Qatar 2022 World Cup - Blatternt shambles

The man himself, revealing the host of the 2022 World Cup

It was 2010. The year the pompous, arrogant and deluded FIFA president Sepp Blatter awarded Qatar the rights to host the 2022 World Cup, much to the surprise, or not, of many around the globe. Having beaten off strong competition from; Australia, Korea Republic, Japan and USA, a feeling of shock and apprehension filtered round the world.

Immediate questions were brought up about the climate, 40-50 degrees of relentless desert sunshine during the traditional June to July months that World Cups are usually held, were the first of the concerns. Why would Sepp choose a location that’s as arid as Qatar? *Cough* Bribery *Cough*.

Initially to combat the searing heat of the Qatar sun, it was suggested that games would be played in the evenings and at night, accompanied by air-conditioned stadiums. This was a rather expensive idea. But what’s too expensive for Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani, the leading name behind the oil-rich Qatar bid? I mean, it was probably money that won the bid in the first place (don’t seem so surprised).

However it all went quiet in the media at the time about Qatar 2022 with two World Cups preceding the controversial event, Brazil 2014; a country that had its own problems and Russia 2018; also not without controversy.

With the legacy of Brazil 2014 long gone, attention has turned to Qatar again with the newest revelation announced that it would take place in the November and December months rather than the British summer as it always has done. Consequently this will cause havoc domestically in Europe with many Leagues being disrupted, with the majority of players likely to be playing at European clubs. Insanity right?

Well, to ease the pain for us all, Mr. Blatter has in the last few days said that the final will take place no later than December 18^th. Fantastic! That is just the solution that everyone was hoping for! – I can imagine this ran through his nonsensical head as the desired reaction, and probably what he thought would actually happen, such is the man.

So it seems a winter World Cup is becoming a reality. Terrific. But is this episode of antics that were getting used to the biggest problem? What about the 1000’s of deaths in constructing the stadiums, do they not get a mention? Of course not. FIFA’s rich conglomerate status can shut down anything and everything using their powerful lawyers to cover up any little detail they wish to remain unseen.

So obviously from a football perspective, a winter World Cup is not ideal, but from an ethical and human right perspective, it’s far worse. Deaths and proof of briberies are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg as far as FIFA goes, but no one cares it seems. I’ve only seen minimal coverage regarding the shocking deaths of workers something that just gets swept under the carpet. Bribes on the other hand are only allegations although it’s pretty much certain that it happens, but when FIFA possess so much power, probably nothing will ever be concrete with this matter.

So, will football come to its senses? More importantly, will FIFA come it its senses? One can only hope that Luis Figo or another candidate can dethrone the beast that is Blatter in the upcoming elections, however unlikely this may seem.

Liverpool's new system paying dividends

The new formation that's proven a success

After yesterday’s fantastic 2-0 win against Southampton, it was highlighted by Brendan Rodgers in his post-match interview that Coutinho’s wonderful opener was down to the system before acknowledging the individual brilliance.

‘It was a wonderful goal, I think in terms of the system and how we play it was a great demonstration of that… moving the ball out onto the sides, draws the team across and then allows the central players the space’ Rodgers said to the BBC before explaining that it was actually a phenomenal piece of skill.

I think crediting a goal of that type to the system is a little farfetched. Players get space in the middle a number of times in a game, it’s just wasted in most cases or just passed wide.

But ‘Brodgers’, as Noel Gallagher called Brendan on Match of the Day 2, does have a point when talking about the new system and its effectiveness, although I think the focus should be at the other end of the pitch, the improved defence.

There is no doubt that after last season’s sensational campaign, where Liverpool finished second in the league only 2 points behind the eventual winners Man City, that the defence had to be improved. ‘The Brodge’ went to work in the summer transfer market signing three new defenders to patch up the leaky defence. Moreno, Lovren and Manquillo were brought in for a lot of money (Manquillo on loan) as a solution.

In the early parts of the season the signings seemed futile. Goals continued to be shipped in at the wrong end, in fact the defence had got worse with the addition of the new signings. However I wouldn’t attribute the problems entirely on the new boys. Mignolet, Skrtel and Glen Johnson were particularly error prone and performing well below par, attracting much criticism.

Something had to be done with the club languishing in the lower depths of the top half.

It was Sunday 14th of December, Man United away. One of the biggest fixtures in the domestic calendar. Things looked bleak following elimination from the Champions League at home in a dismal 1-1 draw with Basel the previous Tuesday. A change was needed. Pressure was most certainly on Rodgers in the toughest period of his fledgling managerial career. How would he respond? A change of formation.

It came as a surprise to the media and fans alike when Liverpool changed formation and went with a 3-4-2-1 with wingbacks. Especially in light of the defensive problems that had troubled the club. The decision to play no recognised striker was also a shock, instead deploying Raheem Sterling through the middle with Lallana and Coutinho in close proximity. It offered far more movement in the final third in place of the labouring Balotelli, who at the time still hadn’t scored his first Premier League goal.

To sum up, Liverpool lost 3-0, a score line that flattered Man United in a game where Liverpool had the better chances but met an inspired Man United goalkeeper in David de Gea, who saved everything that came in his direction.

Despite the result, the performance was much improved. Far more movement and energy in the final third, far more pressure put on the opponent in possession, a feature of the Liverpool side of last season that hounded opposition into submission before killing them off with deadly finishing. The trio of Sterling, Lallana and Coutinho looked to bear fruit with bright performances, despite their missed chances.

It turned out to be a stepping stone and a platform to improve from having only lost one game (the away leg in the capital one cup semi-final against Chelsea after extra time) since the defeat. Rodgers persisted with the three at the back and has brought in Emre Can and Mamadou Sakho since to flank Martin Skrtel. The three have since formed a solid basis and are a fundamental reason for the incredible turn around and form of late.

It’s a formation that complements the players Liverpool have at this current time. Obviously Can isn’t a centre back by trade, but he’s excelled in the position and for such a young man, the future looks bright. Skrtel and Sakho look far more comfortable as part of a back three with the extra man next to them. Alberto Moreno looks far better with slightly less defensive responsibility and more license to get forward, something that was catching him out when part of a back four. Lazar Markovic has performed better as a wingback than a winger and the addition of Lucas to midfield has been crucial, someone to break up the play. Gerrard is being used far more sporadically which seems to have benefitted the team as there’s less of a reliance on the talismanic captain, and players like Henderson and Coutinho have stepped up to the plate.

The positioning of the defence has also been much improved. A more solid structure as part of a back three with more help from midfield and a more mobile attack has contributed to the defensive enhancement. I must not forget to mention Simon Mignolet and his return to form has been a definitive factor, and also Jordon Ibe coming into the side and performing extraordinarily. Even Balotelli looks to have upped his game despite Rodgers’ recent outburst criticising his work rate. The fact that Daniel Sturridge hasn’t had to be rushed back like many thought he would is testament to the new system and the incredible turn around that Rodgers has martialled. He is no doubt going to be a huge player between now and the end of the season.

Testament to Rodgers, he’s improved the side defensively, with five clean sheets in a row away from home in the League. Credit where credit’s due. Experimenting with a formation that’s been tried and often criticised by many, such as when Man United use it, Louis Van Gaal has been lambasted by the media and fans.

Obviously its early days of the revival, and nothing has been achieved yet, but if form continues as it has been, then top four is a realistic ambition which was unfathomable late last year. Rodgers has passed his latest test and continues to go from strength to strength, no doubt highlighted by the win at Southampton yesterday, a game if played in October, would more than likely have ended in defeat.

I’m going to stop sucking up to Rodgers now. Let’s just say he’s done a great job and leave it at that. The new system is most certainly paying dividends.

Let me know if you agree!

Jordon Ibe - Anfield's New Hero

Ibe with one of his many explosive runs against Besiktas on Thursday 

Now, before anyone says anything, yes, I know Ibe has only made a handful of appearances since being recalled from Derby and calling him a ‘hero’ is a little farfetched, but he’s really hit the ground running.

After Liverpool’s latest win against Beşiktaş on Thursday, a 1-0 success, pundits and fans alike have been purring at Jordon Ibe’s latest performance. He was so good that he was subsequently awarded the man of the match, underlying his undoubted talent.

His performance was full of energy, skill, directness and intelligence as he has the opposing left back tied up in knots with several runs causing havoc down the right-hand side. After an impressive showing, he wore down the opponent’s defence which eventually lead to him being fouled in the box, winning a penalty for Liverpool – we won’t go there.

It’s unfortunate that the fracas surrounding who took the penalty has taken away the limelight from Ibe, as without it, the football world would surely be all over themselves about how good he could be. Well, Liverpool fans at least.

Jordon Ibe burst onto the scene at a mere 15 when scoring on his starting debut for Wycombe Wanderers in October 2011, a 2-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday. Signed up by Wycombe as a 12 year old following his release from Charlton, he made remarkable progress, which was shown when they were willing to throw him into the first team at such a tender age.

He didn’t last long at Wycombe. Bigger and better things were on the horizon. Liverpool came calling just after his 16^th birthday and signed a deal with the club for an undisclosed compensation fee. He would join up with the u18s.

Ibe has since been out on loan at Birmingham and Derby in the Championship to gain vital first team experience, a system that has proven dividends many times, look at Harry Kane. It was his most recent spell at Derby that caught many onlookers’ attention. With a series of energetic performances he certainly endeared himself to the Derby faithful, which consequently prompted Rodgers to recall him, this was instead of making a signing showing the level of faith he has in Ibe’s ability.

Not long after being recalled, he was handed a start against Everton in the Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park, his first appearance since his return to the club. In a drab game, Ibe was one of the bright lights of the match, particularly with his thundering effort for outside the box cannoning high off the post after a mazy run. This was a sign of things to come leading to his outstanding display against Beşiktaş yesterday.

His talent seems limitless, much like Raheem Sterling, he can achieve what he wants from the game. Much comparison has been drawn between the two, boasting similar attributes; skill, pace and intelligence. They both have and an understanding of the game that’s remarkable considering their age. Both evidently have a football brain taking up clever positions on the pitch with cunning off the ball runs and astute decision making.

However, Ibe seems to me to have a lot more strength and directness, plus a more powerful shot, something that lets Sterling down on occasions. He has a long way to go to the considered on the same level, but he is certainly on the pathway to stardom providing he keeps his feet on the ground.

He has the fundamental attributes to become a hero at Liverpool.

                                                                                                                                                           

Do stats ruin football?

Stats. They’re everywhere. All you have to do is watch football for 5 minutes and you’re bombarded with 5473 stats about pass completion, shot accuracy or how many Arsenal fans have voted in the latest poll about the quality Olivier Giroud’s hair.

But do they ruin football? Do players become so self-conscious about they’re heat map or shot conversion percentage that it actually inhibits performance? I've been reliably informed that some players actually check their stats from the previous game on a Monday morning after the weekend’s fixture. Mad? Maybe.

Of course, there are some purposes that they’re beneficial, for example I have no problem with scoring stats, or to an extent assist stats, they actually give a good indication to a players form. However it’s when the media become obsessed with stats like pass completion that I believe football is beginning to be ruined.

Since when was it not ok to fully focus on the stat that’s usually in the top left of the screen? That little thing called the score? The only stat that actually matters. The only one that determines the result of the game.

But no, it’s touch maps, distance covered and tackles won that are at the forefront of the modern pundits’ mind. Don’t get me wrong, it gives the media plenty to talk about to fill the time. Half time, full time, all the time with ‘stuff’, often irrelevant to matches.

I was in the pub recently with friends, having a group debate about football, and the age old argument about Messi and Ronaldo popped up, who’d have thought. It seems to be the case that you’re either pro Messi or pro Ronaldo, you just can’t be a fan of both. However the debate quickly turned to using stats to back those involved up. Messi has scored 108 goals in 32 games, Ronaldo has scored 123 in 38 games. Well obviously not, but the exaggeration levels were reaching fever pitch. Incredible stat after stat reeled off explaining why one was better than the other. However how many games this season had anyone watched them play? Only a handful.  How can you judge a player you’ve barely watched? Oh, of course, by using stats.

So back to the argument whether stats inhibit performance, they probably do. But it’s an immeasurable concept, something that no stat can be provided for. Players like Joe Allen and Tom Cleverley (there are others) pride themselves on their ‘ability’ to never give the ball away. The stats do back this up; Joe Allen has an 88% pass completion this season, Tom Cleverley is at 87%, which in all fairness is impressive as a standalone figure.  But it doesn't take a football genius to watch either of them and realise that they’re very ineffective in most games. Sideways pass after sideways pass, very little invention and a timid outlook looking forward paints a much more accurate picture. Maybe their passing figures are on the forefront of their mind rather that if they can affect the game.

My criticism of stats doesn't stop here. In my opinion football has been Americanised in a lot of ways, not least stats. An example of this is basketball which is far more figure and number based than football, but football is slowly catching up.

Football used to be about a grass pitch, a ball and two teams trying to score more than the other. It’s an extremely simple game. No longer it seems, certainly from an analysis point of view.

It’s players like Andres Iniesta that break away from the clutches of stat based judgement. Statistically, he’s not the most impressive, only a handful of goals and assists per season, numbers that would have players such as Gylfi Sigurdsson deemed poor. But is Iniesta one of a few players worthy of escaping stat based critique?

I would argue that most players should. I’m not going to claim that impressive goal and assist tallies mean nothing and should be disregarded when judging a player, but it shouldn't be so protruding when judging some players. It’s the overall contribution that gets ignored by stats based findings, something that’s much more relevant than perceived by many football fans.

Facts and figures miss out so many vital elements of a player and their ability, quality of first touch, awareness, football intelligence are just some of the things that can’t be quantified yet imperative to any quality player.  

Stats have become so prominent in football that even Arsene Wenger, one of the most careful and astute transfer dealers, reportedly used stats to weigh up and sign new Arsenal signing Gabriel Paulista from Villarreal. Boasting impressive duels won, tackles won and clearances made numbers, all seems well, but can he position himself defensively when containing the play? Only time will tell.

There will always be arguments that stats do indeed enhance our knowledge of football, to an extent they do. They allow us to analyse players in ways that were never accessible even 10 years ago. The rate of growth in the use of stats proves that they’re well regarded even by the most respected names in football. I’m playing devil’s advocate here by heavily critiquing their validity, however my point stands that they warp our opinion on how good players are, or aren't.

Do stats ruin football? Not entirely, but I do feel that some players are heavily influenced by them as mentioned. They should be used in moderation, without risk of sounding like your mum when talking about alcohol.

Sterling contract talks rumble on

Sterling celebrating a goal against Arsenal in 2014

As contract talks surrounding Raheem Sterling rumble on like they have been for the last few months, will he won’t he sign seems to be the subject of much debate. But can Liverpool really afford to lose him?

It was as a 17 year old that Brendan Rodgers decided to give Sterling his first League start, in August 2012, against Man City in a 2-2 home draw after a series of bright performances in friendlies and Europa League qualifiers.

Sterling enjoyed a sharp rise to prominence with a host of excellent performances since his debut and scored his first Premier League goal in a 1-0 victory against Reading at Anfield in October 2012. His performances hadn't gone un-noticed, with Roy Hodgson keeping tabs on the talented youngster, well aware he was eligible for Jamaica as well as England. As a result he was awarded his full England debut against Sweden in a friendly, still at the age of 17.

So a world beater, wonderkid, mega talent – you name it, Sterling had probably been described that way – which is what happens when an English youngster has a handful of good games. He was subsequently offered a bumper contract extension and signed a new deal on 21^st December 2012.

There was a period of 2013 where he went quiet, performances stuttered and he looked fatigued. Quite understandable of an 18 year old playing regular first team football. As a result, Rodgers did the right thing and withdrew him from the limelight.

It seemed to work wonders as when he was reintroduced back into the first team picture on a regular basis late into 2013, his game took off. He formed a formidable trio with Sturridge and Suarez, contributing to one the most dangerous attacks in Europe. It was perfect timing as Liverpool were mounting a serious title challenge for the first time since the 2008/09 season.

Confidence, pace, goals in important games including a brace in the 5-1 demolition of Arsenal, everything was falling into place for the then 19 year old who was starting to fulfil his enormous potential.

Excelling in a season where Liverpool went so close, he was rewarded with a 2014 World Cup call up and after calls from the media and fans, he was given a starting birth in the opening match against Italy. Despite a disappointing 2-1 defeat, this was the game that propelled Sterling onto the world stage, producing a brilliant performance that even had Andrea Pirlo purring.

Sterling took his form into the new season, arguably being the best performer in a disappointing start to the season, which prompted talks of a new contract with Real Madrid sniffing around. Even with 2 years left on his current deal, he reportedly wants more that £100,000 a week. This seems excessive but if you believe the Mirror (ahem) he’s the seventh most valuable player in the world ahead of the likes of Sanchez and Fabregas. So a new deal seems more than justified.

Having apparently rejecting 2 new deals already including a £70,000 a week offer, it seems only a matter of time before a final decision is made. Rodgers has come out and said that an ‘incredible’ offer is on the table for Sterling and that he would be foolish to turn it down.

He’s an integral part of everything Liverpool do and has been vital to their upturn in fortunes since Christmas who will only get better with age, so it’s understandable that clubs like Real Madrid are keeping close tabs on the 20 year old.

He’s a once in a generation player and when a club legend like Steven Gerrard’s last wish before he leaves is to sign Sterling up to a new contract, it seems a necessity to keep him. So no, Liverpool can’t afford to lose him, even for huge money that would be required to take him away.

As per, comments are welcome!

Emre Can, potential Liverpool captain?

Recent reports have suggested that Emre Can could be in line to become the new Liverpool captain next season when Steven Gerrard, the current club skipper, seals his move to LA Galaxy.

I for one would be very surprised to see him named captain, especially as I see Jordan Henderson, the current vice-captain, as a more natural successor.

Gerrard became club captain in 2003, five years after his debut. He showed a number of leadership qualities which prompted then manager Gerard Houllier to replace Sami Hyypia in the role, even though Hyypia remained at the club for years to come.

I’m not suggesting by any stretch that Can could never become captain one day, having shown leadership qualities in his 22 appearances to date. However at only 21 years old, leading one of the biggest clubs in Europe may just be a little too much to ask. That said, at his rate of progression at this moment in time, nothing is too much for the talented German u21 international.

Henderson has shown for the last year and a half that he is more than ready to step into Gerrard’s shoes as a leader, having stepped up to the plate on the occasions Gerrard hasn't been playing. Of course he will never be as talismanic in terms of his ability to drag us on his own through tough situations, like iconic Champions League nights such as Istanbul. But he’s passionate, industrial and most importantly in my opinion, English. Something that is really important for me at an English club, to have an English captain.

Whoever does get the armband next season, they've got one hell of a void to fill.

As usual comments are encouraged. Let me know what you think!

Liverpool's summer signings - a review so far

After last night’s cracking win against Tottenham which featured no less than six of Rodgers’ summer signings, two of which made the score sheet, I feel there is no better time than to evaluate their progress.

It’s no secret that Liverpool initially struggled after the departed Suarez made fans realise just how important he was to the side that went so close last season. However with what seemed to be a promising start to the new campaign, with wins over Southampton and an impressive 3-0 triumph away from home against Tottenham, all seemed rosy and the Suarez hangover seemed to be non-existent.  

In spite of this, the injury to Daniel Sturridge ruling him out for an initial few months really rocked Liverpool’s bright start which conversely led to disappointing performances in the League and Champions League. By the midway point of the season after 19 league games, we were languishing down in 8^th place, yet only five points off the top four, but after being knocked out of the Champions League, a keeper in Mignolet devoid of confidence, a misfiring Balotelli, things looked bleak.

It seems that Rodgers and Liverpool have turned over a new leaf since the New Year; unbeaten in the eight league games, a system that actually seems to be working and a completely revitalised goalkeeper.

This brings me to the summer signings. Having been subject to much criticism in the early stages, it seems that a few have stepped up to the proverbial plate. This is a run-down on how I feel they’ve coped.

1)      Dejan Lovren - £20m - Southampton

Excitement rippled through the Liverpool faithful at the announcement of the signing of Dejan Lovren from Southampton, finally a defensive leader to replace a great void left by Jamie Carragher’s retirement. After an impressive debut season in England, few eyebrows were raised at the £20million fee and he was seen as a great signing. However it seems to have all gone wrong for him. Mistake after mistake, poor decisions and the fact he can’t get into a side with three centre backs in the formations tells its own story. There may be a future at Anfield for him, but performances have to be much better.

3/10.

2)      Javier Manquillo - Loan - Atletico Madrid

Signed from Atletico Madrid, the young right back was brought in to provide extra competition and back up to Glen Johnson. From the outset it looked like it would take time for him to settle in. A few solid displays to begin with filled fans with hope, however after only being played for a limited amount of games, his progress had stagnated and it’s easy to see why Atletico let him go on loan. Not blessed with a huge amount of pace, although no slouch, the physicality of English football seems a huge step up. Rodgers must see something in him if he was brought in on a 2 year loan deal, it’s only early days.

4/10.

3)      Mario Balotelli - £16m - AC Milan

Similarly to Lovren, the controversial Italian arrived with a great reputation, certainly for his talent, if we ignore all the shenanigans that come with it. The £16million fee represented what was a bargain for a player of such talent and potential (a word that’s thrown around like a rag doll nowadays) even though there was an element of risk. Finally Rodgers got his man, a big name signing to fill Suarez’s shoes. Soon after though, everything came crashing back down to earth, no Premier League goals until last night’s winner against Tottenham and a number of abject and lazy performances to boot.  His performances have even led him to be dropped from the squad all together even though he’s been fit. The goal last night will certainly help confidence but saying he’s back, I’m not convinced.

4/10.

4)      Rickie Lambert - £4m - Southampton

Another raid on Southampton left us with Rickie Lambert, a boy-hood Liverpool fan coming to the club in his swan-song years to plug a hole in the squad and add a further attacking option. A fairy tale ending to his career it would seem. Although his performances haven’t been awful, the lack of goals have been a concern to many having only netted 3 times in all competitions since joining, this can of course be attributed to lack of opportunities. He is a player who shows passion to wear the shirt and I like him, he just seems to lack that bit of quality necessary and with Sturridge’s return to fitness, chances look even slimmer for the big target man.

5/10.

5)      Lazar Markovic - £20m - Benfica

One of Europe’s most exciting talents, comparisons in terms of ability to Messi and Ronaldo, I was hugely excited but this signing. Even though I had never previously watched him, this was high praise indeed, and like most football fans I checked his stats on FIFA – lightning pace. His performances flattered to deceive on many occasions in his budding Liverpool career, looking weak and off the pace. I began to wonder what the fuss was about as he looked every bit the player that Chelsea turned down a year previous for £12million, and it’s unlike Chelsea to turn down the chance to sign a winger! Remember Salah? Performances have picked up as of late in his new wing-back role and a couple of goals suggest that he is acclimatising gradually. At such a young age (still 20) there is still huge potential to be fulfilled. Time will tell.

6/10.

6)      Adam Lallana - £25m - Southampton

There seems to be a theme here, another Southampton player! If you offered me Lallana, one of the best performing English players last season, I would have shaken your hand. However the £25m price tag for a 26 year old with only one outstanding season under his belt, questions were raised, although this is standard practice for English players – massively overpriced. His performances have been steady, an injury right before the season kicked off didn’t help but 4 goals and a few sparkling performances, for instance against Swansea at home in a 4-1 victory, shows glimpses that he’s worth the huge price tag.

6/10.

7)      Alberto Moreno - £12m - Sevilla

A left back was a priority for Liverpool in the summer and the Europa League winning Spanish international 22 year old seemed to fit the bill perfectly.  Fast, aggressive, brave, the defensive version of Jordi Alba were all descriptions I read about the player, perfect! After his debut against Man City, a solid performance even though he was at fault for their opening goal that night, it became apparent he was not the defensive version of Jordi Alba. Although very good at recovery tackles using his blistering pace, his positioning lets him down and is often found wondering too far forward and is subsequently caught out. Like Markovic, the new wing-back role seems to suit him well with slightly less defensive responsibility allowing him to maraud forward as he loves to, he seems like a very good little player.

7/10.

8)      Emre Can - £10m - Bayer Leverkusen

After signing him and reading that he turned down Bayern Munich, I thought he must be good. Another player I knew very little about, I was impressed with his performances from day one. The man looks built for the Premier League. To begin with his chances were few and far between with Rodgers persisting with Joe Allen in the middle when I, like many, were crying out for Emre to be given a chance. Sure enough a start against Chelsea and a goal in the first 10 minutes, get in! Even though we lost that game, I was excited by what I saw. Composed of the ball, good passer and strong and excelling in an unfamiliar position currently at centre back, he is without a doubt the best signing Liverpool made this summer. He has the potential to be even better too when moved into his rightful position in the middle of the park, maybe the long term replacement to Steven Gerrard? Exciting times.

8/10.

So there we have it, a lowdown on my views of how Liverpool’s summer signings are currently doing and how I rate them. Of course it’s early days but we’re beyond the midway point of the season which is enough to grasp how they’re performing. Yes, I’m aware I mentioned Suarez a few times, I miss him, I would have let him bite my nan to keep him  if that’s what it took.

Obviously I haven’t wrote about our ninth signing of the summer Divock Origi from Lille as he hasn’t actually played for the club, so judgement will be reserved.

Thanks for reading, feel free to comment if you agree or disagree with what has been said or the ratings and let me know what you think! 

Welcome!

I'm a student at Sheffield Hallam University studying Sport, Culture and Society, graduating this summer.

As a keen football fan I, like most, have an opinion. Whether it be right or wrong, discussion regarding the days hot topics is always at the forefront in my daily life.

This brings me to why I'm here, to share and inform you about my views on football and various interesting aspects of my course at Uni. As a Liverpool fan (yes, pipe down over there) the club and its news will be at the forefront of my blog, however if anything else controversial regarding football pops up, I will more than likely weigh in with my take on the matter here!

Anyway, I will always encourage feedback, positive or negative, so feel free to comment or alternatively email me at: matty-148@hotmail.co.uk.


Au revoir!