Say No to Sturridge

So there I was basking in yesterday's 4-nil win, enjoying LFC's early Christmas gift only to have a sour taste from the news that Sturridge was due for a medical. I sincerely doubt BR reads my blog but as a concerned fan it would be improper for me to let this pass silently without voicing my discontent. Whether my reservations are taken into consideration is immaterial, the most important thing is that they are noted and recorded.

There are possibly a million (not literally) reasons to say "No" to Daniel and I highlight the major ones that come to mind.


Attitude
There is hardly ever smoke without a fire and there seems to be a general consensus among media and fans      that DS has a bad attitude. A single player's negative attitude can severely affect team harmony and is not what BR or LFC need as we try to rebuild and restore the team to it's past glory. I don't know DS personally but I've heard many knowledgeable pundits talk about how he's not willing to learn, thinks he knows it all and has arrived as a player. All this sounds like a reason to be cautious about moving for DS or at the very least the special handling that may be required in managing him. Again, I have nothing against him and the few times I've heard him being interviewed he's come across as confident which can easily be seen as arrogant but still warning bells do go off.

Team Fit
Like Walcott, DS has been known to vocalize he's preference for playing as a center forward rather than out wide where prior managers seem to think he's better suited. In our current 4-3-3 formation, Suarez is currently the central striker and I don't see him being shunted wide to accommodate DS. We already have Borini wanting to play centrally so why go looking for something similar? The way I see it we have three options

1. Get a striker lethal enough to play through the middle while moving Suarez wider. Think the now unavailable Huntelaar or the potentially available David Villa 
2. Get an actual winger or wide forward who wants to stay wide. We are currently being linked with Tom Ince who fits the bill and could also pursue Scott Sinclair or Nathan Dyer who have worked previously with BR with a measure of success
3. Get a striker to serve as backup to Suarez. A few names who could fit the bill include Wilfried Bony, Ricky van Wolfswinkel or Seydou Dombia

 Slim Pickings in January
The winter transfer window is very high stakes you can be lucky like LFC was with Suarez or miss the mark like Chelsea did with Torres (the pre-Rafa version). It's also been known to make managers spend 35m on untried British talent. The smart money will be to stick it out till the Summer and not be forced to make desperate, knee-jerk buys. Another smart alternative will be to bring in a player on loan with the option to sign based on performances. I'd rather try to bring any of the above mentioned options on loan than sign DS   on a permanent deal. I could even be open to a DS loan with a return option if needed.

He's English
Seriously!!! When was the last time LFC (any Prem club really) signed a British player not to talk about striker who's excelled?
While you're figuring that out, I'll have listed tons of players from Spain, Uruguay and everywhere else but the UK that have lit up the Prem.
A major let down for KD last season was his transfer business. He's preference for England-based players and their bloated transfer prices contributed to his being shown the door. A look at a certain Spanish import currently leading the scorers chart who cost a tiny fraction of AndyC's price should put things in perspective.

Stats Men!!
Statistics are what you make of them. To argue my point, I'm going to ask you to disregard his Bolton starts and rather focus on his Chelsea stats. He scored 13 goals in 63 games (1 in 5 roughly). These aren't numbers to excite an LFC fan. Compare this to Suarez who had 81 goals in 110 games for Ajax and Torres with 82 goals in 214 games and it's painfully clear DS may not lead us to the promised land. For those who care, Kuyt had 71 goals in 101 games and was a signing that I looked forward to.

So what would I do if I were Mr. Rodgers? Simple, I'd relax have a Merry Christmas and in the New Year do the following.


Buy or Loan from abroad
I've mentioned a few players already and I'm not in the scouting department. I'd like to think the scouting network have identified loads of talent all around the world. My preference will be to strengthen the squad with a player from abroad. I like the idea of an initial loan with the potential to purchase. This provides an escape if things don't work out.


Promote from within
Credit has been given for blooding Sterling, Suso and Wisdom. The youngsters have been incorporated into the first team and haven't let the team. It's been exciting to see youth rewarded and encouraged. Surely it's a chance to continue the trend. The U21s have finished the first phase of the developmental season unbeaten so why shouldn't Morgan, Pacheco, Ngoo and Yesil get more game time? I've seen many highlights of the U21s this season and these lads deserve a chance. It's a cheap, short term solution that barring injury to Suarez will suit the team.

Do Nothing
The power of inertia should not be underestimated. The gaffer has widely set (dampened perhaps) expectations and most folks understand the team is in transition. No one is expecting miracles as long as the team show signs of moving in the right direction. Besides, Borini is coming back from injury and it's time to collect on our 10M investment. Let's see more of his "assassin" celebration and leave some bite marks on our hands.
I watched Downing yesterday and he's definitely on the rise. As long as BR can keep getting the best out of him (threaten him with being sold in the Summer maybe), I'm fine with having a player who's versatile and out to prove himself week in and week out.

In essence, I don't see  Sturridge solving our goal scoring problems. You don't have to agree with me but let it not be said I didn't warn against his signing.
   

Flight of Fantasy

Are you an Arsenal, Liverpool or <insert team of choice here> fan? Is your team disappointing you? Your manager ignoring calls to play so and so, bench so and so? Are you just not enjoying watching your team each weekend?
Let me introduce you to the fantasy premier league (FPL). Here's a place where make believe holds sway. This is the place where Friday evenings are spent.

Why else was I watching Sunderland v Reading this past week, purely because of the FPL. My pursuit for points and "value" players for upcoming weeks has resulted in my watching every single game when I get a chance. I'm constantly scouring for talent, new jewels to unearth and boost my team's point tally.

As an FPL manager, I wear many hats. I'm a scout, a manager, team bus driver, psychotherapist, team doctor and did I say manager. You get the picture. This isn't the glam and glitz of pre- and post-match interviews. It isn't the fancy half-time talks or touchline posturing, this is serious stuff. Knuckle cracking, neck cramping, crouch over your computer dilemma, because once the deadline closes, 75 minutes before the first game of the weekend there is nothing more you can do.


Unlike the "real" world, every weekend offers a fresh transfer window. Reward the point-makers,  punish those who dare not deliver and choose your style. Dare to be a tinkerer? Go crazy mixing it up week after week. Rotate your squad or wheel and deal in the transfer market. Few managers can resist the lure of making transfers and it takes a brave one to resist the temptation and stick it out with their current squad.

I'm a manager with principle of course. What would the world be without them? I don't pick players on teams LFC is playing against and I currently don't have any Toffees on my team (See I'm a classy manager).
I've seen a Manc who made Tevez captain in the Manchester derby, a Gooner who rejoiced as Berbatov put on a "3 additional bonus points" performance against Arsenal. Not in my case!

So how am I faring? I'm in several leagues but in the one that counts, the one where I'm the league moderator; I'll have you know I'm in the top four :-). In Arsene's world I'm winning a trophy this season!

Hendo the Hero

It's not everyday you can say Jordan Henderson scored the match winner, but yesterday he did. He not only scored the winner but also secured the club's progress to the knockout stages. This guarantees LFC will taste European football in 2013 at the very least.

He's a much maligned player by a large section of the fans who were mystified when KD signed him for a decent sum. It can be argued that he was played out of position last season even though he was a regular. His performances last season were not largely impressive and he wasn't helped this season with a change of managers.

The new manager clearly didn't rate him highly especially if the rumors he was willing to trade him to Fulham as part of the Dempsey deal are true. Hendo must be given credit for deciding to stick around and prove his mettle. He's been asked to play a variety of positions to get game time in some games and hasn't made a big deal out of it.

While only BR knows how playing him as right-back can be justified, his willingness to play anywhere for the team has seen him rewarded by starting games in the middle. The game against Wigan was key for me as I think bringing him on for Suso did enable us take control of the midfield and go ahead to win the game.

In some ways I see potential parallels with Lucas. Here's a player who wasn't initially welcomed by the fans, who seemed to be played time and time by the manager without this seeming justified. After the departure of Mascherano, it was clear that he stepped up his game to become a pivotal figure whose importance was emphasized with his absence for a significant period last season. In Hendo's case, he clearly isn't in BR's starting midfield 3, though I must confess I still think we could have saved the money on Allen and played Hendo in that position. However, there is a potential to be an important squad player as the game against Udinese has shown. He would also be my first player of the bench if we needed to freshen things up in games or an able deputy to rotate in when games come thick and fast.

I believe Hendo has the potential and quality to be an important part of the team. There is a reason why he is an England international and captain of the U-21's. It's just a question of being patient and grabbing a chance when it presents itself. In my view he and Jonjo have that ability to play anywhere in the middle 3, though Jonjo definitely has more of an eye for goal than Hendo and arguably has moved ahead of him in the pecking order.

For now though, let's give kudos where they are due and proclaim, cometh the Hero, cometh the Hendo!

Seeing:Liverpool

The much anticipated six part mini-series; Being: Liverpool finally arrived this fall and thanks to Fox Soccer, yours truly got a chance to watch his fave team up close and all what not.

The "show" is supposed to be a "fly on the wall" documentary that takes viewers behind the scenes to the inner workings of a famous club like Liverpool. In the wake of the PR disasters from last season this was a chance for the club to redeem its global image and perhaps win new fans.

Fox Soccer's promotion and coverage of the series in the US is highly commendable. In FSG's home country surely new fans must have been made thanks to Fox Soccer. I particularly liked the timing of the first showing of each episode as  it aired during "soccer prime time"; just immediately after the last Premier League game on Sundays. The number of reruns ensured I always had an opportunity to catch up on any episode or segment I missed earlier.

To my delight, the channel even had a Being: Liverpool marathon that relayed four back-to-back episodes and additional footage. The added footage had bonus scenes and previews of the final two episodes. What a way to spend a weekend with no Prem games!

I truly appreciated seeing another side to the players. I felt that seeing the lads spend time with their families was endearing. A few memorable scenes for me include; Jay Spearing honking for his Dad while driving back home and, Pepe breaking the news to his daughter that another baby was on the way.

I also enjoyed the opening/closing dialogues/poems by Liverpool playwright, Dave Kirby. My favorite has to be the "Old Boys Pen". It just sparked a longing for the days of yore (well before my time). It transported me to a time past and for a while I connected with fans of old, fans of the yesteryear. We all share a bond of support for the boys in Red.

One thing I'm now looking to BR for an answer is why Assaidi doesn't start more games? All the training clips during the show that focused on him seemed to show him leaving someone behind on the floor and finishing sharply. Surely he deserves a look-in.

It was also cool to see all the South American lads hang out and I'm curious to know what they all seemed to be taking turns smoking/drinking in a few clips.

For a documentary, a lot of BR's portions seemed rehearsed. He seemed to do things for the camera. A few examples; all the hand slapping before matches or at half-time and the hugging of new players on first introductions which all seem hard to believe as being the norm.

The episode trailers were definitely misleading. The Sterling ribbing was never fleshed out or given a full context or background. The actual scene was so underwhelming (BR does seem to pick on young Raheem a wee bit more than others throughout the series) it seemed like an afterthought.

Not enough players were interviewed. I mean in a six-part series you'd think it would be possible to speak to each player for a few seconds. No coverage of the Carling Cup! I mean if the FA cup got coverage, footage could have been dug up or some form of flashback reel shown to relieve our only silverware in the last six years.

What about talking to Kenny? When the series was advertised last season, KD was still manager and you'd think the series would have had the dignity to interview him at some time. We are made to believe he parted ways with the club in an amicable manner yet no KD interview? That to me is a big let down.


The series was not received favorably in the UK in my view. Every podcast, football show interview and ex-player feedback I've heard has been consistently negative. I do believe as a PR/marketing tool it was a success. I definitely feel more connected to the players and the club as a whole and I'm sure with Fox Soccer's coverage, more fans have been won over in the US. I'll definitely recommend FSG promote the series' in other regions as well.

Turning to youth: desperate or deliberate

It's getting harder to write articles. I'll blame Fox Soccer for showing reruns of "Being Liverpool" just about every hour.
So where to start, ah the face of youth. I had written a piece "advising" Kenny to give the kids a chance and named a few names. It has been a pleasure to see some of those youngsters get a chance; but are they being fast tracked and mismanaged?

A lot has been said about the average age of the team being the youngest around. Not very many teams can give three teenagers Premiership debuts in a single season not to talk about starting back-to-back Prem games. A combination of injuries and a new manager's preference for players with "hunger" has seen these teens emerge as regulars.

Much credit has to be given to Rafa Benitez for identifying these youngsters and bringing them to the club. He laid the foundation for LFC to nurture such talents and and aided in their development. While Brendan should get the praise for blooding them, Rafa deserves kudos as well. One of Rafa's philosophies was for the reserves and academy sides to play the same formation as the first team. This provided a consistent style of play across all the club and meant that if a player got promoted to the senior team, he already had a basic idea of the team's style of played and could easily fit in.

It's one thing to play youngsters in the Capital One cup, maybe even the Europa league but to have inexperienced and untested players compete in the bread and butter Prem is another thing. How do these youngsters deal with the pressure, especially for a club like LFC with great expectations?
Will this lead to player burnout or will this accelerate their development? Only time will tell but clearly a lot of fans are excited by the prospect of seeing the next Owen, Fowler or McManaman.

Personally, I think there needs to be a balance, some form of gradual introduction. For every Fowler or Owen, there's a Craig Lindfield or Kristian Nemeth. I would have liked to see these youngsters get confidence and experience via the cups, maybe a few cameo appearances in the Prem rather than become mainstays in the debut season. I still scratch my head at how Jerome Sinclair got to play for the first team before Michael Ngoo. There may be a few exceptions to this idea, Sterling scored his first Prem goal (first competitive goal for the club really) against Reading and has looked the part of a natural born Prem player. It  will be wrong to expect him to score every week or bear the burden of being one of the main creative sparks for the team. Yes, he could offer something different, something fresh that occasionally sparks the team but the likes of Suarez and Stevie G still have to be the go-to guys. Only time will tell if BR is desperate or just a genius with this youthful experiment.

Reality Check: Looking good for another mid-table finish

August 18, 2012. This was the long awaited date, the start of the BPL season, the beginning of the Rodgers era (tiki-taka and all what not). 78 days after BR took charge, LFC crashed to a humbling opening day defeat away to a lively looking West Brom. 
Firstly, let me be a good sport and congratulate Steve Clarke on his first win as a manager. For those who recall, I wrote a piece endorsing him for the top job at Anfield.

In a game that showed familiar failings; Suarez dazzling but profligate. Agger and Skrtel over-casual in defence. Downing, ah!(the less said the better). I saw a half-time stat showing Allen had a 97% pass rate, that doesn't put points in my fantasy league team nor points on the table.

On a day where BR's former team was hammering QPR, ex-red Alex Kačaniklić was announcing his arrival on the stage with a goal for Fulham; I'm left with egg on my face and the all too familiar dose of reality.

Transfer Dealings

The transfer window has not been exciting for me and probably most LFC fans. Borini, Allen and Assaidi have all come in, young internationals with loads of promise but none is a  marquee player or game winner in my eyes. Maybe they'll have the desired hunger and ethic that BR seeks but Allen in particular at 15m was unneeded in my book especially with the presence of Henderson and the signs of growth shown by Shelvey. On the flip side, the club needs to lighten the squad as there is a glut of midfielders and youngsters who probably need to go out on loan.

New Manager 'Vibe'

BR has said all the right things. His interviews have been smart and enlightening, though I await today's post match interview. The 180-page dossier constantly referenced indicates a manager who is studious and detail oriented. One caveat is that for all the theorizing, football games are not won in classrooms or lecture halls. 

Setting Expectations

Time and patience are needed this season. LFC could well finish worse off than last season. For those "expecting" a top four finish, perhaps today will highlight the task ahead. 37 games yet remain starting with the champions at home next week. I have publicly said a 6th place finish with silverware in one of the cups will be adequate. Whatever happens this season it will be counter productive to not put faith in the manager for at least 2 seasons.

Birthday Musings

Lest I forget, today is actually my birthday. At midnight I had a huge slice of homemade Sweet potato cake with a cream cheese filling and frosting, topped up with chopped walnuts. Even though an LFC win today would have been the proper 'icing', I intend to have further discussions with the cake later on and will definitely not be sending BR or any of the lads a slice.

Perspective: How do you see it?

My missus say's I always see the positive side of things, that I'm an optimist. I think I'm a hopeful realist. My younger brother's reaction to LFC's signing of Fabio Borini got me thinking about the different views for ongoing events. Here are some of things I've been mulling over recently

Fabio Borini

What some are saying...
Who the hell is Borini? BR must be on some ...

My Take ...
He's a young player determined to prove himself. BR has worked with him in the past and obviously rates him. In addition he's already an Italian international who went to the Euro's.

LFC should sell Andy Carroll


What most are saying...
He can't fit into BR's system. LFC should cut their losses.


Methinks...
If ever there was a time to have Andy, it's now. His confidence must be sky-high after the way he ended last season. Strikers thrive on confidence and I believe if he gets chances he will score goals. He scored a "trademark" header and had a decent showing at the Euros all together. Finally, I'm sure he's willing to prove he can make it at LFC; so why not give him a chance?

Maxi & Dirk leaving


What everyone's saying...
They'll be missed. It will be difficult to replace their experience and Maxi is the type of player BR likes to have that is smart in possession and very mobile.


What I'm thinking...
This potentially opens the door for some of the younger players, the likes of Suso, Sterling and Shelvey have a chance to make the step up. This may be a chance to replace them with  younger and cheaper options to build a team for the future around.

Fernando Torres & AndyC as big money flops


What the media keeps telling us...
The big money transfers were failures. Don't spend big in January.


What I'd like to highlight...
Both players won silverware and "traded up". 


Torres finished top scorer in the Euro's and will be remembered for the goal at the Nou camp that secured Chelsea's place in the UCL final on the route to winning it.


AndyC gave us an unforgettable FA cup talking moment with his "almost goal". His introduction and actual goal changed the final and it could have been a different story if he had started. He eventually made the cut for the Euros and scored in his only start.

Spurs appointing Andre Villas-Boas (AVB) to replace Harry Redknapp.

What a few are believing ...
AVB will be vindicated at Spurs and will succeed where he failed at Chelsea.

What I'm pondering...
How does AVB top Harry? Surely, expectations will be too high. I think he's a bright manager and as long as he doesn't overdo using phrases like "project" and "philosophy", the media should give him a chance. Patience will be required as I expect he needs time to settle and I don't see any title challenges in the near future. How will Daniel Levy handle finishing outside the top four this season?



Brendan Rodger's expected playing style compared to Kenny Dalglish's


Everyone is saying ... 
BR will play an attractive brand of football. LFC will be the new Swansea and out-possess all and sundry. 


I'm thinking... 
Tiki-taka is the new catch-phrase. Everyone wants to play like Spain and BR is credited with  advocating the style with Swansea last season. I had no problems with how LFC played for most of last season, it's the results that got me. How we lost to Arsenal and West Brom after outplaying them at Anfield is a mystery. So many of those draws too were as a result of profligacy and poor/bad luck.


I'm a proponent of the "end justifies the means". Before you scream, hear me out. For last season's UCL, will you rather be a fan of  the Barcelona or Chelsea style (read success) ?

LFC's third kit


What some are sharing...

 It's ugly. It looks like this ...

In reality...


It's a third kit and will have only limited exposure. Oh! and it actually looks like this ...

So how do you see current events? Drop me a comment and share your perspective!