For me memories spring back to my first day at senior school. As I made my way to the gates an ominous feeling overtook me. Stories of having your dinner money taken and having your head experience the smooth and modern flush technique of the school toilets left me frozen with terror.
Of course such tales were unfounded and I soon grew used to everyday school life (though I was still happy as hell to leave!). To me, it seems that Liverpool’s trio of new signings are undergoing a similarly harsh rights of passage, but taking the place of the school bully is the over expectant Liverpool supporter.
Bruno Cheyrou, El Hadji Diouf, and Salif Diao must feel somewhat similar to the awkward schoolboy as they enter the Liverpool dressing room. And by the looks of Diouf’s head Sami and the boys may well have administered the famed toilet trick already. After all a European player of the year in Michael Owen, a World Cup finalist in Dietmar Hamann, and England’s finest talent in Steven Gerrard greets them when they walk through the door.
If that is not daunting enough they must also face the scrutiny of legacy and reputation. Liverpool fans have grown used to seeing the greatest of talent over the years and expectation is high. If Liverpool FC purchases a player we expect to see the finished article. For better, or for worse, this is not Gerard Houllier’s management style. All three of the players were taught in the French league, before being good enough to make the step up to Anfield. They have moved from junior education to the senior finishing school. As expected the transition has been a tough one but given time they will feel at home.
Many fans will point to the fact that Liverpool could well have purchased Anelka, Duff, and Bowyer instead of the aforementioned trio. In those players we would get something that cannot be found in the signings that were made – premier league experience. This argument is certainly not without merit and may indeed prove to be correct judging by the performances of the players in question. But again I must tell you that this is not Gerard Houllier’s style. Firstly, those players would have cost £35-40m. I think we all know that spending such sums is not a part of our manager’s mental make-up. Houllier gets great pleasure out of scouring Europe for the newest talent. No fan would complain about the impact made by Dudek, Hyppia, Riise, or Baros so now is not the time to doubt either our manager or his new signings.
Of the new signings Diouf has caused the most unrest. Unlike many other Houllier signings he does have something to live up to – a £10m price tag for starters – and thus far his performances have not matched that billing. Top of the list of complaints is his infuriating need to haul himself across the turf whenever a defender is within five yards of him. I don’t like this, I don’t know of any Liverpool fan that likes this, and I doubt Gerard Houllier likes this. But, with the aid of a word from his manager, I’m sure Diouf will realise such practices are not well received at Liverpool.
If he can rid his game of its eccentricities then we will have a star on our hands. Undoubtedly he cares passionately about his football, anyone who saw his fiery reaction to a missed chance against Basle will have seen this. He is a rough diamond who can be moulded given time.
Salif Diao suffers from the particular problem of looking like Rigobert song and so far of playing like him. He has not impressed me yet but as he is a midfielder who has been playing in defence we must at least see him in his favourite position before we can judge him.
Bruno Cheyrou, the owner of a pair of the shiniest white boots in football, has also received criticism for his performances since he pulled on a red shirt. In a matter of weeks he has gone from being proclaimed as the new Zidane to being seen as the next Bernard Diomede.
His displays so far have shown much potential without ever illuminating the pitch as much as his white boots. You may have noticed that twice already I have mentioned Bruno’s footwear. This is not a sign of any bizarre foot fetish, honestly, but is part of the reason why he has seemingly disappointed so many. While viewing LFC Online the day after the match with Basle I came across the ‘Through The Wind and Rain’ forum. One fan made the following hilarious comment:
‘If you’re going to wear white boots you had better be a decent player coz they make you look more shit that you so far appear to me Cheyrou’
So it seems that his choice of footwear determines his skill level. For anyone who believes this please decipher the following coded message - ‘Keown’, ‘Red boots’, ‘wears’. However misplaced the fans logic was I couldn’t help but see his point. Seeing a player in white boots is similar to when you watch an action movie featuring a quite oriental man in a nice suit. You just know he is going to clear the floor any second and you can’t wait. A footballer wearing white boots must know that a lot will be expected of him. As he is now a French international, ok so was Diomede but that’s not the point, he must be a player of great quality. His performances for Lille in the Champions League certainly emphasise this point. Cheyrou can live up even to the hype of a footballer in white boots.
All of the players deserve our support but next time you see one of the new signings give him just that extra bit of help. I can remember being a new boy and so can you.