I’m a devoted, dyed-to-the-wool red, lifelong die-hard Liverpool fan but I must admit we’re in a rough shape right now. Injuries to our attacking spine, less-than-satisfactory results, cup exits and our weak financial strength are just some of the obstacles we have to go through. Add to that the beating we’re getting at the hands of the London media (Heck! Even my local tabloid ison our case. Not hard to imagine since they’re a pro-United rag) and not being given a fair hand by referees (beachball goals, stonewalled penalties turned down) and we’re actually looking worse for wear.
The saddest thing with our club right now is the sad state of our finances and our situation in the transfer market right now. Just recently, we’re linked with a loan move for Kenwyne Jones. Yes, Kenwyne Jones. Now I have nothing against Mr Jones here but it’s pathetic how an illustrous and successful club like us have to scrape the bottom of the bargain barrel for transfers. Heck, we can’t even afford a permanent deal but only a loan until the end of the season. What happened to the days when our name were linked with big-name players and not only being linked, but actually signing thse players. With our heritage, history and our world-famous passionate supporters, any player would have die to come and play for Liverpool FC. Not anymore. Those days are over. With Hicks & Gillette in control, Rafa is operating with one hand behind his back, searching high and low for good enough players for the club yet available at rock-bottom price. This can only mean two: older players past their prime, whose legs are calling it a day or untested, unproven teenage buys. Both carry with them big risks. But Liverpool fans, blinded by our past success demands immediate results. And with that come undeserved expectations resting on these players.
We need to be patient and try to understand the conditions in which Rafa is operating in. Rafa is already under immense criticism by the press and our rival fans. The last thing he needs is us, Liverpool fans getting on his back as well. We have to stand together in difficult times like these. Like marriage, we promised to stick by the team through thick and thin. Thinning times are ahead but we’ll make it through together. A stick, on its own, is breakable but bind them together, they become strong. We have to be strong, for the club, for Rafa and for the players. Because we are Liverpool Football Club, the one and only..
The next five months are going to be hard, no doubt. With the media stoking the fire, there’s just going to be more pressure on Rafa and the team. Rafa is our man. People complain about his transfer dealings. ‘He’s had five years’ blah blah blah. So he’s supposed to keep every player he’s signed for five years. Players want to leave, players want more money. He got two million for Voronin! Most players he’s sold has been for a profit, and many of his low budget dealings have been spot on. Alan Hansen said that NONE of his signings worth 6-10mil have been poor. Agger, Skrtel, Benayoun, Kuyt to name a few.
What pisses me off more is the ‘2005 Crowd’. The people who supported LFC only after the CL final, and who are now calling for Rafa’s head. The bandwagon lasted for five years, and now those glory hunting pricks are shading over to City. One of my mates even went to Chelsea!
YNWA
Yes I agree, éire
The ‘2005’ crowd didn’t go through the dark ‘Souness’ era which was to me, a worse period than the one we’re in now. But we stuck through and survived that and slowly but surely rebuilding ourselves. We were just a UEFA Cup team before Rafa, people tend to forget that
exactly
Y.N.W.A
Funny that, we’re a UEFA Cup team now too. ;)
Ade,
We haven’t even played a game in the UEFA/Europa League yet. Under Beníez, we’ve qualifed for the knockout stages 5 TIMES IN A ROW. Under Houllier, we were in the UEFA league. Not only did we quality for the knockout stages, we’ve been in 2 finals, one won, reached a semi (which we nearly got to another final from) and a quarter final. And we’ve been one of the Competitions top teams for the last five years.
@ éire
Actually, Rafa made us The Top Team in Europe over the last 5 years.
I don’t believe the team turns bad overnight. We’re almost the same team with the same personnel with the same system. The system worked last season so there’s no reason it can’t work this season. Once we get over our injury crisis and Maxi & Aquilani hits full steam and understands the rigours of the English game, we’ll turn it around, I’m sure
Hii Irwan, I belive you it the nail on the head when you mention the plight of our club that even K.Jones can’t be bought from Sunderland..In terms of finances we are in turmoil and the result is for all to see..not only are we handicapped in player buys..but our players get on the pitch with almost every key player having their name attached to some Club who are their prospective suitors according to the press..who justify the cause by sighting our financial short comings..
Rafa thus has to deal not only with players their performances on the pitch but also face pschycological torment from such news from the press..
Its tough times..and Liverpool need all the support from their fans..however in recent times the likes of Gerrard has been mum to the numerous links that are gaining momentum..Hope Stevie G has a say soon..as it would calm the storm from the press and inspire our players..RAFA has been great for liverpool..and is our man..but some of recent controversial decisions regarding the starting line up etc.. will only subside when our players are back to their best..
GIVE YOUR ALL LIVERPOOL FC..and if we overcome TOTS tomorrow..THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL MAY JUST START GETTING BRIGHTER..!!YNWA..
Till the death do us part.
I really wouldn’t like to sit in Rafa’s skin now … It’s hard to describe what he’s going trough these days.
H&G aren’t interested in our club, the tradition and the philosophy. That’s the problem. Rafa is just trying to make the best out of the resources he has. I hope, everyone already understood that.
YNWA
-Amanda
I started to write a comment and it turned into a 1,000 word rant on how Hicks and Gillett have been mediocre with every other sports team they’ve owned and how Rafa has succeeded at every club he’s been manager of.