What has been happening & LFC Transfer Speculations

So it’s been a while since I last wrote an article but the major reason being was the turmoil surrounding the club also the results were worrying me and the fact I didn’t want to put a negative vibe out regarding the club.

Firstly I’d like to say that I’m greatly relieved regarding the ownership issues. I think us as collective group of fans did a great job with the pressure that we put on RBS and the board who ensured that Liverpool had new owners who would take the club forward. With this done you would have thought that things on the pitch would improve so it seemed I’ve not seen it.

The start to the season has been tough although it could be seen from the pre season results that it wasn’t going to be an easy season. Pre-season you hear me say, yes pre-season we didn’t do well granted it was fringe players trying to stake a claim in the first team squad for the upcoming season with many just returning after the World Cup but results as well as form and fitness is the platform from which the club hope to build on.

Right so my last article was after the 2-2 home draw versus Sunderland, many would have thought that after that game the players would surely go in to the home game versus Blackpool would be an easy three points not so as Liverpool slumped to a defeat at home. It’s been clear to see that there has been no real sense of urgency this season the team has looked lacklustre.

Blackpool piled the misery on struggling Liverpool with a famous 2-1 win at Anfield to leave the Reds rooted in the bottom three. Charlie Adam fired Blackpool in front from the penalty spot after Glen Johnson had brought down Luke Varney inside the box.

Varney added a second on the stroke of half-time to ensure Liverpool left the field at the break to a chorus of boos. Sotirios Kyrgiakos pulled a goal back on 53 minutes when he headed home Steven Gerrard’s free-kick, but despite some late pressure Blackpool held on for a deserved three points.

It was no surprise really as Blackpool had the better of the first half and played well enough to stifle the little creativity Liverpool did have and got the result. It wasn’t helped by the fact Torres had gone off 10 minutes into the encounter with injury this cannot be used as an excuse and you have to remember this is a team who got destroyed by both Arsenal and Chelsea.

The result was shameful for Liverpool and there is little that the manager can say at the moment to improve the confidence that many fans have in him as the performance of not just individuals but the team as whole has been awful. This was evident in the game versus Everton after the takeover was complete and there was no time for excuses, every player has to be ‘up for it’ in the derby, Liverpool simply did not turn up.

They were out played for the majority of the Derby with Everton taking their chance to pile further pressure on the Reds and the performance was summed up by mis-control of the ball on numerous occasion also a Gerrard shot was woefully off target when teed up by substitute Ryan Babel on the edge of the penalty area while Torres shot straight at Howard when he should worked the goalkeeper more.

All this in front of the new owner Henry who had planned to wait until Blackburn visited Anfield next week to make his formal entrance but because he was in the vicinity after completing his takeover, curiosity and the prospect of a Merseyside derby at Everton got the better of the Boston Red Sox owner.

Also some of the press conference and comments given by the manager are far from reassuring and I for one wish he would just concentrate on getting the team playing some decent stuff. So anyway on the topic at hand, I would say the Napoli game we got a decent result, fringe players where used 0-0 away from home not a bad result as Hodgson at this point was focusing all his energies on the Premiership.

This performance showed some grit and determination, though, and keeps Liverpool on course for progression into the knockout phase as they have taken five points from their three group matches so far, and still have home games against Utrecht and Napoli to come.

But they had a lucky escape in first-half stoppage-time when Maggio’s corner fell to Cavani who beat Jamie Carragher and fired in a low cross which Hamsik hit goal wards, with the shot taking a deflection off Christian Poulsen before Konchesky cleared off the line.

So after watching this game many fans where happy to see the likes of Jonjo Shelvy, Jay Spearing and Martin Kelly get a game. The question since the Napoli game has been why haven’t they been used in the league, the reason only the manager knows but I think it could be down to him thinking they are inexperienced but surely they can’t do any worse than the current players.

So this brings me on to the Blackburn game, during this fixture the reds looked better than they have at point this season and it also allow Fernando Torres to net his first goal since August.

They dominated for long periods of the game and should have taken the lead in a first half where Blackburn had Paul Robinson to thank for keeping them in the game.

But despite their attempts to give the Anfield crowd a scare when they threw away their lead within two minutes, Torres’s return to goal scoring form gave everyone a lift after a dark period at the club.

Torres showed his intent from the very start, chasing down fellow compatriot Michel Salgado despite leaving his boot in, and as early as the eighth minute Liverpool came to close to opening the scoring.

A good interchange between Maxi Rodriguez and Torres allowed the Argentine to cut the ball back from the byline for Cole, whose shot was well saved by Robinson, but it was Raul Meireles who had the best opportunity, failing to hit the target with the follow-up even though the goal was gaping.

A Gerrard corner lead to first goal by Kyrgiakos, this was then followed by a comical own goal by Carra, who could do nothing to get out the way of Konchesky’s goal line clearance. Hodgson must have felt like the unluckiest man in the world as he slumped in his seat but three minutes later Liverpool restored their lead, Cole’s cross from the left allowing Torres to end his goal drought.

It was his first goal since the 1-0 victory over West Brom on 29 August but despite the end of his barren spell Liverpool remained in the bottom three of the Premier League.

So brings me to yesterday’s game with Bolton. There was no real chance for either team as a late Maxi strike from a bit of brilliance what I like to call, other may say he got lucky but brilliance and ingenious is what I put it down too.

Torres had looked far from his best form as he squandered a good chance earlier to toe poke the ball wide of the on rushing Bolton keeper and also when clearly through gave up the chase of the ball looking at the linesman rather than playing to the whistle.

Gerrard also didn’t look himself as he had a chance at the end of the first half but he blasted well wide. Was this a sign of things to come for the rest of the game? Only time would tell.Sotirios Krygiakos, goal scorer in two of the previous three league games, forced Jaaskelainen to save from a Gerrard cross in injury time. Bolton pressured Liverpool at the start of the second half and twice forced Liverpool to clear unconvincingly without creating a clear-cut chance.

Gerrard tried to raise Liverpool’s fading tempo with a powerful run and long ball for Torres, but a promising attack was ended as Muamba collided with Lucas. Gerrard found good space on the edge of the box but his shot was deflected into the air and claimed easily by Jaaskelainen.

There was another twist in the tale as Liverpool suffered a blow just after the hour as Cole was forced off with what looked like a hamstring injury and was replaced by David Ngog.

Liverpool might have been struggling to produce the intensity their fans demanded but pieced together a move of genuine quality as Rodriguez finally got into the game midway through the second half. Rodriguez sent Gerrard away down the left with a clever back heel and the captain whipped in a cross for Torres.

Torres nodded back down for Rodriguez to attempt a spectacular overhead kick which went just inches over. Bolton replied as in-form Johan Elmander, looking for his first home goal of the season after hitting five away, showed great control and drove just wide of the post.

Zat Knight then headed over from the resulting corner and Davies also glanced a header wide from a free-kick as the Trotters enjoyed a strong spell. Liverpool managed to rouse themselves late on and carved Bolton open with a delightful move to set up the winner for Rodriguez.

Torres was the creator as he nutmegged Gary Cahill with a clever back heel and Rodriguez raced through. The Argentinean showed great composure as his shot went in off the body of Jaaskelainen.

So what can we take from this? Not a great deal really the team are still not playing well enough. Granted we know have a few more wins in league I’m still to be convinced by Hodgson, some of his comments make me think he’s still managing a small team and we are playing a negative brand of football. I personally think we need an attacking brand if Hodgson gets this right then it could turn our season around.

Much has been made of the squad and players that Hodgson has at his disposal, for me he picks the team, he also signed in my opinion are two worst players so far this season Konchesky and Poulsen. I also don’t understand why he’s playing Carra out of position at right back when he could give Martin Kelly a game, the more games he plays the better and the experience for him could prove to be invaluable.

Also the timing of his substitutions could be better and have a more attack approach and I can’t understand why Jovanovic who is a direct player isn’t in the team or comes on as sub, he should be used. I hope we sign some quality players soon but I also hope Hodgson isn’t the one choosing the players. I hope we can win the midweek game against Napoli which will improve the confidence of the squad going into the Chelsea game; I feel the recent results are just papering over the cracks.

I want to give a special mention to my friends at LFC Transfer Speculations on Facebook.

The primary aim of LFC Transfer Speculations is exactly as it seems. The main aim is to keep everyone up to date with the latest news and players the club are being linked with. The page also works very hard to ensure that all information is correct and I personally help with the page. It’s place where Liverpool fans can get together and swap views and opinions on certain posts and is a multicultural environment so anyone can join the page. The page has reached over 10,000 people and is intending to grow.

The link for the facebook page is below

http://www.facebook.com/pages/LFC-Transfer-Speculations/118450714853613

You can also follow on twitter as well.

http://twitter.com/#!/LFCTransferSpec

Please show your support for fellow Reds just doing our thing.