I cannot believe some of the threads/posts I read especially after games with knee jerk reactions, posts showing no patience in allowing this new team to develop, the lack of general football common sense in not looking at the bigger picture in terms of progress and sometimes the downright stupidity of calling for a cull on this current squad (particularly comments on selling on some of our 1st season signings).
Is it really doom and gloom because 4th spot is "probably" not going to happen?
Absolutely NOT!
We had a complete overhaul last summer. I think most would agree that the club pretty much bought in every position we as fans last summer felt needed strengthening "at that moment in time". At that time most fans (at least those living in reality) just wanted the club to regain some dignity on and off the pitch and have a decent season with no great expectations other than recuperating after the nightmare of the 2 cowboys & Roy Hodgson.
In the summer we shifted players such as...
Konchesky
Poulsen
Jovanovic
Kyrgiakos
Insua
N'Gog
Degen
Insua
And brought in...
Henderson
Adam
Downing
Enrique
Coates
Bellamy
Doni
I defy ANYONE to suggest that was not a vast improvement and all achieved in ONE transfer window.
So the club entered the new season with half a team of newbies on the back of one of the worst seasons many of us can remember. Add to this the fact our two main strikers were also only 6 months into their Liverpool careers and you get an idea of how far this squad has come in such a short space of time.
These players are in their 1st season with the club so we are often fielding half a side of new blood, not only are these players settling in with a new team themselves, they are settling in with other players who are new to the team, yet despite this we have played some wonderful football this season outplaying almost everyone even though we often did not always get the results we deserved.
Here are some facts...
Arsenal @ the Emirates - Won 2-0 - FIVE of our 10 outfield players were new signings
Chelsea @ the Bridge - Won 2-0 - FIVE of our 10 outfield players were new signings
Everton @ Goodison - Won 2-0 - FIVE of our 10 outfield players were new signings
Manure @ Anfield - Won 2-1 - FOUR of our 10 outfield players were new signings
More often than not we have at least 4 if not 5 new players in the starting 11.
I'd say our new players have done pretty well considering but it's not surprising that sometimes we lack that clinical edge.
These players will be better next season as individuals but more importantly they will also be better as a team having played together for a year and this will help us convert far more of our play into goals.
Even with this handicap of being new players playing with other new players we have won our 1st trophy in 6 years and had to get past likes of Chelsea away and City over 2 legs to do it. These players all contributed to that success. We also have a real chance of reaching a 2nd final and the possibility of winning another trophy!!!
I think they all deserve great praise for achieving so much so quickly together.
Yet despite all this some forum members think we need a cull?
I am particularly shocked at mentions of selling Henderson which are ludicrous. Remember that player we used to have that we all thought was shit and had to be sold as he would never make it at LFC? Goes by the name of Lucas he does, anyone still want to sell him now? It took Lucas 2/3 seasons to reach the level he is at now. Henderson captained the England U21's the other night, he has got better as the season has gone on (even when playing on the right which is NOT his natural position) and has plenty of time to continue to develop. He's also just won his 1st major honour in his 1st season with the club so please...stop this stupidity talking about selling Henderson.
Let me put it like this, NONE of our new signings should be sold on. The team & club both on and off the pitch have progressed at an incredible rate all things considered and we should ALL be happy that the club is progressing in the right direction.
Just 2 or 3 signings this summer no more should do us and next season we will really push for top 4 with a maturing team. Once in the top 4 which I think will happen comfortably next season comes the next push when we can attract even more of the very best players with Champions League football.
When we progress to this stage we will be in a position to once again challenge for the holy grail itself.
But if after reading this the pessimistic amongst you still don't feel we are going upwards fast enough for your liking then look back in the other direction and remember how far we have come in just 16 months since we were languishing in the bottom three with Roy Hodgson at the helm & the club potentially going bankrupt.
Some think it will be a miracle if we make the top 4 this season or next...
I think the miracle has already happened.