Reds' lack of depth painfully exposed
Oct 28 2005
By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
NEIL MELLOR and Steve Finnan never knew they were so important.
Crystal Palace boss Iain Dowie is one of the League's more switched on managers.
So it was a little perplexing to listen to his post-match comments after his Championship team had embarrbutted a strong Liverpool line-up on Tuesday.
"I expect Liverpool to be in the top four by the end of the season," he declared..
"When their key players come back, I expect them to go on a long, unbeaten run. They had Steven Gerrard back tonight, and they will improve as he gets fitter."
Perhaps Dowie was simply being kind. The only "key players" unavailable to Rafael Benitez at Selhurst Park were right-back Finnan and reserve striker Mellor.
And while both undoubtedly have their value to the Reds, only the unrealistically optimistic would expect that duo to spark a long, unbeaten run which would see Liverpool charging back up the Premiership table.
The truth, perhaps, is a little more sinister. Maybe Dowie looked at the Liverpool line-up and simply expected them to have better players.
Old enough to remember an era when the Reds regularly fielded the best players in Europe, perhaps he scanned the teamsheet and reckoned a Liverpool team so short on quality had to be down to the rigours of a lengthy injury list.
It wasn't. Which heavyweight hitters were missing? Who could Rafa Benitez have called up on Tuesday other than the aforementioned Mellor and Finnan?
A French striker he clearly doesn't rate - plus Jamie Carragher and Xabi Alonso.
It doesn't say much for the depth of the European Champions' squad that with two first choice players and one occasional striker absent, they paint such a patched up picture.
After the harsh words of Fulham, Benitez refused to blame a lack of effort or flawed attitude at Selhurst Park - which was terrifying.
Because if a Liverpool team trying its hardest can be beaten by a Crystal Palace side minus its own best player, the Reds really do have problems.
The biggest one, of course, is in the forward line - where the folly of failing to land Michael Owen looks increasingly like the act of a manager cutting off his nose to spite his face.
And despite the obvious lack of cash he has had to contend with, he also has to take some responsibility.
Fernando Morientes cost £6m, but looks a spent force, Peter Crouch may well be 'good on the floor for a big man,' but cost a million pounds more and rarely looks like scoring, while Djibril Cisse is quick, erratic, a regular marksman but regularly overlooked.
It wasn't. Which heavyweight hitters were missing? Who could Rafa Benitez have called up on Tuesday other than the aforementioned Mellor and Finnan?
A French striker he clearly doesn't rate - plus Jamie Carragher and Xabi Alonso.
It doesn't say much for the depth of the European Champions' squad that with two first choice players and one occasional striker absent, they paint such a patched up picture.
After the harsh words of Fulham, Benitez refused to blame a lack of effort or flawed attitude at Selhurst Park - which was terrifying.
Because if a Liverpool team trying its hardest can be beaten by a Crystal Palace side minus its own best player, the Reds really do have problems.
George best... Bless him. 4167cacked this f***in treat out! sharrap you f***in ball-less E-prick...i dont have to explain anythink to you...like you...
The biggest one, of course, is in the forward line - where the folly of failing to land Michael Owen looks increasingly like the act of a manager cutting off his nose to spite his face.
And despite the obvious lack of cash he has had to contend with, he also has to take some responsibility.
Fernando Morientes cost £6m, but looks a spent force, Peter Crouch may well be 'good on the floor for a big man,' but cost a million pounds more and rarely looks like scoring, while Djibril Cisse is quick, erratic, a regular marksman but regularly overlooked.
