by stmichael » Thu Jun 14, 2007 1:13 pm
The last two months have been the most uninspiring and negative months we've had in a while. The only positives are:
1. Benitez staying at the club
2. Reina,Alonso,Gerrard and Carragher signing new deals
For us to win the league this upcoming season or any season in the near future, a lot of things have to change. Not just personal alone but the mindset of the players, mostly away from home.
The first three games of the last season told me everything I needed to know. We're average at best away from home and we're good at Anfield. It's not like Anfield is buzzing every single Premiership game, our players feel more comfortable when playing at home then away. Our mindset changes as soon as we're on the road.
For one, we're predictable and limited on the road. We're negative in our approach for the most part. If we go behind, we don't win games. It's a simple fact. Whether it be a goal or two, we can not come back from behind and win a game consistently in the league. I think we've done that maybe three or four times in the last four years which is quite pathetic.
If we don't score first, we don't win a game. That has to change.
Our players, whether they be back up or starters, have to be on the top of their game for the entire season. Steven Gerrard was absolutely dreadful this past year considering that he's a world class player and a Liverpool captain. I'm not asking for 30 yard screamers every game, but he needs to get into the form he was in 05/06. He scored in only five or six games in the league this year. He was practically invisible for much of the season in the league.
Off the pitch, our negotiations and approach with money and transfers isn't any better. We drag on too long to sign players. Everything is difficult for us.
I also think that people jumped to the conclusion that we would spend money ala Roman Abramovich. I didn't, because G/H made that clear when they took over. What we can do that we haven't done in the past, is spend money without having to sell five or six players to have the funds to buy that player.
With that being said, it's still not enough to draw someone like Eto'o to the club. I said from day one that we wouldn't sign players of such caliber. Not just because we don't have the money like Chelsea but because Rick Parry is still at the club.