It’s been a long hard summer for Rafa.

Sports - November 24, 2007

In

Glen Johnson

Already proven himself to be a very effective attacking force and offers more than the steady but unspectacular Alvaro Arbeloa. Seemed pricey when initially purchased but seems like a very good transfer even after such a short spell, hopefully will get better and better.

Alberto Aquilani

Very hard to judge this transfer as the Italian is of course injured and could be out for some time longer. Whilst its probably not the best idea to purchase a player with a long term injury I trust that Rafa knows what he is doing on this one. Not a direct replacement for Xabi, kind of a mixture of Alonso and Javier. Handily a large portion of the transfer is in installments.

Sotiros Kyrgiakos

A no nonsense defender who should have “does exactly what is says on the tin” scrawled across his shirt. We know what to expect from the Greek veteran, a very able back up option and perhaps most importantly, a very cheap one.

Out

Paul Anderson

Talented young winger who could never muscle his way into the first team picture forced to find pastures new. General feeling appears to be that he was a damned quality player who just wasn’t given a chance to show his stuff, I predict he will bounce back to the Premier League sooner rather than later.

Sebastian Leto

Much publicised passport problems stifled his career at the club and the Argentine winger had no choice but to try his luck elsewhere. On the very rare occasions he did play for us he didn’t look that good. Now plying his trade with Panathinaikos and has started pretty well there.

Astrit Ajdarevic

Part of the Youth Cup Winning side of 2007 this lanky attacking midfielder went on loan at Leicester and clearly they liked what they saw as they took him permanently this summer. Never got near the first team picture at Anfield.

Jack Hobbs

Now when Jack first got involved in the first team picture he didn’t look very good. Quite an awkward style of footballer who never looked comfortable on the ball but he did manage to improve and got a few chances to prove himself but in the end moved on loan to Leicester and had a fantastic season playing virtually every game as the romped to the title. Has now made the move permanent and looks to have the potential to do very well in the game.

Sami Hyypia

Bowed out from the club with an emotional farewell against Spurs after ten years of dedicated service. 450+ appearances and umpteen medals. Great servant to the club moved to Bayer Leverkusen and has started all four of their opening Bundesliga games and the club remains unbeaten so clearly he still has the ability to be a rock in the centre of defence.

Jermaine Pennant

A player with talent who could have gone far with the club but was just far too much of a headache on and off the field. Long periods of poor form and an attitude problem that left Rafa with no choice but to use him very sparingly after his first season. Moved to newly promoted La Liga side Real Zaragoza but I would predict he will not be there for more than one year and probably far less.

Shane O’Connor

Irish teenager never got near the first team picture and must have found the prospect of playing under legend Roy Keane too much to turn down.

Alvaro Arbeloa

Went away to the Confederations Cup after the season came to an end and then watched on as Rafa bought a replacement in the form of Glen Johnson. From then on it was a matter of when and not if, he would leave. He got the move he craved as his former side Real Madrid came calling. The Spaniard did a good job for the club and was generally a very reliable player.

Xabi Alonso

A big loss to the club. Xabi was of course very close to being offloaded last summer and apparently since that point was thinking of leaving the club. The long drawn out saga with Real Madrid was tasteless and irritating as the Spanish giants did there best to unsettle the player and attempted to get him on the cheap. In the end we did well to get a good fee for him. Will surely do well at the Bernabeu. Gave some fantastic performances in a Liverpool shirt with last season probably the best of the five he spent at the club.

Adam Hammill

Hammill, like Anderson, was a player many Liverpool fans expected to make a name for himself at the club but like his fellow winger, spent much of his time at the club being loaned out gaining valuable experience but then never really given a chance in the first team. Moved to Barnsley but I am sure he will break back into the big time.

YNWA


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