This article was first published in Issue 214 of Liverpool Fanzine Red All Over The Land - pick up a copy at the Bournemouth game or subscribe now.
A colleague of mine is a massive Derby fan and a real
football connoisseur who enjoys a good football podcast. I pointed him in the
direction of The Anfield Wrap knowing that despite not being a Liverpool fan
he’d appreciate the quality of footballing knowledge and insight as well more
than the odd mention of Jordan Ibe who Derby fans still pine over.
About a week later he came over to me and said “I’ve been
listening to Liverpool fans talk about Liverpool for a week, and now I’m
convinced that you’re going to win the league.” “I know the feeling” I replied.
And that’s what football is all about - hope. Supporters of
all clubs must get it, but I think Liverpool fans more than most; that
pre-season feeling of hope… the feeling that this year will be our year. The
plethora of new signings look the business, we’ve just battered some Thai XI
4-0 or something… the players are talking about unity and a great team spirit…
what could possibly go wrong? We’re going to win the league!
But as in life in general, where would we be without
hope? It’s what keeps us going and this
pre-season is no different. Every summer since I can remember (so about 1993) I
have started the season thinking we are going to win the league. And we never
have. But this summer is no different. Because if you don’t believe? What is
the point?
Last summer we had just come as close as we have for years
to winning the league, as the players did their lap of honour round Anfield the
place was full of excitement and hope for the future - some of our summer
business looked a bit strange, but in Brendan we trusted. As we all know… that
hope couldn’t have turned to despair fast enough. This summer we were wondering
who would be in charge come the 8th of August let alone whether we’d have any
chance of challenging for the league.
Yet as ever I am excited about the season ahead… I have real
hope. After FSG decided to stick with their man and give him a rare 2nd chance
the club have done some very swift and what looks like shrewd work in the
transfer market. Of course it’s easy for transfers to look good in pre-season
and as we know from last summer, the proof is in the pudding, but when you look
at what went wrong last season it appears that we have looked to address those
problems and with some good personnel.
Despite what some people thought of him we have lost an
experienced right back in Glen Johnson but replaced him with an extremely
capable young English player in Nathaniel Clyne. He looks confident and assured
in his pre-season displays and excitingly a defender first and foremost. But
that is not to say he doesn’t like to get up the pitch and join in attacks.
Replacing Steven Gerrard is impossible, but in James Milner
we have bought a hugely experienced footballer, a great professional and a
player who is a lot more talented than perhaps some people give him credit for.
Quitely people are talking about this signature being one of the deals of the
summer. He also possesses something that is so hard to get hold of - he knows
how to win. It’s something our young squad lacks - the experience of winning
things and his knowledge and presence both on and off the pitch could prove
invaluable.
We all know one of the biggest issues we had last season was
a lack of goals and we certainly look to have tried to do something about that.
Benteke, Firmino, Ings and let’s not forget Origi have all come in. Again there
are differing opinions on all of them, but you certainly can’t accuse us of
lacking options up top. Everyone seems naturally most excited about Firmino
purely because he’s Brazilian and a bit of an unknown - the YouTubers out there
would have you believe he will be the next Suarez. I think it’s unfair to
expect that much of him before he’s barely kicked a ball, but his record in
German is strong and he sounds like the sort of player we will love, skillful,
hard working and he scores goals. Let’s just hope he can adapt quickly to
Liverpool and the Premier League.
The Benteke signing has been lamented by some and I find
that strange. Of all our signings I think he is one of the safest bets. He is
proven in the Premier League and his goals to game record is right up there
with some of the Premier League’s recent greats. It is nonsense to suggest that
he is just a big target man in the ilk of Balotelli and that he won’t suit our
style of play. Yes he is big and strong, good in the air and able to hold play
up. But he is also fast, skillful, a good finisher and possesses intelligent
movement.
Ings is a good young English player and it’s always
important to have those in your squad. He works hard and doesn’t mind a good
press, which we all know Brendan loves. I do think he has some work to do to
prove that he is capable at the very highest level, but I’m pleased that we
haven’t bought him to be our first line striker and that he will have the
opportunity to develop. He scored a decent number of goals in a very poor
Burnley side and that can’t be ignored.
Origi, like Ings is a prospect and no more than that. There
is talk that during pre-season he hasn’t looked ready for the highest level,
but that’s ok, time will tell and we have the luxury of being able to give him
time. Again I am just pleased that we have brought the likes of Benteke in and
we’re not pinning all our hopes on a young, unproven kid.
Perhaps what is most exciting is that it almost feels as if
we’ve forgotten all about Sturridge, imagine if he manages to get fit and back
to his best for the majority of the season? It’ll feel like another signing.
There should also be a mention in dispatches for Joe Gomez,
the youngster has impressed so much during pre-season that Rodgers how now
ruled out a loan move for him, which looked inevitable when he first signed. He
has looked comfortable at left back, ironically probably his least favoured
position across the back four. Again we shouldn’t lump too much hope on the
kid, but it’s encouraging to have a young defender who looks so comfortable and
confident at the club already.
There isn’t much to say about Bogdan, except that he is
probably just about an upgrade on Brad Jones.
There is talk that we are still looking for a left back to
challenge Moreno and a few other rumours float around, but it very much feels
as if our business is pretty much complete and I am very pleased with it.
This year, like every year Liverpool, you’ve got me
dreaming. And why not - after all isn’t hope what it’s all about?
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