Liverpool FC Forum

by **The_Rock** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 9:43 am

http://www.walkonlfc.com/news/aug04/david_leoneganado.htm

10 Reasons why this will be a Good Season

The news we've been expecting for a long time (at least I've known it will end up like this for a long time) has now become official. Owen is now gone, and it comes as a shock to many fans. I don't want to get bogged down on this topic because it's not what I wanted to write about today. Rather, I wanted to state why I believe that, despite his departure, this is going to be a good season, and I'm going to list 10 reasons why I believe this to be the case.

In no particular order, these are:

1. Houllier is gone. This has got to be the chief reason why I believe we're going to improve. Houllier had clearly taken us as far as he could, and he lacked ideas on how to improve us further. He tried briefly to change the style of play, but, not having tried it out in pre-season, a few negative results were only natural. Alas, those few negative results were counter-productive because we were out of the championship race before 5 games were up, while he again reverted to the boring style of football.

While I respect the man for what he brought back to Anfield, I also credit the man with ruining a lot of the sterling work he had done. To make matters worse, his comments became increasingly farcical (and humiliating for us fans), and he frustratingly blamed everyone and everything from referees to injuries to fixture congestion to playing surfaces, etc. Except of course, he never blamed himself. He was way too arrogant for that. At the end of the day I'm glad he's no longer our manager, and this has got to be a primary reason why we should improve.

2. A new sense of enthusiasm. This follows on from the fact that Houllier is gone. Since his departure a number of players have spoken out about how stale things had got, how the manager had lost the plot, and how they were planning to leave the club because of this. To name a few, Gerrard, Baros, Murphy and Heskey all said that things were not right.

With a change in manager comes a new sense of enthusiasm, both amongst the players as well as the fans. The effect is that the players know that they start on equal footing, therefore put in more effort, and as a result give the fans more confidence in their play. On the other hand, the fans also become more enthusiastic, and this rubs off onto the players.

3. The new manager is Benitez. Do I need to say anything? He won the toughest league twice in three seasons, not to mention the UEFA Cup. Although he inherited a team which had just reached two consecutive Champions League finals, he joined them when they sold two of their most important players, i.e. Gaizka Mendieta and Claudio Lopez, a fact which seems to echo Owen's sale. He nevertheless won the La Liga in his first season in charge.

As Liverpool fans we've seen how effective and well organised his Valencia team was... on more than one occasion. A manager who took time out to study the game in England and Italy, it's no wonder he's one of the most highly-rated breed of new managers. His teams are very efficient, and the early signs are that he plays players in their favoured position. Adding it all together leads me to conclude that he is the ideal candidate to take us up the next step.

4. The failings from Houllier's era are gone. Benitez seems to have understood very quickly what we knew to be the weaknesses of Houllier's teams. I think most of us would agree that amongst the failings of Houllier were the continued (and unjustified) faith in Heskey, the one-dimensional play with regards to having built a team around only one man (Owen), the lack of punch down the flanks (when Carragher played as full back), the other expensive flop (that was Diouf), the lack of pace at the back and the continued misuse of players.

While it is true Houllier finally decided that Heskey was not good enough for Liverpool, and even sold the player, I'm sure Rafa would have done the same. Owen is now gone, which guarantees that the mentality of hitting the ball up in hope of Owen running onto it are gone. Regarding the lack of punch down the flanks and the lack of pace at the back, Josemi has been brought in, while Carragher is being played in his best position of central defender. Diouf, as we all know, was clearly told that he has no future at the club, while we've already seen Biscan moved back into central midfield, Kewell wide on the left, and Carragher in central defence. To me it looks like most of Houllier's major failings have already been consigned to history! Furthermore, so do the silly comments seem like the distant past... for a nice change, Benitez talks sense, is a down-to-earth chap, and I think a man who will be liked by the media as well.

5. Cissé is finally our player. The Frenchman, who has just turned 23, has already top-scored Ligue 1 twice. Pace, strength, a tremendous shot and a willingness to try acrobatic moves (rather than just look as the ball flies past, as Heskey had a tendency to do) are all part of his repertoire. Of course, goals also feature in his repertoire, and I'm sure he'll be scoring quite a handful for us, even though it is his first season in a new league.

An added bonus is that he's not as well known as Henry and van Nistelroijj. That will probably work to our advantage, as opposing defenders might be taken by surprise. A quote I will not forget easily is one made by his former manager at Auxerre, Guy Roux. The longest-serving manager in the French league (and possibly in world football) had this to say about Cissé and the Premiership, "He'll cause carnage." I believe, and sure hope, he's right!

6. Gerrard decided to stay. Another very meaningful occurrence this transfer season was the rumours about Gerrard being off to Chelsea. They offered him ridiculous wages to leave Anfield, but the Liverpool lad stood by his club. That was a decision which, as fans, we should be really pleased about. In a way it's perhaps a blessing that Owen decided to leave for Real after Gerrard committed himself, because it might otherwise have convinced Stevie G to also leave.

That he has decided to stay, although it means we've much less money to spend on other players, is a massive boost for the club. He single-handedly grabbed the team by the scruff of the neck and carried us through last season. This season he seems to be up to it again, scoring 3 valid goals (even though one was ruled out) in our first competitive game of the season. If he's as good this season as, or better than, last season, then this will be one other factor why we're going to have a good season, perhaps a factor why, together with the other factors I'm mentioning, we'll have a brilliant season.

7. Arsenal. While I'm tipping them to win the Premiership again, the proposed deal to sell Vieira should not be taken too lightly. It will have unsettled their preparations, together with, perhaps, the morale of the players. Vieira himself knows that a price tag was assigned to him, and he knows that he's still at Arsenal because Real did not want to pay so much money.

In addition to the Vieira saga, one also has to monitor their attitude. If they become complacent from last year's incredible record, then that might give them a massive headache. And if they lose the groove, then it's difficult to get back into it. They should still win the league again, but we should be there just in case they slip up.

8. Chelsea. Many are tipping Chelsea to be major challengers again. While I think they will have another good season, one has to keep in mind that they again had a Summer of turmoil. More players have come in, while players who arrived only a year ago are already being shipped out. This will very possibly have a very negative impact on player morale. Take Duff and Johnson, purchased last year. Their situation is that Robben and Ferreira, who play the same positions, have been brought in.

Added to that, they must have the most arrogant manager in the Premiership. Anyone who saw his press conferences will know that, and I doubt many have taken a liking to him. Arrogance, as we have seen in the past, is the best way to ensure that you have a big fall. You can ask Houllier ("10 games from greatness") or Ferguson ("We'll go through the season without defeat") about it. Houllier's Liverpool went through a further 100+ games and we're as far away from greatness as we've been for the past decade, while Ferguson's Man Utd lost their highest number of seasonal games after boasting their intentions of going through the season without defeat. Finally, I would add to Mourinho that he may have had a stroll in the Portuguese league, but with all due respects, he's now in the Premiership.

9. Man Utd. Do I need to say anything about them? After the glory days, the early 90's were the dawn of a new (and tough) beginning for us. That is where I see Man Utd today. Their manager is beyond his "use by" date, and the replacements they brought in for their departing players are quite frankly not of the same class.

Added to that, the players that remain from their best period are Keane, Giggs, Scholes and Neville. Only a fool would argue that they still have the legs and the will to keep on going strong. Scholes' retirement from international football at the age of 29, to me, is an indication that he's either not capable of keeping up the tempo any more, or else he knows that Gerrard and Lampard are the best English midfielders. Either way it means the Utd man is not as good as our man.

10. Newcastle. This is the last reason I'm writing about. I need not mention other teams, as few would expect M'Boro, Charlton or anyone else to break into the top four. While it's true that Newcastle have strengthened quite a bit, with the acquisitions of Kluivert, Butt and Milner, I am adamant that Kluivert is not as good as people make him to be. In fact, I think he drifts out of games ever so often, and do not see him as an added threat.

More significantly, however, Robson is in the final year of his contract, and he's already been informed that he won't be offered an extension. I interpret that as being a factor which will cause tension in their camp, and it has already been reported that there has been turmoil in the Geordies' changing room. Furthermore, I really don't think they have the strength to challenge the very top. Qualification for the Champions League qualifiers should be the most they can achieve.

So there you have it... 10 reasons why this will be a good season. There are of course other reasons. For example, I didn't mention the fact that Baros will now be played more often. However, were I to keep on writing it would be way too long! My predictions are that we'll end up as runners-up to Arsenal, with Chelsea third, Man Utd fourth and Newcastle and Middlesborough a close fifth and sixth.

Roll on the new season!

by **laza** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 10:35 am

Great post, while i believe we may have to go backwards before we start forwards again in terms of results.
Im certainly pleased a new era has started at the Pool, GH had lost his way and we werent going anywhere
Viva la Rafvolution

by **lakes10** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 10:54 am

"The failings from Houllier's era are gone."
"Cissé is finally our player."
Cissé is a Houllier' player anything Cissé does this year for us we must thank Houllier for it.

but great post hope you are right

by **72-1090627431** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 1:51 pm

10 reasons why it wont.

1. Owen is gone, the traitor taking his 25+ goals with him.

2. the team will take ages to gel with new players.

3. the team will be mostly reliant on Stevie G

4. Intense Competition from Rivals

5. Rafa may not sign the 'right' players

6. A lot of dead wood still in squad

7. Too much expectation on Rafa to repeat the Valencia feat.

8. Consistency may be a problem

9. Biscan

10. Hamann

chuckle

by **jim_morrison_supported_liverpool** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 2:00 pm

zzzzzzzzzzz

by **Quimby** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 2:02 pm

Yeah, the rivals will be much tougher this year, but I'm very confident that Rafa will get the best out of us. Even without the players he'll definitely sign, I'm sure he'll give us lots of confidence.

by **115-1073096938** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 3:04 pm

Did someone say something?

by **Gareth G** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 3:27 pm

You have got to be the most doubtful Liverpool supporter of all time Hustler!

When are you going to quit making enemies?

by **the great one** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 5:55 pm

LIVERPOOL WORTHY OF SHOT AT TITLE

by **A.B.** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 6:15 pm

I don't care what the papers say, LFC will win the title.

by **72-1090627431** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 9:46 pm

Im just trying to keep it real, and i was bored reading the Novel ,which was the original post!

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