Full steam ahead

The season's underway and qualification for the Champions League is assured.

Last week at Sheffield United wasn't great, but it wasn't as bad as some people made out. A stuttering start to the season some of the press have said. Rubbish. Chelsea have lost two of their first three games - I don't see anyone saying they won't win the title.

A lot of new faces have arrived at Anfield over the summer and the squad is stronger in depth, and stronger in quality than last year. Much stronger than the side that won the Champions League.

We have a big season ahead, we already have a trophy under our belt, and in my opinion we have the players and the ability to seriously challenge for the title this year. Rafa's job is not only to get the best out of the players but also to keep such a highly talented squad motivated when they may not be playing every week. Bellamy and Pennant have both arrived following chequered careers and both will have an opportunity to shine at the highest level - Pennant will also be motivated to try and claw back an international career.

Dirk Kuyt has been another important signing. His record in the Dutch league speaks for itself, and we hope he adapts as well as Horse-face did at United rather than Kezman at Chelsea. We have had loads of emails from Feyenoord fans wishing him all the best, saying how much of a great player we have signed. We don't often get this from opposing fans so it shows how highly regarded the player was at his club.

This season should also see a bit more of an advance on the New Stadium issue. I think the club desperately need to find a solution - Liverpool are one of the biggest clubs in the World and certainly one of the most succesful. We should be able to attract sufficient investment to begin this kind of development. Maybe we suffer because of our unusual management structure - we are at times a family club operating in a highly commercial world. The Chairman David Moores has always had the club's best interests at heart, a true Liverpool supporter, and he was obviously instrumental in bringing Rafa to Anfield. But we must consider all the options in terms of investment for our great club. The new Carlsberg and new adidas deals signed last Spring highlight the issue.

The financing of these deals should easily be outstripping the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham but they are not. As European champions we seemed to have failed to capitalise on this in the way we should.

However, this is not intended to be a doom and gloom article. The future's bright - certainly on the field. An exciting array of players - a side filled to the brim with attacking players.

It's going to be a superb season. Here's hoping for that elusive and eagerly anticipated number 19 travelling through Liverpool next May.

Ian
Co-Editor
www.anfield-online.co.uk

Whats your verdict? Contact us here