The 'Pool Isn't Deep

If I had to make a list of players that are "above average but not world class," it would pretty much encompass the entire Liverpool squad. Without Torres and Gerrard, they quite literally have nothing. Benayoun? Creative but finicky. Can't finish either, he's off and on. Babel sucks, he's fast but he has poor decision making skills. Lucas? Just a bland central midfielder. Kuyt? Works hard, but he needs a central striker to play off of. He's not a winger and it shows. David N'Gog? Young and so far useless. Riera? He can shoot and that is about it. Voronin? For some reason, only excels in the Bundesliga.

So what's the problem? No replacement for the two truly world class players on the squad. When I say no replacement, I don't mean that nobody can play that position at all. Lucas can fill in for Mascherano. Riera, Babel, Kuyt, Benayoun, even Aurelio and Johnson can play on the wings. But when it comes to having a target man, one of the world's best lone strikers, NOBODY on the squad even comes close to Fernando Torres. It was rumored during the transfer window that Benitez wanted to get his hands on Alvaro Negredo. It seems now that wouldn't have been such a bad idea.

A replacement for Steven Gerrard? That's a even more difficult. Steven Gerrard is the heart, soul, and spine of Liverpool. Where can you find a suitable replacement for him? He's like a combination of Mascherano, Benayoun, and Albert Riera. The closest player in the Premier League is either Frank Lampard or Gareth Barry. And while they are close seconds, they can't do what Gerrard does. Liverpool is a squad of mediocre players supporting two world-class players.

The difference between this squad and that of Manchester United for the last 2 years is the supporting cast. Manchester United was built around Cristiano Ronaldo and he is unquestionably a genius. Likewise, nobody could question the achievements of Gerrard or Torres. But when you compare Mascherano and Lucas to Carrick and Scholes, or Babel and Riera to Giggs and Nani even, it becomes clear whose squad is more complete.

Either Rafa himself, or his Sporting Director need to get their shit together. Liverpool is already hamstrung financially, and they aren't doing themselves any favors by wasting what little money they have on shitty players. Why not take the Barcelona approach? Quality homegrown players to make up the base, and whenever they need a world class player, they buy 23-28 years old and only one at a time. Dani Alves, Ibrahimovic, Henry. Build the squad piece by piece so it comes together gradually.

Rafa Benitez needs to learn the transfer market or find a new job. His transfer shortcomings have left Liverpool out in the cold. Sucks for them. Their title run is already over and it's only October. Hell, their Champion's League prospects for next year look pretty dim. Manchester City could take their spot- you heard it here first.