Liverpool FC: A one-man team?

The family...

Our dearest Liverpool FC is not just a club. It is a religion, a tradition, a family, and a paradigm of loyalty. For years, we have parted company with silverware. Yet, we never lost faith in the majestic aura of the club and stood by it in the toughest times. We are proud to be such fans, such true fans amid a whole race of plastic and glory propagating fans. But, a family is run by a heir achy. For years we are taught that in a family there is no room for selfishness, there is no individualism, there is nothing but a mutual co-existence. We rely on each other, on every family member. There is inter-dependence. There is no aristocracy or dictatorship.

Since we exemplify Liverpool FC to a family, all of what I just mentioned should be implied by our club. However, in recent times, what has transpired doesn't even come near the mere definition of a family. Liverpool for so many years, noticed or unnoticed, have evolved as a one-man team. The biggest example in my eyes is Xabi Alonso in this respect. 2008-2009 season was our strongest finish in the PL era. Alonso was the linchpin in that. 3 years since his transfer, Liverpool's foundations have been shattered. The next example has to be Steven Gerrard. Captain Marvel is an invincible, isn't he? He is arguably the best midfielder in the England today. The way he has led the team since 2004 is commendable. He is inspired leadership in some of the history-making games is well versed and discussed across the world. But, he is another player whose absence rattles the club. We know it is near impossible to find someone as good as him. However, that doesn't rule out moving on and seeing a different mould, which the team is in. You take Stevie G out of a starting XI and the nerves of our players are wrecked. We understand how youngster look up to him, but he is not bigger or better than the club. Nobody is indispensable, he would be sorely missed though.

Our two indispensables.

Finally, I would talk about a person who has always been my personal favourite, the reason I started supporting LFC and following football. That man is Fernando Torres. When he scored his first against Chelsea at Anfield in August 2007, I was awestruck! From that day on, I saw a person worth all the money. He is a player who was worshiped by the Kop and supported when rest of the world turned his back on him. Ironically, he paid back doing the same, he turned his back on us (get a life fathead!). Put aside his personal misery at Chelsea, Liverpool has had more painful miseries of their own since his departure. Luis Suarez is a world class player who is better than him. But once again LFC miss a player who performed a role perfect and we couldn't find a replacement who can pay-off on the pitch. Andy Carroll kills our game (on the face of it). He is too slow and too unfit for a game that suits Liverpool. Fernando Torres knew exactly how to play that sort of style. Like it or hate it, we are missing Fernando Torres! Another player on the same line is Luis Suarez. Without him Liverpool have no taste at all. He is the only worth the excitement. Nobody can think and even come near the lines he think on. For the game 8 games he didn't play, Liverpool's mid-season turmpil started to set in. You take Suarez out, you are in for a boring LFC side. I won't be surprised if he leaves LFC in a couple of seasons. 

The Indispensables - Present and Past.

Hence, my aim of writing this entry was to inform the people that our philosophy of club greater than player is undermined and offset by us only. If top teams like Man United can replace their star players, so can and should Liverpool. Nobody is indispensable. If we can buy a player who moulds into a world class playerworld class player, there shall be no dearth of newer players that can be bred into new world-class players. So, LFC needs to correct this with immediate. For the club is above all! YNWA! 

We're Family...

A Probable Summer of Near Zero Transfers

This is when money does the talking...

This is that part of the season when you just have to invariably refresh your Twitter and Facebook accounts. Getting lots and lots of updates on speculations, medical, done deals, personal terms, etc. for some of the most sought after and personally favourite players. Fans do all the prayers for their club to sign certain players. Of late, the likes of Man City and Chelsea have the been the most liberal in buying players. Their owners offer their managers a blank cheque book always. In the last couple of seasons, Liverpool have made some of the most horrendous signings. I won't write down those names for most of the people would abstain from reading the post any further (ha ha!).

So, with a new manager and owners' second spell in the Summer Transfer Window, what could be in store for the fans? We bought some British Talent last year and I don't want to talk about that any further (though I'm religiously behind them). Perhaps, Kenny Dalglish was too static to change with the trends of the game. Roy Hodgson bought those players who weren't even fit enough to play for the reserves. He just couldn't step-up his thinking. Rafael Benitez has been the most successful in the transfer market for Liverpool in the EPL. Though he has also made some very poor signings, but he also bought Xabi Alonso, Fernando Torres, Luis Garcia (I still remember that volley in UCL), Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel, Glen Johnson, Mascherano, Alvaro Arbeloa - honestly, these players were brilliant! I get the feeling that had he been provided with adequate money and support we could have had our No. 19 (I strongly believe that). This never meant FSG should have gone back to hire Rafa after Kenny's sacking. Whilst there are players who I think are top-quality, like Alberto Aquilani, but were so unfortunate.

He has his work cut-out...

We have been recently linked with Sigurdsson, a player who is rated highly in the EPL thanks to his short loan spell in the 2nd half of last season. There are certain other players who we have been linked with in a number of seasons before and continued to be linked with even now, but they haven't been fruitful (neither do I think they would be). So, is Sigurdsson a world-class player at first place? I haven't seen him much, so I may not be the right person to give a value judgement. But I have seen a number of outstanding players in their clubs or leagues fail miserably at big clubs and particularly Liverpool. I don't want to go back in time and assess such happenings, but I'm near 100% sure that this is how things will unfold in the case of the Icelandic player. In the past week or so we have been linked with Adam Johnson, Ibrahim Affellay, Gaston Ramirez, etc. There were certain tabloids that even linked us with Lavezzi and Cavani (this irks me so much). I'm no pessimist, instead I'm a realist. I know what would happen in the transfer market this season. Liverpool were linked with Juan Mata (the Spaniard could have been our player) and ended up signing Stewart Downing, linked with Sergio Aguero who signed for Man City. For the window has a lot of time to conclude and my analysis may be premature (hope it is), I'm dead sure that we would once again end up buying substandard players, who can't adjust playing at Anfield, for the Kop, and for the optimum target. I'm a man who says everything on the face of it.

The Icelandic who could be our first signing...

As per a popular belief, we can't get world class players unless we are in the UCL. I beg to differ. Liverpool or any other club can't get world class in terms of talent, dedication and hard work unless we have a stable manager. FSG needs to put this thing into place (they are experienced entrepreneurs, aren't they?). On top of it, we don't have an unlimited transfer budget. Well, that's fine and understandable, but at times you need to splash the cash and for the right player. Next, Brendan Rodgers is a great manager, but who would he sign for Liverpool? He needs to know he is at LFC and not Swansea. Won't he be easily offset in the transfer market? Does he know who are the top-quality players as per LFC standards? He needs to sign players that are not just proven but have a mentality to fight till the end of a match and the season to meet their targets. I don't know if he would be able to manage if he signs some internationally acclaimed players. I'm full of apprehensions considering that United and Chelsea have made a move each and in the right direction. The staff at LFC needs to properly identify players not just akin to LFC's stature, but also who can sustain that pressure and play the way it is required. They need to play not just like players, but Liverpool players.

How much would he cough up?

I have no idea of what shall unfold in the next couple of months. I have may own apprehensions regarding the transfers and staff including our new manager. Plus, what role would DoF have? We don't have a DoF as of now. We are in a real soup, and we hope this soup is well dealt with ahead of time. I know the League Title is an unrealistic deal for LFC for the next 5 or even more. In the next 2-3 years, LFC can qualify for UCL at most. This window would be less active, I assume, considering the revamp in the structure of the club. Yet, I'm firmly behind the players, the owners, the new manager, and everybody involved in the staff. For we are like a Family and shall always be!

Brendan Rodgers: No. 18

Well, this is it. I'm finally a part of a passionate Reds family based in the capital of my country. I've heard a lot about DelhiKop. Plus, I craved to be on the screenings but only destiny pulled me back. Nonetheless, I'm writing for a blog of their own. After starting my own I wanted to mingle with some. I got one 6 months down the line. So, let's get down to business! 

I have surely got to start with the biggest news of the post-season and pre-season.  Post-season is quite obviously the sacking of Kenny Dalglish. I wasn't surprised as the way team performed all through 2012 has been dismal. The only positive was the Carling Cup trophy. Liverpool could have and should have won the FA Cup, but Kenny gets it wrong once more. John W. Henry's handshake snub during the ceremonious medal giving made it more obvious. The hunt was embarked on. Martinez, Guardiola, Klopp, Benitez - so many names were emerging from the rumour mill. There as nervous and excitement at the same time. The bookies, the experts, the fans all had their predictions and their aspirations. After weeks of speculation, it was the least likely name of Brendan Rodgers, who had earlier rejected to even hold talks with the club. Rodgers have transformed Swansea City into a revolutionary side not only in the Championship, but also in its first season in the EPL.

Brendan Rodgers at his official unveiling.

His official unveiling on June 1 was something that Kopites have been quite used to in the last 3 seasons. New manager, new targets, new hopes, and new players. With this constant revamp at the most important position of a football club, there has been a sense of dejection and frustration in the Kop End. Hodgson came and shackled the foundations; Dalglish came to the rescue but couldn't sustain it as he was less dynamic; now comes Brendan Rodgers, who in his first interview has been quite impressive and intelligent. He talks about the dynasty, the history, the culture, and the frustration of the past 2 decades or so. He vows to bring those glory days back, reestablish the foundation of the club, and once again make Liverpool a dominant force in British football.

Snub that made the sack...

Prospects under Rodgers: 

Brendan Rodgers transformed Swansea City into a club that plays an attractive brand of football. Not just that, their commitment to the game is immaculate. From the Keeper to the Striker everybody works hard to contribute. Liverpool were held by the Swans at Anfield and got defeated on the final day of the season just concluded. The likes of Nathan Dyer, Scott Sinclair, Michel Vorm, Danny Graham, Joe Allen, Gylifi Sigurdsson, and everybody else put their heart and soul week-in and week-out. They defied all the odds and finished a very strong 11th in the Premier League. Brendan Rodgers has about 20 years of experience in football coaching/management. He worked Jose Mourinho at Chelsea and is respected even now for all those who had been there with him including the Special One himself. In his first few interviews, he has promised to satisfy the fans in the best way possible - by bringing better and happy days back to a club analogous to SUCCESS. He has even cooled down his probably comparison to Dalglish with due modesty and respect to the King. He is straight, honest, and wise on the transfer policy too.

Discussing the footballing side, I never closely followed Swansea albeit I have seen a few of their games and their game is surely fast-paced. They keep hold of the ball, they have a great striker in Graham, have a good support in midfield, and one of the best goalkeepers of the season. Their spending spree was always limited but his education to the players was astounding. His team a good home record all season with decent performances on the road.

What can he bring and in what way can that be brought to Liverpool is still my biggest apprehension. He had been great at interviews, had quickly tried to establish and gel around the club, talks sense about the game and the club, wise and clever on transfers, but Liverpool pose an entirely different problem for him to deal with. He played total football with Swansea, but does Liverpool have such players? I reckon No. In that case he got to buy those players, and those players have to be world class. Can he attract those world class players? I kind of doubt. Or can he transform ordinary players into extraordinary ones? Possibly. But Liverpool is an entirely different challenge. Most people tipped Swansea to go back down, and his target was just survival in his first EPL season. They did brilliantly. But when all cameras and journos right up your shoulder, slightest of the mistakes becomes a ruckus. He has to bring in industrious, productive, honest, and top-quality players. I don't know what kind of a role would the DoF at football as of now. I just get the feeling that a DoF would be responsible for transfers. That's of no concern to our discussion as of now. Liverpool players had full faith in Kenny and he brought in allegedly quality players, but failed miserably coupled with the soaring transfer fees paid for all of them. Once again the target would be UCL qualification. That means he has to win a minimum of 3/4 of games to secure that place, possibly. I assert, a minimum of 3/4 of games. The margin for error has virtually evaporated. He has a lot to deal with. FSG has a lot to deal with and assure.

A lot of work is to be done...

So, I'm still not convinced, though a bit impressed, about Rodgers. Swansea and his past records and interviews offer him a case. I won't go across the board to show my enormous support. That doesn't mean I rule him out or don't stand-by him. I always shall and I would do that with every manager and player. But, with United winning No. 19, City also having their first EPL title, Chelsea strengthening their squad after winning the UCL, Tottenham and Arsenal have always been around those Top4, the task ahead of FSG and particularly Rodgers is an uphill once. Having said that, I stand-by Rodgers and the owners firm.