DAVID HOLDSWORTH: Liverpool's players were embarrassing against Oldham
The way a number of the Premier League clubs crashed out of the FA Cup has left a lot of questions about the quality and attitude of the players in certain squads.
I don't want to take anything away from teams like Oldham, Luton or Leeds, but, to be honest, if you're a Premier League player and even if you are on the fringes and not first pick, you should still be able to come in and do a job.
They all train together all week, they have not suddenly been plucked up from the youth team. They've not come from nowhere. Yet they did not have the application to see off teams that are below them.
It is a disgrace to be honest and leaves you wondering what sort of players they are. Again, I do not want to do down the monumental efforts shown by the minnows in the cup, but if you are a fringe player at Liverpool you have to come in and perform, otherwise, what are you doing at the club? If you cannot do it against Oldham, how on earth are you expected to do it against Cheslea, or Arsenal?
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It really is embarrassing.
But you cannot take away from the smaller clubs what they have done. We've had a brilliant season of cup shocks. None more so than Bradford in the League Cup. The spirit and desire they showed against Aston Villa was fantastic.
Villa never shone, but Bradford made them look like an average Championship team at best in the two-legs of the semi-final.
Luton of course started the giant-killings off last weekend with their 1-0 win over Norwich. That was a shock. When Wolves lost to them it was not a surprise. Wolves went to Kenilworth Road with a manager who was struggling and had no experience in the division. He was subsequently sacked when they lost.
Norwich went there, and I thought they would be a bit smarter, but fair play to Luton, they got the better of them.
Leeds have done well, it was a good win for Neil Warnock, who has pieced together a good squad, so you cannot take away from them what they did either.
But for me, Oldham's win over Liverpool was by the far the best. Their attitude was spot on, a stark contrast to Liverpool's. I have nothing but praise for them and I was particularly impressed by Matt Smith, the Liverpool defence did not know how to handle him or, want to, at times.
Liverpool, though, need to have a good look at themselves. A lot of Reds fans are probably taking a bit of abuse this week and they have been let down, as have the Spurs fans.
Teams like Tottenham and Liverpool are not going to be challenging for the title, so what else is on offer for the fans? The FA Cup, of course. Supporters want some glory, want something to celebrate, but this season neither team has anything to play for now.
Also fans like to have bragging rights, so imagine how galling it will be for Tottenham if Arsenal go and win the cup? And I think Arsenal can do it. A lot has been said about them, but I think this season they can do it.
5 Comments
by itsjustaride
Tuesday, February 05 2013, 12:56PM
“Mr Holdsworth needs to concentrate on how he is going to get Lincoln City out of the Blue Square North next season than worrying about players in leagues well beyond his skills or capabilities”
by nigelsparky
Sunday, February 03 2013, 2:48PM
“Give it time redimposter and they probably will be. In the current squad we have the likes of Paul Farman (Newcastle United) David Preece (Sunderland) Tom Miller (Norwich City) Conal Platt (Liverpool) all been at "bigger" clubs academy's.”
by redIMPoster
Friday, February 01 2013, 9:06PM
“If they are not world beaters nigelsparky then why on earth are they not at Lincoln City already?!”
by nigelsparky
Friday, February 01 2013, 9:49AM
“Hmm not sure I entirely agree with Holdsworth on this one. Yes I think questions have to be asked about certain players, mainly about their "ability" and how they apply that ability more than anything.
However, I also think there has to be question marks over the quality of coaches, coaching, and also the way these big teams approach the domestic cup competitions as a whole. All the big clubs tend to field "weaker" line ups in the domestic cups, especially in the early rounds, and have been doing so for quite sometime now.
These "fringe" players are quite quite often products of their "academys", but as I have said before, just because they are at a big club, doesn't always follow that they are going to be world beaters!”
by theoutworker
Friday, February 01 2013, 9:23AM
“Wow!
There is certainly a lesson or two to be learned here about being beaten by lesser teams, right from the premiership down to non league.
You said it in the opening paragraph.
""a lot of questions about the quality and attitude of the players in certain squads.""”