The thing is, I think we are at the point where we need to sign just to have appropriate depth, let alone any argument about the merits or lack thereof of players like Carroll and Downing. If none of the youth are deemed worthy at this time, then we need additions. I'm not really advocating a change - I agree with you that Maxi and Kuyt can be replaced in the summer. But we need two more players in January. And I think Bellamy can function as a Litmannen/Mccallister type
The closest of the youth players, Pacheco, was sent on loan to La Liga. I think we wanted the current setup. But in any case, it's not the youth players we should turn to now. It's the 100M worth of new signings, plus Kuyt and Maxi. I believe these are important times for us. It's now, when we struggle and when both our captain and vice captain are out, that we will get to see who can lead the way. It's an opportunity for the management team, as well as the players. A few years ago, Benayoun came to our rescue. Who can do it now? Right now there are lots of opportunities for our new signings to shape their future LFC careers. Lead the way now and we will treasure them. Hide and perhaps they shouldn't be here for much longer. Harsh perhaps, but the club has shown a lot of belief in our new players and they need to repay it. Kenny, Comolli and FSG have stuck their necks out and can't be happy with attacking players who are passengers in a team that struggles to score goals.
Bellamy has a role to play for sure, but what I'd want is a different type of player. It's the Benayoun, Luis Garcia or Litmanen I think we need the most now. A player who can break the pattern, a player who relies on his movement rather than his pace. I suspect this is one reason why Maxi has done well. He's different. And I believe it's quite possible that it's a short term fix we need, to get some confidence in.
With the older players mentioned, I think all three can have a role to play for another season. There seems to be an urge to get rid off Kuyt and Maxi (although that has changed recently), which I find odd. They were our two best goalscorers last season and we have completely forgotten that.
That sums up what I think we have done wrong. We have ripped things up, things that worked, and gone for something new. Which isn't working, at least not yet. And our answer is to dismiss those that did it for us, partly dismiss the current group and move forward with even newer players. We claim to have faith in our new signings, but we need to have better players immediately. You just need to look in the thread about our midfielders to see how the same ideas hold for our CM. There's no real trust in the likes of Spearing, Adam and Henderson.
I believe we'd be better off if we took a step back. Slow things down and find our feet. There have been so many changes already. Instead, let's try what worked last season, then try to include the new signings slowly into that setup. If history is anything to go by, Kuyt will get his usual 15 (goals + assists) if only given the games. Maxi has shown he can do it for us under Kenny. I also believe that approach would remove a lot of pressure on Carroll. Buy a new expensive striker and we'd in effect admit signing him was a mistake. That would be the costly and the wrong way IMO. It would signal a lack of belief, when I think we need stability. If we went with a short term signing, he wouldn't be a threat, but he could add some calm and stability.
