WHAT A START TO THE PRESEASON (11/7/05)
Gerrard steps toward/back from the brink ... Reina/Zenden arrive ... Sissoko snatched from Everton's grasp - Figo, Gallas next?
In a series of misunderstandings between Steven Gerrard, his agent and club management that would have made Basil Fawlty blush, Liverpool rejected a 32M pound bid from Chelsea for their captain, Gerrard rejected a new 100K a week contract and indicated he'd be walking out on the club, then the next morning Liverpool General Manager Rick Parry announced that Gerrard's heartstrings had pulled on him and that he would be staying after all. Gerrard then re-signed with the club for four years along with fellow scouser Jamie Carragher on Friday.
The cost to the club of Gerrard staying is the 32M pounds or more that the club would have got had he made his exit. So is it a good thing or a bad thing that he is staying? Well, if we could have signed Pablo Aimar as a replacement for Gerrard for 12-15M as was rumoured earlier in the year, it probably would have been better for him to leave.
Gerrard has a number of strengths that Aimar simply cannot compare to, not least of which is his power, exemplified by his ability to win the ball and break from midfield. However, Aimar is far more polished in attack, and could be expected to slide more angled balls into the feet of our strikers on the break, which is something that Cisse in particular could be expected to benefit from given his pace. Most Liverpool fans would remember the artistry with which Kaka tormented our team in the first half in Istanbul. Well Aimar, if anything, has quicker feet and better ball control. In those terms, a trade of Gerrard for Aimar plus 17M+ pounds would look like a great piece of business.
That said, there is an argument that says selling Gerrard would have signalled the end of Liverpool as a "big club", as big clubs simply don't part with world class players in their prime (Gary Lineker has taken up this argument in yesterday's papers). I think silverware is really the ultimate factor in determining whether a club is a big one or not, there is some merit in this line of thinking. And Liverpool's club management must also have surely asked themselves the question: would the club pay 32M to have a player with Gerrard's potential join the club if he were not their already? Maybe, maybe not, but then again they might never get the chance with sharks like Real Madrid and Chelsea constantly circling. To be honest, I'm more than a little surprised one of those two has not moved in for Aimar.
It really is up to Gerrard to put the past behind him and deliver the goods consistently this season. I'm sure he can justify the faith of the club and the implicit 32M price tag - but the question is, will he?
The one big downer to come out of it was Gerrard's comment after our first preseason game against Wrexham regarding the fans' reactions to this week's saga: "They (the fans) were very close to losing their best player, so I can understand people getting frustrated". That's right, mere days after the saga has concluded he's referring to himself as our best player. Given that he's apparently trying to patch up things with the manager, teammates and fans, designating yourself the standout player at the club hardly seems a wise move. For my money, Carragher and Xabi Alonso are better players than Gerrard on the form of last season anyway, though certainly Stevie can earn the label this season.
REINA/ZENDEN ARRIVE
Jose Reina and Bolo Zenden are two highly significant additions to the squad, for reasons more fully outlined in my accompanying piece on the areas in which Liverpool need to improve.
Reina is a player I really like. He plays the game with a certain arrogance that all top keepers seems to have, almost as if he is amused by opponents attempts to beat him. I think he will go a long way to addressing some of the problems that Liverpool had in defence last season.
Zenden will add cut and thrust from the Liverpool midfield. A problem for Liverpool last season was that we struggled to make the most of counterattacking opportunities in the Premiership in the way we did in Europe. Gerrard and the mostly injured Kewell aside, not many in our midfield are great at running at the defence on the break. Zenden will be a big part in addressing that.
I don't know anything about either of the other two signings, Antonio Barragan and Mark Gonzalez. I imagine most Reds' fans would be in the same position. All we can do is sit and wait on those two.
SISSOKO SNATCHED FROM EVERTON'S GRASP - FIGO AND GALLAS NEXT?
Liverpool have snatched Mohamed Sissoko from the hands of Everton. Setting aside the glee at denying the Toffees a signing, Sissoko will be one to watch. I have seen him play a handful of times for Valencia, and in my estimate he will be an improvement on the cover in central midfield. Importantly, he covers the pitch well and will force turnovers to fuel our counterattack. Benitez's faith in the player is demonstrated by the 5M transfer fee - for that money he could almost have gone in for Scott Parker or alternatively topped up his bid for Dirk Kuyt. I think you'll be impressed by what you see from Sissoko this season and in years to come.
Luis Figo and William Gallas may be the next arrivals at Anfield - we can only hope.