Road Warrior...

It’s that time again.  A Liverpool road game.  Great.  I honestly don’t remember fearing going on the road, but this season has just been filled with dread any time the Liverbird is sat under the away column.  My dad has told me of the days of old when Liverpool were feared, home AND away.  It is crazy how things can swing on a dime in two seasons (4-1 at Old Trafford anyone?) but I’d rather not get into that side of football.  It’s time to look forward, simply because we as a club are running out of time to do much positive this season. 

It has been reported Liverpool’s goal for the season is to win the Europa League (I’m all for it, we haven’t had silver our way in quite some time), but I also pray that our lads will put every ounce of blood, sweat and tears into every league game from here on out.  Liverpool still have City and Spurs at home, and with the way the league has been this season, anything is possible.  It is going to have to be a game by game thing, and this week, its Wolves.

After being embarrassed at Anfield last month,  I’d put money on the players still having a bad taste in their mouth.  Will the players come out for revenge?  That’s their call, I just hope Liverpool come one with one thing in mind.  ATTACK.  Granted we have done that the past couple games, but we seem to fizzle out, or lose focus.  Keep attacking.  Honestly, I could care less if Wolves score three tomorrow, as long as Liverpool score four.  Where has the fight gone, which deemed Liverpool comeback kings around Europe.  It’s slowly showing itself, but the players have to continue to show heart, and never lose focus no matter the score line.

Based on previous performances, Martin Kelly will probably retain his spot at right-back, and hopefully we can find Glen Johnson on the wing.  If Agger is fit it would be nice to see him alongside Danny Wilson, with Aurelio at left-back.  Cole may make his return to the left of midfield, with Meireles and Lucas filling the middle.  I’m optimistic and would love to see the young lad Dani Pacheco alongside Fernando Torres.  I don’t like to predict scores, and refuse to start now.  But I think I speak for us all when I say three points would be welcomed with open arms! KEEP THE FAITH.

Transfer Frenzy

Oh January.  How you love to surprise us all, whether it be the axing of a manager (Roy Hodgson), or the surprise transfer (Darren Bent, Sunderland to Villa).   For Liverpool, the signing of one player has the potential to swing things in the light.  That signing is Luis Suarez.

Had Liverpool fans been told in October, we were going to try and sign the likes of Suarez, or be handed a war chest in the region of 35 million, we probably would have just laughed.  NESV has the resources though.  I for one know they do, spending 100 million plus on Carl Crawford for the Boston Red Sox.  Liverpool have needed another striker for quite some time now.  Not that we don’t believe in David N’gog, not that we’ve lost faith in Fernando Torres.  No.  With a strike partnership of Suarez Torres, it would be quite easy to see Liverpool having the most feared strike force on the map.  Of course, that’s IF he signs.

Liverpool aren’t going to be bullied into paying an “absurd” price for the striker, but it’s quite easy to see Ajax are just bluffing to get a little extra for the player.  And with Liverpool having tabled a bid reported in the 18 million area, Ajax will be crazy to turn it down.  Especially with Ryan Babel keen on a move back to the club.  Whether this turns out to be a loan move, or a player plus cash deal, Ajax are not losing out.  On a second note, looking at some previous transfers around the league, if Manchester United paid around 18 million for Anderson, which would easily make Suarez double that, the owners must be prepared to spend. 

Another target area also under scrutiny; winger.  I read a comment posted on an article from Daily Mail, talking about Glen Johnson.  Honestly, I see no need to sell him.  This comment cemented my feelings.  Why not pull a Spurs/Gareth Bale, and turn this right back into a world class right winger?  With Martin Kelly playing rock solid at the back, Glen is facing a tough fight going forward.  But his pace and skill set him miles apart from others on the right of midfield.  I think I speak for all Liverpool fans when I say that a winger can wait until the next transfer window...

Broken Heart, Mended Souls

I thought I was having a nightmare.  I wasn’t.  As I groggily woke up and turned on my stream this morning I heard the words “Berbatov goes down.  It’s a penalty.”  Surely I’m not awake yet, I thought.  The game has only started.  That it had.  Was it a penalty?  From the replay I say no.  But what happened, happened.  On to the 32 minute, and I see the tackle in from Gerrard.  I didn’t think much of it at first, but then I saw Webb pulling him aside.  The screen went back to a replay and as I was cursing under my breath I heard the one word no one likes to see from a ref.  RED.  Here we go, I thought, we’re done.  The Liverpool players had other things in mind however. 

When we got to halftime (thankfully) all I could do was sit and stare into space.  One nil down at Old Trafford, down to ten men.  The one man who is Mr. Liverpool, the playmaker, the savior, was gone.  This is where the “heart” I talked about in an earlier blog needed to come into play.  I think the players read my blog (or Kenny Dalglish is at the reins..) because Liverpool in the second half played very well I thought.  We took off Maxi Rodriguez and Meireles, and on came Babel and Shelvey.  The one thing I noticed about the substitutions?  THEY CAME EARLY.  One of the things I could not stand about Roy was he would make subs starting at minute 81, and even though he’s allowed 3, he’d use 2 or 1.  Kenny however realized Liverpool needed creativity, and brought on the two players we had on the bench capable of that. 

I have always liked Babel, and though I fear his time is up at Liverpool, he showed signs of why he was considered a top prospect when bought from Ajax.  His pace and footwork were unsettling the United backline, and Shelvey was trying his very best to spark the midfield. (Though I laughed a little when he took the free kick at the halfway line) 

When the final whistle blew I was a heartbroken as any Liverpool fan, but I want to look at the positive that came out of the match.  Effort.  The lads showed heart.  To hold United and continue to press for goal, that took heart.  Players stepped up when called upon (needless to say I will be buying a Martin Kelly Jersey this summer)  Looking ahead to the midweek, it’s Blackpool away, then Everton at home this weekend.  The lad’s needed confidence, and they can take a bit from that performance.  It’s going to have to start Wednesday.  There is no room for error at this point.  Liverpool Football Club face a long, long road back to the pinnacle of football, but it’s a storm worth riding.  And we fans all know what is at the end of a storm…

Return of the King

When I woke up this morning I wondered what the headlines would read.  I had expected more speculation about Hodgson’s future.  I had expected Roy to last until after the United game.  Well, in this world, they teach you to “expect the unexpected.” 

John Henry and Tom Werner have made their first bold move and axed Roy Hodgson.  Big surprise?  No, not really.  Everyone knew it was coming, even Roy.  But I questioned the timing.  Right before the United game?  Do they know the turmoil this could cause in the dressing room?  They did, and brought in the one man I believe can whip these lads into shape for the rest of the season (and possibly beyond).  One man, who has won it all, seen Heysel and Hillsborough.  One man proclaimed, King.

Kenny Dalglish will step back in as interim manager for Liverpool, and there honestly couldn’t be a harder time to do so.  I wrote last night saying that we fans cannot expect a quick fix.  It is not that simple.  We cannot keep chopping managers.  I know it hurts to think that United could pip us to that 19^th title.  I cringed writing that.  But we only have ourselves as a team to blame.  Liverpool have underperformed for years, long before Roy Hodgson arrived.  I don’t think Kenny will stand for the underperforming “stars” we have on our team.  If you aren’t giving your all every game, do you think you are going to be in the side next match? Doubt it. 

The owners have won back the fans, Kenny will forever have the fans, and it’s time for the players to show up.  Man United at Old Trafford is no easy test.  But a win in this fixture can do wonders for a team.  It will be interesting to see what team walks out of the tunnel Sunday, but I know one thing is for certain.  Kenny will have his players ready.  All the fans want is effort.  We want to see the attacking football of old that had Liverpool feared no matter where we played.  We lost 3-2 at United last time out, but we played with fight.  This is Liverpool’s last chance of the season at a domestic title, and it is silverware that has eluded us for quite some time.   If there is one thing that can push Liverpool out of the shadows, it has to be, the return of the King.

Liverpool Till I Die

New year.  New beginning.  That was my initial thought as Liverpool escaped 2010, and snatched the win against Bolton.  Torres and Gerrard were back at their best, Joe Cole scored, and Liverpool won.  Relief seemed to have thrown itself on Liverpool and Roy Hodgson.  Turns out I was dreaming.  On to Blackburn, and we were rightfully thrashed.  Liverpool failed to show up yet again on the road, and the fans look to have run out of patience.  And as most of the fans anger is aimed at Roy Hodgson, I for one am going to level things and point a finger at the players as well.

The fans are neglecting to point the finger at the players for the same reason I am having a hard time writing this.  It hurts.  We pay good money to watch these players perform week in, week out.  But that’s what the players are failing to do. PERFORM.  I agree with many articles I’ve read; apart from Reina, Carragher, Gerrard and (he’s proved me wrong) Lucas, no one is playing with heart.  Listening to the Blackburn game online one line caught my attention and inspired me to write this blog.  The commentator said that Blackburn were beating Liverpool because they had honest players.  Players who were playing for the shirt.  WHERE HAS THAT GONE!

When I say I’m pointing the finger at players as well for our slump this season, this is what I’m talking about.  Some of the players we have don’t look interested.  I understand it’s frustrating to be in the position that Liverpool is in, but that should give you all the more reason to shell out 150 percent every game to get yourselves back to the top.  Instead we have a few players that show up, step on the pitch, have a little kickabout, get their paycheck, and walk out the door without caring about the crest upon their hearts.  I think I know where we can find that heart.  Look no further than our youth.

Sure, I’m probably out of my mind thinking we will turn things around by playing our reserves, but maybe not.  Here is what it could do.  Bench Torres (yea, I said it).  He’s hardly scoring goals isn’t he?  Play Dani Pacheco and Suso.  Young, quick-witted, CREATIVE.  How are they going to be ready if you don’t throw them into the frying pan early?  Going back to an earlier blog, was Macheda ready when he essentially won the title for Manchester United two seasons ago?  I am sick of hearing about our young lads scoring goals galore in the reserves and not even being given a look at so much as the bench of the first team.  If you sit Torres and play someone ahead of him, when Torres knows he is fully fit, but also knows he isn’t scoring, yea, he’ll be upset.  But it will put the fire back in him to score and never be benched again.  The same with Glen Johnson.  I’m sorry, but his defending is lackluster.  He’s great going forward.  Keep him there, put him on the right of midfield and play Martin Kelly.  And what about Danny Wilson and Jonjo Shelvey.  Two so-called prodigies that have barely seen the pitch.  We need lads with heart, and we have it.  We need to play it.

If we fans expect a quick fix we can forget about it.  We can’t expect anyone to come in this January and make us push for the league.  We need confidence.  What happened to sheer fan-power spurring on the lads?  The owners know we want Hodgson out.  And, without naming players, I hope they see some of them need to see the exit door as well.  But the Hodgson issue is a dead case.  It’s high-time we shifted our attention to our players.  They need us now more than ever.  Manchester United in the FA Cup.  Is now really the best time to turn on your manager, your team?  No.  I best here 9,000 Scousers singing You’ll Never Walk Alone at Old Trafford on Sunday.  I want to hear Liverpool’s songs sung all match long.  Can we beat United? Of course we can.  Will we beat United?  That’s up to the players.  We inspire them to inspire us.  We are Liverpool till we die, and Liverpool will not die.

Remember Remember the month of December...

Consistency.  It has plagued Liverpool for years, and this season is no different.  After an October that shot the Reds up the table into the scrap of things, and a November beginning that saw Torres put on a clinic against Chelsea, Liverpool have managed just four points from a possible twelve.  Rather than breathing down table toppers United’s necks, Liverpool are sitting in 10^th, seven points out of fourth place. 

The loss on Sunday at Tottenham wasn’t due to woeful play, however.  Liverpool were beaten by blistering pace in the latter stages of the game.  Martin Skrtel opened up the scoring, only to level for Tottenham after halftime.  Luka Modric and Aaron Lennon’s speed was too much for the Liverpool defenders, leading to Lennon’s winner.  Tottenham look like a team that, when and if ever completely healed up, could be pushing for major honors this season and beyond.  Liverpool themselves are heading into injury crisis, with Jamie Carragher the latest to the treatment room. 

January cannot come soon enough for the Reds, but the question is, will they spend?  The January market has never truly been that big of a shopping mart but Liverpool need players.  Bad.  They need a real left winger, they need a left back and we’ve needed a striker for the past three seasons.  Arda Turan, Eden Hazard, and Karim Benzema have all been linked to Liverpool, and all three are names Fernando Torres and co. would like to see at Anfield. 

For now, Liverpool have to show heart, and players have to step up.  Gerrard won’t be back till late December if not January, and Carragher and Agger are both out long term.  Players like Meireles, Shelvey, Wilson, Ngog.  All must show they want to win, and it is needed now more than ever.  Looking down Liverpool’s fixtures, if they are to be in things with a shout come January, they must take maximum points.  The way things have fallen this season, 15 from 15 could see Liverpool as high as fourth by New Years.  Let’s all just hope the Reds see things the way we do! ~YNWA~

Arise Jonjo Shelvey

Whether we like it or not, everything happens for a reason.  One man’s pain is another man’s gain.  These clichés are thrown around often, and are proven time and time again.  Steven Gerrard picked up a lengthy injury on England duty, and that opened up a midfield spot.  Poulsen has seemingly fallen out of favor with the fans, and that left Jay Spearing to finally be thrown a chance to make himself a Kop favorite.  That is, until he also became sidelined with a fracture in his fibula.  This leaves a window of opportunity for the young prodigy Jonjo Shelvey.

John Henry has proclaimed an interest in developing our youth, and I for one am backing that interest.  Liverpool used to be powerhouse producers of footballers; Fowler, Carragher, Owen, Gerrard.  All these men were brought through the Liverpool ranks and made into legends.  Shelvey is not a product of the Liverpool Academy(he was brought through Charlton Athletic) but at 18 years old he is a prized young talent that was sought after by many big names.  When Liverpool signed him, it was big news.  Looking for young English talent is a philosophy many Premier League clubs are using.  Liverpool landed, “the next Gerrard.”

With the midfield role left vacant by Gerrard, there are only two midfielders to fill that spot.  Poulsen and Shelvey.  If Hodgson listens to the fans, Shelvey will be in that spot.  He likes to get forward, pick out long passes.  He does play similar to Gerrard’s style, and attacking football is what all Liverpool fans are looking for.  Is he ready for the Premier League?  Was Federico Macheda ready when he came off the bench and scored what would prove to be United’s most vital goal of the season?  If these young lads are ever going to be ready, they have to be thrown into the mix.  Shelvey isn’t Gerrard, and it will be hard for anyone to ever replace Gerrard. But Shelvey is Shelvey, and that is our future of midfield.