Liverpool Settling Into Mid Table Obscurity

After reading that Liverpool's manager, whoever that may be, will only have £15m to spend this summer, it appears that the club are now cutting their cloth to suit a position in mid table. Apparently, they only need three players to turn them from Europa League semifinalists into Premiership Champions elect! Who the hell are they kidding?

I wonder how much longer the Liverpool fans will stomach this? At least their hated rival's fans have displayed some spunk, organising the alternative scarf campaign. The Scousers seem to be submerged in torpor. They can't see that Benitez is at least to much to blame as Hicks and Gillete, after wasting a King's ransom on duff players. Sure they want the Yanks out, but what are they doing about it?

Now Yossi is on his way, leaving them even shorter in midfield creativity. Gerrard and Torres will return tired from the World Cup, assuming they return of course. If you were Torres, would you fancy hanging around with "Going nowhere" Liverpool, or would you fancy joining Jose at Real Madrid?

And as for Gerrard, if the rumours are true, he might fancy Spain to get out of reach of the Child Support Agency. And of course to put distance between his wife and the city of Derby. Not that I am suggesting there is any truth whatsoever in what is being said. Surely the stand in England captain wouldn't be so stupid, would he? But even leaving all that aside, a deal taking Gerrard to Real might make sense for both Liverpool and Gerrard. Stevie G will want to win trophies and that's more likely to happen under Jose at Real than under Rafa at Liverpool. Meanwhile Gerrard's legs aren't getting any younger and his all action style can't be sustained for many more seasons. Liverpool would probably do well to cash in while they can.

But if Gerrard, Torres and Yossi depart, where do Liverpool go from there? Who would fancy joining a club in turmoil with no world class players? Upson perhaps? Even Carlton Cole is begging us not to sell him! Liverpool might have the funds to buy replacements but can you replace Gerrard and Torres? Would Rafa hang around if his best players left? And if he went, wouldn't Reina follow?

I predicted last summer that Liverpool would finish outside the top 4 and warned then about the implications. Liverpool fans hurled abuse in my direction then but it has all happened, just as I predicted. The money spent last summer was spent unwisely, just as I said in August. As good as Johnson is, Liverpool's needs were elsewhere. You can get by with an average right back; you can't get by without a forward line or a quality midfield.

Liverpool's best hope is perhaps Woy Hodgson because he knows how to get the best out of Average Joe players...and by August, that may be all the Liverpool manager has to work with. Moores has been critical of the Yanks but he sold the club to them so he has a lot to answer for too! Be warned, if you support Liverpool, 2009-10 may yet be remembered with affection given what may be about to follow!