Liverpool: Forth or 5th

Liverpool’s incredulous rise from a dour position in the table to a mediocre position in the table has been met with much fanfare and positivity from all red corners. This may seem unusual to many outside the club, but for those who know their football, it means an awful lot.

Kenny Dalglish has injected some much demanded optimism in to the club and it seems that with players seemingly queuing outside Media Towers to give feel-good quotes, the vibe inside is just as upbeat.

Liverpool are now within breathing distance of 5th place and with only four games remaining, it may be too late. But I now worry that it’s too simplistic to think ‘that’s it, we’re going to be great next season’.

Tails are well and truly up, even Maxi Rodriquez is in the hat-trick club, but without throwing a damp blanket over it all, regardless of whether we finish 5th or 6th, Liverpool face a huge summer.

Hodgson’s chord was cut just in time, he could’ve pulled Liverpool over the edge of the cliff but the strong arm of The King has hauled us back in the right direction. Seemingly without doing little except changing the mood.

A crossroads looms large on the horizon now, and although I seem to say this every year, the very direction of the club over the next few years could be decided this summer. Comolli has been a man in the shadows since he arrived, which is a good thing, but I hope he’s earning his cash.

We have been linked a few times with St. Etienne players and sometimes I wonder whether it’s jobs for the boys or genuine insight.

As always with these things, time will tell and the best quality a football fan can have is patience.

It seems as though giving Dalglish the job, as is expected, in the summer, will be Liverpool playing their final hand: it’s win or bust. There are genuinely six top four contenders now, which is unprecedented in most leagues, and to be there each season we have to make the right decisions starting with the manager.

If Kenny Dalglish can’t turn us around? Who can? The fan momentum is currently there, the owners seem willing and the majority of the players are on board.

Liverpool don’t need a massive overhaul. Dead wood can be shipped off, but large parts of the squad should remain intact, just to add depth.

To truly throw our hat in the ring for the next five years and beyond, for both Champions League and Premier League contention, then Liverpool need real quality. It doesn’t have to be spectacular, but dependable.

At the moment, and it is hugely unfortunate, two of our most talented players are Agger and Aurelio and both players spend for too much time in the treatment room than on the pitch. While i think Aurelio should be let go in the summer, as was originally planned by Benitez, Agger should be retained.

But to get the best out of talented players who seem injury plagued, a team must have adept replacements. At the moment, Liverpool don’t have this. We have scrappers, fighters, and players with passion who throw themselves into tackles, but if we want to dominate teams, become the ‘Bastion of Invincibility’ as Shankly once dreamed, then our mission this summer should be to spend in the knowledge that Liverpool FC is only as strong as its weakest link.

@onlychrissevers

Andy Carroll and Liverpool's philosophy

The biggest thing in football is money, we all know it. Peter Crouch comes close, Wayne Rooney’s vocabulary comes close, but money is what makes the game go round.

Any owner of a club, such as Mr J W Henry, will want to see returns on their investments. Of course they would, that’s fair enough, but sometimes I do sit and ponder whether money hamstrings football too much.

I’ve often heard it called moneyball, and there’s a lot of truth in this. When an owner invests a lot of money in a player, they expect that player to play, and when that player doesn’t play well, or doesn’t fit a system, then who has the ultimate say?

In a perfect world, the football man does. But as Rafa Benitez found out continually through his career, you can’t bite the hand that feeds you, or you’ll get a slap.

When I watch Andy Carroll play, this quandary always pops into mind. I see the team change, our brainless defenders (Agger and Johnson excluded) see it as an easy way out, and I worry that because he’s the most expensive British player ever, ‘he has to play’.

Now, I know he’s young, and new, and I think he will score a lot of goals for Liverpool, but I would hope that the manager (presumably Dalglish) will have the power and sway to dictate the team’s style on a game-by-game basis.

There will be some games where playing Carroll won’t be as effective. While I am sure he will improve as a player over the next few years, his style of play won’t. He will always be a target man, and not in the Drogba mould, because quite simply he lacks the pace.

Liverpool must concentrate on avoiding building a team solely to suitaro Andy Carroll, as has been mooted, but build a team based on a philosophy of good football, and ensure that Carroll fits that philosophy.

Lots of chit-chat and conjecture has bandied about the airwaves and internet-waves [cit] about buying wingers for Carroll. If that was to be our ‘aim’ then we would be seriously undermining our chances of long-term success. Carroll is still an unknown quantity. He has raw assets that should be exploited, and a good crosser would of course be a great acquisition, but any incoming wingers (Sylvain Marveaux looks set to join) I would hope they have a lot more about them than just being able to stick the ball on Andy Carrol’s head.

My concerns are obviously hypothetical, Liverpool may well have a grand plan for the summer, but as mentioned above, would the sheer price of Carroll have too much influence on the way the team thinks and plays?

Liverpool’s problem isn’t the players, it’s the mentality. Too little movement, not enough imagination. We don’t press high up the pitch like we used to, and if we win the ball in midfield, there’s only usually two people in front of play. To break teams down, you have to be ready to pounce, quickly and ruthlessly.

All of the teams who play on that ‘higher level’, have an amazing fluidity about them that allows interchangeable positions making them a nightmare for defenders. By focusing entirely on Andy Carroll, we allow ourselves to fall into dependency. Everybody will know where Carroll will play, and how we will play to him.

Who knows? Maybe Andy Carroll’s biggest role could be to play the worlds most expensive red herring. By using Carroll not as a goal scorer, but as a goal creator (i.e. making space, runs, dragging defenders away) Liverpool can take advantage of this space.

The biggest trouble Liverpool have had for the last two years is finding players who can create space. We’re too static, and Andy Carroll surely falls into that bracket. But, it can work.

To utilize a player of Carroll’s ability, we need strong runners from midfield and players who know when to go and when to stay, a footballing brain can never be underestimated. Meireles has shown he has the potential to do it, but he can’t be relied upon solely.

Kuyt doesn’t have the legs any more and Suarez is still too early in his career at Liverpool and must be given time. Although his direct style and unpredictable nature make him a handful for any team, I’m sure he will help the ‘dream’ of beautiful football along nicely.

In summary, I hope and expect Andy Carroll to be a success at Liverpool FC. I just hope that Liverpool play to LIVERPOOL’S strengths, and not Andy Carroll’s.

Andy Carroll should be a weapon wielded in a way to allow a warrior to move freely, not a weapon too heavy to be swung, rendering our metaphorical warrior over incumbent.

@onlychrissevers

Liverpool's well is dry, only FSG can push us on.

Raising money this year is, as we all know, going to be difficult for most not only in the UK but the world.

Unless you’re a City banker or Gideon Osborne you may find potential income slipping through your fingers. This summer will be a good test of Liverpool’s financial clout, will we be Princes or Paupers?

The money raised from sales this year has allowed us to manoeuvre freely, splashing out like a desperado sugar daddy on two young strikers.

But now, as new Director of Football Damien Comolli plots future transfers with Kenny Dalglish, the question will be asked by fans, ‘where will the money come from’?

Financially, Liverpool have traditionally had wiggle room. The club, for the last few years has always wielded assets to sell on for profit.

Despite misinformation to the contrary, under Hicks and Gillett, Rafael Benitez did a good job in turning over enough profits in sales to keep the squad fresh enough to compete. This, despite the club being strangled from behind in a giant business-like metaphor of Hitchcock’s Rope.

Players like Torres, Alonso and Crouch have been used as lucrative money spinners. Often resulting in two or three new squad members being recruited for cheaper prices, in the hope we unearth a gem.

For a team that doesn’t have any money, yet still is demanded by some to win everything, this is part of a standard squad evolution that must take place if the team is to carry on going forward.

Eventually things reached a standstill and something had to give, after the manager left, followed by the owners and finally the interfering managing director, Liverpool were looking at new horizons.

Hodgson’s reign was short and bitter, so long and thanks for all the fish. But that was all part of a grander change that leaves us where we are now.

Kenny Dalglish is coach, for now and likely to be in the long term, and with FSG in charge and with Comolli as general overseer, LIverpool are in a very different boat to what we where a year ago.

But, how will the transfer strategy change? To make up ground on the teams above us, expenditure will have to outgrow income and with the financial fair play rules just 2 years away, the best time to act would be now.

LIverpool however, for the first time in a while seem short of decent salable assets. Only the suggested £20m transfer clause of Pepe Reina suggests some sort of significant income, otherwise, we would have to clear out a whole host of players just to afford one competitive signing.

Too long have we been forced to sign £5m players in the hope they turn into stars and to boost the squad depth. This philosophy, while it couldn’t be avoided, does not give enough competition to the established players in the squad and ultimately, seamless cover.

So, this leaves the ball firmly in the court of FSG, Liverpool will, ideally need a solid spending plan for the summer, which could match January’s spending but we can’t afford, from a quality perspective, to lose any of our ‘assets’.

Nobody will care if Jovanovic leaves, or if Joe Cole moves on for a couple of million, but to give Liverpool it’s best chance of Champions League football then Mr Henry, as I’m sure he knows, will have to push the boat out, because we have no choice.

Adopting a sell-to-buy policy will only allow us to tread water until we get washed away, aggressive rebuilding is essential.

But this summer, without any room to create substantial funds, Liverpool’s future hopes rely on the will of the owners.

Twitter: @onlychrissevers

Liverpool FC - Subbuteoball

Liverpool’s recent embarrassment of a performance against Braga in the Europa League highlighted a couple of issues that have been around in the side for years.

I picked on Jamie Carragher a couple of weeks back, focusing on his inability to pass the ball with any more imagination than a Sunday League player.

Thursday, for me, not only amplified this problem due to the presence of Andy Carroll but showed that JC is not alone.

Liverpool are suffering at the moment not from a lack of depth in the squad, but a lack of positive philosophy.

The key to any creative team is who the people at the back are and we have some outstanding footballers at Liverpool, but they don’t play enough. Daniel Agger and Fabio Aurelio are technically superb and when they play the team looks completely different. We need players who can step in to the team and continue the style of play that we should be employing.

When they don’t play, which is far too often, we suffer from a lack of imagination that not only makes us simple to defend against, but simple to attack. It’s easy to run in to the gaps when you’re playing against a team from The Subbuteo Premiership.

When Skrtel, Krygiakos or Carragher have the ball, there’s only two things that each find themselves doing. Give it to Lucas 10 yards away, or hoof it long. Hitting it long almost always guarantees a surrender of possession and it’s something I feel Kenny Dalglish should address in the summer with some tough decisions.

I have no problem with the pace of Lucas’ play, which is slow and safe, but the sloppiness of those around puts far too much pressure on a player who’s job is to break up opposition attacks and give the ball to better players. Unfortunately, we don’t have many players who can use the ball better than Lucas and this is a damning indictment of the team as a whole.

The past few years have seen an exodus of creative players who have been replaced by mules and workhorses. Even those who could frustrate the Kop at times could often use a little imagination to swing a game in our favour.

Alonso, Aquilani, Garcia, Riera and Benayoun have all been shipped out and not replaced adequately. They were players who tried things, and who were dangerous in the final third.

Now Liverpool rely on Suarez and Meireles to pull something out of the bag and for two players who don’t have a year between them in the Premiership that’s too much to ask on a game by game basis.

Liverpool need a model. A constitution which defines what Liverpool is in the long term and how we play and ultimately, who we sign. We’ve a team full of scrappers starting from the back and if you want a team to be an effective unit at breaking down defences instead of breaking down attacks then you need to look at ball players throughout the team.

Of course every team needs a bit of steel, all the greats have it. Even Barcelona have Puyol and Busquets, but both can play too. Liverpool have persisted for too long in buying players with no brains and no willingness to adopt the famous ‘Liverpool Way’.

There are players in the reserves and youth teams who’re definitely being groomed in the right way, but by the time they reach maturity Liverpool could be in Premiership oblivion. Trapped between Europa League and Nowhere.

The time, as ever, in football is now. Lets hope Mr Comolli, along with Kenny Dalglish are planning a proper inquisition into the fundamental problems that exist at this club.

Dalglish identified it after the Braga game when he said we have no flair, but I hope that despite all the calls for wingers, which is of course necessary, attention is paid to creativity that starts at the back.

We already have the most creative goalkeeper in the world, now we need to strengthen the most important part of any team that wants to compete at the top, the brains.

Innovation is the only way we can save football.

The recent announcement from the wise old council of football, otherwise known to those who care as FIFA, to ban ‘snoods’ and outlaw the wearing of ‘undergarments not of the team colours’ highlighted not only the shocking indiscipline of player fashion but also the lazy traditionalism of the fat cats at FIFA HQ.

The pace, technical ability and intensity of football is increasing season on season, but the rules remain stagnant and outdated. Why the football Illuminati, led by the untouchable, Nobel craving, hunger solving, world saving Sepp Blatter has not acted on the broken rules of football is beyond normal humanoid comprehension.

There are many things reprehensible about the structure of football but the last few weeks have highlighted some growing issues. Outrageous commendation of incompetence by refusing to allow retrospective punishment tops the list, followed by player registration regulation and the use of the yellow card as if it were going out of fashion.

Retrospective punishment is something that is so simple a child could understand it. I couldn’t give a hoot if it wasn’t feasible in lower leagues, with all due respect, they’re less important to the gigantic empire that is football under FIFA.

Wayne Rooney and Jamie Carragher should both be serving suspensions and justice would have been some way to being done. However, because one man, the referee, missed the incident, the players who committed awful fouls (an elbow and a leg breaker) are then protected by FIFA’s rules. The backward mentality of the decision makers is baffling.

But let’s not forget, they have a lot to do, there’s just so much money floating around for them to deal with that we must all take a moment to appreciate how hard they must work to squirrel it away. So now you may understand why they happily hide behind a referee and let him take all the slack despite having little to no help, they’re too busy saving lives, clearly.

For those interested, take a gander at Law 5 from the FIFA Rules, they ask a lot of the referee, and although sometimes refs don’t help themselves, they do not get enough help. By not implementing proper retrospective punishment, they are pouring far too much pressure onto one individual to truly see everything.

What problems could arise in having the ability to punish players such as Rooney and Carragher for their misdemeanors after the match? There is no defense against it, the ref could simply say to the player on the pitch: “I didn’t see what happened, but that doesn’t mean you escape punishment”. This flexibility in punishment reduces the pressure on a referee to be all seeing and will be a deterrent to players who think they can go unseen.

In the Champions League on Tuesday night we saw Daniel De Rossi get away with a right hook against a Shaktar Donetsk player which went unseen by referee supremo Howard Webb. As the referee didn’t see it properly, like he didn’t see the subtle De Jong challenge in the World Cup final, the player is now eligible to be charged for misconduct, by UEFA. Now, this might be a twisted logic but the referee’s inability to see an incident helps justice to be done. Strange.

Secondly, we have the stubborn player registration law. Liverpool fans will be feeling the brunt of it this season with Luis Suarez’ inability to play Europa League football. A performance for Ajax in the competition means the Uruguayan will now be unable to help his new team win a trophy. Why? I don’t think this even merits looking into, ‘why?’ should be enough.

Here is an exert from the rule in Section 18.8 of the UEFA regulations: “if the player’s new club is playing in the UEFA Europa League, his former club must not have played in the UEFA Europa League at any point in the current season”.
Make of that what you will, while they try and impose fair play financially, they are tightening their grip around the neck of football for the fans. Those fans who have lined Platini and Blatter’s pockets with gold, those fans who prop the industry up as a whole, are now the ones being told to bend over and shut up. A million articles would not be enough to get into the price of games now.

What we need in football is a fluid, quick government, one that has the best interests of the fans at heart and which punishes those who blatantly flout the rules. In a twisted logic, Luis Suarez and the Liverpool fans are being deprived of football and entertainment, while at the same time Rooney and Carragher get away with criminal offenses. The mind boggles thinking of the possible reasons not to listen to the outcries from fans, journalists and players alike.

Almost as nonsensical, and another indicator of the growing conspiracy that ‘mad dog’ Gadaffi was responsible for writing the rule book, with help no doubt from Charlie Sheen, is why the yellow card still exists.

This semi-punishment is about as awkward as a third wheel on Valentines Day, Robin Van Persie can confirm that. His yellow card and sending off against Barcelona is a disgraceful decision that exposed bad refereeing and bad use of the card. The Dutchman was given his second yellow for taking a shot within one second of the referees whistle at the rowdy, noisy Camp Nou, even the hardest authoritarian would forgive the forward from giving Arsenal their first shot on goal.

The yellow card is proving insufficient at even it’s most basic function, calming down players. I challenge anybody to find me a game that has been calmed down by yellow cards. Instead, as is so often the case, the game descends into a tense, edgy encounter which only raises the temperature.

The recent Manchester United - Liverpool game nearly combusted at one point, half time was the only reason nobody got sent off, yet there was the referee, flashing his card about (incorrectly) and it achieved nothing. If a higher profile game was needed to raise awareness of the yellow card issue, see last years World Cup Final and after 15 yellow cards, we were treated to the worst final in decades.

The only impact a yellow card seems to have these days is punishing celebrations and ruining games with decisions that leave fans halfway between shouting at the referee and scratching their heads. Imagine a howling monkey scratching it’s head and multiply it by 40,000 and you’re left with the general imagery of Premiership crowd when the majority of yellow cards are dished out.

Naturally, there needs to be a middle punishment, one that isn’t as petulant as the yellow card and this is where football should take precedent from other sports. The sin-bin idea is pretty much fool proof, for every offense the player should be given an extended sin-bin time, therefore it’s the players prerogative to help his team.

Every match that takes place is likely to leave 50% of the crowd disappointed, but that shouldn’t be due to sloppiness by those charged with safeguarding the game.

It seems almost too easy to be true, but instead of having ‘two extra officials’ who stand behind the goals, why not have two officials who sit and watch TV replays during the game. From this point, they can inform the referee of offenses he may have missed and be there to confirm crucial decisions where there is an element of doubt.

A straight red, most people will agree, can be considered a fair option. Some players deserve to be sent straight off. An automatic 3-game suspension should not be a concrete punishment. There are many different types of sending off offenses, one punishment is not enough to rule them all (Lawyers - this sentence has no intended reference to Lord of the Rings). A handball on the goal-line can receive the same suspension and punishment as a straight up punch. Once again, someone needs to rip the rule book up and rewrite it.

Despite the endless list of ‘why’s’ and constant puzzlement, we must remember the biggest ‘why’ of all. Why is Mr Blatter still at the wheel of this globalized circus? Elections are soon and candidates are to make themselves known by the end of the month. Will anybody step up to be counted? Is there anyone who has the humility and bravery to innovate the game we love and despise all the same?

Who will save us? No, not you Sepp.

By Chris Severs

Gerrard and Carragher: Untouchable? I hope not.

After a cagey start to life under Kenny Dalglish, the embers of a revival were starting to flare up, but after the showing against West Ham, we were firmly put back in our place, and rightly so.

The display was something we all know Liverpool had in them. Too many players going missing and the usual scapegoats being made, well, the usual scapegoats.

Two players that stood out, in terms of absolute worthlessness though, were Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher. This might sound like a strange shout, but it’s all about perspective.

I’ve heard many many fans slating David Ngog, sometimes fairly, sometimes unfairly, and I’ve felt the brunt of criticisms of Lucas over and over along with Kyrgiakos. There is a difference between the nagging comments of these three players, who cost £7.5m in total, to the ‘invaluable’ combo of Gerrard and Carragher.

These stalwarts, the so called life-blood and embodiment of all things LFC, have been off the boil for too long now, and in Carragher’s case, never quite had the ability to cut it at the peak. If this is the backbone of Liverpool Football Club, then we are suffering from a broken back.

The silence, when it comes to the analysis of the two English players is deafening. I don’t mean to be sensational when I write, just for the sake of it, but I cannot be the only one who feels Liverpool might better off without them (proper investment permitting).

First up, Jamie Carragher. A player who, after reading his autobiography, has a lot of self worth it seems. His ability to read a situation and make a possible saving challenge is unquestionable. He is highly competent at doing so. But, from a footballing standpoint, he is not good enough. His distribution is atrocious. Soft, 30-yard chipped balls up to anybody who is up front is not good enough. The ball inevitably comes back straight away, possession it seems is not an option when Carragher has the ball at his feet.

I can see an immediate future for the centre back, dogged defending is his forté and when he stands alongside Daniel Agger, it can work. But when paired with anybody who can’t use the ball well, i.e. Martin Skrtel, he may as well be standing on one leg. For a professional footballer, I find it shocking.

If Jamie Carragher did not carry so much fanfare, then I would be able to accept his deficiencies. It’s all too common for other players to be lambasted, and Carragher to be let off the hook. If you’re wondering where I’m coming from, the next time Liverpool play, just look at how good ol’ JC uses the ball. I only pray Agger is present to hold his hand through it.

Deep down, maybe I have a grudge against him, but one exert in his autobiography forever turned me from being endeared to him. After taking some criticism from a journalist in a local paper, Carragher judged it unfair, and then infers that a phone call was made resulting in nothing critical being written again, if that’s not blinding arrogance I don’t know what is. I can see why successive England managers overlooked the Bootle born defender. His heart is there, his head is there, he has the organizational skills to be a leader, but his ability lets not only him, but the team down.

Secondly, with one of the worst displays I’ve seen from any club captain in the last couple of years, Steven Gerrard.
After strutting about the pitch for 94 minutes having no more than a shot and a couple of flicks, Gerrard embodied his last two seasons. As I said with Carragher, these performances don’t ‘grind my gears’ individually, it’s the combination of people being unwilling to question the ‘icon’. Those most guilty of this are the pundits we see on every live match, paid to be critical, but forever taking the easy road out.

Quick to lay into the smaller fish out there for Liverpool, not undeservedly, it’s the unwillingness by the likes of Jamie Redknapp, Phil Thompson, Paul Merson, and anybody who seems to have a say on LIverpool, to really see the gaping hole that Steven Gerrard leaves behind when played in his ‘favourite role’.

Rafa Benitez could see it, and so could Fabio Capello. Gerrard, although a great player in his own right, Gerrard does not do the ‘team’ any justice. Tactically he leaves gaps.
This is the main driving force behind Benitez deploying Gerrard up front, free of any responsibility, the ‘influential hero’ could do what he liked, and he did it very well.

The press, it seems, were adamant Benitez had it wrong and only in central midfield would we see the true Steven Gerrard. Well, if this is the true Steven Gerrard, throw him back up front, please.

In the West Ham defeat, once Meireles went off, Lucas Leiva was left to deal with three midfield runners. An impossible task. The Brazilian wasn’t helped by his skippers absence in the game and duly took the criticism for a poor performance. Silly old Lucas, didn’t you get the memo? You’re in a no-win situation.

This is becoming an all too familiar sight now at Anfield and on the road. 2008-2009 saw Gerrard undoubtedly hit his peak. His partnership with Torres during that season was the most prolific in Liverpool history and both players looked fired up all season. Since then, the captain has looked a nomad lost in a talentless desert.

I’m not sure what it is that makes Gerrard tick, whether it’s proper motivation from a manager or what’s going on in his family life, but the skipper has not looked the player he was for a long time now, and that brings into question his worth to the team.

Our current squad dictates that both he and Jamie Carragher have their places almost guaranteed, but this comes from a lack of competition which for me, could be the reason their performances are so indifferent.

When it comes to summer dealing and planning, traditionally, managers have not felt the need to look into signing direct competition for these players, they simply buy ‘reinforcements’.

This has, over time, become a dangerous strategy. It seems to me, dear reader, that both Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher have become too big at Liverpool, they are now untouchable.

We need someone at the helm who is bigger than them both, and can hold sway in any power struggle, luckily, that man is already there.

Kenny Dalglish, you’ve got a few big decisions to make come the summer. Rant, over.

By Chris Severs

Alberto Aquilani could still have a red future.

There are not many teams out there that demand and divide opinion as much as Liverpool Football Club do and included in that are the players of Liverpool FC.

One man who is still technically a Liverpool player and who tends to provoke debate is Alberto Aquilani. The Italian has spent the season at Juventus where he has done okay, but most importantly has stayed fit.

The reasons behind his departure in August 2010 remain a bit of a mystery to me. Only two weeks prior to his leaving, Roy Hodgson had pin-pointed the midfielder as ‘looking good’ (along with Lucas). Whether Aquilani had asked for a move, unable to settle, hasn’t been made clear. He has always played his cards quite close to his chest; saying he loves it at Juventus while reminding people that he still belongs to Liverpool.

Aquilani has been a talking point seemingly all his professional life. Blessed with obvious talent and a great footballing brain, to use an old cliché. Injuries, however, have been his downfall.

Heralded as the successor to Francesco Totti, perhaps unfairly, ‘Il Principo’ failed to take the crown off the legendary Roman. Injuries, often to his ankles, prevented his progression and when Rafa Benitez decided he could rebuild and re-mould the player Roma took the bait.

His first season at Liverpool started off as we all knew it would, with him injured. For some reason this didn’t stop people criticising him. In some quarters, he was unbelievably branded a flop before even kicking a ball. Which is ridiculously as what defines a ‘flop’ has changed over the years it seems. A flop used to be someone who couldn’t hack it at a certain level, now it’s whoever hasn’t made an instant impact.

Of course, some people couldn’t handle the fact Rafa had just replaced the popular Alonso with a player deemed crocked.
I always felt criticisms were unfair though, and a lot depends on the standing of the manager on how much faith the fans give. Kenny Dalglish just spent £35m on an injured player, but no fan will question him, not that I disagree with the decision, but comparisons can be made.

For me, the Roman always looked class. After so long out, in a new country and new league, I felt he acquitted himself well. He always seemed one step in front of the opposition and his one touch passing impressed me. Although apparently it didn’t impress everyone. At one point during the home leg of our Europa League semi-final with Atletico, Aquilani, after a good instance of one touch passing was berated by a group of fans for being ‘scared of the ball’. After I had removed my face from my palm, I understood that this player may never be understood by all.

The majority of Liverpool fans could see the ability he has, and would no doubt have him back at Anfield. There are two key decisions to be made though; whether the player wants to stay in Italy, and whether Kenny Dalglish could find a place for him.

The relative success of Raul Meireles means that there may be no place for ol’ Bertie. Don’t be fooled however into thinking they’re similar players, they are very different and could, I think, play in the same team. It would be a positive managerial headache fitting both creative players alongside Gerrard and Lucas, as I don’t agree with sticking either of the midfielders out wide.

In an attacking team, with a good hold up player such as Carroll alongside more technical players such as Suarez and Meireles, the Italian could find his way at Liverpool yet and deep down I hope this is the case.

While Aquilani could play deep, and has done, he doesn’t possess the tenacity in the tackle as Lucas does. In possession though, there aren’t many better for dictating tempo.

The chances are that he will remain in his home country, whether it’s at Turin or elsewhere, but if Kenny does recall the player, then I think there is still a place for Alberto Aquilani, and I hope if he comes back the fans will give him the chance to prove himself.

By Chris Severs

Rafa's Legacy

When Liverpool u18 demolished Southend u18 9-0 on Valentines Day, my thoughts were of a person who changed a lot of my views on football.

Of course, you may have guessed already if you know me, that person is Rafael Benitez. His vision, and quite frankly his guts, in personally overseeing the overhaul of our youth academy is what we starting to see the fruits of now.

Many eyebrows were raised when Steve Heighway was shown the door in 2007. It was widely accepted that he was doing a good job, bringing the Gerrard’s and Owen’s through, although part of this was self praise.

Heighway stated that ‘no one was better at coaching 17-18 year olds’ than he was. Well, it seems that history may be proving him wrong.

A rapid overhaul was in motion and much of this went unnoticed by the press who were too busy concentrating on Rafa’s press conferences to see the work that was being prepared.

Rodolfo Borrell was brought in as coach after building a glittering reputation with Barcelona and Jose Segura was signed as Academy Director. The vision Benitez had was to build a multi-national football school that scoured the planet for the best prospects.

Liverpool invested heavily in bringing in 17 year olds, many of whom didn’t work out, but that’s all part of the game at that level. The truth is many of us only hear about the 17 year old and older signings. Young players at that age are almost developed to their maximum.

The pressure and demand in the Premiership today, and with the success and talent of players like Fabregas, Wilshire, Aaron Lennon, James Milner and others indicates that if you’re not on the peripheral of 1st team affairs by the time you’re 20 then the door starts closing fast.

It’s only now, four years after Heighway leaving that we’re starting to see the investment shine through. Liverpool, did of course win the Youth Cup two years running with Heighway, but in truth it amounted to nothing.

There are differences now however, from the perceived success of 2006 and 2007.
There is a bigger focus on the catchment area, the average age of the u18’s is younger and there is a bigger emphasis on passing football.

Previously, Liverpool seemed to have focussed on ‘British’ players, and by that I mean the search for the elusive all-rounder, box-to-box stereotypical Roy of the Rovers. Now, as should be the case, there is a bigger emphasis on technical specialists.

We’ve seen other teams such as Arsenal, Man City and even Southampton blooding younger players who have outstanding ability in one or two areas. Only when they become first team members do they start to truly develop that ‘grit and drive’ that comes with age.

Players such as Linfield, Threlfalll and even Spearing who are now in their 20’s where once the brightest stars in the team, but they never quite hit the heights and where quickly surpassed by their peers at other clubs.

Now though, after years of investment in players like Raheem Sterling, Suso and JonJo Shelvey, things are starting to look different.

There is a fresher, more technical approach to the academy and it’s players, dare we say ‘continental’, all brought in by Segura and his team.

So it’s to Rafael Benitez who I think the credit should go. His work away from first team matters, including bringing Dalglish back to the club and therefore back into management contention, has rejuvenated and restructured the club to long term success.

Despite the board room fall outs, intense pressure to keep the media at bay along with the interferring and egotism concerning Chris Purslow, Rafa built something that may one day be more important than the 2005 Champions League success.

So Kenny Dalglish, along with Rodolfo Borrell, Frank McParland, John Owens and Jose Segura are doing, have the duty to carry the torch forward.

We might have been left short in immediate squad depth, but the future is bright, and those who are doing outstanding work currently with the Liverpool youth set-up need only carry on their work to ensure Rafa’s legacy and vision is not in vain.

By Chris Severs

Putting the wings back on the Liverbird

Putting the wings back on the Liverbird.

Those of us with our souls buried deep in everything Liverpool FC have seen many revolutions in the last 20 years.
Changes have been made and remade and new promises broken along with hearts.
The latest revolution though, so far, seems to be the big one, we can only hope.
It is of course far too early to start placing eggs in baskets. After two losses, one draw and four wins, Kenny Dalglish’s Liverpool are getting their balance back.

The mixed messages and utter myths blurted out during Hodgson’s reign from each and every angle are forever being busted with each passing day under Kenny Dalglish. When Hodgson couldn’t get the team motivated, people blamed Rafa. They said he left Roy with an impossible task. Now Kenny has them winning and looking like a team again, it’s no longer anything to do with Rafa, now the talk is of Champions League football, who would have thought it?

Of course, those who actually watched and analysed a game in the last 10 years could see that Rafa Benitez had the best interests of the club at heart and had the ability and most importantly the vision to deliver. However, the impact of Hicks, Gillett and Purslow on the club is often overlooked by pundits and journalists.

Most reports on Liverpool, such as a recent piece in the Independent by James Lawton with Ian St. John, is nothing but laziness. They haven’t researched the depth of the problems brought by the owners, so they don’t feel comfortable talking about it. Instead, it’s too easy to blame Benitez and to overlook the evidence in favour of tired old sayings.

There’s been a lot of change recently though, and it looks as though loose ends have been cut.
Roy Hodgson has left, allowing players with flair and talent to rediscover their form such as Agger and Johnson. A rigid 4-4-2 has been cast aside to a fluid, interchangeable formation not seen since the hopefuly days that seem so long ago yet were only in the 08-09 season.
Kenny is hear now and I would be surprised if there was any player who wasn’t behind the manager.

Liverpool were, and still could be, in danger of becoming uncompetitive for a long time.
Credit to Fenway Sports Group though, they made a crucial decision and changed the manager, a new wave of optimism is running through the club.
I admit that, going into the Chelsea match, I thought a positive result would be unlikely, but after 20 minutes my fears were laid to rest. There was a confidence in Liverpool, and a determination and belief that we would not be beat and that we were not inferior.
Players previously derided, Lucas, Johnson and Kuyt all stepped up to be counted.

Lucas Leiva is the epitome of the clubs fortunes over the last few years. He had to overcome harsh and often unnecessary criticism from a lot of people.
I feel that at times, Liverpool fans shamed themselves in their treatment of the Brazilian and I hope that now, his quality, composure and drive will convince those, including ex-pros who said he should never wear the shirt, of his right to be at Anfield.
At just 23 the young midfielder has a lot of time still to develop in a position where players often find themselves peaking in their late 20’s.

As Lucas changes opinions, the team itself are changing opinions.
After the Torres departure, Liverpool and it’s owners where at a crossroads.
This time last year, that £50 million would have been syphoned off to service debts, only a percentage would have been re-invested. Now though, the entirety of it was reinvested.
This puts the power back in the hands of the football people and not the Chief Executive.

Now we see the media are starting to jump on the bandwagon. Talk of the Champions League may be premature, and I don’t think Liverpool fans should expect it now, we are probably too late, but if we continue in the same vein then I think next season the Kop should raise it’s expectations.

If we can catch Spurs, who have a game in hand, that could give us a 9-point gap to reduce in 12 games, then the tide will be in our favour come the summer. The lasting feeling at the end of the season will be one of rejuvenation and that will be important for attracting players and keeping players.

Champions League football is of course the goal, and so is a title challenge. You don’t need to be in the Champions League to challenge for the league though.
The damage this season has more than likely been done by early mistakes, but, if we can go into the summer with good momentum then with some decent investment this team may not be so far from a league win as people thought just two months ago, including myself.

We have a potential forward line that could score goals consistently for the next 5 years at least, and with some shrewd buying in other areas, Liverpool could find themselves an underdog for the league in 2012.

Man United this season have shown that you don’t need to be at your brilliant best to find yourself in a title battle come May. You don’t always need to beat the ‘Top 4’, you just need to beat the other 15 teams in the league and Liverpool should feel that they’re capable of doing that.

In the last two years, Liverpool’s biggest rival has been itself.
Struggling, infighting and disharmony have destabilized the club but now, after the decontamination of the last 6 months, Liverpool can take a big gulp of fresh air and push forward.

So now many fans are asking ‘how far can we go under Dalglish?’.
A king must always be at the top of his game and when Kenny’s been involved that’s where he generally finds himself, so why not be at the top once more, looking down on those who can only come close to him. Like a true king, and the legend he has forged for himself.

Kenny has unclipped the wings of the Liverbird and, at last, the future looks bright.

By Chris Severs

Fernando Torres Chelsea's number 9

Fernando Torres Chelsea’s number 9?

Sounds weird doesn’t it? The kind of disbelieving feeling sets in when seeing an old flame in the street with another.
When you look at Torres’ time at Anfield, and before that his time at Atletico Madrid, it may not be all that surprising to see him pulling this stunt.
Although many fans may feel like ‘we’re a club on the up’ again, we’re not a club on the up until we can prove it at the end of the season.

When Torres left Atletico, he left to join a Champions League team that was on the verge of winning the league.
Now, the comparisons between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid are clearer than ever.
Two huge clubs with rich histories and lofty ambitions, but without the means to fully challenge the new order at the top of football.
In Spain it’s Real Madrid and Barcelona, in England it’s Chelsea, Man United and now Manchester City.
The spending power needed to overhaul such teams is astronomical.

There is another way, the slow evolution that we saw begin and then fade under Rafa, undermined by an interfering board.
But that way takes years, and Fernando Torres doesn’t have years, he’ll know that.
As a player there is more to him than explosive pace, he does have a knack for positioning, but as he gets older injuries will eventually catch up to him and any player knows that their time on the pitch becomes more precious the older you get.

At just 26, you may feel he has his best years ahead, but players with such pace, and of his nature, often burn out sooner rather than later.
Is Fernando the new Michael Owen? Maybe not.
But his sale wouldn’t be the end of the world. As long as the money is invested properly and Kenny Dalglish, or any other manager gets to spend it, then the only real damage may be done in Liverpool’s shirt selling department.

The question of Torres’ loyalty seems somewhat misplaced, he was Mr Atletico at one time, the darling of the city and the fans. Yet he publicly courted Liverpool.
Now are we just seeing a repeat? Atletico and Liverpool once again find themselves in the same boat, those fans understand more than any other what most Liverpool fans are feeling.
Do we have a cause for complaint though? The Spaniard has always said he wants to win trophies and he left his boyhood club to be here. On the most part, he held up his part of the bargain but we didn’t come through with ours, and we look a long way off trophy winners now.

The real sting comes in the relationship between the player and the fans. The messages he had previously sent out, including how he wanted his children to be Scousers and that he would honour his contract, leave a bitter taste in the mouth.

Where do we go from here though? With Luis Suarez on board, we may well end up with Torres and Suarez for the rest of the season. If we beat Stoke and then beat Chelsea, a tough ask I know, we could be six points behind the Londoners in a race for 4th.


If we did snatch a Champions League place, would it be fair to cash in on the World Cup winner and try to add strength in depth to the team. I have a feeling a cheeky bid for Karim Benzema wouldn’t be too bad business, with a partnership with Suarez in mind. But it may be too early to judge this one.

Steven Gerrard went through the same thing in 2005 and 2006, yet now, 5 years on, we’ve forgotten all that. The same could happen to Torres, he may yet change his made, so it may be too early to rip the posters off your wall and allow your kid to sob his heart out.

Football’s a fickle game, played by fickle people and watched by fickle people. Nothing surprises me anymore.

If Fernando Torres was still in red this time next year, I would be glad of it. If he goes in the summer, I won’t be too bitter. It will hurt to see him in blue at Anfield but that is the nature of the beast so get used to it.

John Henry’s dilemma.

John Henry’s dilemma.

Warning: The following is not an attempt at heresy, merely a cautious thought.

With Roy Hodgson seemingly caught between a rock and a hard place, a huge decision rests on the shoulders of chairman John Henry and his cohort Tom Werner.

Roy Hodgson, despite coming here with the best of intentions and a decent if unspectacular record over his many years, has found himself downstream without a paddle.

When NESV took over Liverpool FC, they preached about the long term goal and how they want to do things in the right way. But the amount of pressure that is building on Hodgson, is now building on NESV, and I feel like there’s something not right about that.

I would be disappointed if NESV bowed to the fans wishes so easily, fans are fickle, and one thing a chairman cannot be is fickle.

A well known website recently posted an open letter to Henry with what was effectively an ultimatum; sack Roy Hodgson or lose the respect of the fans. This kind of thing I find out of order, there is no way someone in the position that Henry is in should give credence to ultimatums and blackmail.

Those in charge are clearly astute businessmen, and Liverpool FC, whether we like it or not, is a business. There are countless factors to consider with replacing Hodgson. Things ranging from the new manager, to the pay out, to the effect on the players and to the image the club gives out.

One problem which might occur, is the appointment of someone who may become too powerful. The man who springs to mind is obvious; Kenny Dalglish. The child inside me pines for the return of the king, the atmosphere and energy he would bring back for those initial games would be worth every penny. The concern however, and maybe I’m being a bit too cautious, is what if Kenny doesn’t work out?

Say, for instance, Kenny gets us playing half decent football but by the summer we still languish in 5th or 6th. What contacts does Dalglish have in the modern game? Could he work with Comolli? Will he be able to establish a modern sports science approach which is essential these days? Would the fans be able to see common sense if it wasn’t working out? However, most importantly, if a relationship broke down with the board, the fans would inevitably come down on Kenny’s side. The board must see the potential for trouble here.

We know that Dalglish is a gentleman, he’s proved it time and again, but put your business minds on. Would you hire someone with the potential to have more sway and power than yourself?

I would hope that, if Dalglish does end up with the reigns, that it works out. I would like nothing more than a legend to come back and restore the club, it’s fairy-tale stuff. But maybe, as a Liverpool fan, we’ve been subjected to too many broken promises.

For this reason, I think the the best the board may do with Dalglish, (if Hodgson was to go), would be to give him a contract only to the end of the season. There would have to be some kind of gentlemans agreement that Dalglish would go quietly and by mutual consent.

It seems silly to even be considering this kind of thing now, but I want a long term future, not a short term answer. If Liverpool get beat by Bolton, Hodgson will surely be sacked. But if he stumbles on to the summer, I won’t be too upset.

The ultimatums to the board must stop though, we need a strong board who prove they have faith and an eye for change. Besides Dalglish, there are no managers available at this time of year. God forbid we end up with Allardyce or O’Neill, although O’Neill would no doubt have us a bit more motivated than Mr Roy.

The biggest decision comes in the summer. Regardless of what happens from now til then. We aren’t going to finish 4th, forget about it. We probably won’t finish 4th for a couple of years, but Henry as a tough decision to make in the next couple of days.

It’s a fine line between a weak chairman and one who answers the fans. It was a strong board who stuck by Ferguson in the 80’s despite fan calls for a sacking, we need to be prepared to accept that Dalglish might not get the job, and if he doesn’t, then the summer will be the time for change.

For now, we may have to just grin and bare it. A. A. Milne said it clearly for us all: “The third-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the majority. The second-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the minority. The first-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking.”

Maybe we need the board to do what they alone think is best for the long term, for Liverpool FC in the next 25 years, not the rest of the season.

Rafa's Rejects and the joy of the mute button.

Liverpool are currently in what we’d call a transitional phase, off the field anyway. On the field, we’re what some may call ‘stuck in the mud’.

The recent abject showing against Wolves made two things abundantly clear to me.
Andy Gray and Alan Parry are so unbearably buffoonish that I watched the majority of the game on Sky with the mute button on.
Roy Hodgson does not have the ability to manage Liverpool.
What we have at Liverpool is a swinging axe, and Hodgson’s head is edging nearer and nearer.

Firstly, the failure by Statler and Waldorf in the Sky gantry to call into question even one of their mate Hodgson’s tactical or team choices, and instead to simply act baffled while the crowd chanted for Dalglish was criminal, for so called experts.

When the crowd reacted ironically to Konchesky’s substitution, they failed to grasp two important points, that the Konchesky family has had a bit too much to say in public and that he is probably the worst left back the club have had for decades. Even Andreas Dossena could lash in a good cross (and score some memorable goals).
My only salvation was to reach for the mute button and reject the bile being spouted from the TV.

The loyalty by Sky and the london press in general to their mate manifested itself even more so when Parry felt the need to give his two pence on Rafa Benitez tenure. Mockingly inferring fans must be crazed to have him back, oh what some would give to have the goatee’d maestro at the helm.

The second point, which will no doubt be much discussed, is the ability of the incumbent manager, Roy Hodgson.
To put it bluntly he lacks a few qualities to be a success at the top; the ability to adapt during a game, the ability to motivate world class stars, and the personality to create an atmosphere within the club of superiority.

I have previously defended Roy (mildly), and suggested we may as well give him the season, and I may think differently in the morning, but I can’t bear this suffering much more.
I am unsure about the appointment of Dalglish, would it be silly to suggest if we appoint him, fans will find it too difficult to let go. Especially if he divides opinion with an indifferent tenure, although, I would be curious.
The solutions aren’t obvious, and in my previous posts I’ve highlighted candidates such as Flores, Deschamps and Coyle.

I think blaming Benitez for the mess we’re in now is a classic case of passing the buck. Rafa’s ‘rejects’ aren’t that bad, it’s a team full of internationals and youth promise. All we missed at the end of 2009 was a game controller, someone to move the ball quickly from side to side and show a bit of ingenuity. Aquilani would be the obvious choice, considering he’s already our player, but Roy sees it differently.
The tactics used: Meireles, Kuyt, Gerrard and Lucas in a mish-mash formation behind a lazy Torres and an inexperienced Ngog is just not good enough in the Premiership.
It’s amateurish to send even a seasoned pro out there with seemingly no game plan and just hope your players can do better than the other guys.

Torres looks like he doesn’t want to be there, and I think hooking him off on 60 minutes would’ve sent a clear message to everyone that laziness won’t be tolerated.
Despite the bafflement by Gray and Parry at the boos for Ngog’s substitution, the lad played considerably better than Torres and I think those around Anfield who aren’t acquainted with Hodgson could see that. He showed some good control, movement and touches, without being greedy. It’s a shame it never paid off for him, but when the whole team are dragging their feet, you can’t rely on someone like Ngog to ‘lead by example’, it would be unfair to do so.

While Hodgson might be content to try and spin comments such as claiming various players aren’t his, some players even being Purslow’s (what’s that all about?), he should consider a change.

He’s insisted during his time here that his methods haven’t changed in 30 years and have always stood in good stead, maybe now is the time look in the mirror.
The players don’t look happy, his signings haven’t won over anyone, every time he gives an interview you start to grimace and above all, the football being played is woeful.

Soto being thrown up front as a last gasp attempt with Lucas filling in at centre back? Awful, simply awful, that kind of tactical ‘knowhow’ reminds me of Mourinho turning to Huth to save his blushes every time Rafa had him in checkmate. Embarrassing.
To finish my rant, I can only say that I expect nothing from this season. Possibly a Euro place, but I think the biggest job here is the next managerial appointment.

From what I’ve seen and read, the only ones in support of Hodgson getting more than a year are those in the TV studios, because after all, he’s such a nice guy!

I wouldn’t trust him to spend money in January, so instead of writing a few cheques for players Mr Henry, why not save some money and send Roy his p45.
Here’s hoping.

Liverpool FC: The king and kingmaker.

The january transfer window is fast approaching, and many fans will read a lot into the owners spending.

Will they back Roy? If they do, does that mean we’re in it for the long haul?
The majority of reds are indifferent to Hodgson and his methods. His nice guy attitude in front of the cameras doesn’t sit too comfortably with those of us who want a manager to ruffle some feathers.

The tactics employed, are unflattering to say the least, derisory football and an obsession with rigidity isn’t winning over anybody.
One defense for bad football tends to be ‘well at least it’s effective’. In this case however, it’s both bad and ineffective. Sam Allardyce would be ashamed of us! And that says it all.
I have stated before, that I would give Hodgson the full season, because deep down, I just don’t care how we do this season as long as the future is looking bright.

A scorched Earth approach can bring new shoots to bear, and I think with a new ownership and a new direction, the club needs to outline certain long term fundamentals.
Football isn’t going anywhere, so one revolution after another won’t achieve much, we need a blank slate, and time to evolve.

Whether Hodgson is capable enough to wipe the slate clean and start again is one question, whether he has the ability to develop us into a force that sticks to an entertaining mandate is one I’m almost sure will not happen.

I admit to knowing little about our new Director of Football Strategy, mostly due to me not paying attention to him before he came here.
(If anyone has any relevant information on Damien Comolli, share it!)
It seems that the Frenchman could have some considerable influence at the club, and although I’m not an advocate of suits running things on the pitch, I’m willing to give him time.

As I mentioned before, a long term vision is important, and if he has it, as well as the suspected big influence, he could well be a kingmaker at the club.
If, and I guess if is the buzzword, we were to get a new manager in the summer, I wouldn’t expect a big name.

A few names who I wouldn’t mind being banded about are Flores, Coyle and Deschamps. Coyle may seem a strange shout to some, but I think his ability to over-achieve with a good brand of football and an intelligent, insightful personality mean he is a different type of over-achiever than Roy. We might see a few class goals for the reserves too.

Hodgson’s achievements were through a tough shell and a ‘blue collar mentality’. Coyle on the other hand seems to encourage creativity, although, nobody has a crystal ball and whoever was to come in would have to have the fans onside quickly.

Flores and Deschamps are both in my eyes, similar coaches. They employ a technical approach and both work alongside (or under, if you prefer) football directors. It would not surprise me if the club started to take on a French feel over the next couple of years.

Although, Deschamps has been around the game almost 10 years now, he is still relatively young and has managed to topple Lyon from their perch.

Quique Sanches Flores is a hard one to sell, he’s more personality than coach, although he clearly has ability. His antics against Espanyol two weeks ago were, although in the wrong, good to see. He isn’t afraid to get involved and I think his success in the Europa cup last year with some big name players means he knows how to handle them

Henry and the rest of NESV speak well, and they understand diatribe when they see it. However, people understand that Roy Hodgson isn’t their man and unless success is quick, new owners don’t tend to stick with the in place manager.

It’s gotten to the point now that, when watching Liverpool play, I find myself bored of being frustrated. A deep back-line and no pressure on the opposition in their own half could give me restless nights and calls echoing in my head of ‘attack attack attack’. It’s hard to even be philosophical about it, Roy may be sure in his ability, but not many others are, despite his embarrassing claims of good form. Besides beating Chelsea, Liverpool have done the bare minimum and less, throughout the season.

If we’re to start a fresh, there’s no time like the present. As stated, I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking ‘I wouldn’t mind Roy having the season’, but I think that’s only because deep down, I’m hoping he’s not here come June.

By Chris Severs

More of the same please Roy.

When a man is digging his way through the Earth, then he will eventually fall out the other side.
This is what I told myself after Liverpool’s most recent abhorrent performance. Sure, it’s simplistic, but the meaning is clear.
Liverpool are on a hiding to nothing this season, after last season’s nightmare, everything was up in the air. To my dismay, Rafa went first and not the board.
Despite the potentially good work Chris Purslow did in removing the Americans (eventually), he hired Roy Hodgson.

Now, I like Roy, many people do. He seems like a ‘nice’ guy, which is probably a label he detests, however, his tameness in his methods is justification for the tag.
The Rafa years, aka ‘The Champions League Years’ if you wish, seem like a golden age at the moment. Liverpool may have whimpered on occasion, but I had always thought that when the chips were down, we had teeth.
Now we’re just all gummy and frail, a sad state of affairs.If euthanasia were legal in this country, I’d have taken us to the clinic a long time a go.

The next decision for the board, we all know, will be the managers job. Roy isn’t their guy, in fact, he’s know ones guy except for Purslow’s and Hicks, and what relevance do they have any more?
As ever with Liverpool, it’s all about the next step, and after a fresh start off the pitch, it will inevitably a fresh start on it that’s needed.
NESV appear to be clever people, they want to win the fans over just as much as Roy does. I think now is the time were the fans will have the most influence. The board will be keen to get a thumbs up from the faithful, keen to know that when they start spending more time back in America, that things in ol’ Blighty are going well.
They must know that the fans are not in favour of Hodgson, most people don’t detest him, they just don’t want him.
Sure Roy, go off and do well somewhere else, we really wish you the best, but your time here is ticking.

Chanting Dalglish’s name, may have been disrespectful to Mr. Hodgson, but some would argue that his team were disrespectful to the fans in the game against Stoke.
The players, we know, are mostly quality players. Okay, there’s no Mascherano or Aquilani or Insua, but Hodgson stepped into a team with World Cup winners and Champions League winners and just generally, a team of winners.
The quality is there, but he’s just not inspiring them. The war of words Rafa was so fond of, while ridiculed by some, often stoked the players.
They’d go out on to the pitch determined to shove someones comment back down their throat.
In time more and more people will realise we were punching dramatically above our weight, but I looked forward to the next game.
This season, I feel like I’m going to some unwanted school disco. Oh how awkward and cringe-worthy it inevitably is going to be.
If the league wasn’t so competitive this year, with these kind of performances we’d be cut adrift in the bottom half. Luckily we’re still in touching distance of Europe.

However, this is the point of my babble:
Do we need Europe this year?
In the long run, I’m quite happy to allow Roy to battle on to the end of the season. Because if he does, then we’re bound to finish maybe 8th or 7th again? Then NESV get all summer to make the right choice.
The right manager may already be at a club, I’m looking at you Quique, and be unwilling to move until the summer.
That’s part of the reason why I think NESV are reluctant to say ‘we’ll spend in January’. They want to wait and see. While it pains me to wait and see, I think in the grand scheme of things, sticking with Hodgson will be acceptable, until the end of the season. Let him dig his own way to the bottom of the pit, then just let him fall out the other side.

To those who shout for Dalglish, I think appointing the King is dangerous territory. I feel almost foolish whenever I get all excited about the prospect of having him in the dug out, I feel... almost like a Newcastle fan... anyway, the draw backs of having Kenny back.
Say we get him to the end of the season and we finish a respectable 5th, then were do we go? Does he get the job full time? What if it doesn’t work out? Such is our affection for the man that it could be heart breaking to see him sacked the next season. Because, lets be real here, he’s been out of the game for a decade. That’s a huge disadvantage.
There’s more to it than ‘knowing the players’, it’s about your contacts and your philosophies, your training methods and what people you have around you.
After 10 years doing the after dinner circuit and meeting and greeting various suits, it might be too much for him to step back onto the field and make things work.
He’s like a first love that nostalgia helps you to always remember fondly, you want it back but you know deep down that you shouldn’t.

Forget consolidation, Liverpool need to innovate.
We need a manager with an eye to the future, who’s fresh and could offer us 10 years and build a dynasty.
I don’t care if he’s foreign, English, or a dog. If he’s got the skills, the ambition, and the methods, then please let’s snap him up.
If it takes to the summer to get our guy, then so be it. But quick fixes are not what we need now.

Liverpool FC. Into the deep.

After a brief International break in which Liverpool’s players did well (sorry, but not you Pepé) we’re instantly back to the grind of league football. This brings with it the every day stresses and arguments that it always does. Did Hodgson get his tactics right? Why did he play Lucas? Why on Earth did he take Torres off at 70 minutes! All stuff we’ve heard before.

The most depressing thing for me in the past week however, was Hodgson’s admission of the dire straits in the board room. I hate to go down this route once more because everybody’s heard it before in countless blogs, but we were lied too this summer and the evidence of Liverpool’s downscaling is there for all to see.

A stat circulated last week that in the last 3 years Liverpool made a £50m profit from recouped transfers. £110m in players leaving and £60m on new recruits, those numbers should be seen as the chalk on the board, in plain sight.

The financial figures also make it even more miraculous as to how we mounted such a title challenge in the 08/09 season. Unfortunately they bring a stark realism to our finish last year. We are, until further (banking notice) a club in decline.

For the season at least, we have maintained a competitive squad. It seems that a fair bit of begging and false promises were spun to Torres and Gerrard in the summer to ensure they were on board. Would it be morally right to praise the gall of Chris Purslow in convincing the two to stay over the summer? Or was he actually believing what he was spouting to us and them?

The next key date in our controversial recent history will be the refinancing deadline. RBS seem to hold some leverage over the Yanks but who knows what deals are brokered behind closed doors. I would be both foolish and out of my depth to comment on such matters. When it comes to Liverpool FC, the number one gossip club in Britain, conjecture achieves only disappointment.

On the pitch, our squad seems to be reinforced with grit. Poulsen and Meireles, between them would make a decent midfield for any team, but in comparison to the midfield of last years top 4 we may come up slightly lacking. The fact Arsenal held on to Fabregas this year is only of detriment to everyone else in the league.

Joe Cole arrived to much fanfare but his long term productivity to the team is still in doubt. In all his years in the premiership he’s never been considered among the top awards, making Gerrard’s earlier claim of him being favourite for the Player of the Year award seem a little ambitious. Although, I would happily be proved wrong on this case. I just wonder how well Cole will fit with Torres, with all the evidence hinting that Hodgson promised Cole that ‘role in the hole’.

A week away lies Manchester Utd, this will be a true test of Hodgson’s dreadful away record. I hope that Liverpool fans can see that despite the signing of Cole, we’re looking at a team designed and drilled to stop other teams. We were always tough, but if Benitez and Houllier are left and right wing, Hodgson definitely walks the line towards Houllier’s style of play.

Our main weapon in recent times was our possession. Once Xabi left, that began to drop. I don’t believe Mascherano will be missed as much as some may think, his job was a simple one and although he was very good at it, we should be a team that dominates possession rather than having to sit back and break it up.

Ideally I would be curious to see Meireles and Gerrard link up, in the same way Gerrard and Barry played together for England, but I think Roy will be concerned about the midfield being vacated.

So what says you Liverpool fan? What concerns you most about this season? And please don’t tell me Lucas and Ngog. Both have been nothing but committed to Liverpool since they arrived and never hid, for that I commend them in the face of undeserved criticism.

Although we may be a club in decline presently, we must still have no limits to our ambition. A wise man once said “To be pleased with ones limits is a wretched state”, nothing is truer to a Liverpool fans heart.

Adios,

Chris

The Hodgson bubble bursts early, but it could be a good thing.

On Tuesday night I watched on with many others as a poor Liverpool team got brushed aside by a poor Man City team. Of course, levels won’t be at their required rate just yet but what’s certain is Man City will improve with each passing week, where Liverpool go, that’s a question for Roy Hodgson.

Before the match, Andy Gray and Richard Keys did their best Statler and Waldorf impressions by mocking Rafa Benitez before a ball had been kicked. Thinly veiled swipes at his 4-5-1 tactics and marking philosophies were cringeworthy enough. It occurs to me that it didn’t occur to them that should Joe Cole have been fit, Liverpool would’ve lined up 4-5-1. Nevermind the fact that City scored from a corner, and when Andy Gray was asked why man marking went wrong, he simply replied ‘well it happens’. Thanks Andy, your insight was outstanding, shit does indeed happen no matter what marking system you play.

The game itself was no spectacle from a reds point of view and I won’t dwell too long, I don’t want to provoke some unwanted shudders while you read. Hodgson quite simply got his tactics all wrong, his record of 4 away league wins in 2 seasons could be understood with his line up. Starting a crunch game away with 4 strikers on the pitch is only going to lead to trouble.

The prerogative for any team like us is to build on small things. A series of early defeats could be very damaging come the usual winter fixture pile up. While the loss to City was unsurprising for most, enjoyable for some and deflating for the rest, again the most worrying for me was the tactics. Lucas, while a player I like and admire, cannot hold the midfield against Barry, Milner and Toure.

Back in Muppets studio, Gray found the vocabulary to praise Hodgson for his bravery in playing 4-4-2, again reminding us that a manager like Rafa would not have done this. Well, our outnumbered midfield and wingless strikers were food and drink for a combative midfield trio in sky blue. Gerrard played in his ‘best position’ though, which was well worth the defeat.

It seems that a spot of contradiction was being served at Sky Towers, their dynamic duo in the same breath called for Gerrard to play central midfield, while drooling over the fact Gerrard and Torres could potentially be back among the goals together. Hmm, I’m sure when Gerrard and Torres were firing on all cylinders, Stevie wasn’t playing central midfield. Forget that though, this is the wonderful world of media! In HD, Yeah!

The repercussions from this defeat are not that great, in a way, I was relieved we got a reality check early on. The goal posts can be shifted so to speak, and as a club we could do a good job out of the ‘lime light’ of the fight for 1st with the new ‘Big 3’.

With Mascherano proving to be as unprofessional as he is fiery on the pitch, we must concentrate on getting our house in order off the pitch before things improve on it. On this topic, I don’t understand why the player was allowed back to training at all. His behavior has been despicable and if he truly did refuse to play, breaking his contractual obligation in the process, Liverpool should be free to dock him wages for his remaining time at the club.

The change in manager has proved to us only, thus far, that the more things change the more they stay the same. Let’s hope this ‘secret but not so secret’ bid comes through and we can attain some certainty in our future.

Our fixture list has not been kind, a win against West Brom and then Birmingham is important if we are to have any confidence enough to go to Old Trafford and then potentially on to the rest of the season.

So, the question falls to ‘Mr Roy’. Everybody expects us to take it to the likes of West Brom, especially at Anfield. The match should be a given, but will Hodgson be able to bring the big away results we need to reach the tables summit? I hope so, and I don’t doubt that he will learn fast.

At the City game the away fans were chanting Rafa’s name, I can’t see this as helpful to Hodgson’s cause (although I did raise a smile in acknowledgment), but it does raise the question, are these the same idiots who were calling for his name last year? Who knows, but Hodgson will need our full support from here on in, not to mention a lot of patience.

Liverpool FC - The building blocks that could lead to a title?

With the season bearing down on us like some starved beast ready to gobble up all our attention, it’s worth a moment of calm in your day to stop and consider the journey we have come on in the last few years.

Within a decade, we’ve rode our luck in 5 major cup final triumphs and seen hope and promise fade away into almost regular disappoint in the form of the Premier League. The statisticians will tell you that besides ‘that season’, otherwise known as last season, we’ve made decent progress, which is true.

That decent progress though, has been sabotaged by some other team who have the audacity to jump ahead of us in the queue for the league title. Greedy teams like Man United and Chelsea have decided that since Arsenal’s last triumph in 2004, nobody else can have the title unless you’re prepared to spend massive amounts. Enter Man City, in an almost carbon copy of what Chelsea did 7 years ago, they’re buying all the top available talent from around the world.

From what I can see, they’ve bought pretty well and effectively. They will obviously be the new kids on the block next season and will have to deal with a lot of pressure, which may or may not be to their undoing. Behind City, United and Chelsea though, we have the slow and steady group; Tottenham, Arsenal and of course Liverpool.

We three teams have been able to spend pretty well, but only if we sell 1st, which means while the three respective managers are busy plate-spinning, teams who aren’t selling are winning the league. It doesn’t take a genius to realise that the biggest spenders with the highest wages win the league every year. That philosophy of course doesn’t count for cup competitions because anything can happen, but for a 38 game season, you basically get what you pay for (competent management permitting).

Liverpool have gradually been creeping up on the big guns for years now with all the subtlety of an Elephant. Constantly talked about and hyped about, we’ve failed to deliver what the press say the fans deserve. A league title. Whether or not we ‘deserve’ one or not is for more debate. One thing that is clear though, the expectation will never change.

Through the 90’s til now, Liverpool fans have felt like there’s a party going on on the top floor but we’re not invited, we’ve tried everything but just can’t get in. We went French, we went Spanish, now we’re going English. Of course, nationality doesn’t mean anything as long as you can speak the language, what counts is the gradual evolution of the team into a squad and then into a club.

Houllier’s team was average at best, and with that team we achieved many average things. A penalty shoot out win against Birmingham City, an improbable turn around against Arsenal and a flukey golden goal against Alaves ensured Houllier went away with his head held high. He did leave us a few gems in the form of Sami Hyyppia and Didi Hamman, so give credit where it’s due.

Off the pitch though, Houllier’s legacy was in the academy rejuvenation. Apparently he was shocked at the standard of facilities Liverpool had (which would be later echoed by Rafa Benitez being shocked at the standard of players at said facilities). The work was completed and Liverpool had their brilliant new academy, but we had no-one to put in it. All those bright young English starlets were yet to be picked up and the FA still hadn’t put together a grass-roots plan to right the wrongs.

The answer it seemed came from abroad. Youth players were snapped up with vigour, a whole host of young French players came to fill the academy and reserves but it seems someone was at fault. Our slightly above average team was now unbalanced as it was supported by a below average reserve squad.

As we know now (silly old us) squads and rotation, yes rotation, are vital to any league triumph. Liverpool’s team simply couldn’t sustain a strong title charge so despite a few enjoyable wins over United, we fell away time after time, reaching a peak of 82 points and a second place to United.

With the fans beginning to lose all hope, the board acted, Houllier was sent packing and a new man was brought in. Enter Rafael Benitez.

When Rafa came he was greeted as a conquering hero, he had just broken up the duopoly of Spain with Valencia, twice in three seasons. The spaniard had also replicated Houllier in winning the UEFA Cup. In this guy, we thought we had the answer.

I won’t dwell on it, because we all know what happened, but Liverpool won the Champions League. This diverted our attention away from another terrible season in which we finished below a progressing Everton side. Nobody blamed Rafa of course, because we all knew it was Houllier’s fault. In that season, Rafa had introduced us to a few Spanish players who divided fan opinion, in Alonso and Garcia he had two great buys, but in Josemi and Nunez, he had handed the ammunition to the future firing squad.

Away from 1st team matters Rafa had set a priority in galvanising the youth set up. With the new facilities, Liverpool rearranged their scouting department and scoured the world, instead of Africa and France, for new talent. Millions were spent on youth players to kick start our academy, with which we’re only now beginning to see bear fruit.

On 1st team matters, Rafa encouraged us on the pitch. In 2005/2006 Liverpool were promising, hope it seems, had returned. Despite the press’ love affair with some Portuguese fella in London, they did afford some attention to Liverpool, if only to compare him to the big spending Chelsea. The endless comparisons and Fergie v Wenger v Mourinho v Benitez stats on Sky Sports News were driving some kopites to despair. Why were Liverpool suddenly branded one of the big boys when we had no right to be so?

This labeling proved a heavy burden in seasons to come as the clamour and hunger for domestic bragging rights grew with what appeared to be every passing month. Rafa continually tried to convince us that we were not ready and 2005 was a huge over achievement, but many wouldn’t listen. In what turned out to be a stroke of genius in 2007, Rafa signed a Spaniard by the name of Fernando Torres. For all his playing down of expectations on the club, Rafa couldn’t curb the wave of expectation that came with Torres’ goal exploits.

At the time of his signing, not many were keen on him since Eto’o and Villa were favoured instead (it would take a brave man to admit that now though). His incredible goal ratio set the bar high for us though and with a new cult hero, the fans started to ask the questions once more, where is this damned title?

Back to the reserves, and Rafa had gradually built up a strong team and decent squad. If you want an inkling into the skill of the scouting department, you should have a look at the price difference from the signings Rafa sold to when he bought them. Profit was the name of the game, which encouraged two new owners to splash out on our old club and promise us that our dreams would come true!

I won’t dwell on the two owners because we’ve probably heard enough, this article is about retrospect on the pitch not politics off it. Anyway, where was I? Ah, yes, money!
No thanks to a shameful display of arrogance at the press conference, George Gillett promised us signings, anyone we wanted. Benitez however, was being told a different thing all together in the boardroom.

A tug o’ war was going on in the boardroom and over the last 3 years of Rafa’s reign, the waters were muddied at Anfield. As soon as the media became a weapon in the struggle for both sides, things started to go badly. The fans became polarised as stories came out against Benitez and the board alike. Many didn’t like Rafa, but they hated the board more.

On the pitch, Liverpool managed to take the premiership by surprise in 2008/2009. Favourites for the league at one point and racking up some famous wins against Madrid and Man United all seemed to be going well. At this point though the wheels were turning and rumours of Rafa leaving started to appear more and more. Despite finishing the season extremely strongly, it wasn’t enough to overhaul United and we spent another summer picking up the pieces.

One piece never got picked up though, and that was Xabi Alonso. His exit caused a right stir and many fans accused Benitez of wasting talent despite the move being instigated by Alonso (although the damage was done the previous year, which was the year Alonso didn’t play so well). Anyway, the following season proved to be a disaster, the great team/decent squad thing was pushed too far by injuries and Liverpool never got any kind of rhythm going. A 7th place and UEFA cup semi-final was a bit too ‘2003’ for most people and so off went Rafa to Milan.

Now, present day and if you haven’t noticed a few similarities in the last 2 regimes, you should start to see them now. Blind optimism gradually eradicates caution when a new manager strolls in. An easy win and decent performance from Joe Cole later and we’re talking ourselves up again. I fear, history may repeat itself.

The only difference I can see now, is that, as one of those ‘slowly but surely’ teams we’ve actually created a very strong foundation to build upon. The last 2 managers have certainly played their part. Houllier laid the foundation and Benitez built the house, all Roy needs to do is decorate the thing and off we go! Right?

Well, one obstacle to our slow yet steady progress would’ve been the American duo at the top. As luck would have it, Liverpool ‘need’ to be taken over, and are just about ready to be so. This, coinciding with a new manager allows a unique opportunity to re-evaluate our position. Whereas once I would’ve preached about caution, it’s now difficult to do that without knowing the intentions of any new owner clearly. I doubt that any takeover can influence transfers in this window, so ignoring the off-field events I will try to focus on the football as it stands.

Liverpool have found themselves at a cross roads it seems. In Roy Hodgson they have someone who can make the fans happy, but who’s record at the very top is sketchy at best. However, with such a strong team and burgeoning youth set up, great strides forward are now possible.

While many of us still nurse the wounds of last season, it is worth bearing in mind that this is still the basic set up that scored 86 points 2 years ago and set the league alight with goals. Chelsea and Man United have chosen to stick with their hand this summer, meaning Liverpool have a chance to make that 5 place gap shrink to none.

In a way, riding behind the pressure of new boys City could help us sneak our way back into contention and dare we dream it, is a title on the horizon? Although, I’m sure I’ve heard all this talk before... ah yes, every season in the last 10 years!

This is why, in finishing on a positive, I think it’s good to remind ourselves of the ups and downs we’ve faced in the last decade and how often things seem to repeat themselves. We need to break out of our mould, this is clear, but we must also remember our history lest we are doomed to repeat it.

By Chris Severs

Liverpool FC get ready to administer preparation H.

A new wave of optimism is sweeping the streets of Liverpool, Nando is staying, and Kenny Huang looks like a spot on fella! Hooray! From what I can tell though, everybody has a sense of reservation about the whole thing. As usual with Liverpool FC, it’s impossible to anticipate what kind of mood you’ll be in by the next week, reds fans, welcome to the world of bipolar.

While some fans have been foaming at the mouth at the thought of Cole becoming the player he always should’ve been and Roy Hodgson playing the way ‘we should be playing’, the majority of fans are treating this whole revolution like someone who’s been burned on one too many 1st dates. A mistrust’y mist hangs around Anfield at the moment and I for one don’t blame anyone for it.

‘The gruesome past’ has been confined to history, despite it being only 3 years ago, and it’s hard to avert your eyes from the bright light from the East which promises so much! The over-riding feeling is one of an anxious wait. We were swept up in the glee of the dollar in 2007 as those brave new custodians swaggered and boasted in front of the camera.

Now, we’re battered, bruised, divided but not quite conquered. Somehow the fans kept their heads (mostly) and we can look to the future. Martin Broughton seems to have delivered on his promise, although I still recall DIC being hours away from a takeover and look how that left us. I’m going to declare myself ‘cautiously optimistic’ about the whole thing, but I’m already thinking of football matters.

If this nice Chinaman swoops in with a week or so to go before the transfer window shuts, should we expect a transfer flurry? I’m not so sure. We have to remember that although Mr Huang won Philanthropist of the Year in 2009, he’s a businessman, not an oil rich Sheik. His main aim, and which I fully understand, will be securing the stadium construction. A new stadium would be key to any potential deal because that is the revenue maker. The lure of sponsorships and corporate boxes is very tempting to a man of astute business intelligence.

As a businessman, I think we’d be in good hands off the pitch. As a footballer, I think there will be no squad overhaul so it isn’t worth fantasizing about. If it wasn’t for that devilish nemesis of ours, ‘the injury’, we’d have a fantastic 1st team, this is still the core of the squad that finished 2nd two years ago, if not with added flair. If Hodgson gets them playing well together, which would require great man-management (which he seems to have in abundance) then we could have an exciting season.

From what I hear, Maynor Figueroa is the next signing, and that would be a decent appointment indeed. Surely all we need is an experienced back-up for Torres, but they’re few and far between, maybe Mr Kuyt can stake a claim?

I have no doubt that we can dispatch any team at Anfield, but when it comes to playing away from home, I hope Roy can give a better showing for Liverpool than he did for Fulham. They had a shameful away record under his tenure, but that all seems to have been forgotten! Who cares anyway?

The season is only around the corner and I can’t wait to see regular football again, it’s not as though I’m ‘expecting’ anything, not a lot of Scousers are, but I’ve missed all the talking points. We may have to have our hard hat on though because there’ll be an even bigger focus on Liverpool over the next month than we’re used to, and that means regular bombardments of horrendous punditry.

Liverpool have been the club on everyones lips for ages, whether as victims of mockery, jealousy or adoration. The slanted London media love to stick the boot in whenever possible, but with their number 1 target Rafa leaving, and the darling Roy in, it will be interesting to see how we’re portrayed. The potential of a new ‘accepted’ owner will of course quieten things down and I also wonder what the future holds for those relying on protests for publicity.

Will the protest groups and SOS retreat to their corners? I hope so. I also hope Chris Purslow will stay out of the limelight. He’s been far too prominent in the last year or so and I don’t like to think of myself as too old-school but when it comes to football, the only thing that should be in the press is the football itself. No comments from some board member, no tip offs, inside scoops, no ex-players spewing bile to gutter-press papers. Just pure and simple football, the way the great man wanted it.

Two weeks to go then and all to play for, on and off the pitch. I expect, should Huang take over, a barrage of information about the guy that will simultaneously worry and relieve, accompanied by a bucket-load of Liverpool-Chinese puns in which I invite comments below to pre-empt the headlines.

It’s no understatement to say the current ownership has been the equivalent of severe hemorrhoids on the backside of the club, so bring out Kenny Huang to take the pain away. Once they leave us (for good), it will be a welcome relief to be able to sit in peace and watch football the way it was intended to be watched; in an over-priced, uncomfortable seat, in the rain, listening to morons all around shouting rubbish at both teams...

Ahh, the beautiful game!

By Chris Severs

Liverpool FC and the trouble with the kids today.

There has always been a clamour for young talent in football. Even when it isn’t there, and over the last 6 years I’ve seen no greater demand for it than at Liverpool.

Since Fergie landed the title with his ‘kids’ back in the 90’s, everybody wants a bit of that action. Liverpool haven’t produced a ‘star’ player since Gerrard 10 years ago, and that’s been a thorn in the side of many a fan.

The battle lines were drawn whenever it was deemed unacceptable to pick Johnny Foreigner over ‘one of our boys’. An example last season was Lucas Leiva being picked ahead of Jay Spearing. I don’t claim to be an expert, I simply observe, but from what I observed last season, Jay Spearing isn’t in the same class as Lucas, as hard as that is for some people to get into their skulls.

The demand for young English talent comes from... well, I don’t know where it comes from but it’s everywhere and it’s relentless. The solution has yet to be found, over the last 10 years various clubs have produced batches of promising starlets. Crystal Palace, Man City and Everton have all contributed to the next helping of hype. Remember all the fuss over Micah Richards? What about Walcott? Don’t forget Michael Johnson either! I wonder whether Jack Rodwell will fall into their category. Even as a Liverpool fan, it is interesting to be able to see a young players career develop.

In Houllier’s era, Liverpool imported a lot of French youngsters, Florent Sinama Pongolle being the greatest success. Besides him, none of them impressed despite the promise. Then came Rafa, and using Houllier’s rejuvenated facilities, he began to overhaul the youth system which ruffled a few feathers. Major ins and outs were afoot and some well known names were disgarded.

Since the Spanish inquisition started 6 years ago, Liverpool signed player after player as they scoured the Earth looking for talent. Some young players were deemed good enough to get a tasted of Premiership football; Lucas, Ngog and Insua were the notable ones. Despite their youth and promise, many felt aggrieved that the English lads were not getting a chance. Spearing, Guthrie and Hobbs were often talking points.

Out of the three above examples, only Spearing remains, and in my opinion, I wouldn’t be sad if he was moved on. This isn’t a grudge against Spearing, I genuinely hope he has a long career at a high level. For me, however, he just hasn’t got it, and sadly this is a theme running through a lot of our English young talent, and foreign too for that matter.

Pub talk is usually a source of amusement to me but over the last season I noticed a lot of it was criticism of Rafa’s reluctance to play the young English boys, and especially so when young imports have been selected ahead of the English. Following Rafa’s dismissal, I heard a lot of chatter about the future, naturally, but a lot of it was how Roy Hodgson would play the Brits. Personally, I think this type of philosophy is outdated in todays game and I’m not sure if it would pay dividends in the Premiership.

Barcelona are the only team I think who have had regular success with true homegrown talent, but they should rightly be seen as unique. It may just be me, and i hope it’s not, but football is an international game and therefore I favour Liverpool and it’s academy thinking internationally. England is a small pool to pick from and it’s league is the most demanding in the world, the sums just don’t add up.

I suspect that Roy Hodgson will give all the young players a chance, and everyone will have a clean slate. Giving Lucas the captains armband in pre-season was a brave decision following the 3 years of criticism directed at him. I will be very interested to see how many young players the manager chooses to play, especially in the Carling Cup (or whatever it may be called this season) where he has history of playing ‘weakened’ sides.

On a side note, it is a shame really, that the only player we have at the u19 Championships happening at the moment is Pacheco. Despite his promising performances, our Academy should have more representatives there.

My point, should I waver from it in my rambling, is the expectancy and misguided philosophy that British is best. British hasn’t been best since 1966 and I don’t think that’s going to change soon. The English are still teaching the kids to play with passion and fight, whereas the rest of the leading nations are teaching their kids to play with technique and guile. The revamp can’t start at Liverpool, it needs to start earlier than that.

The kids we have at the moment are all very promising, but the likelihood is 95% of them won’t have the honour of playing 1st class football at Anfield. Of that 5%, the amount Brits that will get the chance is very low indeed. I just hope that should Hodgson be reluctant to throw Spearing, Kelly or Darby in the mix, then he shouldn’t be judged on that fact.

If two experienced and dedicated managers follow similar patterns with our youth, will the calls for one type of youth player (British) stop? Or will we continue to complain that they aren’t given a chance?

The very argument that players are being denied the chance to play due to a managers stubbornness is generally idiotic and ignorant. Do we really think that a player who shines in training regularly wouldn’t be used in this cut-throat game? The value and demand of such players would almost force the manager to showcase such talents, whether it be for a financial reward or footballing reward. I think it’s simply a touch of anxiety from fans who want to see the new Gerrard or the new Fowler. The game moves fast though, and even since Gerrard came onto the scene as a raw holding midfielder, everything has changed.

Change is hard to take for the traditionalists, especially those who recall the all-conquering British teams of the 70’s and 80’s. Things aren’t like they used to be though, any issues Liverpool have with new talent won’t be solved by simply throwing British players into the mix.

Just a thought...

Chris Severs