Going Backwards (Liverpool F.C.)

Member Name: FORCHARITY

Product:	Liverpool F.C.
Date:	22/08/02 (226 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Solid defence, Good young squad

Disadvantages: Can't break down teams

What a good idea this FORCHARITY account is. Well done Jill and MurphEE. Even better, it gives me a chance to write in a category I've already used ;)

Presumably you already know what this opinion's about - Liverpool FC. Since Gerard Houllier took charge (initially jointly with Roy Evans) Liverpool seem to have gone from strength to strength. A very disappointing 7th in the first year has been followed by constant improvement - finishing 4th, 3rd then 2nd. In the 2000-01 season they won an unprecedented cup treble - the league, FA and UEFA cups, and qualified for the Champions League for the first time. Last season (2001-02) saw less silverware, but Liverpool reached the Quarter Finals of the Champions League, and finished the season with 80 points - often enough to win, but seeing them second to double winning Arsenal, although ahead on Man U :)

Expectations for this season are high. Other than Man U's high profile £30M signing of Rio Ferdinand, most of the big clubs have been quiet in the transfer market. Liverpool have splashed out on five new singings, however, and a lot of people expect them to end Anfield's 12 year title wait. Unfortunately I think it'll be third at best for my beloved Reds this season.

Of the new signings, Frenchman Alou Diarra isn't first team material, and has already gone on loan to Le Havre I believe. Goalkeeper Patrice Luzi is admittedly young, but very much fourth choice goalkeeper.

Salif Daio, one of Senegal's midfield stars, looks a reasonable player, but needs time to adapt to English football and his new team. Even then, I don't see him displacing Hamann or Gerrard (although cover for the latter would be useful). Bruno Cheyrou looks an exciting playmaking midfielder, but has so far been on the bench, learning about English football! In friendlies, particularly against Lazio, his dribbling and passing looked exciting, and hopefully he can provide s
ome goals from midfield.

Upfront after last season's loan of Nicholas Anelka our ultimate replacement for Robbie Fowler seems to be African Footballer of the Year, El-Hadji Diouf. Although he terrorised World Cup defences for Senegal, he seems too much like another Emile Heskey to me. By which I don't mean falling over(!), but he's a hard working team player who creates chances, but won't score enough goals - leaving too much pressure on Owen to score 50% of the goals once more.

Thankfully some of our youngsters are coming through well. French defender Djimi Traore looks a different player after his loan spell in France, and has regained favour in the left back position. Fingers crossed he can cover for Sami Hyypia or Stephan Henchoz should we need to. Czech striker, Milan Baros, who arrived late last season has also transformed, and could live up to the promise he's shown in international football. It's too early to throw him into the frontline, but I think a lot of Liverpool's success this season may depend on how many goals Baros scores.

Of course, the problem for Liverpool over the last few seasons has been lack of goals from midfield. Berger and Redknapp used to provide ten plus each a season. In the 2001-02 season, Murphy and Gerrard took on the responsibility. Last year it was only Riise who regularly provided - finishing the club's second top scorer I believe! Berger hasn't regained his form or place since suffering long term injury, and Smicer and Murphy don't regularly find the net. Gerrard must look to improve on last season's four goals, but we'll also be looking to Cheyrou to chip in with a few.

The sale of Nicky Barmby to Leeds obviously hasn't helped. If it wasn't for injury towards the end of last season, I believe he had a good chance of going to the World Cup. Unfortunately his prospects looked limited, so he was quickly snapped up by long time admirer (
and former Spurs/England boss) Venables for £2.75M. Fair enough for Nicky to move, but why did we sell him? I'd certainly put him ahead of useless French winger Diomede (who's still at the club) and probably the inconsistent Smicer. Barmby's just the kind of player we need for midfield goals. And if he is leaving, why so cheap? Already we've sold Leeds good players like Matteo and Fowler - and look how well they've done. We should have at least recouped our £5.5M outlay for Barmby.

It's not a one off. I've been unhappy with Liverpool's selling policy for some while. It's not often we recoup a decent fee - at £12M Fowler was a bargain, the last big sale I can think of was Stan Collymore. Jamie Redknapp was given to Spurs after injury prevented him playing much part in the last few seasons. My own opinion on Redknapp shows what an admirer I am of him (and he was club
captain too remember). Admittedly he'd had his problems, but giving him to Spurs? Is that wise? He's done well pre-season, so see if that comes back to haunt us.

Most recently has been the sale of Stephen Wright to Sunderland. Understandably he wanted first team football, being behind Babbel, Xavier and Carragher (and probably Heggem if fit) didn't help. He's a promising player though, and former England U-21. I'd have given him more chances, and tried to keep him. At the least, sold him for more than £1.5M (look how David Thompson's come on since sold cheap to Coventry.)

Ok, I sound a bit negative. Dudek, Hyypia and Henchoz should be the best defence in the Premiership once again. Michael Owen at his best is near unstoppable, and if Gerrard stays fit he could have his best season yet. I wouldn't like to write Liverpool off in any match.

Preseason, however, they've struggled to break down defences ranging from Real Madrid to (non-League) Chester City. Scoring is a real problem, particularly with
out Owen. A few season's ago, it was the defence that needed connecting. Back then we had players like Redknapp and McManaman. Now what we need is someone to link midfield and attack. Heskey hasn't been tremendous as a 'deep striker', maybe Diouf will do better. In fact, I think Litmanen's our best bet, but he's currently injured and, at 30 not the player to build a team around. Cheyrou might be another option, but I'd really chase a player like Damien Duff or Harry Kewell if I was Gerard Houllier.

This is the problem highlighted by the likes of Mark Lawrenson and Ron Atkinson (who reckons Liverpool will be 4th at best). I admit, looking over my shoulder at Leeds and Chelsea I'm scared. I fear this season Liverpool could be going backwards. A lot may depend as I said on the likes of Milan Baros. Next season, Liverpool should be joined by French duo Florent Sinama Pongolle and Anthony Le Tallec from Le Havre who, if reports are to be believed, could solve our attacking problems. So, one game in to the campaign, I'm already saying 'next season.' I'm afraid. Sit back and watch Arsenal and Liverpool battle it out.

This opinion was donated to charity by a-true-ben. If you want to know more about the 'forcharity' initiative, click on the profile above.

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