Boolsword

Livershambles

Oh my, how the mighty have fallen. 

 

“Disgusting”, “shambolic”, “disgraceful”, “my nan is a better defender than Glen Johnson…and shes six feet under!” is just a few phrases liverpool supporters angrily yelled after watching their team being beaten by Blackpool, a team whose most expensive player probably cost as much as Fernando Torres new haircut. Outplayed for large parts of a bizarre match at Anfield, Roy Hodgson can have no complaints that his dysfunctional Liverpool team had been beaten. Blackpool beat Liverpool at Anfield..WTF!! i still cant believe it….appaling, thats the only word to describe Liverpools current predicament. 

After some decent incoming transfers the least fans were expecting was a top four finish or at worst top six. On current form relegation beckons, but surely this great club wont sink so low? Erm..remember Leeds United? Very similar circumstances, but kop fans shouldnt worry about a relegation battle this season but if the owner situation doesnt change soon Liverpool might just be the new Leeds in a few years time. harsh, but it could be reality if things on and off the pitch are not sorted out very soon. 

Clueless Tactics 

Jamie Carraghers “legend” status at Anfield is clearly having an effect on the teams perfomances. I have been one of his greatest defenders over recent times but Jamie Carragher should be nowhere near liverpools starting eleven. The guys a legend, but his time is up. Dan Agger is the much better player at the moment and is much more speedy, skillful and actually knows how to bring the ball out of the defence, something Carra has never done. Agger alongside Skrtel, Glen Johnson and Paul konchesky as fullbacks. Raul Meireles one of europes best box to box midfielders was used as a right sided midfielder on sunday…no, no, no! He should be in the centre of midfield and not Christian Poulsen. Gerrard, Kuyt, Babel and Joe Cole supporting Torres(when fit). Ryan Babel, a curious case indeed. Once dubbed “The next Thierry Henry” has been mismanaged by Rafa Benitez and should be given one last chance to prove that he can live up to the potential he showed at Ajax. With Poulsen, Jovanovic, Ngog, Lucas providing cover on the bench.  

Derby Day Looming 

Everton will have even more motivation in the derby because a win would keep Liverpool in the bottom 3, only 1 place above the reds a loss could drag them into the relegation zone. Unusual circumstances the two Merseyside clubs find themsevles in so early in the season. A loss for either manager could possibly lead to him getting the sack. More so for Roy Hodgson, if results does not improve he could get the chop very, very soon. Bring on the derby i say, should be one of the most interesting in recent seasons. 
 
 
 

YNWA 

                                                                            written by Mahmood Booley

Will Nando go?

Will He Go?

Fernando Torres hasnt had the greatest year even though he collected a world cup winners medal. An injury ravaged season at Liverpool was followed by a poor personal performance at the world cup in my beloved South Africa. He did not go into the world cup 100% fit and it showed in his perfomances, being dropped for the majority of Spains matches in the knock-out round. Even though he hasnt been in top form for the past 6 months there is still huge amount of interest in him from Premier league rivals Man City, Chelsea even Barcelona and Inter Milan have been linked with the former Atletico Madrid prodigy. After Joe Cole’s arrival and Steven Gerrard stating that he wants to stay at Anfield all eyes are waiting on the number nine to declare that he wants to stay. When arriving at Liverpool he clearly stated that he came to win trophies and that hasn’t happened yet. Having won everything at international level might he want to go to a club that guarantees pushing for the league and being in the latter stages of the Champions League?

With all his recent injury problems many have said that he has become a bit of a sick note, and despite only being 26 years old…are his best days behind him? That is debatable but if he indicates that he wants to leave nobody should stand in his way, why keep the guy if he doesnt want to be around? The 40 - 50 million pounds received for him would be a huge boost to Liverpool, and if used correctly might turn them into a genuine top 3 team. Shoud Roy Hodgson convince him to stay he will form part of a deadly attack, Gerrard, Cole and Torres. How awesome does that sound? 

Wheteher he stays or goes, Nando will always be a kop legend in my eyes.

 

                                                                         written by Mahmood Booley

Roy The Rebuilder

Roy The Rebuilder

“Finally”, was the word many Liverpool fans uttered when it was revealed that Rafa Benitez would leave the club. Benitez always divived opinion on Merseyside, who could forget that memorable night in Instanbul or that magical FA cup final against West Ham. Those glorious nights are many many moons ago and towards the end of Benitez’s reign many feels it was those victories, especially the night in Instanbul that kept Benitez in the job for a season too long. The 2008 - 09 season proved proved to be Liverpools best domestic season for almost a decade and still they were runners up to Manchester United…..almost but not quite, a recurring theme in the Benitez reign.

 

Good bye Rafa, thanks for the memories

Welcome aboard Roy

 

 Jose Mourinho, Martin Jol, Guus Hiddink, Frank Rijkaard were the names most people thought would be Benitez’s eventual replacement…oh my, how times have changed. with no Champions League football next season and broke owners no big would accepted the Liverpool job…sad, but true. Madrid and a blank cheque book or the Liverpool shambles? How easy the decision would have been for Mouinho had he been offered the Liverpool job. The Liverpool boards decision to appoint Roy Hodgson was the best decision they have made in years, a “steady the ship” guy is needed and who better than Roy? The 62 year old man from Croydon in London is one of the most travelled managers in Britain with stints in places such as Switzerland, Denmark, Italy and even the United Arab Emirates!! And who can forget him turning relegation candidates Fulham into Europa league finalists. As a manager he never had mountains of cash to spend on new players and thats another positive thats going to help him during his time at Liverpool, we all hope that this situation changes but at the moment it doesnt look as if it will anytime soon. 

Joe Cole can make huge impact

 

The West Ham academy graduate can force liverpool into the top four, he is exactly the kind of player that the team sorely missed during the Rafa years. 90 000 pounds a week might sound a lot, but with no transfer fee paid it is worth every penny. His recent injury record might be a huge talking point for the doubters but a fully fit and flying Joe Cole would make the starting line up every top 3 premier league team. Hungry, english and world class its the exact opposite signing kopites have been accustomed to during Rafa’s reign. Milan Jovanovic(a Rafa goodbye gift) is another arrival that will add depth to the squad and showed at the world cup he can be a very handy player, even though he was playing in a hugely dissapointing Serbia team. Rangers impressive young defender Danny Wilson and Charlton Athletics Jonjo Shelvey are players for the future but its these kind of British players that will make sure liverpool return to their glory days. Every successful english team had a great British spine… think Keown, Adams, Parlour at Arsenal or Fergies United kids Beckham, Scholes, the Neville Brothers etc. Liverpools greatest days also came when almost the entire team were British… its not rocket science. When in doubt go back to what you know best, it seems the board have got the message.

Changing Expectations

 

 Few liverpool fans expect the league title to arrive during Roy Hodgsons first season. If they were given third or fourth place right now, they would bite your arm off! Lowered expectations is exactly what is needed at this tricky time in the Merseyside clubs history. Who knows maybe even the FA cup or Europa league could be in the anfield cabinet at the end of the season but fourth place is a proirity, anything less might be deemed a failure. With one or two more quality additions we will certainly see liverpool up there in the top 4 mix…and with nobody expecting it, a decent title run might be on the cards too.

 

In Roy We Trust

                                                                         written by Mahmood Booley