Looking ahead to the 2001/2002 season (Totally rewritten) (Liverpool F.C.)

Member Name: The Duke

Product:	Liverpool F.C.
Date:	01/01/01 (62 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Entertaining

Disadvantages: Should be more consistent

As a Liverpool fan, I have to say that I was quite pleased with last season’s performance, well, certainly with the amount of trophies. We didn’t have a great start to the season last year, and it was practically Christmas before we got into our stride. In the domestic cup competitions there were times where we limped along. As much as I hate Trevor Francis (Have you head that man commentate on football? How does he manage a professional football team?), Birmingham gave us a run for our money in the Worthington Cup final. In the F.A. Cup, we got past any opponent that was set in front of us in comfort without showing any of the class of old and had to rely on Arsenal snatching defeat from the jaws of victory to lift that particular trophy.

In the Premiership, we didn’t learn our lesson from last year, and were involved in a tense run in with Leeds and Ipswich in the final games of the season where we couldn’t afford to lose any matches, and lose out on that third place yet again.

It was only in the UEFA Cup did we look like a proper team. We played well when necessary, dug in and were physical when necessary, and yet still made life hard for ourselves come the final.

Gerard Houllier may have turned us into a more direct, more physical team but there’s one man who we should thank for our success last season: Gary McAllister. Many people laughed when we got him on a free, but during the last few months of the season last year, he scored the important goals, kept morale up and showed the others how to play.

So, really, as Liverpool fans, we should be looking forward to the next season. Champions League football, another bash at the Premiership (only third or better will do) and the two domestic cups to defend. Happy days, right?

Well, I’m not sure. Arsenal have spent in excess of £25 million this summer on half a dozen players, Man. Utd. have spent just under £50 million on two world-clas
s players and we’ve spent £4.5 million on an unknown Norwegian. I’m waiting to see what John Arne Riise is like before making a judgement – over the last few years, Houllier has bought some “bargain basement” players who have turned out to be excellent buys – Hyppia and Westerveld and even McAllister were not exactly bank breakers, were they? Admittedly there have been some duds – Rigobert Song and Titi Camara anyone?

I haven’t seen much of Liverpool’s pre-season, but I’m hoping they’ve improved since last year. Jamie Redknapp is coming back, which may or may not be a good thing. In my eyes Liverpool have started on the road to the glory days again only after Redknapp got his long-term injury. From what I remember of him playing (and I’m not saying he’s a bad player) he was always too fond of passing the ball sideways, and not playing the ball forwards to our world-class strikers of Owen and Fowler.

Again, I’m concerned about the talk of Fowler leaving. I don’t think there’s a more complete striker in the country, and selling him is not a good idea. We should keep Fowler and sell Owen instead. Michael Owen can run fast and kick the ball with his right foot, and his goals are from the inside of the box. Fowler can score goals with his head, left foot, right foot, inside the box and outside the box. He can hold the ball up, and generally has so much more to his game that Owen the one trick wonder. If any clubs want to spend £25 million on Owen, let them have him. Fowler is more of a team player, and that’s what we need – team players.

While we’re on the subject of transfers, in my humble opinion, we need to make at least two signings. We need a dedicated left back i.e. one who is capable of kicking the ball with his left foot. Jamie Carragher is a good enough player (his performances for England at right back prove that), but his
inability to use his left foot put him, and the team at a serious disadvantage. Anytime the ball is played out towards the left, there is no flow of the ball being fed up the line towards Murphy or Berger, Carragher always has to come onto his right foot and play the ball square or backwards.

The second signing I think we need to make is another centre back, whether this is a big name signing to take the place of Henchoz, or a lesser-known player to use as backup (I prefer the former though) because that’s an area we seem to be short in.

I’m hoping that Houllier is hanging on, waiting for the right players to sign, rather than not having the money available to him. Having won (albeit luckily in some cases) three trophies last year, you would have thought the Liverpool board would make money available to strengthen the squad to improve on last years performance.

*** Update (Warning: Rant Alert) ***
News has just come to light that Fowler and Houlliers' assistant, Phil Thompson have had a bust up. On the apalling "The Premiership" show on ITV tonight, Houllier was talking about the argument, and in my mind, said a lot of things out of turn. I would not be at all surprised if Fowler was transfer listed by Monday morning at his own request. This is a shame, because IMHO, Liverpool are a better side when he plays, and as I've said before, he's more of a team player than Michael Owen.

Why Houllier doesn't play Fowler more often is beyond me anyway - Arsene Wenger has had his eye on Fowler for ages, and he's no slouch at spotting a good player. Sven Goran Eriksson has even told Fowler to get himself first team football, and suggested to a few Italian clubs if Fowler ever becomes available, they should get a bid in.

If Fowler does leave as a result of not getting regular football coupled with this latest bust up, Houllier should expect a backlash from Liverpool fans who adore Fowler
and all that he has done for the club.

Summary: