New Season 2007/2008 - My Opinion

Hi,

In the last few weeks Liverpool have been busy strengthening the squad in preparation for the new season. In the process Rafa Benitez has spent in excess of £40 Million with the possibility of more signings to come before the transfer window closes.

The keys signings are Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel, Yossi Benayoun and Andriy Voronin.

Fernando Torres really excites me, he is the kind of player that Liverpool have been lacking over recent season. Torres may have cost over £20 Million but you get a lot for your money. He is still only 23 years old, but has lots of experience for a player so young. He has captained Atletico Madrid since the age of 19, he has played for Spain and scored goals at the highest level. He his strong, quick, reasonably good in the air, un-selfish and creates as many goals as he scores. If this lad can settle quickly and form a partnership with the likes of Kuyt we could see a lot of goals this season.

Ryan Babel on the other hand is a talented youngster but almost an unknown quantity. At the age of 21 he has shown glimpses of what he can do. He has played for Ajax and already won caps for Holland nation first team which is impressive considering the talent that Holland has in the wide/attacking positions. It looks as though Babel has been bought as a left winger which is a job Babel can certainly do. However, when playing in this position he likes to come inside (Henry like) and go for goal, but what we really need is someone who will cross the ball from wide positions and supply the ammunition for the likes of Torres, Crouch and Kuyt. I don't think babel will give us this.

Yossi Benayoun is another tricky attacking player that Rafa has invested in. Again, I think he has been bought as a wide right player but this isn't a position that he is used to playing. He is more of a creative central midfielder but with the wealthy choice of midfielders at our disposal I was surprised that Rafa bought him from West Ham.

Although Rafa has invested heavily in attacking players I still thin we are lacking quality wide players that can beat defenders and produce qulity balls into the box. I was desperately hoping that we were on the verge of signing Ricard Quaresma from Porto but the all the paper talk proved to be false. Quaresma would scare the hell out of defenders and could easily occupy 2 or 3 defenders at a time effectively taking them out of the game and creating space for his team mates. I feel that there were two reason's why Rafa didn't gamble on quaresma. Firstly was the price, Porto wanted £17 Million for the player but considering his age (23) and the amazing skill that this player posseses I would call that a bargain in today's market. Secondly, Quaresma loves to go forward and run at defenses but he doesn't like to run back toward his own goal and defend, Benitez is well known for his defensive teams and unfortunately Quaresma isn't a defensive minded player, which is a shame.

I hope that new signings will make an impact for the new season and once again the mighty Reds can contend for the premiership, but I don't think this season will be any different from the last. Until Rafa drafts in quality wingers I think that we will fall short once again, and if Man Utd capture Tevez, I can't see anyone catching them this year!

BENITEZ PRAISES EL ZHAR

Rafael Benitez was full of praise for Moroccan starlet Nabil El Zhar after his impressive second half outing during the 2-0 win over Auxerre in Fribourg on Friday afternoon.

El Zhar created the second goal for Daniel Agger and was unlucky not to score himself after coming close on several occasions.

"It was a strange game in many ways because we didn't play to our normal level yet we managed to score two good goals, we have no injury problems and we kept a clean sheet, which is always good," commented Benitez.

"I thought El Zhar did a good job when he came on in the second half. Nabil is a player with pace and ability who wants to do well. He gave us fresh legs and I told him to try and change the game for us because everyone was feeling tired. I told him to try different things and try to score.

"It was very hot conditions and we have been training hard so we expected the players to feel a little tired. We have enjoyed our training camp in Switzerland and the players have worked very hard.

"We now have a long trip to Hong Kong and two more matches but we are looking forward to it, because it is important for the club to go there and see the supporters."

Fowler Signs for Cardiff

Liverpool Legend Robbie Fowler has agreed a two-year contract with Coca-Cola Championship side Cardiff.

The 32-year-old, released by the Reds at the end of last season, turned down an approach from Sydney FC to join the Bluebirds.

Cardiff announced the signing on its website, saying it was "delighted" with the news.

He's to be officially unveiled at a press conference next week.

Heinze could head for the courts

The Liverpool Echo claims the Argentina international's legal team are bullish over their chances of forcing the transfer at a hearing if United remain steadfast in their refusal to let the player join their most bitter rivals.

In recent days it has emerged that the player has a letter signed by United chief executive David Gill claiming he would be free to leave if a £6million bid was received - a figure Rafael Benitez's Reds are thought to have matched.

It is not clear if the 29-year-old has a formal get-out clause in his contract.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson appeared to rule out a move to Anfield when he said: "I can assure you, Liverpool will not be getting Gabriel Heinze.

"We can put that to bed right now and we have done so. We have had a couple offers for him and we have turned them down

GERRARD AND AGGER MAKE IT FOUR OUT OF FOUR

Goals from Steven Gerrard and Daniel Agger were enough to give Liverpool a deserved 2-0 win over Auxerre in their latest pre-season friendly.

Gerrard broke the deadlock in the 45th minute with a well-struck low shot from just inside the box following a clever dummy by Ryan Babel. Agger then doubled the advantage midway through the second half when he headed home from a Nabil El Zhar corner.

In what was a fairly uneventful encounter in Fribourg, Switzerland, Yossi Benayoun and Ryan Babel were handed their first starts in a red shirt, while young Bulgarian goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov made his debut.

Record signing Fernando Torres appeared as a half-time substitute and the boss again made several changes during another useful run-out. Rafa's Reds now head off to Hong Kong for the Barclays Asia Trophy and, with a fourth successive summer win under their belts, they'll do so in high spirits.

Teams:

Liverpool: Mihaylov, Arbeloa, Carragher, Paletta, Finnan, Babel, Gerrard MBE (captain), Hobbs, Benayoun, Voronin, Kuyt. Subs - Hyypia, Carson, Torres, El Zhar, Pennant, Darby, Reina, Alonso, Crouch, Agger, Riise

Auxerre: Sorin, Jaures, Marcos (captain), Mignot, Martin, Legage, Pedretti, Thomas, Kahlenberg, Maoulida, Jelen. Subs - Lejeune, Traore, Riou, Jasse, Genest, Niculae, Tamas

Referee: Hanni Nikolaj

Conditions: Very hot

Attendance: 5,833

HALF TIME: AUXERRE 0 - LIVERPOOL 1

A Steven Gerrard goal on the stroke of half-time has given Liverpool a 1-0 interval lead over Auxerre in their latest pre-season friendly.

Gerrard broke the deadlock with a well-struck low shot from just inside the box following a clever dummy by Ryan Babel.

Liverpool's only other goalscoring opportunity of note also came via the boot of Gerrard who forced the keeper into a diving save with a close-range effort midway through the half.

YOSSI AND RYAN START AGAINST AUXERRE

Yossi Benayoun and Ryan Babel will be handed their first Liverpool starts against Auxerre this afternoon.

The pair will feature in the first half along with 19-year-old Bulgarian keeper Nikolay Mihaylov. Record signing Fernando Torres is among the substitutes.

The team in full is: Mihaylov, Finnan, Paletta, Carragher, Arbeloa, Benayoun, Gerrard, Hobbs, Babel, Voronin, Kuyt.

Subs: PR, SC, SH, JAR, JP, NEZ, PC, SD, DA, XA, FT.

Chiellini Angling For Liverpool Move

Giorgio Chiellini’s relationship with the Juventus management has deteriorated to such an extent that he has issued a come-and-get-me-plea to Liverpool.

The 22-year-old Azzurri sideback and his new coach Claudio Ranieri have taken snipes at each other through the press, and it is now looking more and more likely that Chiellini –who is peeved at the club’s refusal to grant him an improved deal and his coaches reluctance to stand in his corner- will be wearing different colours come next season.

"It is obvious that if he (Chiellini) receives limited time in the side next term then other options will have to be looked at," said his agent Davide Lippi.

"I am sure that if an official offer came from Liverpool, it would be a tempting solution."

After Sir Alex Ferguson ruled out the sale of Gabriel Heinze to United’s bitter rivals, Liverpool chief Rafa Benitez could be ready to intensifly his interest in Chiellini.

Fergie: No Heinze for Liverpool

Alex Ferguson has insisted that there is no chance he will sell Gabriel Heinze to Liverpool despite the club appearing to be the player’s preferred destination.

It is difficult to imagine if the decision is based on bitterness on the part of the Old Trafford boss, or a concern over Liverpool’s title ambitions. In an era when football authorities talk about removing the nasty side of such rivalries it is a shame that the Manchester United boss appears to be as bitter towards our great club as some sections of supporters.

It has been reported the Reds made another offer of £6 million for the player this week, but Fergie today said:

“I can assure you, Liverpool will not be getting Gabriel Heinze. We can put that to bed right now and we have done so. We have had a couple offers for him and we have turned them down.” (hic)

Gabriel Heinze is still of interest to Real Madrid and Inter Milan.

The news will come as a boost to John Arne Riise however, who has yet to sign a new contract, and is aware that the club have an abundance of players now capable of playing on the left wing. Speaking to the Echo, John Arne said:

There have been a lot of rumours lately about new people coming to the club, so you know you need to step up a level.

“I’ve been working out during the summer because I wanted to show the manager I was fit and raring to go.

“Of course I’ve read the stories about possible signings, but you expect to hear a club like Liverpool is looking to bring in new players.

“So far I’ve enjoyed a good six years so I hope I’ve done more right than wrong during that time.

“I’ve been involved in more or less every game and I want that to continue. I want to finish my career here. Everyone knows that and there’s nothing I’d like more than to sign a long-term contract.

“Nothing has happened on that, but there’s no rush because I understand the club has been very busy signing new players.”

PICTURE SPECIAL: REDS IN SWITZERLAND

Rafael Benitez and his first team squad are warming up for the new season at a training camp in Switzerland this week.

The players are being put through their paces under the watchful eyes of Benitez and his coaching staff who are working intensively to ensure the Reds will be in the best condition possible for the big kick-off next month.

Here are a selection of some of the players - including record signing Fernando Torres - in action at the Bad Ragaz complex.

Gerrard: Teams will be scared of us

Steven Gerrard cannot wait for the Liverpool's title challenge to start this season, claiming teams we be scared of playing The Reds.

Gerrard was speaking after Liverpool's 3-2 friendly victory over Werder Bremen, which saw Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel, Yossi Benayoun and Andriy Voronin all make impressive debuts.

The scoreline did not reflect the dominance that Rafa Benitez's men enjoyed, with Voronin and Torres looking particularly sharp in attack, and Gerrard believes The Reds finally have the firepower to scare their main rivals.

"When we sign a striker I look at the defensive pairings of United and Chelsea and ask if we've signed a player who is going to cause them all sorts of problems," the England man was quoted as saying in The Daily Mail.

"I did it with Torres and ended up with a smile on my face because I don't think anyone will enjoy playing against him."He's a great talent and it's a massive statement to the rest of the division.

"I've watched what the other teams are doing in the market and they're all strengthening."But all those teams will be looking at us and thinking we are going to be all over them this season."

In the past, Liverpool have been labeled a one-man team such has been the responsibility on Gerrard's shoulders, but now the Anfield club finally appear to have options all over the pitch.

The all-action midfielder has always been realistic about The Reds' chances, most notably when he wrote Liverpool off during their glorious 2005 Champions League triumph, but there is a simmering scent of anticipation in his voice going into the new campaign.

"I'm not going to start making any unnecessary predictions about what's going to happen this season and the last thing any of us need to do is build hopes up too much.

"But without doubt, if we all perform to our level each week, we have the players to push United and Chelsea all the way."

We are looking in great shape, not only going into this season but for the next few years."I thought going away for the summer that we were three or four players away from where we need to be."

Now I think we are in a great place to challenge United and Chelsea and I hope if we get things right from the beginning we can beat them to the big prizes this year."

Torres & Babel will play at Hong Kong Tournament

HONG KONG (AFP) - New Liverpool signings Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel have been confirmed for next week's Barclays Asia Trophy tournament here, organisers said Wednesday.

Captain Steven Gerrard and England team-mates Peter Crouch and Jamie Carragher will also travel for the four-way tournament also featuring Portsmouth, Fulham and Hong Kong's South China.

Striker Torres made his Liverpool debut against Werder Bremen on Tuesday after joining the Champions League finalists for a club record 20 million pounds from Atletico Madrid.

Portsmouth will also bring new striker David Nugent, 22, who scored 33 goals in 94 appearances for Preston North End and made his England debut in March.

Fulham's attack will be led by new signing Diomansy Kamara who joined from West Bromwich Albion for six million pounds.

Portsmouth will play Fulham while Liverpool face South China on Tuesday, with the final next Friday.

Heinze close to Liverpool move

Gabriel Heinze is a step closer to becoming the first player to switch between Manchester United and Liverpool in 43 years.Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed on Monday the 29-year-old Argentina international has indicated he wants to leave the champions.

“Gaby’s agent has advised us that he wants to move on,” Ferguson told at a press conference in Tokyo. “I am not too sure about that and we do not have a concrete offer from any particular club.

“But there is some momentum regarding the player’s next move in terms of through his agent, even if nothing is close at this moment in time.”

It is understood the Old Trafford club are powerless to prevent Heinze moving to their bitter rivals with a clause believed to be lodged allowing the full-back to move if an offer of £6million is made.

Ferguson is unwilling to allow Heinze to move to Anfield and will at the very leaset try and negotiate a transfer to Real Madrid, Juventus or Newcastle - who are all courting the left-back.

Liverpool 3-2 Werder Bremen

Andriy Voronin scored twice as Liverpool beat Werder Bremen 3-2 in Switzerland this evening. John Arne Riise also got on the score sheet with new signings Yossi Benayoun, Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel making their Reds debuts as second half substitutes.

Rafael Benitez fielded a strong side but Voronin was the only new signing to start the game. Scott Carson begun in goal while the likes of Steven Gerrard, Jermaine Pennant, Steve Finnan, Sami Hyypia and Peter Crouch were also handed starting berths.

Voronin opened the scoring after just four minutes with his first goal for the club following his free-transfer from Bayer Levekusen.

The Ukrainian international pounced on a loose pass at the back and rounded the goalkeeper before sliding the ball home.

Bremen levelled soon after. A powerful close range strike rattled the crossbar but it fell kindly for Schindler, who nodded into an empty net.

Liverpool regained their lead on 14 minutes when Riise let fly with a thunderbolt of a free-kick from 25-yards that the goalkeeper could only palm into his net.

Voronin capped an impressive performance with a second goal in the second half when Xabi Alonso's quick free-kick sent him through on goal.

Benayoun then Torres and later Babel were introduced into the action. Torres went close twice but Bremen pulled a late goal back when Hugo Almeida tapped in from close range.

Werder Bremen V Liverpool Team News

Liverpool Team: Carson, Finnan, Paletta, Hyypia, Riise, Pennant, Hobbs, Gerrard, El Zhar, Crouch, Voronin.

Werder Bremen Team: Witse, Baumann, Fritz, Rosenburg, Andreasen, Alberto, Frings, Borowski, Niemeyer, Schulz, Schindler.

Torres may have to wait for Liverpool debut

FERNANDO TORRES may have to wait for his Liverpool debut as Rafa Benitez eases his record signing into senior action.

Torres is pencilled in for his first appearance in a red shirt against Werder Bremen tonight, but Benitez says if the striker plays, it is only likely to be as a late sub in Switzerland.

Torres has recently recovered from an ankle injury, and having started training later than most of his team-mates, Benitez sees little point in taking risks.

“Fernando won’t start this game,” explained Benitez.

“If he does play, it will only be for a little time. Maybe we will wait for the second game because there is no hurry.

“What’s most important this week is our training and preparation.”

Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun are also expected to feature later in the week.
Meanwhile, Benitez has handed Javier Mascherano an extra week off following the Copa America, and has revealed the Argentinian won’t join the Reds’ Far East tour.

“Mascherano will have ten days off, but when he returns he will stay at Melwood with the reserves,” said Benitez.

“There would be too much travelling for him to come with us to Hong Kong. We don’t want to kill the player before the start of the season. It was a pity for Mascherano Argentina didn’t win in the Copa America.”

Benitez will use most of his squad again, with as many as 22 players possibly featuring in the Stadium Bruehl in Grenchen. (Liverpool Echo)

Heinze Wants Kop Move

Sir Alex Ferguson has acknowledged that talk of the Argentinian hardman’s move is not pure speculation, but could not resist a sly dig at the Mr 10 per cents of this world when he gave an update of the situation.He said: “There has been some momentum regarding the player’s next move in terms of through his agent, but nothing clear at this moment in time.”

“Heinze and his agents have been adamant he wants to move on.We are not too sure about that but we don’t have a concrete offer from any particular club.”

Expect to be hearing the name Phil Chisnall dredged up from the history books should Heinze leave the champions for their biggest rivals.

Sir Alex is not the only one left scratching his head in confusion over an Argentine this morning, as chief executive David Gill has admitted that the Carlos Tevez saga is becoming “over-complicated”.

Even after Tevez completes his medical this week, it maybe some time before the legal minefield surrounding the striker is resolved and he finally makes his move.

Torres to make Liverpool debut on Tuesday

Liverpool's record £20 million signing Fernando Torres is set to make his debut for his new club in a pre-season friendly in Switzerland on Tuesday.

The former Atletico Madrid striker, who has moved to Anfield on a six year contract, is expected to shake off a slight ankle injury and face Werder Bremen in Grenchen.
Manager Rafael Benitez said on Monday: "We had to wait for Fernando because he started training after the other players.

"We also needed to check his ankle but I think he'll be okay for our next game." Torres could link up with former Bayer Leverkusen striker Andriy Voronin. The Ukrainian marked his first start of the club with a fine display in the defeat of Crewe on Saturday in a friendly.

Benitez said: "We know that Voronin is going to be another option for us. He has good game intelligence, he plays well between the lines and he has a lot of quality." (Reuters)

Liverpool deny Mancini interest

Liverpool Coach Rafa Benitez has declared that the Reds are not interested in Roma winger Amantino Mancini. The Brazilian is contracted to the Coppa Italia winners until 2009 and has reportedly been using the Premiership outfit’s interest to try to break through the Giallorossi’s £1.7m salary cap.

His agent Gilmar Veloz declared on Sunday that the English side was still keen on signing his client and that he had told Benitez that he needed to deal directly with the capital city club.“I was reading stories about Mancini.

I can say that Liverpool will not be offering any money for this player,” said the Liverpool Coach on Monday.The player, who was targeted by Benitez earlier this summer before the club signed Ryan Babel, is allegedly eager to improve his wage and would like to earn at least £2m per season.

Mancini currently earns just under £1m per year and his agent is expected to meet Roma officials shortly, when he will ask for the salary increase which had been promised to the player two years ago. (Channel 4)