Where’s My Liverpool?

The summer window opened in May. It’s almost the end of July. Eight weeks gone. I’ve read almost every English newspaper available on the website about football. I’ve read the gossip columns. I’ve scanned the rumour websites. I’ve twitter’s application on my phone which I scan many times a day. I’ve read hundreds of blogs. Not even a semblance found. Not an iota. Not a word on any big player wanting to leave Liverpool FC? That’s not how it was! Where is the club I knew? What did I miss. Wasn’t it like that till the last window? Or is it that we don’t have ‘em big players no more?

Weren’t we supposed to the media favourites for speculations about most of our big players wanting to leave? And they were true more often than not. Even Stevie G ‘wanted’ to leave once. Xabi, Mascherano, Reina, Torres were all linked away from us. Some of them left.

And since when did we start spending £45 on reinforcements?? We hardly ever spent much on replacements, leave alone reinforcements. How can I not think – ‘Stevie injured? There goes our season’ anymore. For us, who still miss Xabi (more as a person for his love for the club, I must say), why don’t we miss Torres anymore? And by miss, how come we’re playing better without him than with him? How are we hoping to do better without than we did with Torres. Wasn’t he supposed to be integral? Why aren’t we signing half-fit and hardly deserving free transfers on exorbitant wages? C’mon, at least one for old times’ sakes?

Ok fine, may be we’ve bought some. And since some are new, the talk about them leaving cannot make too much sense (even Daily Mail understands this much). But not even Pepe? Hell, he’s been linked with moves away since so long. What’s changed that? If there are no reports, it might be understandable, but not even rumours?

How come I’m only worried about whether Milan’s Anderlecht move will happen or not? Or how soon would Poulsen, Cole and N’gog be sold. How come the players are suddenly so happy wanting to ‘fight for places’? And why am I even worried about that? Since when did the owner’s profits become my concern instead of his debts and interest payments? Since when did our owner start interacting with fans like friends? Since when did I start caring so much about the owners?

This new club hardly bears any resemblance with the one from the last two seasons or more. How I wish I never had to bear 2010.

The Daily Antoine: 24th July 2011 – Liverpool F.C. News update

Unfortunately we lost 3-0 to Hull yesterday more…
(It’s only a friendly nice to see Downing & Henderson playing really well, they are excellent signings)

Kenny talks about the game more…
(YNWA) 

The club paid respect to the victims of Norway before kick off more…
(YNWA) 

Luis Suarez and Uruguay take on Paraguay tonight in the Copa America final more…
(Good luck Luis)

According to the Daily Mirror Gerrard will not be ready for the start of the season more…
(I think it is a BS story)

According to a report Jova could be headed to Saudi Arabia more…
(I don’t believe the story, he will probably return to a Belgian team)

And another report is linking us with Bekanty Victorien more…
(Is he good?)

And also Hugo Rodallega more…
(Humm) 

Bolton are after Ngog more…
(No) 

Tom Ince is set to join Blackpool more…
(No)

The U18 beat Wigan more…
(4-2) 

Tommy Smith talks on how Stewart Downing is the perfect winger more…
(YNWA)

And finally former Red spit-boy El Hajj Diouf has no future at Blackburn more…
(Send him to pluck the chickens) 

On Twitter @empireofthekop

Time to Judge

by Brian Reece
Twitter @oldfattoad

The season starts in just a few weeks and Liverpool fans are already passing opinions and predictions of what and where Liverpool are going to finish in the league this season, the simply fact is that it must be better than the last.

We have had healthy debates of who should be at Liverpool and who should leave, but with the increased possibility of players like Jovanovic, Polusen, Cole and Aquilani still being at Liverpool whether rightly or wrongly we must just let Dalglish get on with it and use the players he has to start our campaign and try and return us to the top four where we belong.

Aquilani is not a bad player he just hasn’t delivered what his talent promised, understandably Aquilani was brought injured and took time to adjust to the English game which most overseas players do, and lets not forget that we also obtained Andy Carroll injured, and if given time Aquilani could be a fantastic player for us, but most intelligent Liverpool fans will not extend that sympathy to players like Jovanovic and Polusen who have little or no excuse for their performances.

We as supporters sometimes can be cruel in our opinions of players and I am just as guilty of this, but I will always attempt to justify my opinions whether good, bad or indifferent but this is what debate is all about, we as supporters are suppose to disagree, this is what’s so refreshing about our club and our supporters, which say what we think and listen to others opinions.

A lot of fans question the importance of Aquilani and Joe Cole’s role in the squad but it also has to be noted that Aquilani has made it clear that he wishes to return to Italy and Joe Cole does want to stay but his motives must me questioned, Aquilani may well end up as a missed opportunity while Joe Cole is a squad player at best as he does not warrant starting in front of other players in the squad at present.

With regards to our current squad we have a relatively decent squad, but not a squad that will win the title at present, am sure Dalglish is well aware of what’s needed and will make more changes when targets become available at the right price and right circumstances, Players like Maxi, N’Gog, Meireles and Wilson will all have to improve considerably if they want their Liverpool’s playing career to remain beyond January.

It is likely that one more player will arrive at Anfield before the season starts and the possibility of at least two players going, either way its now time to judge how Dalglish deals with this season, Kenny proved he can get results with this squad against the top teams he has beaten Man Utd and Chelsea and drawing with Arsenal but also slipped up against West Ham and Blackpool so now Dalglish must work with what he has and be judged on team performances, Liverpool must finish in the top four this season and another season of Europa League or no European football will be deemed unacceptable so its essential that FSG support Dalglish and insure Liverpool has the funds and the right supporting management in place to achieve this.

If results improve that like they did towards the latter part of last season then Liverpool can look forward towards a fruitful season and one that will drive us towards success that has been strived for since 2006, if there is one manager or one man who can do this for Liverpool football club then its Kenny Dalglish.

FSG have promised supporters success and must now walk the walk with this self inflicted statement of intent, so its also time to judge FSG and their intentions, if they fall short in providing financial support for transfers then Liverpool’s fans will start to question if FSG are just the same as the last disastrous owners, as it stands Liverpool’s supporters are behind FSG, the challenge for FSG is to maintain that trust and support they have been given.

The Daily Antoine: 23rd July 2011 – Liverpool F.C. News update

Kick off against Hull is at 3PM today, come on REDS

Henderson, Downing and Doni could all feature today more…
(Excellent)

And Gulasci could play against us more…
(We will be gentle ;-) )

Ashley Young claims that joining Utd and snubbing LFC was a no brainer more…
(Yep, when you have no brain)

Speaking of the scummy ones there will be less Man Utd fans at Anfield as less tickets will be allocated more…
(Good, they smell up the place anyways)

Riise admits that the LFC fans wanted him back more…
(Yep but we need to move on)

And he also has no grudges against Rafa more…
(YNWA)

Anelka is not worried about our spending more…
(Good) 

Congrats to the marketing team at LFC who scooped up an industry award more…
(YNWA) 

According to a report Swansea will beat us in signing Argentinian Pavone more…
(Is he good?)

Marcell Jansen is being linked more…
(humm) 

And finally those travelling to games might want to read this…
(Excellent news) 

On Twitter @empireofthekop

A Kings Ransom

By Brian Reece
Twitter @oldfattoad

With the arrival of J W Henry and his FSG Liverpool have found themselves in a position not many supporters would have imagined just a short and painful time ago, Liverpool Football Club can trade on the market floor with other premiership heavyweights.

For the first time in years Liverpool do not have sell to buy nor have to obtain needless loans to fund transfer activity, these methods were use by the previous ownerships reign and plunged the club into chaos and almost dragged Liverpool into administration.

Liverpool Football Club were the laughing stock of Europe and resulted in mass demonstrations in and around Anfield, but thankfully J W Henry stepped in and rescued the club from its idiotic and financially immature owners, FSG have installed financial stability once again and the signings of Luis Suarez, Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson have shown Liverpool supporters that FSG mean business and most importantly have a winning track record to back up all there claims.

But for all the signings Dalglish and FSG make there remains a small matter of what to do with some players who are clearly not needed or wanted at the club anymore, This is were the problem starts, players like Aquilani, Cole, N’Gog, Polusen, Degen, Insua and most of all Jovanovic are basically holding the club to ransom, why? You may ask well the answer is clear its in their wage slip every week.

These players were paid a kings ransom to come to Liverpool and not one of the players mentioned have proved to be anywhere near there wage scale or produce any kind of football we could justify there worth in any terms of value.

Now selling or loaning them is the most straight forward and logical thing to do but no club is prepared to pay the kind of wages theses leaches want so unless we release them for free how are we going to be able to offload these parasites from the club.

In there defense if there is one, could be the view that we agreed to pay them that and its part of there contact, this means we could in theory be stuck with them warming the bench or spending there lavish life playing there time out in the reserves, which has no benefit to man nor beast, also Liverpool will not want to lose a fortune financially from any sale of these players, in the case of Aquilani, Liverpool will not sell for less than £13m which is always going to prove difficult as his wage demands are so high it will put off most willing buyers.

It is clear that FSG wish to reduce Liverpool’s wage bill considerably and must either take a loss in the selling price or loan out the player were the club may still have to pay some of the wage bill, am sure at some point Liverpool will offload these players but maybe not all of them before the new season starts, but Liverpool fans understand the basic mistake we made and that was to agree to there ridiculous wage demands and terms in the outset.

Supporters have no problem with high wages but just make sure its spent on a player who is value for money and plays to the standard of his wage slip and not to give in to players who want A Kings Ransom for little or no return.

The Daily Antoine: 22nd July 2011 – Liverpool F.C. News update

Happy Birthday to Dirk Kuyt & Stewart Downing

Pupils from Anfield have created a tribute to the 96 more…
(JFT96)

The UK Marketing Chief has been appointed as Ian Ayre’s successor more…
(Excellent move) 

Kenny hails Luis Suarez more…
(YNWA)

We are being linked with Bassong more…
(Humm) 

Stevie G has lent his support to the ladies team more…
(Have you ever wondered why Chelsea & Man Utd don’t have a ladies team?)

Lyon want Liverpool to make a bid for Cissokho more…
(Let’s do it)

Mata doesn’t want to move more…
(Oh Well) 

And according to a report Newcastle are considering trading Aquilani for Enrique more…
(Now that he played a good game against Malaysia everyone wants Aquilani)

Pacheco is now being linked with Rayo Vallecano more…
(Please keep Pacheco at Anfield)

Riise would have considered a move back to Liverpool more…
(YNWA)

Blaise Matuidi is the latest player being linked more…
(Is he good?)

And Alvaro Pereira is also being linked again more…
(Oh The Daily Fail)

In case you missed it from the other night the reserves lost to Waterford more…
(YNWA) 

Wayne Rooney has tipped us to challenge for the title more…
(If we win the title Wazza is going to shave is pubic hair) 

And finally the Liverpool Ladies made two big signings more…
(YNWA) 

On Twitter @empireofthekop