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| Cork City FC |
Watching the new Liverpool yesterday brought back too many memories of the old Liverpool from last season. The Red line across the back looks like an open bottle turned upside down and is simply incapable of holding what it has. If they fail to cork it they will croak it.
While the first 15 minutes suggested a different outcome to the draw that the side got in last year's opening fixture against Fulham, the high press and energy soon dissipated and the lacklustre lot were back in business. While the new look midfield was on display with Mac Allister and Szoboszlai in position, things soon shaped up in the manner of the old midfield when Kieta and Thiago were slurring their stuff - slow and ineffectual. Most disappointing of all was the backline, particularly the right side where Chelsea came at the Mersey men as if they had a free pass.
Even more disastrous has been the off-field battle against Chelsea in the transfer market. Liverpool's strategy of securing a deal with Brighton for Moises Caicedo without securing the agreement of the player has left the club looking foolish and unprofessional. Their failed bid only makes sense if the approach was a stratagem devised to force the Chelsea bid for the Brighton midfielder so high that the London side could not cough up the funds necessary to win the services of Liverpool's real target, Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia. If he too heads to London, as looks likely, the Liverpool transfer strategy will be the biggest debacle in decades.
While Mac Allister and Szoboszlai were considered valuable additions to the midfield the argument has been made that it became crucial to find even more new replacements because Milner, Henderson, Fabinho, Keita and Oxlade Chamberlain have moved on. Yet none of these players were making the type of impact the club cannot afford to do without. The two new kids on the block are more than adequate compensation for the five who have parted ways. What Liverpool needed is a defensive midfielder who can break up opposition play and redirect it the way of his own side. Such a prospect lay in Lavia but the dithering over a fee in the face of staunch Southampton resistance now seems likely to see the dice throw up a number 6 in Chelsea's favour.
While the first 15 minutes suggested a different outcome to the draw that the side got in last year's opening fixture against Fulham, the high press and energy soon dissipated and the lacklustre lot were back in business. While the new look midfield was on display with Mac Allister and Szoboszlai in position, things soon shaped up in the manner of the old midfield when Kieta and Thiago were slurring their stuff - slow and ineffectual. Most disappointing of all was the backline, particularly the right side where Chelsea came at the Mersey men as if they had a free pass.
Even more disastrous has been the off-field battle against Chelsea in the transfer market. Liverpool's strategy of securing a deal with Brighton for Moises Caicedo without securing the agreement of the player has left the club looking foolish and unprofessional. Their failed bid only makes sense if the approach was a stratagem devised to force the Chelsea bid for the Brighton midfielder so high that the London side could not cough up the funds necessary to win the services of Liverpool's real target, Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia. If he too heads to London, as looks likely, the Liverpool transfer strategy will be the biggest debacle in decades.
While Mac Allister and Szoboszlai were considered valuable additions to the midfield the argument has been made that it became crucial to find even more new replacements because Milner, Henderson, Fabinho, Keita and Oxlade Chamberlain have moved on. Yet none of these players were making the type of impact the club cannot afford to do without. The two new kids on the block are more than adequate compensation for the five who have parted ways. What Liverpool needed is a defensive midfielder who can break up opposition play and redirect it the way of his own side. Such a prospect lay in Lavia but the dithering over a fee in the face of staunch Southampton resistance now seems likely to see the dice throw up a number 6 in Chelsea's favour.
Basil Fawlty in charge of transfer policy, frailty on the field, fiasco off it, the descent into ineptitude has been embarrassing.
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I prefer the optimistic choice at this stage. A point away at Chelsea is a point won not two lost. They will get a player in to fill the void of fabinho who will hopefully liberate the creativity we have in our attack. Perhaps even mask the weaknesses in defense. Hope remains for me if we can remain unbeaten in the first 5 to 8 games.
ReplyDeleteFabinho had not being doing the business for a while Paddy. A draw away at Chelsea is a good result but it could have been three had they continued as they started.
DeleteSomebody suggested today that Maybe Klopp is the new Wenger. I wonder. Transfer strategy has been diabolical.
Now, according to Fabrizio Romano, they have made an offer to sign the Japan captain for 1.7 million. This is fast becoming a joke.
ReplyDeletePatrick
ReplyDelete"Hope remains for me if we can remain unbeaten in the first 5 to 8 games." You play Newcastle (a) and Villa (h) at the end of the month, we'll know better after those 2 games. Without a decent replacement for Fabinho it could be a long season