Yet once it had finished, I had to sit and wait for the transfer activity. I realised then that this was perhaps harder to endure than the very campaign its self! Well, maybe that’s pushing it just a little!
But, as of this week, finally the wait was over. We could at last put the haunting ghost of previous campaign to rest. The signing of the humble young Aussie, Harry Kewell, that would prove to be more than just a new signing. He is a symbol of a brand new era to the Anfield faithful – a talisman.
During the close season managers splashed very little cash, certainly compared to the usual lavishing of the green stuff that went on in the Premier League prior to the burst of the mega bucks cash bubble. This time, the purse strings were well and truly tightened as Chairmen locked the Clubs’ chequebooks firmly away in their flame-retardant safes.
Liverpool were no exception, £10m is the least the reds have spent in the pre-season for many a long time – a sign of the depressed economic climate. And in Liverpool’s case, the price of failing to qualify for the Champions League.
When it is realised that Liverpool’s war chest was the most empty it ever had been when actual, vital team rebuilding had been needed, rather than simply adding to the squad of a successful team, shows we were in undoubtedly in uncertain times. But Gerard Houllier needed to improve the team with genuine class, or we would doubtless struggle.
Yet there was little cash to do this. It is startling that Liverpool could ever be in such a situation.
Towards the end of last season, regarding the acquisition to the squad Rick Parry said:
“Being in the CL is worth around £17m. Since we put our plans together three years ago, it was about getting into the Champions League and staying there. We will bring one or two in, but I don’t see it being whole sale changes”
With this in mind, It was always a fear that Liverpool wouldn’t have the financial clout to improve the team to the level needed. Le Boss knew he couldn’t waste his cash, which considering his track record in the transfer market didn’t fill the fans with a great deal of confidence. He could be shrewd yes, but he had also proved he was just as capable of buying pap, mentioning no names, Vlad and Bruno!
This time Le Boss had to get hold of world class attacking inspiration. We all knew it. And as we rolled into July and the flair midfielder/winger was still nowhere to be seen I, along with my fellow reds started to worry. For a long time it appeared as though we would be unable to bring in anyone of note to revitalise the Liverpool ranks,
There looked to be only a handful of viable targets of the calibre we required. Liverpool were noticeable hesitant, they were dragging their feet, but thankfully, so was every other club.
How was Houllier going to inject new ideas into a stable of shirehorses? Where were the thoroughbred stallions that we so desperately needed to compete with the elite, going to appear from considering a worrying dirth of funds and available top-class talent? Le Boss and Parry had promised us a proven international, an ‘Edge of your seat’ breed of player. They promised!
But with Houllier priced out of the Duff deal, we were to learn that he had turned his attention to another target, and that he had done weeks ago. On Wednesday, July 9th Liverpool fans across the country experienced pant-wetting excitement as those questions we were all asking were resolutely answered and the promise had been honoured.
The worst kept secret in football had finally, at long last, become reality - Harry Kewell was a Liverpool player. All though at times the deal looked like it was going to be scuppered, it turned out that the Aussie, a boyhood Red, had been talking to Liverpool, often indirectly, for almost six months.
See, I told you we were worrying about nothing!
The fact that Kewell turned down better offers, (most notably from the hapless Glam’s and Catalan giants, Barca) and the instant opportunity to test his skills once again in the Champions League has already endeared him to the Liverpool masses. His constant dialogue of Liverpool being ‘special’ and that he has been fan since a boy is making all the right impressions on Merseyside.
Becoming the new occupant of the legendary and sacred number seven shirt means he has already become a talismanic figure. The expectations on the young man will be huge. If he could inspire Liverpool to attack even slightly like Thompson, Daglish, Keegen or Barnes then well, the lad will have done all right wouldn’t he?
Here’s to the catalyst we have needed for the past 12 years.
Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war!