The Future

Aquilani to AC Milan, El Zhar to Levante, and possible moves for Joe Cole and Christian Poulsen on the horizon means the plethora of midfield players Liverppol supporters were quibbling about pre-season is thinning out nicely. Some supporters are questioning why Aquilani is being loaned out yet again, with an option to buy… haven’t we heard this before is the cry!?! What if Milan decide not buy him at the end of the loan period? I guess in hindsight it proves the folly of buying a consistently injured, though talented, player for £20 million and points directly at the club’s transfer policy at the time.

Players like Sterling and Silva must be blowing a sigh of relief with the movement out of the club – one often wonders if this negative transfer policy hindered the progress of Pacheco and stopped players such as Jay Spearing coming through earlier than they otherwise would have done.

The fallout from Aquilani’s transfer and the increased contracts handed out to fringe players El Zhar, Deggan, and Insua amongst others has moulded the transfer policy of John Henry and the Fenway Sports Group into buying players who will have a sell on value. Therefore, the recent strong rumour of Dalglish interests in Bellamy is not surprising as it seems more a strategic push by Liverpool to bring in a quality support striker who will hit the ground running and provide the team with experience, goals and at a push provide the option to play out wide with his pace (which we still lack in critical areas) and an ability to beat defenders in critical forward positions.

Craig Bellamy - rumours of a Liverpool return (Image: Daily Mail)

His potential signing maybe seen as a negative move by some, but the thinking is understandable and I for one advocated a move for Forlan before his recent move to Inter Milan for the knock down price of 5 million euros, especially with his understanding with Suarez and the fact that he has improved exponentially from his time at Man United. His understanding with Suarez and moves and the potential acquisition of Coates would have, I believe, placed Liverpool in a no lose situation.

Criticism that our transfer policy is misguided is unfounded. Liverpool like many clubs outside Champions League positions are and will find it difficult to pick up world class players. The simple fact is that top class players want to play in the Champions League and as such with the footballing world focusing on the annual tournament it makes complete sense to build for the future. Since January, Liverpool have spent over £100 million pounds (approximately £50 million net if we take into account the Torres and Babel transfers), but considering we finished three places behind Man City and they have spent a similar amount just in preseason with Man United spending over £50 million, we know that we cannot match the spending of the top three, thus it is incumbent on the club to spend wisely and to make sure that the club’s scouting system is unparalleled.

Andy Carroll is being pilloried as some supporter’s believe he doesn’t possess the prerequisite skills to fit into Liverpool’s free-flowing play which destroyed Bolton. His signing, alongside that of Suarez, was at a time when the club had only one recognised striker in Ngog, with Kuyt used more as a wideman. Carroll arrived injured and was patently unfit during the latter half of the season. His starring role against Man City shows just how dangerous he can be when given the right service and that he offer a different mode of attack to the pass and move which has been accentuated by the magnificent movement of Suarez. His still appears, disappointingly short of fitness and just as with most strikers short of goals, confidence is a considerable part of their make-up and is almost certainly why Dalglish appears to be going out of his why to publicly to be support the young striker.

If we do finish in the top four this to my mind would be ahead of schedule and no mean feat. It would have be done by re-introducing a sensible transfer structure and a move back to the ‘boot room’ values of Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Reuben Bennett, Ronnie Moran and Joe Fagan, which Kenny was schooled under as a player and intertwined with the economic common sense and values of the Fenway Sports Group.

Lucas Leads By Example While Suarez Inspires

The train’s just pulled out of Liverpool’s Lime Street and I'm feeling pretty satisfied with life having watched Liverpool dismantle a Bolton side who will cause many a  Premiership side more than a few problems this season. Apart from fifteen minutes or so towards the end of the first-half and after the third goal when Liverpool appeared to step off the gas, this was game when the new recruits Adam, Enrique and Jordan Henderson came to the party.

Lucas Leiva was immense in the centre of the park, taking on the work of two players and it will interesting to see how many tackles he made in this match as he seemed to be everywhere. I even saw him out muscle Kevin Davies going for header which takes some doing! His performance was one of the key reasons why Liverpool started on fire and should have had the game wrapped up in the first half hour after Suarez, whose movement was imperious, missed a glorious chance when put clean through. Downing also tripped his lines when put through, hesitating when going through with the ball on his right and also Kuyt missing a gilt edged chance sliding in after a glorious move by the home side.

We started suffering Sunderland flashbacks a plenty as the half drew to a close.


Jordan Henderson’s goal capped another superb move, which he deliciously capped with a magnificently clipped shot in the top corner with his weaker left foot. As has been said previously on this blog, the criticism he has received is a tad unfair with him being a centre-midfielder playing out of position. It was nice to hear the crowd trying to encourage him rather than make disparaging remarks. In saying that, the dimensions of the side could be somewhat expanded with a right-sided player with similar instincts Downing. One wonders whether a fit Gerrard will be slotted into an old fashioned inside right position. But, quality and competition for places is just what we’ve pining for. As Kenny said in his programme notes “It isn’t about 11 players any more and the days when Shanks named the same starting eleven from one August to the next have gone. That’s why we’re delighted with the strength of our squad.”


The new found balance in the side gave rise to the second goal. With two left footed corner takers in the side it led to a whipped in corner by Adam being dispatched with aplomb by Skrtel with a power header which left the Bolton keeper grasping at thin air. This was in the middle of a purple patch in which Liverpool steaming forward almost immediately grabbed the third goal when Adam guided home a right footed drive. It was important to see him in an area where he caused so much havoc for Blackpool last season because it gives so much more potency to the Liverpool attack. Enrique looks very accomplished at left-back, but as is apparent he is very determined in winning the ball back for his team in addition to his skill at supporting the attack.

Make no mistake this was top performance by a very good Liverpool side, which even a late Bolton goal could not deny. One could say that the international break is coming at the wrong time for a team which is blending nicely and looks capable of going on a run, but for Martin Kelly the time away may just buy him time to rest another worrying hamstring injury.

Man of Match: Lucas Leiva.  His workrate had to be seen to be believed. He provided the platform to allow Charlie Adam to produce those glorious diaginal passes to Suarez and Downing and for Suarez to play as only Suarez  can.  In addition, he protected the defence with his interceptions and tough tackling.  His short passing has improved out of all recognition whereby his contribution is being felt by all supporters alike.

Suarez shines in cup win at Exeter

24th Aug 2011

By dedlfc

When the side was first announced my immediate reaction was why are we not resting Luis Suarez, my next instant reaction was King Kenny means business with this competition unlike 12 months ago when we had the embarrassment of a 3^rd round exit to Northampton to deal with under Roy Hodgson.

Our Uruguayan striker played for just over an hour but his display showed total dedication to the cause and why at times this season we will need to wrap him up in cotton wool to continue getting the best out of him.

Currently there are approx 60 league places between the teams and at times the passing of the Liverpool side showed this.

Liverpool started the game very well and after 20 minutes the one thing that LFC and King Kenny didn’t want from the night happened - Meireles (who was outstanding in his cameo at the weekend at Arsenal) fell awkwardly on his collarbone and now looks to be out for 3 -4 weeks.

Big Andy came on as substitute for Meireles – his inclusion coincided with a change of tact. Whereas before Meireles got injured – we tried to keep things on the floor with Adam fine tuning his passes like Antonio Stradvari on his first violin – suddenly,  long diagonal balls became the order of the day which patently was not Suarez and Adams alike.

The breakthrough finally came after 23 minutes when nice build up play with Maxi and Henderson heavily involved resulted in the ball ending up at the feet of Suarez who drilled a low drive past the Exeter keeper right in front of the LFC travelling fans who “Just can’t get enough” of Luis Suarez.

Even the change of attacking emphasis could take away from the exciting performance of Suarez who nearly completed a double in 1^st half injury time when Spearing played him through on goal where he tried an audacious chip that floated over the bar.

After 55 minutes the result was put beyond reasonable doubt when Maxi this time took the chance provided for him by Suarez.

Three minutes later we were home and hosed as Carroll hit a fierce low drive into the Exeter net to make it 3-0. This being his first goal of the season should provide him with the required confidence to improve his all-round game.

At this point King Kenny took off our ever-influential number 7 Suarez to rapturous applause from both set of fans – he had provided such a lively hour long display scoring 1 and creating 2 goals to be replaced by Downing.

The biggest disappointment of an otherwise solid performance by our defence was a late concession of a consolation goal with 10 minutes left when Skrtel allowed Nardiello to turn, clumsily challenging him in the area where he fell and was awarded a penalty.

King Kenny now had his 200^th win as LFC manager in all competitions and made a very competent start to our attempt to make our first visit to Wembley since the stadium was rebuilt in a competition we have won 7 times in our illustrious past.

Suarez and Meireles Inspire Liverpool Win

 

Kop-Post

The surprising decision to start with Henderson with the lack of real width on the right side was tempered by the fact that both Henderson and Downing were given roaming roles and were helped with Liverpool having two marauding full-backs in Martin Kelly and Enriquè

Lucas started impressively defensively with some intricate interplay between Kuyt and Downing, creating and early chance from a whipped in cross from Downing on the left which Kuyt failed to control.  Downing also delivered an inch perfect cross for Carroll whose magnificent header was turned round the post.  Even taking into account an Arsenal side weakened by injury, this was still a team playing at home with van Persie, Walcott, Arshavin, Ramsay, Sagna and the magnificently impressive Varmarlen which we managed to dominate for most of the first half having most fashioned most of the clear cut chances.

As much as Liverpool controlled the game in terms of possession we lacked real inventiveness and with the impressive Frimpong beginning to make his presence felt in the middle of the park with his physicality and surging runs the key moment in the match was his rash tackle on Lucas getting him an early bath allowing Liverpool’s dynamic due to be unleashed on back four.

All of sudden with Suarez directness and Meireles as he does so well breaking into the area providing a different threat and dimension Liverpool suddenly looked chock full of ideas.  With Arsenal down to 10 men there was only ever going to be one winner.  With Adam seemingly brought in to re-enact the Xabi Alonso role, he rarely gets forward and as such support for Carroll was left mainly to Downing who has another impressive game.

Rumours of Meireles demise have been circulating all through this transfer window, which seems to this supporter anyway, to be heresy.  Next to Steven Gerrard he offers more than any other Liverpool midfielder and his understanding as shown in just twenty or so minutes and the second-half of last season seems almost telepathic with Luis Suarez.  The second goal in which he unselfishly rolled the ball to Suarez was reminiscent of the goal he created for Fernando Torres last season against Wolves and shows an intelligence which blends with his undoubted team ethic.  What he also offers to Dalglish is a different set-up in formation with Suarez playing as the main striker with Meireles supporting from behind as he has in his locker the magical gift for a midfielder of scoring goals from open play.

The match showed Liverpool look to be going the right way in terms of control the game and the manager was proved right in bringing on Suarez and Meireles to add the finishes touches in a game we never looked likely to loose.  Adam had more of an impact once Frimpong was set off and he had more room to operate and Henderson showed his road running abilities are up there while not really having a substantial impact on the game.  The Liverpool back four were not unduly tested, but a most noteworthy performance was that of Enriquè who kept Walcott quiet until he was eventually withdrawn. 

Martin Kelly seemed as if the six months or so he had been away was an aberration as there seemed no cobwebs to blow away, even finding time to join the attack and have one rasping drive flick the outside of the post.  What is apparent about Kelly is that he comfortable on the ball and always looks to play the sensible ball, but even more than that he possesses leadership qualities and is not afraid to bark out orders to senior colleagues.

Man of the Match: Downing impressive work-rate, everything that was good from Liverpool in the first half came from his boot and it wont be long before he gets off the scoring charts.

Frustrating Fabio

 

dedlfc

The enigma that is Fabio Aurelio has frustrated me and many other Liverpool fans because when he does play he provides solid defensive cover down the left side of our team.

But most of the time he has to pull out during or before a game with another injury – we should have seen the signs all those years ago arriving on these shores from Valencia having previously played for Sao Paulo,

Throughout his 14 years as a professional he has encountered many injuries the first major one being in season 2003-04 when he broke his leg whilst playing for Valencia which meant he missed most of the season only playing 2 league games all season.

During his six seasons at Valencia he played 96 league games scoring 11 goals -on average that is just 16 league games a season.

After falling out of favour with Valencia after the departure of Rafa Benitez he then followed Rafa to Liverpool signing on a free contract in July 2006 to become the first ever Brazilian to wear the red shirt.

During his time at our club Liverpool the amount of regular injury problems are as follows:-

Oct 2006 - Injured: Out for 1 month 
Jan 2007 - Injured: Out for 6 weeks 
Apr 2007 - Injured: Achilles tendon. Out for 5 months 

Apr 2008 - Injured: Adductor muscle - Out for 4 months 
Nov 2008 - Injured: Out for 5 weeks 

Jul 2009 - Injured: Playing football with kids - Out for 2 months 
Oct 2009 - Injured: out for 4 weeks 

Feb 2010 - Injured: out for 5 months 

March 2011 - Injured: Hamstring. Out for 5 weeks 
April 2011 - Injured: Hamstring. Out for 5 weeks 
August 2011 - – Injured: Achilles. Out for ?

He has mainly had John Aarne Riise, Emiliano Insua and now Jose Enrique as his direct competition for the left back role but every time it seems he is ready to cement his place in the team another injury comes up.

Once Rafa decided not to renew his contract at the end of season 2009/2010 we all thought that would be the last we saw of the Brazilian in a Liverpool shirt not knowing that within a few months Rafa would have left the club and our then new manager Roy Hodgson making the odd decision to bring back a player with such a poor injury history.

In his first season since re-signing he managed only 14 league games, the rest of the time he was out injured.

His whole Liverpool career so far reads 85 league games scoring 3 goals – on average that is just 17 games a season.

He played the last pre-season friendly before the season 2011-2012 started , coincidentally against his former club Valencia , but is again got injured and was unable to start the season, therefore forcing us to rush our new left back Jose Enrique into playing literally straight after signing.

In summary Fabio is wonderfully technically gifted and whole-hearted left sided player but is just one of those guys that will always be tainted as injury prone and shouldn’t have been given a new contract last season by Roy Hodgson.

There is no room for sentiment we need players that are available to play at any moment in the season and sadly, Fabio is not one of those players you can rely on – I think this will be his last season with us so I hope he can leave a positive mark with the club by aiding us get back into the Champions League.

A Tale Of Two Halves

By Kop-Post

The instinctive reaction having sat through the game was to denigrate the performance as inept. Having bought in £45 million of new talent in the close season the expectations levels increased on the back of King Kenny’s Midas touch.  But, stone cold realism and analytic reasoning lends one to see the performance for what is was that of a team with four new starters showing enough potential to recognise that the first-half performance was encouraging

If ever there was a game of two halves then this was it.  With Downing, Adam and Suarez prompting and probing, Liverpool were dominant almost from the kick-off.  Surprisingly, with the ink barely dry on his contract Dalglish started with Enrique left-back and with Henderson out of position on the right of midfield.  Funnily enough, talking to a Sunderland fan post match, he felt Henderson is a quality player who will been seen at his best in centre-midfield and one felt for the lad who seemed like a fish out of water.

Downing looked dangerous, with one mazy run from left to right leaving defenders flailing in his wake and ending with a scorching drive against the bar. He supplied Carroll the ammunition he and all Liverpool fans had been craving for – Carroll had 6 attempts on goal, failing to find the target, but essentially he was in the position where a No 9 should be.  He held the ball well showing some depth touches and the ability to bringing others into play.  Adam, given room to play by the tenacious Lucas, had his range finder spectacles on linking up nicely with Suarez.

The Jekyll and Hyde performance was difficult to understand, especially as it was a complete transformation from the very first minute after the break.  The balance of the side was compromised once the tired Suarez went off with Kuyt joining Carroll and Downing coming off the flanks in a more central position.  We lost the midfield in the second-half, hence our defence looked decidedly uncomfortable and the team as a whole faded dramatically.

What is did show as Livi (blog follower), keeps reminding me is we need different types of players, rather than a plethora of  central midfielders and it’s hard to disagree with his assertion when a quality midfield player like Meireles who does most of his damage through the centre ends up playing on the left.

All in all an encouraging performance (let’s not mention the penalty) with a lot to work on.  A dominant centre-half, and another wide man to provide stimulus, creativity and especially pace which we lacked is hopefully be in Kenny’s agenda.

The Season Ahead

With almost fifty million spent on new recruits Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Stuart Downing in addition to Suarez and Carroll exciting times appear to be round the corner. With that in mind my hopes, fears and dreams are as follows:

Hopes - That we can compete with the big four while dispatching others, thus regaining a place in the top four

Dreams - To draw level with United would be glorious, but the FA Cup would suffice and being back among the elite will be the icing on the cake

Fears - Not being strong enough to be a consistent challenger to Man United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City