Hello Fellow Reds,
Like everyone I was obviously disappointed with the result yesterday and moreover, the failure to actually turn up in the first half.
We're such a tough side to predict really. I don't know why I was surprised with the result! Its not like we aren't used to seeing such a swing in performance like we did yesterday.
Many blame Brendan, many blame FSG, but I feel that as Jekyll and Hyde as we can be, I think that next season can be approached with a lot of optimism.
Firstly, no way are we challenging for the title but I don't see a massive difference between us and the teams above us in terms of quality and potential output in terms of ability and being a cohesive team.
What I mean by that is that I look at Chelsea who abundantly have far superior players to us in many positions but are probably the worst BONDED team I have seen that hangs near the top of any league, that I have seen in years. That kind of train wreck takes miracles to get back in shape. There is only one stellar team in this league at the moment and we all know who they are
(unfortunately) and only Man City have the potential to play at their level. They just shot themselves in the foot this year with poor quality squad upgrades and getting a bit ahead of themselves.
The other teams (Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea) are ahead of us in only small ways, having disadvantages and advantages compared to us. Spurs getting into the Champs League will be big for them. Just don't see them hanging in the top four as well as putting a big league campaign in also. That takes some doing and was our sticking point for a few years until Rafa elevated us back up there.
Chelsea will be Chelsea. After all, they finished OUTSIDE the top four last year. Brought in World Class talent in Hazard and others and are still falling short.
If Arsenal click properly (And by that I mean spending some of that vast reserve they have) are the ones that can get right back up there comfortably but I'm hoping they scrape fourth again and Wenger is happy to play Bank Manager for another season.
Looking at us and BR himself, he has definitely made a few boo-boos in the transfer market. Assaidi can be looked past cos he cost buttons and worst case scenario I don't see a big financial loss (if at all) on a transfer recoup.
Borini still has time on his side even though I can't see a massive upturn for him. Joe Allen is the big worry. 15m for that guy is looking like another miscalculation of Carroll proportions (in relevant terms). The way he looks so harried and under pressure everytime he gets on the ball and then subsequently loses it is very worrying.
I'm glad we found out Lucas had a niggle before the game as I was fuming that he didn't start and Allen did. Although how he plays the second half leaves me suspicious...... Manager excuses/spin?
As for FSG. We know they are middle-tier financial owners. No point going on about how we need this owner or that that owner. We have what we have and we are in for a long ride with them.
They'll be giving us our usual 20m annual budget as well as allowing BR to spend what he generates in player sales. And this is where he will live or die as in my humble opinion for next season.
I don't think we need to throw too much at the squad as long as certain players are kept.
Let's face it, why waste another 8m on compensation on sacking a decent young manager and his staff and therefore increasing to growing debts, when after all, this is his first season and he needs to know who he can take forward with him on his next few seasons.
At the beginning of the season, no-one saw Skrtel's level dropping so badly I would imagine. I've never been a big fan of our number 37 and I wrote some long-winded posts on getting rid of him years ago because I felt that he was and would always be too erratic.
To be fair to him, he improved once he partnered Agger as when it was him and Carra something was just not right. I think some people just bring out the best in others. For a while, Dagger helped Skrtel elevate his level above the norm but he just needs to go now as yesterday against Soton was just as bad as it gets and I don't want excuses about rustiness as a certain Mr Hyypia springs to mind. Big Sami came off the bench or started rarely in his final 18 months and was the absolute dog's everytime he played.
Going out with Skrtel should be Pepe. An impasse has been reached. Injuries are creeping in more often than not and his form is just not what it was. Both past their best but still can command decent prices. Reina could conceivably pull in 10-15m and Skrtel 8-12m. Think that is being reasonable.
Think players like Shelvey and Downing have been looked at now and will be moved on. Shelvey can be profited on and Downing can go if an offer suits. Shame about Jonjo cos I think their is a proper player in there somewhere but his head goes just too often.
So defensive recruitments have to be the priority and if he buys well we can flourish next season. We have our superstar star in Suarez and we have good quality in Coutinho, Sturridge, SG around him who can all be match winners on their day too. That is not to be sniffed at and can take apart most teams in the league quite easily IF the defensive basis is sound, which currently it is not.
Kelly will be back next season. He is someone who can be exceptional in time at either RB or CB. He will give first teamers like Agger and especially Johnson real competition and keep them on their toes. Anyone who saw Johnson yesterday saw a comfortable-in-his-place player put off his game big style by a few boos for being a ex-Portsmouth player.
Don't know who BR has in mind as buys apart from Williams and Ince. TBH I'd be VERY happy with both! Ince delivers goals and threat and after Zaha is the most promising player in the Championship and a player with more goal potential too.
As for Williams, some of the things I read on here are just plain snobbery. So what if he is a Swansea player. We are Liverpool FC 2013, not the LFC of the 80's when we could get the best.
Williams doesn't seem to have any weaknesses to his game in my opinion. He is fast, strong, reads the game well and can play out from the back. He is far better than Skrtel and will be paid for by 37's departure. That is good business in my book.
Not like we are gonna pick up a Nesta in his prime or something or get a Klopp/Mourinho in charge is it?
Thanks for reading guys. A long one I know, but sometimes a its therapeutic to unburden yourself!
Think too many of us just either live in the distant past or in the last 90 minutes. After all, Soton just did to us what they did to Man City just a few weeks ago.
We don't need too much guys.....
Just the toilers in our squad to be moved on for up and comers who are hungry and not stale. With that, I see us easily up there from the word go and probably succeeding with a top four finish.
Keep the faith and let's just enjoy the rest of the campaign and climb back above the bitters!
YNWA
