One criticism repeatedly levelled at former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez during his final season at Anfield was his under-performing side’s over-reliance on Spanish star Fernando Torres and distinct lack of options in attack.
Torres only managed 24 league appearances last term following a succession of minor injuries and the Reds clearly struggled without their main source of goals and focal offensive threat. Without a recognised back-up striker, French youngster David N’Gog was given the unenviable task of filling in for one of the world’s deadliest strikers. In a side struggling for confidence and form, N’Gog managed just five league goals, as Liverpool finished the season in a dismal seventh place.
A 19-year-old N’Gog was signed from Paris Saint-Germain by former Valencia boss Benitez for £1m in 2008. However question marks remained over the player’s calibre upon signing for the Reds after just one goal in 19 appearances during his debut season in Ligue 1. The France youth international featured intermittently during his first year on Merseyside with 19 appearances for Benitez’s side, scoring three goals.
Despite his relatively young age (now 21) and cheap price tag, N’Gog failed to convince the majority of fans of his credentials during his second season in England. N’Gog was clearly not ready to become a first-team regular in Torres’ absence but with no other option available, except the dire Andriy Voronin, the inexperienced frontman was thrown in at the deep end. A third-striker back-up role would have far more suited the No.24 last season and he cannot be blamed for Benitez’s failure to address his side’s attacking deficiencies.
Critics believe the Frenchman’s lack of composure and poor decision making continue to undermine his raw talent, a talent which has been clearly evident in the opening stages of this campaign. After expressing his desire to remain at the club over the summer, amid speculation regarding his future, N’Gog has delivered on the pitch with some impressive performances. The striker has already notched seven in eight this term and was at his clinical best with his first goals of the campaign, grabbing a brace against Rabotnicki Skopje in the Europa League qualifiers.
His manager was obviously impressed, with Hodgson commenting after the game:
“I think N’Gog has done well in the pre-season matches so far and he has worked very hard in the training sessions.
“I thought his target play, his general movement and his ability to keep the ball for us was also very good.”
It is however unlikely that N’Gog will develop into a world class talent. While the striker was struggling for goals in the French league at 18, former Red Michael Owen was scoring goals at a World Cup finals as the club’s top scorer at the same age. When compared to current talents of a similar age such as Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez, who has already played for his country 19 times, there is a clear difference in quality.
Yet N’Gog remains a cheap purchase and a good impact player from the bench to have in reserve, especially with the current financial restraints in place at the club. It is clear N’Gog will never develop into the club’s main striker but should continue to contribute with at least 10 goals a season from the bench and as a starter when key players are rested. And should Hodgson decide to cash in on the player then a healthy profit is likely to be made.
N’Gog has shown rapid signs of improvements this season and he will continue to win over his doubters if he continues to get in amongst the goals. After narrowly failing to complete a move to West Brom this summer, it seems N’Gog is currently relishing his second chance at Anfield.
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