Post-Suarez - What's to come?

The end of era can come in various forms, for Liverpool this past week the exit of Luis Suarez to Barcelona signalled an end to probably the most controversial(in the clubs history) and complete footballer that my generation of Liverpool fans have seen play for the club. Yours truly was in denial like some would not like to admit that he would stay having signed a new contract last December. The only thing from a fans point of view we got a clause in there that matched,I would have loved a little more but £75 million for a striker who turns 28 next January is something the club couldn’t turn down. We lose one of the 3 or 4 best players in the world at the moment which is a sobering moment but in reality this day was going to come.

Personally, I thought another year and next summer would have been appropriate but the acceleration of the deal shows all three parties were happy to get the deal done. Whether Liverpool will be better off from a footballing perspective at this moment it’s hard to say but from an image/PR point of view the club will be happy that his off the pitch and inherent act of madness is gone. At the same time all geniuses are flawed and born of genuine madness, as a banner unfurled among Kopites bore out.

The question is where to now for Liverpool people will ask. Opposition fans point to the amount of goals and assists contributed last season, not a mull point but using those statistics does a disservice to a Liverpool side which on a whole is greater than some of its parts. For Rodgers and the transfer committee they don’t need to find a Suarez, as honestly there isn’t player like him in European or World football to replace like for like. The objective now having built the side around Suarez in his first two seasons in charge, the dynamic of this Liverpool side will shift a little.

Arguably the debate surrounding the current links to Wilfried Bony, Dejan Lovren and just this morning I seen Jay Rodriguez will rumble on and on. Are they Liverpool quality, define quality? Is it a big name or one the manager wants. Like any manager Rodgers will know more than most what players he wants, for Liverpool managers at times when they need to push on and in certain cases sign the wrong players.

We seen how Spurs got it badly wrong, the similarities with Liverpool and Spurs end with Franco Baldini. Liverpool experienced it with Damien Comolli as he did at his time at Spurs, the opinion of the collective rather one person has shown to bear fruit. The inherent risks of any transfer case study, Spurs would have been it last season of what a Director of Football enforcing players down a managers throat can do but there of examples of when it works well. Abroad, clubs like Ath. Bilbao, At. Madrid, Benfica, B. Dortmund, Porto and Sevilla have it down to an art and moving forward from doing so.

What is to come can only be quantified come May 2015 to see the greater impact, this will be a test for Rodgers and his tricky reds. Just like last season when they were written off even when top at Christmas, they only got better and better. Derision is a great source of antipathy towards someone else’s ability, the longer that continues that will mean Liverpool been successful which regardless of Luis Suarez that is what matters most.

All I will say signing off is adeu Luis, thanks for the unforgettable moments that will live forever in Kopites minds.

Another Game...Another Win

Since the last post, Brendan Rodgers's tricky reds just keep marching up the proverbial Premier League title winners mountain. The calendar year 2013 was a brilliant year for Rodgers's men but 2014 so far has been nothing but magical. What more can you say about this amazing side constructed from a base of mediocrity in the League terms just under 20 months ago.

The graphic below as it suggests shows how special this side is, the last few weeks even more so. Nine wins in a row....NINE WINS IN A ROW!!!!!

Even the most ardent people who despise Liverpool on grounds of tribalism surely would give the side some credit. In a league that is so competitive it is no coincidence that both Merseyside clubs - Everton and Liverpool combined are on a run of 15 wins a row. The brilliance of both boards to appoint coaches who are brave, pragmatists and play football in such a way that you are tuning in every week to see what both sides can muster. It is definitely no coincidence that both managers are in the running for MOTY award as been honest with Chelsea and City cheque-books only Pochettino comes close to either managers on Merseyside in the praise stakes.

For Liverpool Football Club, today at West Ham was as tough as it gets. The anti-Liverpool so to speak, but at times West Ham got it down and played football. Although with Sam Allardyce in charge that was never going to the order of the day. Specifically Skrtel and Sakho need mentioning, Andy Carroll was always going to be a handful. Up for it against his former club who he felt didn't get a fair chance. Rodgers's has been vindicated for getting rid despite Carroll's words. Both dealt with his presence very well, Sakho only returning from injury put in a performance that could possibly dislodge Agger for next week's crunch clash against City at Anfield.

Like the previous nine games, it's just another game will be the mantra for Rodgers's but the one thing today showed and against Sunderland this side has big bollocks when it matters, hungry and wanting it. Manchester City will turn up next week their is no question they have the quality but do they have the hunger as much as this current Liverpool side....that remains to be seen. In the cauldron atmosphere of what is to be a rocking Anfield next Sunday will test even the most special players like Yaya Toure who is a monster. The spine of City like at the Ethiad earlier this season will be tested. Whoever dares wins....for one sure thing Liverpool will be there chomping at the bit.

For us Liverpool fans...the rollercoaster of this amazing season keeps rumbling on towards what we hope will go down as one of this great football club's greatest triumphs both domestically and Europe which is saying something special about Brendan Rodgers's tricky reds.

Old Trafford Awaits

This coming Sunday is arguably(depending on you're viewpoint) the biggest game in English football. The English games most decorated sides battle again, always eagerly anticipated and nerve racking in equal measure. Why is that?  If I was born a Scouser the Merseyside Derby would be the biggest game much like for a Mancunian would be against City. If you're reading this most likely just as myself, you are regarded as a OTT, Woolyback(WOOL) etc...to many outside the two cities that is what we are actually are. Why is then a lad from Ireland would find these games described above?

Like me, when you were in Primary and Secondary school the rivalry between two set of fans was one which grew due to the success of Manchester United and coinciding of Liverpool's drop from grace. Apart from a few false dawns we were on a whole not on their radar in title challenges. "Come back to me when you win 18 league titles" was the cry and I would admit it myself I said it along with the now comical "Next year is our year". 

When you are 10,11,12 years of age, the optimism you had clouded judgement somewhat and in my view the comment above stemmed from 2 generations of Liverpool supporters never seeing them win a League title. The fact that Liverpool were not winning these games against United on a whole was harder to bare. Just like it was for United supporters back in the 70's-80's, where they actually had the one off wins in Cup Finals, league games to treasure despite never on Liverpool's radar throughout that period. Which brings us to Sunday, a lot of useless information above but you get the point we are coming on too. 

This weekend both set of fans find themselves in opposite world, even noted by Wayne Rooney in which he summed a lot of what it means supporting either club: "To see Manchester City doing well, and particularly Liverpool, is really difficult."  case in point, "particularly Liverpool, is really difficult". Both clubs need each other as much as the other in my honest opinion. Yes, we like to see United the position they are in at the moment but these games whether it be League or Cup(unfortunately not in the Champions League, although a Semi-Final in 2002 was within reach until we balls it up away in Leverkusen), they what make football, football. 

Old Trafford, a bogey ground recently for Liverpool especially since we last won there 5 years ago this week. The magical day which wobbled United for a couple of games until Federico Macheda popped up and ruined our chances in a few games in the run-in that season. The defeats since have been heartbreaking like any other, 2-1, 3-2, 2-1,2-1 scorelines in the League aligned with the two 1-0 defeats in the FA & League Cups at the home of the current champions makes dull reading for Red-men everywhere. In a season of breaking "hoodoo's" can another be annexed, in a season where just about anything has happened??

Liverpool travel to Old Trafford as favourites for the first time in 20+ years, an unusual position we as a supporters have seen. On form yes, but our record at Old Trafford should be taken into context despite Moyes's struggles in a one off game United like they have done at home to Arsenal earlier this season produced a performance in a one off game and come out the other side as the victors. As one United supporter said to me, "as long as we beat you at Old Trafford" a role reversal as it was usually myself saying it to them. A unique position that Rodgers men find themselves in, Sunday could be special or one of those days at Old Trafford. We know the key areas where each side could exploit each other's weaknesses, 73 goals this season from a Liverpool point of view gives us confidence that we can do the business, press United's midfield will be key as we seen recently in their defeat to Olympiakos albeit away from home United could not cope. 

It's not if but when Liverpool do that will United be able to cope with that and the tempo of our attack who knows. What I am sure of its going to nerve racking and eagerly anticipating like every other game against them, ask to me make a prediction. A clean sheet and a 1-0 would do fine for the tricky Reds. 

It's On Like Donkey Kong

As the dying embers of the game petered out at St. Mary's, Steven Gerrard converted the penalty which capped off a 3-0 away to Southampton for the tricky reds. The travelling support bellowed out songs like it was 1980's again, the Redmen are coming down the road and they believe it. Not in five long years has there been this type of moment in a season for Liverpool Football Club. Unlike at Fulham on that late Saturday evening when Yossi Benayoun scored the late winner, this time there is enough games to make up a 4 point gap, "Now your going to believe us, we're gonna win the league" was sung with gusto amongst the red masses behind the goal.

Fast track back to two weeks ago again at Craven Cottage, the supporters for the first time seen the players believed we could do it with the late penalty. Why not believe? Since the turn of the year and the back to back defeats at Chelsea and City, the form guide speaks for itself. Undefeated, 8 wins in the preceding 10 games. As each game goes by we're been told, they will fall away eventually. Well in the first week of March Liverpool sit hot on the heels of the leaders, bang in form and have a front 3/4 that are obliterating defences and a manager who some are afraid to admit could be the real deal.

Enough has been said but Gerrard's post match interview at the end gave credence to a set of players, management and more importantly supporters that this is truly possible. The impossible dream back in August 2012 when the Northern Irishman took the reigns that he could end the 24 year-long wait for what is become an obsession for Liverpool.

On the back of what I would regard probably Liverpool's most professional and important win of the season yesterday, the two week gap to United away wets at the hunger for what is too come. The ride continues for Liverpool supporters, where it ends who knows but this season will go down in the annals as one to live in the memory. Whether that it is a memory when Liverpool get number 19 or not is remained to be seen, primary target of top four is well and truly in our own hands.

Roll on Sunday 16th March, when we enter a football ground where our record is not great but on the back of the uneasiness of their season this could be one of those days we look back on with absolute joy or regret. One thing that unlike most(bar a couple of) Liverpool sides in the Premier League era, Brendan Rodgers red-men travel to Old Trafford not in trepidation but brimming with confidence with the belief in any game against any side we can score goals. This will be the same.

Which United side turns up doesn't matter who knows,  they have a lot too worry about in terms of our two strikers who have 1 goal less than what the whole United side have managed in the league this season. Key for Liverpool like at Southampton is keep the individual mistakes to a minimum and keep Joe Allen in the side in that midfield alongside Stevie & Hendo this could be special. Sing it again "Now your gonna believe us...." because it is on like donkey kong!!!!

Is Arsene Wenger a failure? Fuck No

It didn't take long for the "Happy One" to show his true colours. What is it with Jose Mourinho towards Arsene Wenger? or for that matter bar Alex Ferguson, Mourinho always had a disregard for managers who didn't fall for his charade. For Arsene Wenger read Rafael Benitez, Pep Guardiola, Roberto Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini and Titi Vilanova. 

Never ceases to amaze me how the British fall for the bullshit, "the little horse" that is Chelsea Football Club who have a side assembled for more than 250 million are far from a little horse. Which brings me to his comments on Wenger yesterday, just like the Voyeur comments all those years ago to describe Arsene Wenger -- "He is a specialist in failure," - 

Sorry I am not an Arsenal fan but what the biggest load of bollocks that has ever been said about a manager who changed the ethos and thinking of how football is coached in England. Arsene Wenger changed Arsenal Football Club completely, extended careers, produced many and shined a few diamonds throughout his time at the Gunners. Yes, Arsenal haven't won a trophy in coming on 8 years, imagine if Bill Shankly was around today. Liverpool didn't win a trophy for 7 year after the FA Cup win in 1965 does that impede the great man to be a failure fuck no. Which is why the likes of Mourinho needs to look at himself, not since his Porto side of 10 years ago has Mourinho built any sort of legacy even at Porto there was none.

Look at the bare facts, Inter Milan suffered drastically after his spending at that club so much so Inter are a shadow of a club these days not even relevant in Serie A terms they are so far behind. Real Madrid, the biggest club in world football, lost the dressing room, marginalised players, not too mention the eye gouging incident. He was run out of Spain by the media who didn't fall for the bullshit. 

Easy to be a cheque-book manager which until Mourinho builds a legacy like Wenger that is how many will judge him who see beyond the "Special One" crap, while there is no denying Mourinho is one of the best managers of his generation they way gets every inch out of his players. The crass way of describing one of the best managers to ever grace the English game in my opinion fly's in the face of managers like Ferguson, Busby, Clough, Shankly, Paisley, Chapman, Mee, Stein, Struth managers who built legacies despite lean periods but that's what makes them greats. Until then Mourinho is not on the same level of Arsene Wenger or any of those managers. 

Rodgers "Buck-ing" The Trend

He wouldn't last six months some said when appointed Liverpool manager in May 2012. That summer's tour in the USA coincided with the Being:Liverpool documentary which was commissioned to be done before his appointment brought the David Brent comparison's with Rodgers one liner's and some would say cliche quips when been interviewed or when talking to players.

Hindsight is a great thing in football, at the time you think differently. Gerard Houllier, Rafa Benitez and Kenny Dalglish's reign's in the last decade for example; more so the latter, where Kenny performed a key role to where we are now in transitioning from Roy Hodgson's disastrous reign to Rodgers's reign. A lot of fans felt despite(including myself at the time) Kenny got a raw deal. Yes the league form was bad but he ended up getting Liverpool to two cup finals and almost easily could have come away with a domestic double had it not been for the disallowed Andy Carroll goal against Chelsea. That is for another day, but the impact that his 18 months in charge had setup Rodgers with the foundation to build from something.

Not only have Liverpool clearly improved under him but the one thing which is finally getting recognised is his man-management of players, specifically 3 players which I think throughout his reign have improved immeasurably as footballers. As much as the young players like Sterling, Flanagan, Suso, Wisdom to name a few, the players I am referring to are Jordan Henderson, Daniel Sturridge and the mercurial, controversial but unbelievably talented footballer Luis Suarez.

The latter if he stays at the club, could undoubtedly be the greatest player to ever grace the Red shirt of Liverpool, you think who are regarded as the greatest; Dalglish, Gerrard, Barnes, Rush et al...Taking into account Suarez's two almost full seasons under Rodgers his goal return conversion rate has gone beyond what even I imagined. Like Cristiano Ronaldo, Suarez just obliterates the opposition to such an extent its frightening. The man is a genius.

The other two players mentioned, Suarez's strike partner Daniel Sturridge what can you say about him: lethal finisher. His goal return and assist making aligned with Suarez is probably the most feared strike partnership around at the moment. One thing defenders hate is players running at them with pace and also movement, as we seen yesterday in the 5-1 defeat of Arsenal, the League leaders defence were taking apart piece by piece by the aforementioned key attributes. Sterling was involved in a lot of the damage but Suarez and Sturridge strike fear into each side the come up against. Arsenal won't be the last side to come away from Anfield with a beating like that, if Liverpool could transfer 50% of that performance into their away games its fair to say to dream the impossible dream could be mentioned among Kopites in the coming weeks who knows.

 That brings us to possibly one of my favourite players at the club, not Lucas who I admire a lot but the similarities between him and Jordan Henderson could not be more striking. One thing I have learned, never write players off too young, Henderson is one of those and his performances this season have put him in the frame to be on the plane to Brazil with the England squad come the summer. I would go on to say he should be a starter for them, everyone knows he has the energy and stamina to run all day but his in game intelligence is improving all the time.

The runs he makes, the passes in key areas, his defence side of the game all of it. The lad has it all, in years to come when he hits his prime we could look back at what a piece of business it was that we signed him. He has taken time to settle, flourished under Rodgers despite Liverpool trying to get rid of him in the deal to sign Clint Dempsey, again hindsight looking back missing out on Dempsey was a god-send.

Things happen for a reason in every day life, in the football world Liverpool massively dodged a bullet on that one. The attitude and work ethic of Hendo doesn't go unnoticed among many Reds, six assists this season tells its own story from midfield that is a cracking return. We can only remember he is only 23 years of age already has over 160 Premier League appearances under his belt, playing at a massive club and under a manager who rates him highly, he can only get better and will.

All of the above is down to the man-management of Rodgers, long may it continue. Rodgers is been smart in playing things down, keep the feet on the ground but this coming week against Fulham is a massive game for everyone involved.