Hyypia : You're STILL cherished, fully appreciated by us - LFC Fans

The FIFA rule is stinky, says Hyypia. Yeah we know. We agree with you.

Rick Perry is not a popular man in the club now. Not when he is seen to be on a collision course always with Rafa. We - the fans - tend to be bias towards Rafa, simply because Rafa is the manager and not the Chief Executive. However, in his own column featured in the liverpoolfc.tv a few days ago, I read with delight when Perry touch on the issue of Hyypia's cruel exclusion from the Champions League lists. Everybody is trying their hard to understand how in the world such a player of Hyypia's pedigree could be left out. Read below the piece by Perry:

• Sami Hyypia received a tremendous reception when he appeared on the touchline to warm up during the United game. The fans were still clearly reflecting on the difficult decision to leave him out of our Champions League squad at this stage because of the new UEFA rule that makes us include at least eight homegrown players in a squad of 25.
• Obviously the rule is starting to bite. First it was four players, then six and now eight. There are a number of Group games to play, but we also face a huge number of important Premier League matches.
• Clearly, we now have a bigger squad that includes four centre-backs and I have no doubt that this was one of the things Rafa took into account because of Sami's Premier League experience and his suitability for a lot of very important matches in this area. It's also a situation that can be reviewed again in January.
• It's a tactical decision rather than having anything to do with Sami. You have to make these painful decisions when new rules come into force. There is an increasing pressure internationally. FIFA have been talking about the 6 and 5 rule pointing to six homegrown players in every team which would be much more Draconian. There is talk about not allowing young players to move from one country to another below the age of 18. They would have to sign a contract with the club that trained them. It points to a lot more debate on issues like this.

I hope those lines won't be construed as just an excuse by the top brass. I would like to believe the whole scenario. Admittedly, age is not with Hyypia and we are relying more to his experience, his ability to read the games and to outmanoeuvred strikers with speedy legs than his. So Rafa have brought in the young guns in Skrtel, Agger, Arbelloa and of course, Carra is still 30 and still a Great Wall of China, in terms of defence. May be it is good for the future of our team. May be, if Hyypia thinks this is his last season with us - let it be the Glorious Season with us holding the Premier League Champion Cup.