Should I stay or should I go now…?

Posted by

Summer for Liverpool fans means only one thing, speculation, speculation, speculation and even more speculation. Speculation about the ownership, the manager, the players coming into the club, players going out of the club. Those whose houses are up for sale, the list goes on. This has been the case for a good 3 or 4 years now. The club has been linked with so many players; if we had signed them all our reserves would be awesome. I think transfers last summer have been one of the many downfalls and reasons why our season was so bad for the following reasons:

1. Clearly we lost one of the most talented midfielders in the world, Xabi Alonso.
2. Sami Hyypia’s contract not being extended. I believe he wanted one more year, but the manager insisted he acted as a coach instead.
3. Alvaro Arbeloa. A bit like Steven Finnan in terms of an unsung hero in my opinion. He always did the job, and did it quietly. The sale of Arbeloa meant Rafa had to bring in another Right back, being Glen Johnson, who is probably one of, if not the, best RB in the premier league. However, was he really needed? Did Arbeloa have to go? And could the money that was spent on Johnson, been used to finance for a striker? A position that should have been addressed last summer, but wasn’t.

They are just my thought on the transfers last summer, and Liverpool must learn from their mistakes. Partly it’s down to Rafa Benitez’s transfer policy, one witch I do not agree on.

Personally I am Anti-Rafa, and not just because of what has happened this season, I’m not fickle. I started to go against Benitez 3 or 4 seasons ago, when players like Warnock and Mellor were sold, and when Pako Ayersteran was shunted out the Tapas Bar formally known as the Boot Room. I don’t attack him; I just express my opinion against him. However I do find myself defending him when in debates with other team supporters, mostly my Evertonian mates.

So what does Liverpool need to do this summer in terms of who should stay? And who should go?

Firstly, THE OWNERS NEED TO GO! No debate needed.
Secondly, I heard that Liverpool have to sell before they buy. Who should those players be? For me, players like Philip Degan (wont get much), Fabio Aurelio (talented left back, hit by injuries, don’t see the need to keep him. Even if he was fit, Benitez 9 times out of 10 would pick Insua before him). Albert Riera looks to be going. Ryan Babel (so much optimism, followed with so much disappointment. I’ll be fair to him, he hasn’t been given that many chances by the manager, but when he as, and when he have needed him the most, he hasn’t delivered. Could get 10 – 12 million for him).

Alberto Aquilani, a.k.a The Little Prince, or should that be the Lost Prince, as we never know where he is. Is it fair to sell him after one season? Rafa has done it before, why wouldn’t he do it again. He is for me the worst signing Benitez has made (and that is saying something). We could get 10 – 15 million for him if an Italian Club really wants him. Why should he be sold? Injuries have marked his career, and I don’t think Liverpool would miss him next season.

Other players who have come under the spotlight this season are Lucas, David N’gog and Dirk Kuyt. David N’gog, he has delivered when asked, but he isn’t a back up for Torres. He should be sent on loan to a championship club next season, so he can get some first team football and in doing so, get some experience and toughen up. Lucas Leiva has become the scapegoat for every Liverpool defeat this season, and has been consistently criticised by Liverpool fans, to a level which insults the name Liverpool FC. One of the best players this season, and that’s even with having a leash attached to him. Liverpool’s failures this season have been down to the formations they players have been organised in. Lucas and Mascherano together do not work. But when Lucas is allowed to what he wants to do, he goes on wins a penalty against Lille, scores against Benfica, and sets up goals against Atletico Madrid and Burnley. If someone asked me who would you rather have, Lucas or Anderson from Manchester United…Lucas all day long. And lastly, Dirk Kuyt. I like Dirk Kuyt because of his passion for the Club and his work rate. I also like Dirk Kuyt….as a forward. Whatever Benitez thinks or says, he is not a Right Winger. Right Wingers need to have pace and a good first touch, and lest be honest, Dirk doesn’t have either. Liverpool can be very dangerous on the Counter Attack with Torres up front, however, the Counter Attack always starts with Dirk Kuyt, and it fails miserably. He should be used and do what he’s good at.

Liverpool can make their money and get their balance right by selling the right players, sell the wrong players and the situation all goes wrong.

Who should stay?
Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres
Lucas Leiva
Dirk Kuyt (as a striker)

Who should maybe stay?
David N’gog
Rafael Benitez

Who should go?
The owners
Degan, Riera, Aurelio, Babel, Aquilani
4-2-3-1 and other defensive and cautious formations.

Thanks for reading.

19 Comments

  1. It’s not Rafa’s transfer policy. He’s always asking the board to get him players and they just don’t. That’s why in his new contract he demanded to have full control over the academy and transfers.

    YNWA

    -Tyler

  2. Kuyt and Lucas to stay? NO they are not good enough. Kuyt has lack of ideas no pace, poor touch and control he has know flare. Lucas is just awful. Cant tackle, cant pass, cant pass, give the ball away far to often.

  3. I completely disagree with you. Aquilani has been great for last few games. Though he didn’t show it at first but he’s getting better in every game. He still have a lot to learn. Selling him wouldn’t solve the problem.

  4. Hyypia left because Rafa couldn’t guarantee him 1st team football if Carra, Skrtel and Agger were all fit.

    Your lack of knowledge there put me off reading the rest of your arguement in detail but from a skim read I disagree with most points.

  5. i want sammy back, he’s a kinda my childhood hero…the best centre back…the best header…
    recently our defence is not good enough, esp at injury time, whoaaaaaaa
    kuyt, gerrard, torress must stay, rafa shud stay to (sorry, i disagree with you).

  6. I disagree wiv aled Lucas has improved immensely at first he lacked confidence but as d curtain was drawing closer on the season he improved and he is defensively solid in terms of dispossessing opponents in the middle of the park..Kuyt is a better player in centre forward never on the wings because of his poor first touch and his inability to deliver kwality ball into the box.I would blame Rafa’s transfer policy especially on Aquilani when Rafa was quizzed by journalist on buying a player that has been on the sideline for months Rafa replied we bought him for 5years not 5weeks Rafa shouldn’t have bought a player being out injured that long considering we needed an urgent replacement 4 Alonso.Aquilani does look a promising player with his ball sense and flashes but I hope his injury doesn’t resurface when we need him most.Fingers crossed on Babel maybe he can improve during the world cup and help the club with his game otherwise he should be sold in January.If Rafa stays we want to see more attacking and interesting football come next season rather than playing cautious football and we end up loosing in die minute

  7. Who should go?

    Degan, Riera, Aurelio, Babel, Aquilani

    Same mistake again if these players went. These are all players who have underperformed under Rafa or have been injured.

  8. Lucas to stay and Aquilani to go??? You’ve said that Lucas and Mascherano can’t play together but we need to get rid of a creative midfielder who was our best attacking player in the later stage of the season. That makes no sense at all to me. Making a choice between Lucas and Anderson is irrelevant and Kuyt just works hard. Get shut of Kuyt and Lucas and get a decent forward to play alongside Torres. Babel would have been far more successful up front all season than Ngog given the chance Ngog was given-played in right position and given a run in the team. Sorry about the rant but I’m fed up of Benitez’s poor management

  9. Letting Aquilani go would be an error, not done as well as we might have hoped, but he has been injured for quite a long time which is bad enough for any player.
    When you consider he has to get used to playing in England which a lot of foreign players struggle with, and especially after playing all his career in Italy.
    Plus if we sold him now we’d struggle to get half what we paid for him.
    I think if he can start in August (or July with Europa League qualifiers) with a decent pre-season then we might see what we spent £20m on in the first place… maybe.

  10. Aquilani and Babel to stay they were both impressive. Aquilani is phenemonel against the little teams which is something that is very useful. I think Aquilani should stay and give us an edge over those little teams which have a knack for causing us to drop points. Babel was working very hard, and when he started I was pleased to see Rafa giving him a chance. If he keeps working hard he could be very good in no time.

  11. Lucas the best player of the season?! I don’t think I can take you seriously any more.
    Drinking game for you: Take a drink every time Lucas gives the ball away. You’ll be out cold before half time…

  12. We are almost on the same wave length here. My turning point with Rafa was the Barnsley game. We were disgraceful and since tnen tactics like those shown on that day have become a regular theme. I would give aquilani another year. Hypia- what a clanger! Babel- my patience has run out. Johnson- good attacker/ shite right back! Kuyt- full of heart but simply not good enough as a winger or as a striker. Riera- bad buy. Lucas- I would keep. N’gog- loan deal. Owners- rowing boat pointing towards alaska! We can all be managers and it’s good for us to air our views. I would say ta ta to Rafa though. He shouldnt have made promises he could not keep and this makes him unreliable. We should have pissed 4th place.

  13. I agree with the formation. How many time did Stevie G play back. Lucas was on and off. To put a lot of blame on him is unfair. Many were off form this year.

  14. I must say, Whoever thinks Lucas is good enough to play in a starting role for LFC is absolutely approaching insanity….Jones, just because a midfielder earns a PK, scores and sets up 2 goals does not mean he had a great season……He is absolute garbage…..and we all know it……he should not be wearing Red, Never!!!!!! Liverpool Midfield needs a scrappy, give it all you have player fulfilling that role……I have never seen it in him, and maybe never will…..Sad to say i would rather Anderson instead of him……YNWA….he is shit!!!!! He is weak on the ball, his reaction time is atrocious…..I dont know……yes!!!! go ahead and say im not a LFC fan, ive heard it all this season……He is simply just not good enough….

  15. Aqui had moments of brilliance, dynamic, played well with Gerard….he’ll fit in perfect, Just one more strong forward and they will be complete….Have Steve playing on the Left wing, aqui in the middle, maxi on the right with Masch behind them with Torres and (quality Striker up top) with Agger, skrtel, carra, johnson….you cannot stop that team…….JUST ONE QUALITY FORWARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comments are closed