There is Light at the end of the Anfield Tunnel
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This year has been a rollercoaster ride for many of us connected to Liverpool football club. However, there does seem to be a light at the end of this tunnel…
Since our last League title some 20 years ago under the guidance of Legendary “King Kenny” Liverpool have struggled in the league finishing 5 times outside of the “top 4” until 2004.
· 1991/92(6th)
· 1992/93(6th)
· 1993/94(8th)
· 1998/99(7th)
· 2002/03(5th)
However, in the 90’s a top 4 finish was not enough to be eligible to play in Europe’s elite competition – The UEFA Champions League. As per definition, Liverpool only qualified 3 times for this competition Between 1990 and 2004, Then Rafael Benitez came along. Since then we have never failed to meet the Champions League entry requirements, We have even been to two finals, winning one. Also in the league we have finished 3rd twice and finished runners up… The only year we failed to meet the top 4 when we finished 5th – but qualified as defending Champions – was in Benitez’s first season and Liverpool was in transition from old to new… Also under Benitez we have won the FA Cup – The world’s oldest and most prestigious domestic cup. Since the start of Benitez’ tenure he has been given relatively little funds to shake up and completely overhaul an aging squad who also lacked quality… With the only survivors being Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher… According to the website, liverpool-kop.com who have compiled the net transfer spending of Rafael Benitez’ tenure he has spent a total of 95.8 million pounds up until 2009 as the figure below shows:
(http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/12/exclusive-liverpool-fc-net-spend_16.html, accessed 29/01/2010)
What this figure does not show is the spendings for 2009-2010, so I will be happy to inform you of the transfers so far, bear in mind that most transfers will not be correct because of some fees being described as undisclosed, but they will be as close as you will will get:
Transfers In:
· Alberto Aquilani £17.1 million
· Glenn Johnson £17.5 million
· Maxi Rodriguez Free
· Sotirios Kyrgiakos £2.0 million
Total Bought: 36.6m
Transfers out:
· Paul Anderson £250,000
· Jermaine Pennant Free
· Miki Roque Free
· Sebastian Leto £3 million
· Alvaro Arbeloa £3.5 million
· Xabi Alonso £30 million
Total sold: £36.75m
So after presenting you with this, it shows that the above figure presented by Liverpool-kop.com is actually roughly what he has spent net, including the 2009-2010 season.
This puts into perspective that Rafael Benitez has spent 95.8 million pounds on a premier league squad(including Reserves, young talent, etc.) however, people still persist with comparing Benitez’ spending with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and many others, when this is clearly a misrepresentation of facts due to other factors that they neglect to present… For instance, Manchester United already had a core squad and they were basically just fine tuning any gaps or areas for improvement… Arsenal have 8 years more time to put in place what is now to be seen as the best scouting network in the world… And Chelsea had already forked out hundreds of millions of pounds before Benitez could even get started.
Also to be mentioned is that with 95.8 million pounds on a full squad of say 35 proffessionals the average cost per player would be roughly 2.7 million pounds, yet our first team consists of:
· Alberto Aquilani
· Javier Mascherano
· Fernando Torres
· Jose Manuel Reina (to us liverpool lovers: PEPE!)
· Glenn Johnson
· Albert Riera
· Daniel Agger
· Martin Skrtel
· Yossi Benayoun
· Dirk Kuijt (yes, this is how you spell it)
The total cost for these selected few is actually 119.1 million pounds with funds still needed to purchase a further 25 proffesional players, hope you are starting to get the picture…
But even after presenting these facts there are still many Liverpool fans who will persue their blatant ignorance and hate towards Benitez to get this man sacked… Well, I don’t call these people Liverpool fans because their actions dispise everything that is the Liverpool way… They would prefer Benitez to get the sack and a bloke from the Netherlands, Guus Hiddink to come in and think he’ll do a better job, here is a statement by Guus Hiddink:
The experienced coach is keen to ply his trade again in the Premier League, but he will first seek the approval of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich before making a switch back to England.
“I have to speak to the federation president before making any decision on my future, but it is true that I would like to coach in England again,” said Hiddink.
“After all the support I’ve received from Roman Abramovich I owe it to them to discuss anything with them first.”
(Skysports.com, 2010)
I have supported Liverpool since I was a young boy… I was born in the North but my Mum was from the South, every 2 weeks we would go to my grandmothers house who lived in Kent… Because I was football crazy my mum and grandparents decided to take me to Chelsea matches, but I wasn’t interested one little bit. This resulted in them bribing me to go to the games with a packet of Salt & Vinegar crisps and a can of coke, because in all honesty who wants to watch Chelsea and especially in those days *grin* however a close friend to my mums family was a Scouser… yes a proper one, and he is the reason I got into Liverpool… As soon as you hear the Kop sing, it’s like nothing else matters and from that moment onwards it was to be Liverpool for life.
Today I stand by that decision, even if we are not Winning the league by default like we used to do in the 70’s and 80’s… Being a guy who was born in the middle of the 80’s, by the time I had any sense of direction in this football mad world Liverpool were no longer winning by default, but this is why I am telling you this story… Because although many think that we only count for umpteen league titles, European Cups, Domestic Cups, etc… this only counts for 10% which defines us as Liverpool fans… We are the fans who understand this beautiful game, we love our club through thick and thin, till death do us part. We also understand that without any bricks you can’t build a house and even if we have bricks who are not so good bricks(Lucas) we still stick by them and support them all the way… Because that red shirt means more to us than probably life itself.
We have an anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone” which we cherish with every breath we take, and unlike many other clubs who use this, it is our true identity because we actually live up to this famous saying with the deeds and support we give to our team/club even if the people in charge are not what we want. However, it is starting to emerge that our supporters are starting to divide into two groups… The true Liverpool fan and the anxious “I am a glory-hunter but I don’t like Man Utd so Liverpool is my alternative”. Unfortunately these people are starting their panic attacks and directing them at the wrong people(Rafael Benitez). They neglect facts and figures to brainwash the fragile among us and want him replaced by a guy who first wants the all clear from one of our rivals, which to me is totally unacceptable and quite insulting to be honest.
The light at the end of the tunnel could be making that 4th spot ours, and if not… Maybe it will get rid of some of these fickle, glory-hunting morons who wrongfully call themselves Liverpool fans
YNWA!
Michael Fish
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