Here we come

It is over…, it is been an exciting transfer window for Liverpool for many reasons.

First, it was our owner’s first real transfer window (January is more kind of patch up, rather than for building a new team).

Second, it is because we fans were eager to know what is going to happen, as we shown signs of improvement in the later half of last season both on and off the pitch despite three real bad years of management before that.

Third, we want to know what our owners really are, especially after an era, which started in real optimism but turned out to be one of the worst. It is not that Fenway were promising in the last season, but ultimately it all comes down to their ambition.

I cannot ask for anything more than what they did, they were perfect. It is not because they gave funds to buy a load of good players, but because of the overall impression, they gave. I do not know whether they got the idea ‘THE LIVERPOOL WAY’ in its real sense, but feels they are perfect to lead us. They started to impress me when they signed Carroll (I feel it was a necessity then, irrespective of the performances he is going to give this season), when they tried to listen to a fans forum, When Henry told ‘we are not expected to win the title this season’, an act to release the pressure of Kenny, Impressive!!!.

We could have brought a Big name player, just as Manchester City did when they suddenly became cash rich. It is not the way to go forward, money cannot buy you titles, and it is not all about short-term goals, stardom, moreover I always feel a business should run the way it should be.
This is perfect: They came in; they did not made any bombastic offers. They took their time in decision-making, gradually they shuffled the management team, and they recruited somebody who has excellent past record in marketing for the marketing manager’s post. So they laid the basics to increase our of the field income. Then they recruited Damien Comolli, the former Arsenal and Tottenham scout (Again regarded as one of the best in Europe despite the criticism of Redknapp and Wenger). They gave some time to Hodgson, and then plucked him off without much noise. Appointed Kenny, for a short term to start with, and after Kenny’s on field performances, gave him a lengthier contract and took no time to add Steve Clarke to the staff. These are some of the many things happened after the new owners came in, some may argue some of the things are the good work of somebody else’s, but our owners laid the basics, shown the path to what we are now. Irrespective of the performances on the field this season I can say we are in right hands, we are going forward.

It is a business, but now in Liverpool football club it is more like a family Business, where everybody contributing their bit for the success of the firm, Owners, management team, coaching and medical staff, we fans, everybody and that is what makes us say ‘WE THE LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB’. Here in Kochi, India when I say things about LFC I often refer the club as ‘we’, somebody asked me once why, I said it is not something I do purposefully it is like speaking about a part of me or my family.

As for transfers, I know some of you are not that convinced about the Meireles transfer, especially to a rival team like Chelsea. However, I feel it is OK, Especially when we get a player with pace in Bellamy, and for Meireles he is a good player for sure, but he is not have the legs for more than 60-65 minutes in premier league. Since he is a midfielder, that reduces an option for Kenny when it comes to tactical changes and more than that, I do not feel he will get a chance in the first team, whereas Bellamy can be a good asset, especially when we play counter attacking football in away matches. I feel good when thinking of Kuyt, Suarez and Bellamy playing together because of their ability to close down on players.

Some may argue we could have brought Mata instead of Downing but Mata liked to play champions league, which we cannot offer. Therefore, it was not an option. We managed to get almost all the players we want to get. We missed three players, Ashley young, Phil Jones, and Juan Mata. All are playing really well for their respective clubs. However, our second choices are not particularly bad. Downing is proving he is good enough.

As for Phil Jones, I think Uruguayan Coates will be a good addition. I will not say he is as good as or better than Jones since he is not yet proven in premier league as Jones, As far as I know the League, he played in his home country where he will get a bit more time on the ball. Nevertheless, his Copa performances were good. He is certainly better than Soto.

It all shows how much effort our scouting people and Damien Comolli took to find out the talent and at times the second options.
Credit should go to them for their effort to offload those who do not feature in our premier league squad, especially people like Poulsen, Konchesky, and Aquilani… I thought it would be difficult to get clubs for them because of their hefty wage requirements.

I am happy that our entire fringe players were shipped off, all deals other than Cole’s is beneficial to LFC, as for Joe Cole’s; the situation was a bit bad. I do not think there will be a team interested in the world who could give him that sort of a wage. Therefore, we will pay 60% of his wage, certainly, it is better than 100% and keeps an unhappy Joe Cole, but I learned it could be a sweetener when we eventually bid for Eden hazard in the next transfer window. I am not sure about that though.

It was one of the most exiting transfer window of Liverpool FC if not the most exciting. I feel we did good business. Let us wait and see.