[quote author=Wizardry link=topic=36926.msg978412#msg978412 date=1257336042]
[quote author=the_khl link=topic=36926.msg978366#msg978366 date=1257331998]
[quote author=Fox link=topic=36926.msg978317#msg978317 date=1257328855]
compare the main men in the squad, have we improved >🙁
Heskey, Fowler, Owen-------v--------Torres, Ngog, Voronin
Gerrard, McCalister, Barmby, Hamman, Smicer, Murphy, Biscuits---------V---------Gerrard, Lucas, Aqualini, Masher, Kuyt, Yossi, Babel, Riera
Carra, Henchoz, Hypia, Babbel, Ziege, Vignal, Heggem-------------V--------Carra, Skrtel, Agger, Johnson, Aurellio, Insua, Degen, Dosena
Reina is better so no need to compare.
I believe if Aqualini is as good as we hope the midfield and defense compare quite evenly.
The big obvious difference is the strikers, Rafa has fucked this up majorly, change Ngog and Voronin for Crouch and Keane/Bellers and that would be it complete, all covered.
I think our squad with fit Aqualini is capable of winning trophies like the 2001 squad but only if Nando if fit, RAFA has left us too short up top and that is something he cannot deny.
Its a shame as that midfield and defence look pretty good to me (maybe bar left hand side)
[/quote]
..................................Dudek.......................................
Carra.........Henchoz...........Sami.......................Babbel
Smicer.......Gerrard............Hamann..................Barmby
.....................Fowler.........Owen..................................
Subs; McCallister, Hegem, Heskey, Biscan, Murphy, Ziege, Vignal
Vs
...............................Reina............................................
Johnson..........Carra............Agger....................Aurelio
...................Masher.............Aquilani............................
Kuyt.......................Gerrard..........................Benayoun
.................................Torres.........................................
Besides having a few more World Class-players in our starting line-up of today it's obvious there's a much better balance. Owen and Fowler never really worked out did they? To small and too similiar. Our wings were REALLY poor back then as well. Barmby and Smicer were Everton-material at best.
You could argue our defense were on par but personally I'd take our current crop. In Johnson and Agger we've arguably got some of the best and they are still quite young, compared to the likes of Henchoz and Babbel from back then. Sami of old would make us better evidently but at the same time I reckon both Carra and Gerrard are better players todays than back in 01.
[/quote]
While I'd go along with Ken's suggestion that the 03/04 squad would be a fairer comparison I have to draw issue with your statement here KHL. There is no way on this green earth that you could take our current back line over Carra/H and H/Babbel. That was an outstanding back line and Babbel probably the best FB we've had in the premiership era.
H&H was one of the best CB pairings we've had and probably rivaled only by Sami and Carra in the last 15 to 20 years. While the Carra of 04, 05 and 06 is probably the best he's played he was still very good in 01. Agger and Johnson may well prove to be better players but they've a fair way to go yet while Aurelio is just no comparison.
It's tough to compare the midfield given how little we know about Aquilani at this point but I think it would be generous if not unreasonable to say that the current line up of midfield/front line is on par with that in 01. Take it against last year (which I think is the best team Rafa has put together) and Gerrard/Alonso/Torres/Kuyt etc could hold their own against anything of GH's time.
[/quote]
You may have a point Wiz.
They were extremely steady-eddie and whenever Henchoz was allowed to also use his hands in our own penalty-area we often kept a clean-sheet. That said none of the defenders possessed any real attacking thread, besides Sami on set-pieces (something we've missed dearly of late mind). None of them had the quality to leave a man stranded, nor take real part in our attacking-play - as e.g. Johnson, Aurelio, Insua and Agger does.
So in terms of our overall attacking style of play I reckon we are better of with the current crop of defenders than back then. They will probably concede more over the course of a Season but will at the same time add much more to our build-up game.
In terms of an overall more defensive approach - like the one back then - Carra, Sami, Henchoz and Babbel would probably be preferable, yes.
*I remember a few key games from back then against quality opposition (something we didn't experience anywhere as much as today it has to be said) where our backline were extremely exposed. The Valencia-games spring to mind. This probably should be taken into consideration as well.
