8 Reasons to be Positive

Well, yet again it has been a hard week to come up with a blog. I really dont want to end up sounding like a broken record and going on about the same things, making the same points week after week, but in fairness, we have spent a fair proportion of the season making the same mistakes, so the blog was bound to get a bit repetetive.
  

So, thats the reason I have decided to change the tune this week and write something different, an article which focuses only on the positive points to the season so far.

Please use the comments section to let me know if you agree or disagree with these, or anything else which you think qualifies as a reason to be positive but has not been listed here.

Martin Kelly

 

The Kids:

A lot of kids have come into the team this season, they were in and around the squad for large parts of last season but they have been more responsibility this season. While its true that a new manager generally has better opportunity and allowances in blooding young players (when Houllier took sole charge he was immediately able to promote Gerrard, amongst others, where Evans while on a poor run would have been easier to criticise) our thinner squad this season has also aided their promotion. Young players who deserve special mention are Kelly and Spearing, who have not looked overawed and fitted into the first team picture well. Neither is the finished article yet although Kelly is probably further along than Spearing, but both have shown enough promise to believe they will soon take the next step in their careers. Pacheco, Shelvey and Eccleston have also performed well when needed although they have been used sparingly.

F.A Cup 3rd Round:

When the draw for the 3rd round of the FA Cup paired Liverpool and Man Utd I'm sure the F.A as well as sponsors and TV Executives rubbed their hands together. Its not the first time England's two most famous teams have been drawn against each other in cup competition, but its more rare for this fixture to happen at such an early stage in the cup. This game is exactly what we need at this stage in the competition, It will be difficult of course, but the players will be inspired by this one, of that there is no doubt. We have shown at times this season that our style of play can be effective against the bigger sides, when teams play against and attack us, we can create chances, and if we do we all know how much Torres enjoys scoring against Man U. A win in this fixture could inspire an exciting run in the cup which goes all the way to Wembley.

The UEFA cup final is in Dublin:

This may not be a positive to everybody who reads this blog but its a big one for me, as an Irishman the possibility (no matter how remote) of being able to see Liverpool play in a European Cup final (Even if its not THE European Cup Final) in my home town is exciting, even when its this far away. The Aviva stadium is certainly a venue which will do the occassion justice and is fully deserving of this showpiece. I was lucky enough to attend the European Cup final in 2007 in Athens and even though we lost, and even though the venue was an absolute disgrace ,I can honestly say it was one of the best experiences of my life! I would love to repeat that in Dublin.... now I just have to arrange the tickets!!!!!

We still have a chance of Silverware:

Again, this may be a long shot but regardless, right now we are still in with an opportunity to win a cup. We may have gone out of the League Cup in embarrasing fashion (but in fairness so have Man Utd now) but, as mentioned above, we are still in both the FA Cup and UEFA cup and while winning one certainly wont replace winning the League or Champions League, Liverpool have always existed to win trophies and we have been too long without a trophy. Whilst getting fourth place and qualifying for the Champions League is very important in terms of money and keeping players happy, not to mention attracting new players, winning silverware should not be disregarded to achieve it. Just think back to the treble season to remember how good winning cups feels, even if they are so called "second tier" trophies.

We still have Torres, Reina and Gerrard:

In order to consider this positive we have to think of one negative, albeit momentarily. Things are bleak at the moment and if we dont qualify for the Champions League or possibly change manager, it may happen that we lose one or more of this triumvirate. So lets enjoy them while they are here. We are currently in possesion of 3 truly world class players, if they leave it may take time to attract more of them, so lets enjoy them.

Rodolfo Borrell and Jose Segura:

When Rafael Benitez was given the control of Liverpool he had long campaigned for in 2009 one of his first actions was to appoint Rodolfo Borrell in charge of the u18's. Rodolfo came from Barcelona where he helped develop well-known Barcelona players past and present, such as Lionel Messi, Gerard Pique, Cesc Fabregas, Bojan Krkic and Giovanni Dos Santos, as well as many potential stars of the future, including Liverpool's own Daniel Pacheco. Also appointed from Barcelona was Liverpool's Academy technical manager Jose Segura. His role with the Catalan giants saw him help develop players of the calibre of Andres Iniesta, Victor Valdes, Gerard Pique, Bojan Krkic, Cesc Fabregas and Mikel Arteta. Having men uch as these resposible for our youth development can only bode well for our future development

Players finally being given credit:

Last season, as well as being split over the suitability of Rafael Benitez as manager, Liverpool fans were also split over the quality of certain players. It seems that this year people have been able to recognise the improvement and further potential in certain players, Lucas and Ngog being the prime examples. While these players qualities still arent neccesarily acknowledged by fans of other clubs at least most Liverpool fans seem to finally be on the same page.

NESV:

After the disastrous ownership situation of Waldorf and Staedtler we now have some stability in the shape of NESV. The moves they have made so far are promising and have done nothing to make fans doubt that their intentions are less than noble.They have appointed Damien Comolli and Tom Werner has taken over as chairman, they have also made the right noises with regard to finances. They have also shown an appreciation of "The Liverpool Way" a prime example being the fact that Comolli's appointment was only reported in the papers, after it was official, this shows no leaks occurred and the business was completed in the right way. They have a proven track record of success so lets hope they can bring more of this to Liverpool.