First and foremost Happy Birthday Roy on your 63rd Birthday.
The title might be controversial however it was one of the comments I came across as talk of upcoming Liverpool signings hit the press. Somehow we got spiraled into this mentality that the squad has to be a certain age to compete but in many cases a mixture of experience and youth could be the best formula for a long competitive season.
I must confess that I admire how Manchester United have been able to keep their old players like Giggs, Scholes, Neville & Ferdinand and keep building the team around them. The presence of the veterans ensures continuality, provides the youngsters with mentors and they (the veterans) can always be called upon on when the chips are down or when you have a nervy game. All we have to do is look back at Istanbul and see how Vladi and Didi rose to the occasion and were instrumental in turning things around. Everyone seems to droll over how young the Arsenal squad is but we have all seen how Wenger’s kids have deflated as the season progresses, it is obvious something is missing in the formula.
Roy’s only signing so far has been Joe Cole (Jova, Jonjo & Wilson can be considered to be Rafa’s signings) and at the age of 28 (soon to be 29) he is considered by some as ‘old’. Now Poulsen, Brad Jones and Crouch might be close to signing while Jamie Carragher is being offered a new contract. Hodgson even admitted in trying to sign Hyypia, it is obvious that Roy is opting for older players.
The reason for this is probably two-fold.
1) We can’t afford the younger stars as the transfer fees for these is usually very high.
2) Roy likes what he sees in the reserves and academy and wants a few players to hold down the fort until the youngsters come of age. Honestly, if we bring in 2 or 3 players who are around 22-23 years old what will happen to the likes of Pacheco, Eccleston, Mavinga, Sterling, Ince, Amoo & Suso? They will probably be tired of lack of first team action and move away. By having the older players in place they can all be given a few first team chances until they fully develop and are ready for full-time first team duty.
Maybe I am also bias in my old age as I tend to get excited when I see players who are only 5 years younger then me still playing :-)
Y.N.W.A.
-Antoine
antoine@empireofthekop.com
Poulsen=a HUGE flop..why buy him?Lucas is TOP CLASS against him.Parker from West ham or Flamini from Milan would be the right ones.If we buy Poulsen,at least Lucas to be a starter.If Poulsen is our first eleven defensive midfielder,we’re screwed.
Well said Antoine, I was ready to pounce after reading the headline you little tinker you, but a well reasoned and rational piece as usual. Just wish some of your followers were as clued up.
no money, shite owners, no big deals going to happen, takeover is now a joke and a laughing stock, the club and the whole thing is just to much now…. why torres and gerrard stayed even though liverpool is our love and they love the club, is anyones guess, love and etc can and will always be one thing but it doesnt solve all problems, we are still buying no great players, even cole was on a free and all of a suddern they want us to get all happy just because we have joe cole…. what another fuck up of another transfer window..
I am sure that Poulsen is going to surprise a lot of people! He is a very consistent player and has been playing in La liga and seire A for the last 5 years. I believe he still has 3-4 years in him as a top footballer! All the best Poulsen ; )
very harsh words samuel i thought.With talk of takeover imminent I truly believe we will be shot of H&G soon enough.I too was sceptical of Uncle Roy coming to anfield but am now totally behind him
BUILT BY SHANKS BROKE BY YANKS/H&G OUT/YNWA
We can’t do anything until we do get taken over so we have to make do with what we have for now, @ Samuel Charles I know what you mean years of disapointment with the yanks, but they are soon to be gone and things will start looking up, we don’t want to sell to the wrong person and have the same mistake again do we?
Like Antoine said Roy H is buying older players to hold the fort until the younger players come through something Benitez never did….look at sterling for instance he is 15 and playing at under 18 level for our reserves….it won’t be long before players like that will shine through……we haven’t got funds to spend on a world class players so players like Poulsen and maybe even Wright-Phillips will do us well!
If/When we do get taken over then we can go after the world class players!
If we did my first signings would be Kaka (injured I know),Ashley Young and even Robinho, Lahm and a few others, at the moment that is just a dream….but our time is coming!
samuel charles. what the hell are you on about the takeover is a joke? buying a house for a hundred grand these days takes nearly three months to complete but we,re talking hundred of millions here so don,t expect it to be finalised over night, get real man.!
i think it is important to have veteran players in your team as they have been around in football for longer obviouly and the younger players will learn from them if they play consistantly in a first team environment, and so with this balance i think we can have a better season, cmon Roy im behind you
Very true my friend….it’s not a shirt you can just go pick up, being a Liverpool supporter you should know the virtue of patience!
This hasn’t happened overnight they have probably been speaking to potential buyers for months now!
I totally agree with this part of what you said, “By having the older players in place they can all be given a few first team chances until they fully develop and are ready for full-time first team duty.”
Sell Lucas, should get at least a tenner for him!
It seems uncle Roy’s knowledge is limited to the English market. Poulsen is an exception because Roy claims to have launched his career 10 years ago. Is that enough reason to bring in a 30+ player when we are making a new beginning? As for the slow coach, over-rated, Spurs reject, footballing garbage called Crouch, I don’t even wanted to get started! If Roy eventually signs Crouch, I will struggle to be his admirer or supporter straight away. When funds are limited, they need to be spent on quality. To reject a huge talent, skillful and pacy striker like Remy for Crouch is madness, especially if Redknap off-loads Crouch to buy Remy!!!
It’s not that the possible targets are “older players”, it’s the quality of the players that is questionable. Poulsen is a recognised player, and might add something to the squad, but the likes of Luke Young, Zoltan Gera and Crouch are just not good enough. I didn’t spend over £700 for my season ticket to watch past it second raters. Hodgson has a lot of good will currently, but it will evapourate quickly if he buys dross.
The idea of “fort holding” appeals. We DO have some very very talented players coming along and it is correct to assume that should there be no places for them then they will movwe to play for our opponents.
I agree with your last point, Antoine. We’ve got a lot of great kids coming through, and getting in a few oldies – while it might make us weaker than we might prefer this year – can give the youngsters a way into the side in a couple of years. The oldies will also have a lot they can teach the youngsters.
And of course we can’t (yet!) afford anyone pricy. Poulsen or Parker? Parker would do a better job, but we might as well ask Poulsen or Xavi? Because Parker is as unreachable financially as Xavi is for us.
If u all were good managers, u wud probably b Liverpool’s managers by now. Managing a local football team is already difficult, wat more of LFC’s magnitude. Giv Roy the chance to rebuild. He’s been shrewd with his dealings so far. Poulsen, Hleb, Crouch or Young…can all be good signings (or re-signing for dat matter). Let him make the decision. Players get injured. We need cover. So giv it a break guys. Have faith.YNWA!
“Built by Shanks, broke by Yanks, reborn by Hodgson!” how’s dat sound :)