Wow, seems like we've been at this forever (OK, less so to you guys since I posted it all pretty much at the same time while most of you were sleeping). Trust us, we, the Blogger Round Table - Mike, Nik, Ses, Mohamad, Jeremy, and Neal have been furiously writing emails back and forth to make this happen for quite some time now. If you want to catch up, you can do so by reading Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 of the conversation before checking out Jeremy's summation and closing statements below.
If you are up to date then we'll get you right on to Jeremy's thoughts on Liverpool:
Liverpool seem to be stuck in a no-win situation. They don't have the money to support, or to change, the management. Benitez has been a failure in the transfer market, but just this season won the political fight and got rid of Parry and any other dissenting voices within the organization. They also can't get approval for a new stadium, diminishing their long-term financial situation even if it is a boon in the short-term.
On top of these issues, which you all have explored in depth, Liverpool also face a quickly changing League landscape. Looking at the other teams around them in the table and you see an even darker picture emerging.
The first game of the season, when Spurs beat Liverpool, it was clear which team had the better squad strength... and it wasn't Liverpool. Manchester City are in the same Europa League boat, but can afford to cover any player's wage demands. Aston Villa has a good, young nucleus of players. And quietly, Everton may have assembled the strongest team of the whole bunch heading into next season.
Liverpool face not just a fight to finish in top four next year, but even to finish in the top seven!
At the beginning of this season we were worried that Liverpool were paper tigers - that their squad was too thin to deal with the injuries they were facing even last August. And that proved to be the case. What is worrying is that no young players stepped in to the gaps afforded by their senior colleagues. Ayala, Pacheco, Spearing... Babel and Ngog, who at least got playing time. The cupboard is bare.
And Liverpool will need all their resources next season. They'll start Europa League play very early -- too early for their stars to have recovered from the World Cup. And without money or other players (see above, above, and above) I would expect Rafa to do what he always does when he's in trouble - revert to a defensive posture. On and off the pitch.
It's going to be a LONG year for Liverpool. And from the looks of it, it is not going to be pretty.
Neal's Wrap Up...
So, you've certainly heard a lot about what could happen, what should happen, and what we think will happen with Liverpool this summer. I think the best that can be said of them is that two of their potential rivals for a Top 4 spot are in just as uncomfortable a spot as Liverpool. Aston Villa faces a huge challenge in not losing a key player or two (Milner and/or Ashley Young) from their already too thin squad and Arsenal as I'm sure we're all painfully aware face the possible loss of their best player - Cesc - to Barca. Harry Redknapp is always a threat to do something stupid in the transfer market. All this leave Liverpool with a reasonable hope that things break right and Gerrard, Torres, and Aquilani will all be healthier and that they can find one more quality player on the wing and/or at striker who will make things click. I wouldn't make them a favorite for a Top 4 spot but they are certainly not the hopeless case that maybe this discussion has made them out to be.
No matter where we end up, I'll always be a Liverpool Supporter, but god damn this is a slap in the face and just gives more ammunition to every other team's supporters. I can only pray someone somehow can turn it around. Honestly I don't think we need a huge signing, but moderately priced players who will be willing to work hard and give their all. I actually think Maxi Rodriquez was a good signing and look forward to seeing him next season. I also think Babel needs to be a starter from the get go, he has the ability I don't think we can give up on him yet.
ReplyDeleteYNWA
Very good discussion and I agree with most of it except the part on transfer. There are miss or hit for all clubs and the reason why we all see in Liverpool because of the sudden drop in form last season + the facts that they havent got any real budget to begin with in the last couple of years. Here is a very good article to read about what have been going on
ReplyDeletehttp://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article6919462.ece
There is another very detail analysis with facts and numbers but I couldnt find at the moment.
Found it
ReplyDeletehttp://tomkinstimes.com/2009/10/the-benitez-myths-series/
Very good read though should have posted earlier.
Anyway looking forward for more great discussions about other teams during and after WC. I hate waiting for YFF!
Great read. Thanks to all the controbutors and organizers. Any chance this can become a regular feature?
ReplyDeleteThanks. We're planning to do this semi-regularly, at least through the summer. Next up is Y!AM's turn and we'll be sure to link over to him for the discussion of the 'Top 4 Pretenders'.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the fantasist who said they will be fighting for a top 7 spot next year. Take out this years top 4, and you have City Villa Everton all improving their respective squads which are already better than liverpools save for torres gerrard and reina(arguably). I cant see liverpool being anything more than a mid table club for a few seasons now thanks to the money problems. Villa, City, Birmingham all have sugar daddies and managers capable of building great squads given time. Everton are a dark horse in that they have no money, but have gone under the radar in building a great squad and in my eyes should be top 4 if only a few points out next year. Ill come back to that point later, but the fact Everton finished 2 points behind liverpool considering they were sitting 17 at one point in the season should be making fans of the PL sit up and take some serious notice. Next year will be more tightly contested than last but there are some critical points to address.
ReplyDelete1.If tottenham manage to qualify for the group stages, then there is no doubt in my mind their league form will suffer. Tottenham has a fairly deep squad of good players, but not deep enough to be winning every 3-4 days travelling around europe. The only teams who seem to do well are the manchester uniteds and chelseas who qualify with that crucial game to spare, to give their players that little bit of time off to concentrate on league games. Theres no coincidence that Chelsea over the month of december when games are being played every 3-4 days due to champs league amassed a record of 2-3-1 with their only 2 wins coming against Fulham(attrocious away team) and portsmouth... both 2-1 victories. If the Champions can barely get through a time like this, what hope do Tottenham have?
2.Who will Villa/Everton manage to hang on to/bring in? With Milner, Young, Pienaar and Arteta all being swung around as names City might purchase, is this really a bonus to Liverpool for their fight to stay relevant next year? Sure Villa/Everton lose their top technically gifted players, but with the astute management and great team chemistry on both sides, more will be brought in to plug the holes that were left leaving both teams in the relative same spot, maybe better depending on the amount, and City strengthen with Liverpool scrounging around for cash to spend. I just realized I wrote a novel.
Long story short, the time is now for Liverpool to rebuild meaning Rafa, Gerrard(20-30Mil) and Torres(50-70Mil) should go so Liverpool can get top dollar for each player and use the money to rebuild the squad not pay off debts.
@jeremy ,
ReplyDelete"And quietly, Everton may have assembled the strongest team of the whole bunch heading into next season."
well, their thin squad certainly will look good in a none euro-campaign season. lets see how spurs, villa and man city cope with euro games then . =)
" The cupboard is bare." benitez saw that early on. that's why he wanted to control the youth set up. that's why Rodolfo Borrell was signed.
~Newbie