The Great DEADWOOD List Of Roy Hodgson

Roy Hodgson talked today about
a “middle group” of players in
the Liverpool squad that they
were too old for the reserves but
not really involved in first team
action. He felt that this needed to
be addressed during the transfer
window this summer:
“We were unbelievably
overstaffed when I came to
the club and, if the truth be
known, we still are
overstaffed. It was just as big
a job making sure some of
the players who never
feature for the first team
move on and that we limit
our squad to players who
are either in the frame to
play first-team football or
who have a bright future
who are still anxious to play
academy and reserve team
football. We don ’t want that
middle group who are too
old for reserve football but
are not serving any purpose
for the first team because
they never feature. ”
Basically what Roy is describing
here is a group of players who
were tantamount to deadwood.
Looking through the long list of
departures this summer, it would
be fair to say that the majority
were but not all of them.
Nabil El Zhar – The 24 year old
struggled in his four years at the
club to breakthrough into the
first team after his move from St
Etienne. Injuries did play a part in
this but it was clear he was never
going to be a first team regular
despite being used by Rafa
Benitez as a substitute on
occasion. He is now on loan at
PAOK Salonika in view to a
permanent move. Verdict –
Deadwood
Damien Plessis – After a
promising debut against Arsenal
in 2008, Plessis never really
found the form required to break
into the side. Like El Zhar, he was
a player playing in the reserves
without any real prospect of first
team action, and at 22, it was
time to move on to pastures
new. Looks certain to be the
reserve to Gilberto Silva at
Panathinaikos too. Verdict –
Deadwood.
Lauri Dalla Valle – An exciting
prospect from Finland, Dalla Valle
really enthused many Reds fans
with his natural goalscoring
ability. Roy Hodgson however
was indifferent to the abilities of
the player and said when
scouting the player at Fulham
that he was undecided on
whether he would make it as a
top class player. Roy was
therefore willing to let the 18
year old go as part of the deal for
Paul Konchesky. Verdict – One
that got away?

Emiliano Insua – Became first
choice left back under Rafa
Benitez last season but never
convinced he had the capabilities
to succeed in the position. Roy
also wasn ’t convinced and tried
to sell the player to Fiorentina
and Genoa. He eventually loaned
out the player to Galatasaray in
view to a permanent move.
Verdict – Deadwood – He was
never going to be involved in
Roy ’s first team plans this season.
Javier Mascherano – The want
away Argentine got his wish
with a move to Barcelona.
Certainly not deadwood but
would have been close to it if he
was forced to stay.
Alberto Aquilani – A debatable
one this. Aqua never really got
the chance to show his abilities
in a Liverpool shirt after an
injury-plagued season last
campaign. Roy must have felt
however that the Italian was
never going to be a first team
regular and he was loaned out to
Juve in view to a permanent
move. Verdict – One that got
away?
Diego Cavalieri – A good
enough, solid back up keeper to
Pepe Reina but it was clear that
the lack of game time over such a
long period would lead to him
wanting away. On top of the fact
he wasn ’t homegrown, it made it
an easy decision for Roy to
replace him. Verdict – Deadwood
– in the sense he was never
going to play both because of
the quality of Pepe Reina and the
fact he wasn’t homegrown.
Philipp Degen – The former
Swiss international did have
problems with injuries during his
stay at Anfield. When he did play
though, his defensive abilities
were questioned on a number of
occasions. Good going forward
but never reliable at the back, it
was sensible by Roy to let him go
out on loan, especially with Reds
youngster Martin Kelly waiting in
the wings. Verdict - Deadwood
Krisztian Nemeth – Certainly had
talent but Roy decided that he
had enough young forwards in
his squad in David Ngog, Nathan
Eccleston and Dani Pacheco who
would get more game time than
the Hungarian. Verdict – One that
got away?
Albert Riera – His antics last
season most probably led to his
departure even under new
manager Roy Hodgson. His
professionalism was
questionable and it was probably
best for all parties that he
departed for Olympiakos.
Yossi Benayoun – Already made
up his mind to depart for
Chelsea, nothing really Roy could
have done if he wanted him to
stay.