Ok, so we've had injuries to deal with, who doesn't? My local Non-league team have been plagued with injuries this season and at that level, you tend to spend most of your money on your first eleven; if you lose one of them, the squad player who replaces him will be visibly poorer than almost everyone on the pitch. This should not be the case in the Premiership. I am not saying that when you lose Owen, you should have another ready-made replacement standing by; someone with the same skill level etc, that would be impossible. But, as a Premiership manager, Houllier should be better prepared for this. He wasn't, so he has to answer two major criticisms:
One; his squad is weak. Traore, Biscan, Smicer, Cheyrou, Diao, Diouf.. the list goes on and on. We stand zero chance if we lose a first team player, because the replacements are without the necessary strength and skill to cope in the English game. Ok, so maybe Cheyrou had two good games this season, but he has proven he's unable to consistantly perform, just like Smicer. But...having said that, my second criticism totally contradicts my first....sounds wierd? Read on....
Two; Houllier is unable to mount a title challenge as he will never get the best from his players; in fact, he seems to have the complete opposite affect. Maybe under another Manager, the players I mention above would shine, full of confidence and ability. My example is as follows:
He has commented again about the 'confidence' issue that he believes is the only thing stopping Emile Heskey from being the English Ronaldo. I have commented before that Emile has been at the club a number of years now and we heard this speech the week he joined! Why oh why has his manager not fixed it? Is it something that cannot be fixed? If so, sell him to Birmingham for the 8 million they are reported to be offering in the Summer....and admit that you shouldn't have gambled 11million on him in the first place. if it is something that CAN be fixed, then why hasn't Houllier done it? Either way, we are left with a very likeable, strong Centre Forward, who can hold the ball up, run down the channels and give some of the leagues best defenders the run-around....but he doesn't score goals. I don't want to hear the excuse 'it's not about scoring goals, he makes them for others, he creates chances for Owen...blah blah blah' I used to laugh at United when they said this about Sheringham! When Teddy was getting picked ahead of Micheal Owen for England, I was dumstruck! Here was a guy who hardly scored, had no pace and towards the end of his International career (the time when he was keeping the number 10 shirt from Owen) he was creating NOTHING. But apparently, players like this are 'thinking' footballers...phrases like 'the first half a yard is in his head' and 'he adds more than goals to the team, he adds value' Well, I couldn't see the value in Sheringham then and under Houllier, I can't see it in Heskey now. Forwards need to be scoring goals, consistantly...or we will never mount a title challenge. A Manager who keeps a player like this, not only on his books, but in his team...is incompetant.
Last Summer we were hopeful. Part of me still believed in GH. For one thing, he signed Kewell....'the last piece in the jigsaw'. I think this is the worst season I have seen him have. He's chipped in with some vital goals and not a small amount either. But a winger is what we needed and it's not working out. Is it him? No....once again, it's the system; it's the manager.
The withdrawn role in midfield makes us narrow, we can't hold the ball, we can barely pass the ball in the opponents half for more than a minute without working back to the defence. I have said this before, we need pace at the back, TWO central midfielders, not Hamman as a sweeper in front of the defence then three players in front of him, Not a failed 11 million pound striker as a winger (Heskey, Diouf take your pick)...that hasn't worked in a long time, now it's old...now it's defensive....now we need change.
I hate the fact that Houllier doesn't see this. The fact that seemingly good players can come into this team and under perform week in, week out. The fact that we are a laughing stock among teams that used to fear us. Where are the young kids who want to play for Liverpool? The Harry Kewell's who grew up idolising this all powerful team? In ten years, they won't want to be wearing our red, they'll opt for the red of Arsenal or the blue of Chelsea. Mr Moores, wake up...this is no longer a dream, it is becoming a painful nightmare. Do NOT let it go on for another year.