The number of players linked with a move to Liverpool football club must have topped a century now, the madness that ensues when the transfer window is beyond belief. We all seem to be after that nugget of knowledge about who is going to be joining our prestigious club. Names such as Mata, Downing, Johnson, Wickham, Diego and more recently Wayne Bridge (please) are but a few of the names linked. Do we need such players to be a success next season? I don’t think so and I’ll tell you for why.
The most important signings have already been made in the Dalglish and Clarke. In Dalglish we have a manager that embraces the Liverpool way and knows exactly how to make the players believe they are capable of performing at the highest level. But in Steve Clarke we have a young coach who is totally in tune with the modern game. He had a fantastic record while working under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea with two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and two League Cups over three seasons. If he and Dalglish can bring a glimmer of that to Anfield next season I for one will be more than happy. Even when Mourinho left Chelsea still continued to do well reaching the league cup final and also the Champions league final (both of which they lost….. but only just)
Just to highlight things a little further in the 2007/2008 season Chelsea under Avram and Clarke had a win percentage of 66.67% which is an excellent record I’m sure you’ll agree and is better than that of Manchester United’s this year at 63.93% which saw them win the title. Under Dalglish and Clarke we would have finished joint 2nd in the league if you worked the season out pro rata and if you consider the state the team was in when Dalglish took over, time was clearly needed to shall we say “spruce things up”. Since Clarke left Chelsea they have only had 1 good year and that was under Hiddink (need I say more). So for me the missing link at Chelsea since 2008 is Clarke
We also have to remember that we brought in the outstanding Suarez and the “yet to impress” Carroll (who I’m sure will come good) in the winter window. Most Liverpool supporters seem to forget this and I reflect back to earlier that since that time and Dalglish and Clarke coming in we performed at a much higher level. Suarez has been a revelation and I cannot wait to see him in action again next season. Some might say he’s twice as good as Torres at half the price. So with Suarez and Carroll already instilled we have already increased our prospects.
The final factor that needs mentioning is youth. The likes of Flanagan, Kelly and Spearing have shown they have what it takes at such a fledgling stage of their careers. Out of the three Kelly stood out for me and I find it hard to imagine that if both he and Johnson are fit that he won’t get the nod. Further down the line we also have Suso, Sterling and Coady looking like they can challenge for first team honours in the not so distant future.
I suppose the point I am trying to make is sit back and relax, the foundations are already in place for a fantastic campaign next season. We don’t need the next Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, what we need is the old Liverpool culture. One that works hard as a team unit, that believes in one another and one that has quality direction from its management. We already have that in abundance and I’m not sure I can wait another month and a half for our boys to get out there and start proving me right!!!
By Michael Elmore
Twitter: @Lfcmonkey