Good Article

http://thekop.liverpoolfc.tv/_Why-this-summer-will-make-Suarez-smile/blog/5086540/173471.html

Uploaded By: KristianWalsh

Why this summer will make Suarez smile

BONG. Boom, snap, whistle, crackle, shut; and with that, the transfer window – with all of Sky’s pomp and circumstance - closed.

The ringmaster Jim White, now somehow the main attraction, proclaimed names as his time drew near. “Wright-Phillips! Arteta! Bellamy!” he croaked akin to a dying swan’s final song before finally, mercifully, ceasing the incessant bellowing.

11 o’clock had passed. The final deals were struck. Charlie Adam had his face superimposed onto fireworks. A job well done by all.

Well, almost.

Five minutes after the superficial countdown clock stopped, ten minutes after Craig Bellamy had sealed a return to his boyhood club, Raul Meireles followed in his fellow Iberian’s footsteps and left for Stamford Bridge.

Meireles was always a player who divided opinion; true to form, his departure did likewise.

Some chose to see Meireles’ move as smart, understandable and best for both player and Liverpool Football Club; others felt it constituted a transfer window spoiled, a player whose economy of possession and long-range shooting would be sorely missed.

Whatever the judgment on Meireles, his last-minute departure should not be dwelt upon. Kenny Dalglish won’t be.

I wrote in February about why Liverpool’s winner at Stamford Bridge was the perfect goal; ironically, it was scored by Raul Merieles. But the sentiment still stands.

Liverpool’s squad has been streamlined. Raul Meireles’ departure became the 18th of 19th since Fenway Sports Group took charge – few of them were involuntary.

In their place, not only players who want to play for Liverpool, but crucially, players who are good enough to play for Liverpool; players good enough to achieve the standards dictated by the club’s history and set by Kenny Dalglish.

With respect to their predecessors, the improvement this summer’s seven signings bring to the squad is immeasurable. Each signing adds something different, something better, to the squad.

It might be hard to quantify, but it’s not hard to notice already with just four competitive fixtures played.

Jose Enrique’s speed, distribution and intelligence have been craved for years. The midfield duo of Adam and Henderson provide passing and movement in abundance, while Downing provided a glimpse of his capabilities with his solo effort against Sunderland. It’s enough to leave supporters salivating for more - especially given Sebastian Coates and Craig Bellamy are yet to feature.

But while the Kop’s knowledge on the 6 foot 6 Uruguayan centre-back is limited to his impressive showings at the Copa America, they know all about Craig Bellamy.

Quick, tenacious and relentless, Bellamy impressed during his first tenure at Anfield cut short by circumstance. Most impressive from Bellamy, however, is his voracious desire to play for Liverpool again – something which can also be said of Coates rejecting Atletico Madrid, or even reserve goalkeeper Doni, willing to become Pepe Reina’s understudy.

On the pitch, Henderson and Adam’s celebrations after their goals against Bolton Wanderers epitomised their dedication to the club.

If the Liverpool hierarchy wanted to bring in players who give everything to the club - both in talent and dedication – then this transfer window can be deemed one of their biggest successes.

The bar has been set high. No player, surely, can exude the arête and ardour of Luis Suarez.

Against Bolton, much like the entirety of his eight-month Liverpool career, Suarez was sensational, spectacular, sparkling, splendid, salient. Superlatives, nor alliteration, do him justice.

I’ve likened his playing style before to watching the Minotaur perform Swan Lake, floating with grace before driving with pugnacity, tenacity, skill and strength; not so. Unlike the Minotaur, Suarez would have weaved through the Labyrinth in his trademark style, slain Theseus and become King of Athens.

Instead, he must make do with being the quintessence of King Kenny’s Liverpool, playing with an amalgamation of delight and disdain upon his face.

The delight came after the majestic ball he played with the outside of his right foot to Stewart Downing. Such are the frivolities of certain statistics, Suarez won’t be accredited with the assist. He should be. The ball may have touched Downing, Jaaskelainen, Kuyt and Henderson before the goal, but it was conjured purely from Luis Suarez’s ingenuity.

The disdain came later; it came on the rare occurrence a shot, pass or piece of skill failed to do as instructed. He left the pitch to a standing ovation, but his smile barely emerged from a cantankerous contortion, entrenched on his face after his failure to score.

But that’s the mentality Suarez possesses, and it’s one that’s precipitating to the rest of the squad.

Even with three goals and three points secured, the team wanted more; the howl of anguish after Ivan Klasnic’s inconsequential consolation told the whole story. This is a squad that will always strive for better. That’s how Kenny Dalglish has built his squad.

It’s not only a squad of good players, but one that’s leaner, meaner and tighter. The players brought in are ones of a similar mentality to players like Suarez, Kuyt, Lucas, Carragher, Gerrard and Reina. Kenny Dalglish, and Fenway, are seeing their plans come to fruition.

Watching the circus of transfer deadline day, there were neither nervous twitches nor strained ears from Liverpool supporters. It’s much more entertaining when you’re not in the lion’s den. Bellamy or not, Liverpool had strengthened sufficiently; the Welshman was merely a wonderful bonus to a splendid summer.

There’s genuine belief that – for the first time in years – those in charge know what they’re doing, and they’re doing so with the best interests of the club at heart.

It’s enough to make Luis Suarez’s infectious smile permanent. Maybe.

 

Thanks, a good read. Perhaps a little 'red tinted', but good all the same. I like the point about mentality. Bellamy in particular will run himself into the ground for the sake of a win, and will demand the same of others. Bring N'Gog off the bench and watch him help us fizzle to a boring draw, or bring Bellamy on and watch him drag a goal out of the lads with sheer determination?

I feel very fortunate to be a Liverpool fan at the moment!

 

Can't and wouldn't want to agrue with anything written above.

 

Good read, even though it is a little biased it is hard to argue with it.

 

Thats a brilliant article.
I said previously that the Liverpool squad has been reduced in numbers, but it has increased in the number of useful players. Liverpools squad contains 22 players.....All of them except Brad Jones are useful. Brad Jones is a 3rd choice keeper, 4th when Peter Gulasci returns. During Rafas tenure he has approximately 33 players, appromimately 16 or 17 were useful.
That means that half the squad were useless, why have them?, why pay them?. It makes more sense this way. The squad can be added to with 4-5 more useful players when we qualify for the champions league, by then we should have moved on the players that are out on loan. I cannot see a turnover of players both in and out, like this for quite a while. There won't be a need for such a turnover.