An impact made by Luis Suarez during 2nd half of the season




Btw, got an entrance to meet the players in person at Courts photograph session. Thanks to my brother-in-law.
I hope to see Kenny there.

This post has been edited by sKyWiR3pT3lTd: Jun 13 2011, 01:46 AM

Wanted to share the article with everyone. One of the finest i've read so far

How times have changed. Over the last couple of years, Liverpool’s transfer budget seemed increasingly restricted to bargain basement buys funded by selling our best players. Out went Alonso and Mascherano, in came the likes of Ngog, Maxi, Cole, Jovanovic and Kyrgiakos, all costing less than £2m if there was a fee at all. Anyone not commanding a regular start was potentially for sale and the squad had become paper thin.

Fast forward to January and another of our best players is sold. But this time, the money is immediately invested in not one, but two top class replacements, as we smash the British transfer record and also sign a player who turns out to be the star of the second half of the season. Then we move into the summer and who is first out of the blocks when the transfer window opens? Big spending Chelsea or City? Tottenham, the club linked with every player anyone has ever heard of? Champions Man United? Not this time.

Is that really Liverpool setting the pace, signing Jordan Henderson then forcing United’s hand by bidding for Phil Jones? Following up immediately with a bid for Gael Clichy and seemingly imminent moves for Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing? Our transfer dealings have gone from Laurel and Hardy to shock and awe in the space of a year. Rafael Benitez must be speechless.

The signs were good when FSG took over. They may have wobbled a bit over sacking Roy Hodgson, but now we are really starting to see their vision unfold. Buy good players young, at a premium if need be, and instil your methods so they fulfil their potential together. The pattern is unmistakeable now and the interesting thing is how closely it adheres to the values set out by Shankly and Paisley, who rarely bought players over 25 or 26.

Yes, we will continue to target some established stars as we always have, but our team building will be heavily focused on the future. FSG’s way is the Liverpool way. And no-one understands that way better than Kenny Dalglish, who seems happy for Damien Comolli to take a lead on recruitment with input from him.

The sudden splurge on Henderson and the links to other players have drawn both expected and unexpected responses.

Fans of rival clubs have moaned about inflated prices, egged on by a Sky Sports team who have never exactly been pro-Liverpool. When Liverpool couldn’t compete for players – about half the current Man City team were wanted by Benitez – we were criticised for being in decline.

Now we are suddenly portrayed as if we were behaving like City or Chelsea, while the millions spent by Harry Redknapp in assembling team to challenge for the top four continue to be portrayed as loveable ‘wheeler dealing’.

The exaggerated £20m figure for Henderson, like the one for Aquilani, was around the airwaves before the truth could get its boots on. We actually paid £16m for Henderson, only the inclusion of Ngog would have made it a nominal £20m. Add-ons may eventually make it £20m, as with Aquilani, but that’s not the same thing. Still, fans of rival clubs rushing to criticise us for spending money should be music to our ears.

A more unexpected response to the transfer activity and speculation has been on Liverpool message boards. Fans are struggling to piece together what “the team” would be if we signed, for example, Adam and Downing on top of Henderson. They talk of a crowded central midfield in particular.

Have we forgotten what strength in depth really means? When Kenny re-signed Ian Rush in the 80s, he didn’t worry about where he would fit in alongside Aldridge and Beardsley. He simply knew he had another top player, competition for places and options in the event of injuries.

It is as though for some people, the situation we had got into of having a decent first team with largely young and lesser players on the bench is now the norm. Some mutter darkly that x player ‘better not be sold’ – in particular some of those who have been delighted to see Lucas prove his critics wrong.

But the point surely is that Lucas, like John Aldridge all those years ago, has just had a very good season. That doesn’t entitle him to an automatic starting place, anymore than a new signing means he is on his way out. If he is the best man for the job, he will continue to feature. If someone else is better, then the team will be too. The same goes for everyone else, from Jay Spearing to Steven Gerrard.

There were times last season when we lacked any creative spark from midfield or wide (Suarez aside). Adding players who can provide that makes us stronger. We are adding quality to the ranks as well as quantity. We were the sixth best team last season and we need players who can help us improve on that.

To be fair, the understandable reaction of most fans is excitement. We feel we have our club back and it’s moving in the right direction.

But the last thing we should be doing is crowing about a title challenge at this stage – leave the bragging to Ferguson. What we do know is that the right sort of approach is being put in place for us to challenge in future years as the squad develops. A top four finish next year would be a huge step forward and while we will all continue to dream of number 19, we shouldn’t crush our resurgent squad with unrealistic demands.

Still, it feels good to even discuss being challengers after the horrors of Hodgson and Hicks. Today may be United’s “time”, but tomorrow could be ours again.

By RW Hegarty (Kopsource.com)




This post has been edited by sKyWiR3pT3lTd: Jun 13 2011, 02:42 AM

Check this youngsters, some promising prospects. Wonder if Kenny is watching them



Classic Game and the story behind the win at OT



This post has been edited by sKyWiR3pT3lTd: Jun 18 2011, 10:14 PM

The last Reds visited Asia.



I was there, Martin Kelly featured in that game..was a good game..

This post has been edited by sKyWiR3pT3lTd: Jun 19 2011, 07:51 PM

Any news on Charlie Adam deal? There's an odd rumors that Spur's could sign Glen Johnson (according to Soccernet.com).

Villa , United & us are on the chase for Adam. Hope we could sign him. United seems to barging in every deal we are after.. damn!

We are close enough of signing Cristian Zapata..waiting for further news..

This post has been edited by sKyWiR3pT3lTd: Jun 21 2011, 05:51 PM

Oh yes, that winning goal against Everton...even Houllier was surprised with the goal..

Any words on Adam's deal? Are we closing on Downing & Adam?

The Sun claims that Downing deal has been turned off? Although i don't believe The Sun, they also stated that we are bidding 20m for Lennon?

How true is the above, time will tell..Still waiting on Adam's deal. Hope we hear something to cheer us up in the morning..

Away kit launch and interview with our own Captain fantastic, Kuyt, Suarez

Guys,

I know i should not be posting it here, but i think i've less choice cause some fans are really ripping off others by selling the tix more than the retail price.

Anyone with RM108 tix (Green gate if possible), kindly PM me..i hope this has not taken much space for discussion tho..

YNWA!

Arsenal bidding Mata for 15m. What's taking us so long to consider bidding him..*sigh*

Live update from Bukit Jalil

@18.48 - No training pass required to watch the training session. I'm pretty upset with some fellow Kop fans who tried selling the training pass for excessive amount.

I hope team comes first before money!

Met Joe Cole at Courts Setapak..had signatures on 2006 Season away jersey..kinda of arrogant Cole is, but who cares..he's not gonna be there long with us

Just entered office after returning from the game, just felt like being at Anfield , Kop End, when everyone sang the YNWA.
Just sang it from bottom of my heart, unforgettable memories that had seen them in Malaysia.

When i watched them at Anfield during 2006-2007, 2007-2008, it's a truly different feel from what i had this evening..but still the lads made it no difference to Anfield..

YNWA !, looking forward for the next season and i do hope Ngog, Aquilani, Meireles stays.

from FB, "it was confirmed 90,000 ++ crowd made it last night"

Let them talk and bark anything they want to..time will tell everything..

go back and check the "Man Utd For Dummies"