Liverpool FC Forum

by **stmichael** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 3:04 pm

If there's one thing Liverpool Football Club needs right now, after a period of great flux, it is a period of stability. In all areas: and that includes the fans. Unstable fans: cut back on your caffeine intake, find a dark room, and attempt some deep-breathing exercises. Stable fans: keep the faith, and have patience; hell, you're probably doing that already.

Since May, we've lost a good (but ultimately flawed) manager and gained who I believe to be the right man to lead us forward. Not only that, but the entire coaching staff was overhauled, including the unavoidable loss, to the English national set-up, of Sammy Lee, who many reckoned would get a key role under Rafa. We've lost the man who was our top-scorer for every season since 1997/98 - a former European Footballer of the Year, no less - and came perilously close to losing our best player to southern rivals. The club was centre of a financial battle which generated a lot of column inches in the papers, but no money for the club. Players left, new ones arrived from France and Spain, but none with prior Premiership experience.

A thoroughly indifferent start to the season has ensued: won two, drawn one, lost one, and clumsy passage into the Champions League proper. In league terms, Man United have actually made a worse start than Liverpool, with a lower points average over five games than we have over four.

Rafa faced some stark choices, and thankfully he has chosen to be bold. He could have bought (with our limited budget) average English/British Premiership players this summer (even yard-dogs like Robbie Savage, with their guaranteed effectiveness), or kept the slightly above-average Premiership players, and almost certainly overseen a better start to the season. Gerard Houllier, remaining in charge (in a parallel universe), could no doubt have done the same (although his ability to motivate had waned to dangerous levels). A little cosmetic surgery, and the side would have done okay. But who would have wanted that? - because the ability to do better than okay would have been severely hampered.

Robbie Savage, as a valid example of the Bulldog Spirit some prefer, may look a more effective player than Xabi Alonso for a few weeks, while the latter adjusts to the game here. Savage does a job, much as he is mocked. But within a month or two, you will be comparing an over-revving Mini with a top of the range Ferrari. Isn't it better to go with long term quality ahead of short-term effectiveness? Players like Alonso and Cisse, both just 22, are seen as key to the future of national teams as talented as France and Spain. Whoever else Rafa might have signed, from England or the continent, it's hard to think they'd have more potential than Alonso or Cisse. It might just take time for that potential to come to fruition; and we need to give it time. We can't wait years, but we can surely wait months?

Rafa is rebuilding the side, not tweaking it. This is major work, despite some very special components inherited from the previous regime. Already, in a matter of two months, he has promoted Academy graduates, and signed four new Spaniards and (inherited) a new Frenchman, who have to get to know the way teammates play, while simultaneously adjusting to the Premiership (which takes more getting used to than any other league). Given the fact that he wisely chose, in pre-season, to assess his team first (to make sure he wasn't off-loading players with hidden potential) before acting in the transfer market, it meant that three signings arrived only after our season had started, and arrived from Spain, where the season had yet to start, and therefore physical conditioning levels at the time of their arrival were inevitably lower. They also didn't have those pre-season games to bed in away from the spotlight, and start the gelling process before things got serious.

It is no secret that the Arsenal trio of Bergkamp, Henry and Pires took several months to adjust to the game over here, with each being written off as a waste of money; and yet I'm sure each, for all the team trophies, has won the Player of the Year award. Look at Reyes this season, after nine months bedding in. He looks a different player, and has scored in every game (all but one in midfield). However, Arsenal have the luxury of not having to rely on Reyes (with Pires, Ljungberg and Pennant all capable of filling a wide role, and Bergkamp enjoying an Indian summer), as their Spaniard beds gently into a successful side. We have to rely on our new signings, as Benitez had to replace players who had proven to be not good enough, and one who chose a new challenge at Real Madrid.

We are fools if we do not give them time. Look at another late developer - a player with similar attributes to Djibril Cisse: Pompey's Yakubu. The Nigerian was seen as a bit of a joke figure for many months, and now - with four goals in one game at the end of last season to go with several other strikes after Christmas, and a hat-trick already this season - looks as good as anyone in the top division. If we go down the route of impatience (and I've seen many Liverpool fans suggesting Cisse was a waste of money, Garcia a lightweight luxury, and Alonso an unknown quantity), we could do what Juventus did to Thierry Henry - offloading a player after just 16 games, before he'd had time to settle. Had Arsenal done the same as he initially floundered, where would they be now? Cisse is a little raw, but he has the ability in front of goal to at least equal Owen's yearly totals; it might just take a while to get into his stride.

One problem facing our new players is that they are trying too hard. That might sound illogical to those who think football is 100% effort. But confidence as a sportsman is all about being relaxed. If you are too eager, or anxious, you cannot perform to your best levels. You cannot get into "the zone". All three are quality additions to the side. Cisse's pace and finishing ability - seen in recent seasons in France (where he would have felt comfortable and relaxed in the side, and able to play his natural game) - will be a huge asset once he settles. Alonso's clever positioning and excellent use of the ball - long and short - will be a massive benefit to the way we play, as he can defend and attack. And Garcia's ability to make clever runs and ghost into goalscoring positions, coupled with his ability to create something with his skill, will help make our cutting edge all the sharper - unfortunately against Bolton, Baros failed to play Garcia in for what would have been two more goalscoring opportunites. Josemi is more of a 'steady' player rather than someone capable of the spectacular, but we've already seen glimpses of how good he can be. Nunez remains an unknown quantity, but he will give us options - if only in reserve - once fit.

But they are under a lot of pressure at a time when they are going through personal upheaval, learning a new language, and trying to fit into a new style of football, whilst gelling with teammates. You can understand these players being too anxious to impress. Anyone who's started a new job - even if in the same line of work as a previous one - knows how difficult it can be to find your feet. Imagine the pressure multiplied by the fact that several million people watching your every move. Yes, these are professionals. But they are also human. Judge these players, and the team, at the turn of the year.

by **simic_ie** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 3:31 pm

Once again St. Mike..... not a whole lot left to say after that.... excellent post mate

by **JBG** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 3:49 pm

I agree with all of that, but tell me Mike, what the hell do you do to allow you to post such essays every day!

The point about Yakubu is very good. He initially looked like yet another "novelty" signing by dodgy Harry 2 seasons ago (although he did get a hat trick earlier that year in the Champions League so he had some pedigree) but he really went from force to force last year.

The same goes for Henri Camarra. After Christmas he did he level best to keep Wolves up almost singlehandedly.

New signings need time to bed in, and we should reserve judgement until the spring at least.

Both Henry and Pires at Arsenal needed 4 or 5 months to settle, as did Reyes, who is now on fire.

by **A.B.** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 9:39 pm

Top notch post, I feel the same way.

by **72-1090627431** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 10:03 pm

St Michael, It will be the New Year before I have finished reading your post! keep it short eh.

Well if we give them until the new year, then the 4th/ 3rd place race may be over. Basically, as far as the new players are concerned, you can either play the game or you cant!

Garcia showed on saturday, that he is a class act and hes already scored 2 goals (one disallowed), alonso ok, Cisse , hasnt impressed me at all.
they will get better obviously over the next few months, but if we dont go a long way in the champions league this time around, we need to be getting that 4th spot. and all this 'gelling' and chopping and changing may cost us points.

by **Paul C** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 10:28 pm

Great post St Mike, I agree whole heartidly

I'm looking forward to New Year when we will see the real Liverpool :cool:

by **A.B.** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 10:41 pm

Honestly I think we can get third place this year, fourth place wouldn't be good in my opinion even if we're not behind Arsenal as much as we were last year. There's something about fourt place that I just don't like.

by **supersub** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 10:46 pm

great post st, mike......hustler zzzzzzzz same old blah blah

by **banana** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 10:57 pm

Pure quality.

by **115-1073096938** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 2:02 am

St Michael, It will be the New Year before I have finished reading your post! keep it short eh.

Well if we give them until the new year, then the 4th/ 3rd place race may be over. Basically, as far as the new players are concerned, you can either play the game or you cant!

Garcia showed on saturday, that he is a class act and hes already scored 2 goals (one disallowed), alonso ok, Cisse , hasnt impressed me at all.
they will get better obviously over the next few months, but if we dont go a long way in the champions league this time around, we need to be getting that 4th spot. and all this 'gelling' and chopping and changing may cost us points.

I can't believe i'm going to take this seriously....

But whats the alternative?

by **ToTinho** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 3:41 am

Perfect topic St Mike ..Cant say more ..
And i agree that Cisse will settle in the very near future and will be a hit in the EPL ..

by **laza** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 5:42 am

Another excellent post St M

Always a pleasure to read

by **LFC #1** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 6:43 am

We do need time, this season I would be happy to see the new players find their feet in the premiership and come in the top 4 (preferably ahead of manU). We should make the knockout stages of the CL, and who knows what can happen from there.

This should give us solid base to work from, and hopefully with Alonso, Garcia, Cisse etc peaking and Gerrard staying on and leading us, with Rafa at the helm we will begin to make our way back to the top of English football again.

by **Starbridge42** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 10:50 am

Great post StMike,

Stu, the alternative would've been, as stmike said, to buy someone like Robbie Savage for short term success. Not exactly an attractive alternative is it?

by **taff** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 10:55 am

Robbie Savage is ok I like him although not for Liverpool

Rubbish post St Mike too short players should be briliiant immediately especially as some of us travel to watch them they should be great and score loads of goals

C'mon St Mike talk some sense :oh:

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