Topic: Return of the Masch (The mini Masch that is)

[BMW]

The thing is though, Henderson, who is younger, does that job better than Spearing does, and looks to have a considerably higher ceiling. So why not give Henderson that senior gametime, and offer one of the kids the last ditch back up role?

But he doesn't have Gerrard's support don'tchaknow...

[Red Crown]

I laughing because I can actually imagine you pulling that face after having read the post you quoted!

 

[kopitecrash]

I said during the 10-11 season that Spearing faced a lot of competition for the roaming slot, and that he stood a better chance of fashioning a niche for himself if he could fit into the holder slot. Since then, the younger Henderson has moved ahead of him in the roamer slot, while he's been tried and failed in the holder slot, to the extent that Dalglish would rather use Gerrard there than turn to Spearing again. So we now know for certain that he can't fill the holder role, while there's a younger player ahead of him in the roamer role. The next question to ask, if Spearing is to further his Liverpool career, is whether he's versatile enough to make himself useful in other roles. The evidence so far suggests not. So where does Spearing fit?

All good points - that said, we don't know what Rodgers is going to do. All of them have a clean slate as far as he is concerned - perhaps things change for Spearing and he gets that role further up the pitch. He would fit a pressing game better then he would Kenny's formation certainly, and Rodgers passing game isn't going to isolate him either. But probably, he is looking at a fight for a place in the squad. We shall see though.

[opsteo]

Jays a good squad player and does a job but when facing strong and powerful midfielders such as the Chelsea midfield he's out of his depth in my opinion.  Jay lacks the pace and strength to compete against certain players, he's qualities are his engine and his heart but this is not going to get you through every game.  As previously mentioned, he a decent squad player but compared to the Lucas's, Alonso's and Mascherano's he's just not at that level to hold down a pernament first team spot in my view

I  think that he should be kept as a squad player and he can play a specific role for us - if we remember,  together with Lucas, we dominated Chelsea/Man U/Man City at Kenny's first season in charge. However, he can be prone to be pickpocketed and if used wrongly with no one like Lucas helping out, we can pay a heavy price in some games.  I will keep him around because he is relatively cheap and he will keep some midfield players honest and to cover them when they are injured.

[gavleopardi]

The subject of Jay Spearing and Liverpool should firmly be placed in the past tense now. I think the FINAL and his performances against other big teams where he was asked to step up and prove himself has answered all lingering hopes for him. I said it from the first time I watched him be outplayed against an Arsenal reserve team in a Carling Cup game a few seasons back "If that is the future of Liverpool then mid-table mediocrity here we come!" I said it then and nothing he has done in the intervening years has altered that gut-perception. It is just that some on here have been really slow in coming to that conclusion themselves. In fact I have stood with my mouth agog at times this season as some red-tinted spectacle wearing reds on here have duped themselves into believing he could make the grade and emulate Masch and Lucas. Rodgers will have seen what Lampard and others did to him in the final and understand what Dalglish was at times too slow to comprehend last season: HE IS NOT AND NEVER WILL BE A LIVERPOOL PLAYER!!!

[kopitecrash]

I said it from the first time I watched him be outplayed against an Arsenal reserve team in a Carling Cup game a few seasons back "If that is the future of Liverpool then mid-table mediocrity here we come!"

Except we didn't get outplayed. We should have won that game. And as for big teams? He played well against Arsenal, Man City (twice) Chelsea (carling cup) among others.

[Gnurglan]

I said during the 10-11 season that Spearing faced a lot of competition for the roaming slot, and that he stood a better chance of fashioning a niche for himself if he could fit into the holder slot. Since then, the younger Henderson has moved ahead of him in the roamer slot, while he's been tried and failed in the holder slot, to the extent that Dalglish would rather use Gerrard there than turn to Spearing again. So we now know for certain that he can't fill the holder role, while there's a younger player ahead of him in the roamer role. The next question to ask, if Spearing is to further his Liverpool career, is whether he's versatile enough to make himself useful in other roles. The evidence so far suggests not. So where does Spearing fit?

That's it, really.

Spearing has done what he could. He's been given a number of chances. More than most. He has not done enough to secure a role as first pick, nor as first backup. We also have Henderson and Shelvey, younger players on the way up. It's time to give Spearing's chances to them.