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