In 2003 I remember Chelsea being taken over and spending a tonne of money, I saw this as cheating, buying the title, years later City did the same. Liverpool winning the title in the next decade looked miles off. Following this Liverpool then looked like they were heading out completely as the club were a day away from administration. A man called Roy Hodgson was the manager of Liverpool and the club were 19th in the English Premier League, with a squad including Paul Konchesky, Christian Pouslen and David N'gog. I'd have thought it more likely that in 2014 I was typing about Liverpool coming second in the English SkyBet Championship...not the Barclays Premier League. Since then Liverpool have finished 6th, 8th and 7th...so imagine my surprise with this season.
Yes, the season ultimately ended in disappointed fashion with Manchester City purchasing their second Premier League in three years and Liverpool finishing two points off, trophyless...but proud. This Liverpool team are not nearly the same team as the team Benitez had with Alonso, Masherano, Gerrard and Torres. This team is Suarez, Sturridge, Gerrard, Sterling, Coutinho, Henderson. A team built on youth, the academy with Sterling and Flanagan, the experience of Gerrard, the prowess of Suarez and Sturridge. This was Liverpool Football Club at the best I've ever seen offensively. The defence, not so much, the Benitez defence was most probably better. But this team showed more potential than that. The first positive of the season was undoubtedly that although Liverpool Football Club have not got their 19th title, despite arguably deserving it, they have a team that came so close with so much further to go in their development. Gerrard found a position he can play in effectively and brilliantly for the next three seasons too...a time giver in his bid to win the one honour that still unfortunately after today deserts him.
So what did we learn from this season? Liverpool have improved, Liverpool are on a new level, Liverpool can challenge. The only team that finished above a Liverpool thought to be distinctly average was Manchester City. Liverpool have European football next season, we have our target.
I'd therefore like to thank the players, manager and other coaching staff for allowing myself amongst others to dream again. I'd like to apologise for my initial view on Brendan Rodgers when I wanted him out for his start to his first season, I now now notice that FSG made a brilliant choice in replacing Kenny Dalglish with Brendan Rodgers. Now we have a future that unlike the team that finished above us is sustainable and will not be punished in the way other teams will be for the way they made their success. The only way is up and I for one will be counting down the days for the next season with the anticipation for the first time since the last season of the Benitez reign started that it could be a very good year in the history of Liverpool Football Club.
Finally, we have started writing our history again.
#RedOrDead
#WeAreLiverpool
#YNWA
