Brought to London from Nigeria as an 11 year old Victor Moses joined Crystal Palace after being spotted playing in South London park leagues.
Though quiet and far more unassuming than most of his contemporaries there was no doubting his natural talent and a number of decent goalscoring records in the junior ranks - 50 in one season as an under 14 - was further evidence of his ability.
So too his starring role in the 2005 Schools Cup final when he scored all the goals in a 5-0 win over a team from Grimsby in shirts as scarlet as their faces were left on the final whistle.
The Grimsby Evening Telegraph’s headline said it all: "Holy Moses - Wonder Player Parts Red Sea".
A first team debut with Palace came at 16 in November 2007 and after a brief hiatus he has remained a fixture in the Palace side.
Half a dozen goals in the current campaign his second full season and a string of rave reviews in each of the many scouting reports filed on him means the Eagles hold the hottest property in domestic football.
Eyed up by a clutch of Premiership and European clubs including Real Madrid the world and a bright future in the game is literally at the teenager’s feet.
Moses plays through the middle or wide on either flank. However, despite turning out mostly on the left over the past few months he is hugely effective in a central role including that of second striker.
Ryan Babel is a similar type of player though perhaps not the best measure as while the Dutchman has everything a top striker needs plus immense versatility he is seemingly nearing the end of his stay at Anfield.
By contrast Moses possibly because of trauma suffered back in his homeland where his parents were killed as a result of religious violence seems to have the drive to reach the top of his profession.
He will seemingly bust a gut to get there which along with his natural ability makes him a valuable asset and a sharp relief to Babel.
Neil Warnock is not Liverpool’s or indeed Rafa Benitez’s biggest fan after the denouement to the 2006-07 campaign but would not stand in the player’s way if he opted to continue his career on Merseyside.
He couldn’t in any case. Acute financial problems make a sale inevitable and club officials admit it is possibly imminent as agreements with more than one club are set to be sealed. The rest will be up to the player.
Liverpool have in the past missed out on young talent by allowing others to plunder deals which were more or less done as the person then in charge of negotiations dithered, switched off his mobile or fax. Most galling of all because he was receiving specialist coaching at Melwood.
The Reds are said to be amongst the keenest clubs negotiating with Simon Jordan.
Many deals mooted have been loan options with a permanent switch in the summer. However, this option is unlikely to smooth any wrinkles in negotiations unless there is a huge down payment which would at least settle Palace’s outstanding tax liabilities.
It could be the best for the player who would at least remain a regular part of one team’s first team picture rather than got lost in development ahead of being gradually unleashed on top flight backlines. Though he will not remain at Selhurst Park unless Moses goes back until June to Croydon having been bought by another club.
Though strong, full of pace, skilled and able to find the net he confounds experienced and hardened defenders through good technique. Almost certainly ready for a sterner test as he has been schooled in a manner hosts of promising youngsters from the nation’s top clubs have troden.
A player who would fit into any squad and not a bad shout for Liverpool in the short term given that there is a need for a strong and direct presence. Whether it is fair to that the burden of shadowing and replacing Fernando Torres when the Spaniard is out should rest on his shoulders like it has done on davis Ngog is another question.
Showing posts with label David N'Gog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label David N'Gog. Show all posts
Sunday, 17 January 2010
Thursday, 12 November 2009
More than just a fall guy
Received wisdom has it that minus Fernando Torres Liverpool are devoid of a goal threat. The other strikers on the books are deemed too poor - Andriy Voronin, too fragile and lacking in belief - Ryan Babel or simply unproved - David N’Gog.
Below that are a host of other youngsters still to show their worth at anything higher than reserve level. There is plenty of promise in the likes of Danny Pacheco, Nathan Eccleston and Krisztián Németh who is gaining experience and plaudits in Greece but as yet nothing more.
For Liverpool Voronin has been worth something in the region of his fee. Absolute zero. Something of a lumbering beast complete with a ponytail which can make him a figure of fun amongst his own fans let alone others. He often seems to believe the world is against him and is a man no longer happy in his surroundings. Someone simply going through the motions.
Many ask just how he can have performed with such apparent distinction for Hertha Berlin and be so well considered in Germany. The answer is somewhat straightforward. The Bundesliga is nowhere near being the best league in Europe. Below a certain level the standard on offer is quite poor certainly lacking the Premiership’s depth. It is behind Serie A plus a host of others and certainly La Liga. The most satisfying for those who like to see a consistently high technical grade of football.
Hertha were a team who held a specific brief under Lucien Favre relying largely on their resilience and ability to frustrate. A deep sitting counterattacking outfit for whom the broody Ukrainian exploited a huge benefit from due to drills on the training ground. He knew the places to run and how the ball would be played.
Against Lyon he had a gilt edged opportunity to grab an early and what could have proved a crucial lead. He accelerated away from Jeremy Toulalan to reach Javier Mascherano’s throughball. It was the type of chance he snaffled with Berlin but his shot lacked not just confidence but conviction making the block far easier than it could have been.
Babel cannot be considered any sort of replacement for Torres. His strengths lie in the support role but in that and other areas his ability only flickers at times. It’s fair to point out - as others have done - his Liverpool career is summed up by his appearance from the bench away to Lyon. A thunderbolt from 25 yards followed a intuitive step away to make room with virtually 11 men behind the ball. A few minutes later rather than swing a free-kick into the box he arced it out for a throw-in.
N’Gog can at times look like Bambi skinny legs pumping and feet untidy but has shown a certain amount off composure in front of goal.
Putting his controversial winning of the penalty against Birmingham to one side during that same game in order to get into the area he skipped past challenges travelling somewhere in the region of 30 yards to put himself in the perfect position for a pull back. In addition to taking his goal well he sought to lay on chances which is certainly an area of his game not opened to much scrutiny.
Maybe those who offer opinion on the game should simply watch and question what they think they know.
Quite clearly able to perform in the top flight not to mention Europe where he has often looked equally well equipped he is too good to be considered anything other than a bona fide member of the first team.
Liverpool’s bench has come under great scrutiny this term and along with those youth team products who have gained a seat recently there is so often a clamour to see N’Gog lumped into the list of weaknesses available as replacements. Based on nothing more than his age, some poor control, a sometimes awkward style as the arms flail out and £1.5 million fee. One which should seem paltry and highlight what a fine piece of business his recruitment has been.
Keeping scrutiny on a theme of substitution, which is where N'Gog's immediate Anfield future lies, though he lacks the impact Babel can but so often rarely provides the young Frenchman’s ability to attune to the rhythm of a game - no matter when he is introduced - bodes well for the future.
Below that are a host of other youngsters still to show their worth at anything higher than reserve level. There is plenty of promise in the likes of Danny Pacheco, Nathan Eccleston and Krisztián Németh who is gaining experience and plaudits in Greece but as yet nothing more.
For Liverpool Voronin has been worth something in the region of his fee. Absolute zero. Something of a lumbering beast complete with a ponytail which can make him a figure of fun amongst his own fans let alone others. He often seems to believe the world is against him and is a man no longer happy in his surroundings. Someone simply going through the motions.
Many ask just how he can have performed with such apparent distinction for Hertha Berlin and be so well considered in Germany. The answer is somewhat straightforward. The Bundesliga is nowhere near being the best league in Europe. Below a certain level the standard on offer is quite poor certainly lacking the Premiership’s depth. It is behind Serie A plus a host of others and certainly La Liga. The most satisfying for those who like to see a consistently high technical grade of football.
Hertha were a team who held a specific brief under Lucien Favre relying largely on their resilience and ability to frustrate. A deep sitting counterattacking outfit for whom the broody Ukrainian exploited a huge benefit from due to drills on the training ground. He knew the places to run and how the ball would be played.
Against Lyon he had a gilt edged opportunity to grab an early and what could have proved a crucial lead. He accelerated away from Jeremy Toulalan to reach Javier Mascherano’s throughball. It was the type of chance he snaffled with Berlin but his shot lacked not just confidence but conviction making the block far easier than it could have been.
Babel cannot be considered any sort of replacement for Torres. His strengths lie in the support role but in that and other areas his ability only flickers at times. It’s fair to point out - as others have done - his Liverpool career is summed up by his appearance from the bench away to Lyon. A thunderbolt from 25 yards followed a intuitive step away to make room with virtually 11 men behind the ball. A few minutes later rather than swing a free-kick into the box he arced it out for a throw-in.
N’Gog can at times look like Bambi skinny legs pumping and feet untidy but has shown a certain amount off composure in front of goal.
Putting his controversial winning of the penalty against Birmingham to one side during that same game in order to get into the area he skipped past challenges travelling somewhere in the region of 30 yards to put himself in the perfect position for a pull back. In addition to taking his goal well he sought to lay on chances which is certainly an area of his game not opened to much scrutiny.
Maybe those who offer opinion on the game should simply watch and question what they think they know.
Quite clearly able to perform in the top flight not to mention Europe where he has often looked equally well equipped he is too good to be considered anything other than a bona fide member of the first team.
Liverpool’s bench has come under great scrutiny this term and along with those youth team products who have gained a seat recently there is so often a clamour to see N’Gog lumped into the list of weaknesses available as replacements. Based on nothing more than his age, some poor control, a sometimes awkward style as the arms flail out and £1.5 million fee. One which should seem paltry and highlight what a fine piece of business his recruitment has been.
Keeping scrutiny on a theme of substitution, which is where N'Gog's immediate Anfield future lies, though he lacks the impact Babel can but so often rarely provides the young Frenchman’s ability to attune to the rhythm of a game - no matter when he is introduced - bodes well for the future.
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