This is not about trying to console myself over a lack of transfers, but we will effectively have several new players next season (as it stands). Whilst we maybe slightly exceeded ourselves under Kenny (debatable) by having 3rd best form in the league, we did so missing a huge number of key and squad players. Andy Carroll- only played a couple of games, apparently never fit since his injury, has had the summer off and returned to preseason slightly before everyone else. If he's in good nick when we start the season then Titus Bramble will be walking like John Wayne for the next 5 games. Steven Gerrard- has probably been shouldering some of Torres' bad form and has missed most of last season due to injuries. Can get you those extra few points when the chips are down and no doubt Kenny will know the best way to use his influence as a Liverpool legend. Says he's feeling fittest he's been in years, so expect Riot Gear sales for DJs to soar Daniel Agger- probably just made of glass, but looks like he will at least be fit for the start of the season. Makes the chances of us starting the season well much better. A class act, if he can ever start making 30+ league games a year he will build a great reputation outside Liverpool. Joe Cole- most have written him off, me included. But somewhere in there is a talented player. He showed flashes of it last season, and if he can get himself in shape and we can't shift him, then has to be a good squad player. A fit Joe Cole under Kenny has to be better than many squad players in the league for other teams, and at least he tries something different. I'd rather bring Cole on knowing he will either back heel a goal or eat the ball than Ngog who will just do the same old things. Aquilani- showed a huge amount of class in the games he did play for us, and had a full season with Juventus last year, many want to see him given a proper crack at it. Unlike most players we have, and a good alternative to Gerrard in the advanced midfield role or as a more attacking option a bit further back. Should thrive playing with Suarez. Would cost us what we paid for him to sign someone of his ability, so why not try and get the best out of what we have rather than write him off. Martin Kelly- missed large amounts of Kenny's season, could be drafted into centreback. Hope to god he can play more games than Agger. Dani Pacheco- actually has some English league experience now, if he doesn't go out on loan has to be as good a prospect as bringing Jovanovic off the bench. Both him and his teeth occupy a homegrown spot. Youngsters- Flanno and Robinson are both now settled, and having had a pre-season knowing they are secure members of the squad will no doubt lead to calm starts to the season. Dalglish can mollycoddle less and develop more. Add the fresh blood of Henderson and whoever we may sign and it's pretty exciting to think we can add some of those things to existing performance levels. Just shows to me we really don't have a 'mid table squad' like some have claimed. Exciting times!
If we can get rid of the dead-wood ie Poulsen,Konchesky,Degen,El Zhar that will free up space for the likes of Ince,Amoo and Eccleston too.
I think yes and no. yes over and above last july we may actually be weirdly better off. no as i think a good proportion of that list have issues to overcome so are not quite like a new signing that you'd expect to "hit the gorund running" overall i'd have to say we won't be any worse that last year under kenny but then that doesn't deal with poor away from does it? lots of options, lots of misfits and still the same issues up top (cover) at the back (lb/cb) I'm hoping for a few more singings anyway.
Yeah but we DID finish higher than the season before, and we effectively replaced Mascherano with Poulsen, Aquilani with Mereiles, Insua with Konchesky, and Hodgson with Benitez, Riera with Jovanovic and threw in Joe Cole. I don't know about you Raaaul but i was never expecting us to do that well last year, and didn't think we were in a better position. I said before the season i'd be happy with doing no worse in the league and new owners, so i'm pretty positive about the way things are. Also this is about Kenny's team having new signings, and surely you have to agree that Kenny has all the above factors at his disposal on top of what he had last season, so i'm not sure where my point falls down?
I reckon Joe Cole could be an ace in the pack this time.I still believe we need a minimum of 3 new players with Poulsen,Jovanovic and Konchesky departing. I would keep Joe Cole,because he's like Maxi,I reckon that Kenny is the sort of manager than can bring the best out of him.I still believe there is more to come from him.Kenny got the Athletico Madrid form out of Maxi,I reckon Kenny can get the Chelsea form out of Joe Cole,when he's on top form,he's basically unstoppable.He's that sort of awkward player that defenders can't play against.We've had trouble with him on a few occasions when he was with Chelsea,as he creeps into the box un-noticed.Again one of those players again like Maxi,that you would rather have in your squad than not in your squad.
Excellent article. I agree with your points. Having these people back will improve the team and the squad but we still need to fill other positions (Left-back, wingers etc.) and if we fill these positions (I believe we will) we'll have a pretty strong squad.
I agree with some of your points above.... Shandy Andy came to us with a large price tag and very little time to impress. The big man is a very talented footballer and although he is extremely tall he does have alot of skill and power especially in his left foot. Apparently he has had an injury which has niggled away at him and is causing constant problems and this is why he never went with the under 21's and neither has he done much during the season ended. King Kenny is aware he needs to come back fitter, stronger and in top form as he will be vital for us this season. Keeping Gerrard and Agger fit is the main target for this season. Everybody knows how good Steven is and he will be even better now that he has had his operation as well as a well deserved rest. The same applies to agger who is a class centre back who defensively is solid & can carry the ball forward when required. I totally agree with Aquilani & Pacheco who have both returned from being on loan. Aquilani has had an amazing season for juventus which I watched frequently and he was throwing himself into every challenge he could & dominating the midfield. Pacheco also shone when he had few appearances for the first team and while on loan at norwich, the fans had nothing but praise for the youngster. Combining this with the exisiting squad will be exciting. Martin Kelly had already established himself as a first team regular and has shown that there are still top quality youngsters coming through the system. Martin will be back to full fitness and eager to continue from where he left off. Add flanno and robinson aswell as sterling & coady into that and the squad is showing youth and deoth aswell. Finally henderson has joined the squad and now is the time for him to gel with his new team-mates and get down to the nitty gritty. I think he will be a great addition and increase then players challenging for their positions where only the players showing top quality get into the starting 11. I am excited for the new season and hope to see liverpool back where we belong!!!!
Your point falls down because we were talking about Gerrard being fit and fully firing at the start of last season, we talk about Agger having a run free of injuries at the start of every season but he gets injured again. Joe Cole has been a poor footballer for over 2 years now, he doesn't have the fitness or footballing brain to have an impact here, he will not do anything next season. Kenny is trying to sign Charlie Adam, which would suggest that Kenny doesn't rate Aquilani that highly and Pacheco will be behind Downing (or another new left wing signing) and Maxi so it's unlikely that he'll get much games while here. I could go on, but that's quite enough.
You still don't seem to understand the fact that I'm talking about the extra options Kenny has. Steven Gerrard started 32 league games year before last so i doubt we were going on about having a newly-fit Gerrard. As for this season, the man himself: "After the operation I feel in the best shape I've been in for two or three years. I'm stronger, I'm lighter and I've got a lot more confidence about my body generally." So clearly there may actually be a difference between Dalglish not having Gerrard at all and having a Gerrard feeling the fittest he's been in years. Is that not effectively like Dalglish having a new signing? Joe Cole you critique as if you can predict the future. I say IF we can get him fit and don't sell him then he would be an option, i'm not sure how that is untrue. My point about Agger was more specifically that ok he may get injured but if he's fit for the first few games it will at least help us get off to a good start which we never seem to do. We always finish the season well but often we're behind before we've gotten going. Adam and Aquilani are different styles of player, there's no reason we couldn't have both, and if indeed Aqulani goes and Adam comes in, then we actually do have a new signing so... still kind of works the same. Have to think following your rage on another thread you're maybe being contrary for the sake of it.
I think signing Andy Carroll in January and not playing him is good because it eases the pressure as many people seem to have forgotten about him as a player, his qualities and what he can offer. I do agree that next season all the players will be looking for a clean slate, and with the likes of King Kenny, Damien Commoli, Steve Clarke and Kevin Keen aswell as John Henry and Tom Werner providing stability to the club, the squad can focus on the pitch and do what they all do best. And Suarez you forgot to mention, although he played games last season I reckon with a full pre-season behind him and some time to gel with the squad, he'll show what he can offer to! Edit - And Jordan Henderson!
That's my thinking. Also with all the changes to the coaching staff we're clearly trying to get the best out fo the ones we already have. Sometimes it's worth trying to get the best out of a player rather than sell them on if the deal is bad. My point was mainly that say we're against Wigan and it's 0-0 with 20 minutes to go. Would you rather bring on someone like Joe Cole who will either be brilliant or rubbish, or someone who just consistenly does their job? He's more likely than someone like Kuyt to come on and just pull something from nowhere to break the deadlock, even though you'd start Dirk every time. Hence a fit Joe Cole would be like you say, an ace in the pack.
