuff, and a player that has grown a lot since his young Racing Santander days. The reason of this growth is that quite simply he seems a hell of a professional footballer.

by **andy_g** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:12 am

it surprises me that its taken until the 7th post to find any mention of mascherano. i know that, until the last couple of games at least, his form this season hasn't been what we'd expect - but this is the captain of argentina and one of the very finest midfield protectors/destroyers currently playing the game. in terms of quality of player and importance to the team i would always put him a close 3rd after torres and gerrard. without him we just seem to offer free passage through our midfield to just about anybody who's up for it.

not wanting to take anything away from yossi, mind. he's really come on and makes a nonsense of the accusations that benitez is unable to buy cheap and bring those players on. he's not as consistent as some make out, but on the regular occasions that he plays well he's one of the best on the pitch.

by **tonyeh** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 11:41 am

Personally, I think Benayoon is still very much hit and miss. Although, he's a first 11 too IMO. However, as someone else said, it's Reina who's definitely the third pilar of strength in the Liverpool squad by a long shot.

by **NANNY RED** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:25 pm

andy_g wrote:it surprises me that its taken until the 7th post to find any mention of mascherano. i know that, until the last couple of games at least, his form this season hasn't been what we'd expect - but this is the captain of argentina and one of the very finest midfield protectors/destroyers currently playing the game. in terms of quality of player and importance to the team i would always put him a close 3rd after torres and gerrard. without him we just seem to offer free passage through our midfield to just about anybody who's up for it.

not wanting to take anything away from yossi, mind. he's really come on and makes a nonsense of the accusations that benitez is unable to buy cheap and bring those players on. he's not as consistent as some make out, but on the regular occasions that he plays well he's one of the best on the pitch.

Id go with that Andy ive said Yossi bargain buy but Javier in my top three deffo. as far as impotance goes an all for me its
Torres
Gerrard
Mascherano
Riena
Kuyt

MY top five

by **Owzat** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 1:06 pm

andy_g wrote:not wanting to take anything away from yossi, mind. he's really come on and makes a nonsense of the accusations that benitez is unable to buy cheap and bring those players on. he's not as consistent as some make out, but on the regular occasions that he plays well he's one of the best on the pitch.

Agree, assuming I'm reading your post the way it is intended to be read. I think too many get carried away with the idea that a good player has to cost £20m+ and that funds are limited (so we can't buy good players, or it is the excuse for poor spending come spending half our budget on one player). We got two players in Gerrard and Carra for nothing, Reina cost £6m, Agger £5.8m, Benayoun £5m and Kuyt £10m plus Insua cost next to nothing. So that's effectively SEVEN of our best XI who cost £10m or less, a combined £26.8m yet some reckon we can only get quality players if we follow in Mark Hughes' footsteps and throw big money at signings.

Two of our summer sales were under £11m as well, Arbeloa who only cost £2.6m and Alonso who cost £10.5m. Only Mascherano and Torres of our best XI from last season cost more than £10.5m. And Riera only cost £8m, Skrtel £6m, Aurelio free. Some of the players we don't often criticise.

by **Fowler_E7** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 4:54 pm

Most important players are in this order IMO

1.Torres, Gerrard
2.Reina,Mascherano
3.Johnson, Benayoun, Reira,Carragher,Agger,Aurelio

Im hoping Aquilani will go into the 2nd group with Reina and Mascherano, but its too early to say.

by **aCe'** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 8:20 pm

On Benayoun...
Good player, nowhere near as important as Gerrard or Torres but because of injuries to the pair+ Riera, he's suddenly become our best attacking player in the side... To me, he makes the starting 11 when everyone is fit and ready, as a right winger ahead of Kuyt... His importance to the side comes from the fact that unlike any of our other players, he has the confidence and ability to hold on to the ball, dribble and create opportunities higher up the pitch... one of few potential game changers in the side...

Our most important players:

Gerrard
Torres
Aquilani (unless Gerrard is played in CM, our midfield simply lacks in creativity and ability without him)
Carragher (still our best CB, think any other pairing would struggle even more)
Johnson (good attacking option, offers that extra bit of attacking quality when in the mood)
Riera (balance, balance, balance...)

The 2 players i left out... Mascherano and Reina.... Never been a big fan of either... Mascherano for me is a player whos importance only shows in games against the top top sides when we're not expected to have the major share of possession.. Realistically, thats limited to about 5 or 6 league games and the knockout stages of the CL... outside those games, hes nothing special and isnt that vital to the side imo...
Reina, never been totally convinced hes as good as many make him out to be... certainly doesnt make too many spectacular saves for us to suggest he's one to single-handedly provide the side with 10 or so points a season like many other keepers do for their admittedly less spectacular sides... Dont get me wrong, he's a solid goalkeeper, and in terms of distribution and starting attacks hes definitely one of the best in the world, but personally i dont rate him that highly and wouldnt put him amongst the top 5, maybe not even 10 best goalkeepers in the world.. He looks suspect when dealing with crosses, and i think his limitations have been somewhat exposed with our change of approach and style since last season... Think our formation and style under Rafa in his first couple of seasons gave him alot of protection and rather little to do... Now that we've changed that a little, and now that he has more to do, i dont think his record, or his performances have been anywhere near as spectacular ...

Anyways Benayoun, in form or not,.... still think we need a top quality right winger if we're to keep playing the same formation...

by **Sir Roger** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 1:52 pm

Voronin and Babel are making Lucas look like maradonna
:;):

by **Sabre** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:47 pm

Fowler_E7 wrote:Most important players are in this order IMO

1.Torres, Gerrard
2.Reina,Mascherano
3.Johnson, Benayoun, Reira,Carragher,Agger,Aurelio

Im hoping Aquilani will go into the 2nd group with Reina and Mascherano, but its too early to say.

I almost agree that, I'd promote Johnson, Agger and Aurelio when fit to the second line of quality.

The problem for me is that beyond the third level of quality, many of the rest of the players are not good enough. That is the problem is not in the players you list.

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