Reports abound about Rafa’s imminent departure for Juventus. I don’t want that to happen but who could blame him?
Having got within a whisker of the coveted title last season, maybe the addition of a little quality and some decent and experienced players would have seen us reach the heights every fan wants to achieve.
As it was a quality player left in Alonso, along with a decent experienced player in Arbeloa. These were replaced by, in my opinion, a quality (but injured) player Aquilani and a decent experienced player in Kyrgiakos. The addition of Glen Johnson improved the quality of the squad but that was more or less it. No much needed strengthening in the depth of the squad.
Forlan was a player I was talking about last year as someone who would be a great asset to our squad. He was playing really well, had experience of the Premiership (as we know to our cost) and is now a much better player. He would, well should, have been affordable. We of course didn't get him or anyone else of that ilk.
Sadly football now is controlled by money more than it ever was and when Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid rode into L4 it Liverpool turned RED in a way that none of us imagined.
For three years Rafa has had to wheel and deal in the transfer market – selling the very players who add strength to a squad to fund the purchase of players needed in certain positions. It just is not sustainable. That’s why there are mid-table teams and teams at the top. Those at the top don’t wheel and deal, they make their purchases to strengthen the squad, replace the mistakes that have been made with better players and so keep on strengthening.
I’m not going to go into the finer detail of Rafa’s transfers or the policy foisted upon him. Others such as Paul Tomkins have done that in great detail and he also covers it in a recent post http://tomkinstimes.com/2010/04/transfer-tosh/
The owners, Butch and Sundance, have robbed our bank, told lies to escape the law (fit and proper owners?) and hopefully are about to ride off into the sunset if a quote from the film runs true…
“Butch and me have been talking it all over. Wherever the hell Bolivia is, that's where we're off to…”
For me the only thing that can keep Rafa at Anfield now is a swift conclusion to the sale of the club and cast iron guarantees that the effort he undoubtedly puts in is rewarded with the backing he deserves to move our great club on.
I hope that Rafa considers his efforts over the time he’s been here and decides to finish the job he’s started. It would be nice if he could declare once and for all he’s staying, maybe by running to Kop, putting his shirt over his head to reveal a t-shirt with the message:
“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls... meet... the future!”
But how can he with the current turmoil at the club??
Oh well, just over four hours to kick off now and I am slowly beginning to think of the game. Let's big up the support, put on a great performance and show Rafa what he'd be missing.
Even though…those raindrops are fallin' on my head and they keep fallin', there's one thing I know, the blues they send to meet me won't defeat me and it won't be long till happiness steps up to greet me.
YNWA
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