When I looked over the Melwood training ground wall in 2001 I was surprised to see that the starting eleven for the weekend game was playing against…well, no one. I watched the ball leave Westerveld’s hands for Babbels assured feet. He passed inside to Hamman who managed to resist the temptation to pass it back to Henchoz. Henchoz was, although perhaps not, heard to shout that it was ‘too tight’ as he retreated to the eighteen-yard box. Hamman played the ball into Owen who spun his marker (indulge me) and raced of into the right wing area where he delivered a pinpoint cross that rolled across the six-yard box to Heskey who only had the crisp packet to beat. Heskey, to the stool brigade’s surprise rolled the ball nicely into the goal and added another one to his total for that season.
The purpose of all this nostalgia is that when watching Liverpool in 2004 it finally occurred to me that Houllier would be a great coach and Liverpool a great team if they were allowed to play no one every week. Houllier has developed a team which is the archetypal coaches dream and in principle and on paper should play the correct and modern way of playing with a strong defence, a holding midfielder, technically correct midfielders and fast, athletic forwards. However and unfortunately we play football on grass and maybe in the future on astroturf, if UEFA get their way. Houlliers team demonstrates a lack of other vital modern day qualities such as pacey defenders, deep lying goal-scoring midfielders, quick wide men who can go forwards and backwards. Finally his team misses an ingredient that transcends all era’s of football, quality.
There are many elements of Houlliers reign that fans will discuss and argue for hours. I recognise and commend his rehabilitation of Liverpool, as a professional outfit that did what all football clubs at every level should be about, winning trophies. His commitment to professionalism and bringing in the right character was excellent decision making and he got his reward with five trophies. However, something did not just feel right even when two of Liverpool’s players were often picking up cups. Firstly the style was functional rather than extravagant and, although admittedly Liverpool scored 127 goals, they rarely steamrollered teams. The defence was strong yet an inability for central defenders to carry the ball over the halfway line meant midfielders were playing deeper than required and an over reliance on Owen and Heskey’s speed occurred. Boring? Talentless? Emphatically no. Owen, Gerrard, Hyypia, Henchoz, Hamman and even Fowler (remember him?) were outstanding players who all gave sustained good performances. The decision to sign and play McAllister was a shrewd decision, which was rewarded with an outstanding end to the season from the aggressive Scot. However, the decision not to replace McAllister was a horrendous misjudgement of his own teams skills and abilities. McAllister had proven quality. All signings since then have proved unsuccessful. Diouf, Cheyrou, Diao, Dimode, Biscan, Riise (a moderate success) were not proven quality and should never have been purchased collectively at such high prices. They have overall been disastrous signings and ultimately I fear they will be Houllier’s legacy like the unfortunate Torben Piehnick was for Souness.
The club has taken a slow step backwards over the last two years, which is demonstrated by the lack of imagination within the team. It is not an exaggeration to suggest that Steven Gerrard is currently carrying a team, which has huffed and puffed for two consecutive years. The injuries and bad luck, which Houllier often refers to, have been a factor. However, a reliance on playing players out of position or changing their roles will never win league titles. Players such as Carragher, a midfielder turned defender (albeit a good one); Biscan, a midfielder turned defender; Riise, midfielder or defender? Murphy, inside or outside midfielder? Gerrard, wide, deep, attacking, coming from the left, why not just let the man play centre midfield? Diouf, forward turned midfielder; Heskey, forward turned bar room joke; Smicer, midfielder turned forward-cum-training-ground player; Diao, world-cup-hero midfielder turned reserve team right back; Kewell, attacking left midfielder turned forward floater a la Rodney Marsh. Rodney did not win a lot did he? There is no doubt all these players are good players, but are they footballers and more importantly are they Liverpool players? Do they have pace, skill, ability and attitude? Other than Gerrard and Owen do any of those listed above have all those qualities? Emphatically no again.
Therefore where does Liverpool go from here? Firstly a cash injection is necessary but if it comes I know every Liverpool fan has a worry and asks the same question, which is, “do you want Houllier to spend it?” We do not trust him with our money, which ultimately is a lack of faith. I like him, most fans do, but do we want to spend £14 million on a temperamental Cisse who is not proven at the top level? I know I do not want him to. I would not trust him with my pocket money. Liverpool truly are at the crossroads at the moment and I do not think they realise how much so. The financial implications of future signings to come will affect the club for the next decade but as a fan I should support and say something Houllier is fond of saying to, and about, his players, “ I believe in you Gerard, I trust in you” Was that convincing? Unfortunately it was as convincing as Gerard speaking about Igor. Gerard is fond of talking about the storm but can he lead us through the clouds and into the sunset or will he be walking alone? We shall see what the future brings.
please feel free to reply and let me know if you agree with what i have said.
