So the transfer window has shut and overall, I must say that though we should welcome anyone putting on a red shirt, there is little excitement in our new signings. Too often, I see posters kid themselves into thinking we've un-earthed a world beater in the making. Here's my take on things. We've signed players who are already at the peak of their careers and who can only get worse and not better. We had to do this so stabilise the ship. Hodgson does not have the luxury of signing young hopefuls, and certainly doesn't have a "5 year plan". To me, the signings of Jovanovich, Konchesky, Poulsen and Meireles spark little excitement. Make no mistake about it, these are players we wouldn't have considered signing 2-3 seasons ago. These are players who if you ask me should be sought after by midtable sides which is a matter of concern, because I can't help asking myself if we are now a midtable side. On a more positive note, the arrivals have been greeted by a lot more optimism than I anticipated by a good number of posters. On a more negative note, I suspect that they will come under criticism by the very same posters halfway through the season. I'm not trying to be overly pessimistic, I'm trying to be realistic and manage not just mine, but your expectations as well.
On the issue of Mascherano, I've said that there are always two sides to a coin and we should give him the benefit of the doubt. We cannot treat our own like the MACC treats the people; guilty until proven innocent. Do what you will, but here's what he has to say so far.
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Mascherano will reveal transfer 'lies' in due course
By Soccernet staff
Javier Mascherano has vowed to reveal the "lies" about his transfer to Barcelona in due course, hinting that Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson "knows the truth".
Mascherano, who also revealed the switch to Barcelona was a year overdue, was labelled "selfish" by Hodgson when he supposedly refused to play for the Reds against Manchester City last week.
"Roy Hodgson knows the truth," he said in the Guardian. "This is a happy moment for me so now is not the time to say it, but a lot of lies have been told about me and I will respond to them.
"Last year Liverpool would not let me leave. There was no way they would sell me. They had Xabi Alonso and me, and they would only let Xabi leave."
He added in the Sun: "Against Manchester City, I was not right to play. Liverpool will always be in my heart but my time there has finished."
The Argentina midfielder dismissed reports that former manager Rafa Benitez had tried to sign him for his new club Inter, confirming Barcelona was the only club who made a bid for his services.
"I was disappointed not to be able to sign last season. When the best club in the world calls you, then it is something that you want to happen. I have signed for the only club who really wanted me. In no moment did I ever think that Inter was a possibility. Rafa valued me and perhaps that is why people started saying that I could go there but this is the only club that pushed to sign me.
"When I landed I said that I was achieving a dream. At last I will be able to say that I play for Barcelona, the team who I wanted to play for."
No more knee-jerk reactions please.
Sep 1 2010, 07:42 AM
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.. man why we always screw up when buying players 
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