New campaign, new ambition
Aug 10 2007
Fan Scene
by Sam Johnstone, Liverpool Daily Post
THE saying goes that wealth breeds wealth, and this pre-season goes someway to proving that. The wealth of the owners has lead to the wealth of talent now at Rafa’s disposal, which in turn has lead to a wealth of expectation for the new campaign.
It’s been one of the most interesting pre-seasons I can remember, with major signings, new stadium plans, the odd court battle and the manager’s new goatee all adding to the build-up.
There were a few departures, some of whom will be greatly missed (Adios Luis Garcia), some less so, but the imagination has really been captured by the new boys arriving at Anfield.
There’s no doubt that Torres and Babel are the names that got pulses racing, but I’ve been extremely impressed by Voronin (Picture above) and Benayoun. Yossi we know about already, but Andriy is a player that few of us had encountered before.
I remember him vaguely in a couple of Champion’s League matches, but he’s been a revelation since he pulled on the red shirt. By far Liverpool’s most impressive pre-season player, he looks the type that the supporters will take to their hearts; big, strong, passionate and hard-working, he seems to be a player of great intelligence, as witnessed in the link-up play with Gerrard, Crouch and Kuyt.
The fact that Rafa has gone out and brought in great attacking players bodes well for the new season.
I’ve always been surprised when we’ve been described as dour over the past couple of years, but it’s true that we’ve needed more of an edge in the last third, and the arrival of the big four names looks like that is being addressed.
Thanks have to go to Messrs. Gillet and Hicks for backing the manager with the money to improve the squad, but we should also be hugely grateful for the proposed new stadium.
There may be a sizeable minority of supporters still not convinced on the need to move grounds, but after seeing the designs for the new stadium I’m guessing a lot would have been won round.
It’s staggering! I’ve never seen anything like it before and it will create a new identity for the club. The new Spion Kop alone will make this an iconic stadium, envied the world over, but the overall design is so far ahead of any other football ground that we can hold our heads high and say “This is New Anfield” with pride.
The perfect scenario would be for the naming rights not to be an issue, though.
Of course, it’s a handy revenue stream that could be tapped, but as we’ve bucked the trend with the design and stuck with a classic British non-bowl stadium, why not go the whole hog and just keep Anfield as the name?
I’m sure this debate will rage on over the coming months and years, but if the owners are as clued up on the traditions and history of the club as we think they are, they will hopefully give a lot of thought as to whether we actually need a stadium sponsor.
Still, as long as the names of Shankly, Paisley, Fagan and Dalglish are celebrated in the stadium somehow…
So, we’ve got the owners, we’ve got the squad, we’ve got the manager and we’ve got the supporters…what can stop us now?
A great start is needed, beginning with Villa tomorrow, and the lads need to keep their eyes on number 19 throughout the campaign.
Rafa knows it and we know it; a cup would be nice, but we want the League.
It’s been far too long away from Anfield, and though we aren’t cocky as a rule, there’s a real feeling around that we can do it this time.
Aug 10 2007
Fan Scene
by Sam Johnstone, Liverpool Daily Post
THE saying goes that wealth breeds wealth, and this pre-season goes someway to proving that. The wealth of the owners has lead to the wealth of talent now at Rafa’s disposal, which in turn has lead to a wealth of expectation for the new campaign.
It’s been one of the most interesting pre-seasons I can remember, with major signings, new stadium plans, the odd court battle and the manager’s new goatee all adding to the build-up.
There were a few departures, some of whom will be greatly missed (Adios Luis Garcia), some less so, but the imagination has really been captured by the new boys arriving at Anfield.
There’s no doubt that Torres and Babel are the names that got pulses racing, but I’ve been extremely impressed by Voronin (Picture above) and Benayoun. Yossi we know about already, but Andriy is a player that few of us had encountered before.
I remember him vaguely in a couple of Champion’s League matches, but he’s been a revelation since he pulled on the red shirt. By far Liverpool’s most impressive pre-season player, he looks the type that the supporters will take to their hearts; big, strong, passionate and hard-working, he seems to be a player of great intelligence, as witnessed in the link-up play with Gerrard, Crouch and Kuyt.
The fact that Rafa has gone out and brought in great attacking players bodes well for the new season.
I’ve always been surprised when we’ve been described as dour over the past couple of years, but it’s true that we’ve needed more of an edge in the last third, and the arrival of the big four names looks like that is being addressed.
Thanks have to go to Messrs. Gillet and Hicks for backing the manager with the money to improve the squad, but we should also be hugely grateful for the proposed new stadium.
There may be a sizeable minority of supporters still not convinced on the need to move grounds, but after seeing the designs for the new stadium I’m guessing a lot would have been won round.
It’s staggering! I’ve never seen anything like it before and it will create a new identity for the club. The new Spion Kop alone will make this an iconic stadium, envied the world over, but the overall design is so far ahead of any other football ground that we can hold our heads high and say “This is New Anfield” with pride.
The perfect scenario would be for the naming rights not to be an issue, though.
Of course, it’s a handy revenue stream that could be tapped, but as we’ve bucked the trend with the design and stuck with a classic British non-bowl stadium, why not go the whole hog and just keep Anfield as the name?
I’m sure this debate will rage on over the coming months and years, but if the owners are as clued up on the traditions and history of the club as we think they are, they will hopefully give a lot of thought as to whether we actually need a stadium sponsor.
Still, as long as the names of Shankly, Paisley, Fagan and Dalglish are celebrated in the stadium somehow…
So, we’ve got the owners, we’ve got the squad, we’ve got the manager and we’ve got the supporters…what can stop us now?
A great start is needed, beginning with Villa tomorrow, and the lads need to keep their eyes on number 19 throughout the campaign.
Rafa knows it and we know it; a cup would be nice, but we want the League.
It’s been far too long away from Anfield, and though we aren’t cocky as a rule, there’s a real feeling around that we can do it this time.
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