The Tomkins Weekly #1Welcome to the first of my weekly columns for YNWA, as I begin a regular review of the previous seven days' activity at Liverpool, and a look ahead to what awaits on the immediate horizon, as I attempt the role of Chief Titanic Iceberg Spotter.
Mid-July, and already three games played. Fortunately the stats read three wins, ten goals. The Ecstasy Factor has died down a little, but the Feelgood Factor remains.
Results at this stage of the season are often not even remotely meaningful, but against TNS the Reds had a competitive match (and a high-stakes one at that) against the calibre of opposition who normally open the pre-season friendly schedule. It should have been emphatic, and could have been six or seven nil. Three just about sufficed.
Winning is a good habit to get into, whatever the significance of the game, and this season we need to see the Reds win more of the less glamorous fixtures. Rafa seems to be building a squad for that very purpose: big on depth and variety, an option for every eventuality. Things are starting to take shape.
The confidence generated in Istanbul could yet play a massive factor in the season: success breeds success, and when you can come from 3-0 down to AC Milan, you must feel like you can do anything.
New boysBefore casting an eye at the new additions, I wanted to mention one of the 'like new' players: Djibril Cissé. It is not just that he missed so much of last season, but that he has 'found himself' as a Liverpool player in a way he hadn't at the time injury struck last autumn.
His Liverpool career effectively begins here, albeit with some additional bonuses: time to settle into English life, to learn about the Premiership (mostly from the stands, but a lesson in how it works, all the same), to get to know his teammates as people, and the chance to ponder life and priorities –– and just how lucky he is to be playing football at all –– after nearly losing his leg.
He has also lost some of the weight of a large price tag, as, twelve months on, it's less of an issue on people's minds. He's no longer seen as some kind of 'saviour', in the way expensive new signings are instantly regarded.
Against TNS he used his phenomenal pace out wide as a winger, but instead of merely using the turbo-charger to beat his man (or
men, at times), he actually showed some delightful touches. Once he beat his man (or men), he delivered some telling crosses and passes. His Auxerre confidence is returning.
Then against Leverkusen he played as a striker, but worked the right wing in the way Thierry Henry works the left for Arsenal. That creates space as he drags defenders out of position, and the goalscoring midfielders can arrive late and unmarked into the box.
I prefer Cissé playing as a striker, but he can be effective in both positions. At Anfield, where there's rarely space in behind opposition defences, he may be more suited to playing on the wing, but his goals in France –– many poached efforts –– prove he is a penalty box player, as well as the kind who can burst through on goal –– as he did against the Germans on Saturday –– and finish with power or subtlety.
Gerrard, Alonso, Morientes and Kewell (if he gets fit relatively soon) will be like four more new additions to the team, given that for much of last season they were afflicted by serious injury, niggling fitness issues, acclimatising, or incessant debates about their future.
As for the 'real' new players, we've yet to learn anything much about Pepe Reina in a Liverpool shirt beyond the fact that he's not afraid to take out his own defenders when clearing a cross, in much the same way as Peter Schmeichel in his prime (although in the big Dane's case, you sense it was the perfect pretence to punch the crap out of Gary Neville and get away with it).
Momo Sissoko looked very athletic on his debut against Leverkusen, and sprayed around a good few passes, but was also a little sloppy at times. The comparison to Patrick Vieira was clear to understand in the way he gave away several hundred free-kicks in 45 minutes. Most were a case of being a fraction late, having made up a lot of ground on the opponent in the first place. He's raw, but you can sense the promise.
Bolo Zenden continues to impress me. He is one of these players who looks to cross at every opportunity; a player who is not looking to make a mug of a full-back (although he has the skill to do so), but simply work the space for a cross. One moment against Bayer really impressed me, when he didn't appear to have enough space to hook his foot around the ball but still got a cross into the danger zone.
His crossing style involves hanging the ball up into the danger area –– more of a chip than a whipped-in ball –– but not so much as to make it easy catching for the keeper. An inordinately tall striker (naming no names) would profit from such accurate delivery. I've said it elsewhere, but Zenden reminds me of Ray Houghton in his busy playing style and clever use of the ball. Houghton was never one of those headline-grabbing players, but always a valuable asset to the team.
With Barragan and Jack Hobbs (if he impresses on trial) only kids, and the exciting Gonzales injured, it will be a while before we get to see much of the remaining confirmed additions, but all add something to the squad, even if only redressing a deficiency in truly promising youngsters.
I can't help but be excited by the idea that Figo might arrive (although Inter Milan are now believed to be favourites), given how dedicated and fit he remains. If he choses Liverpool, it's because his main interest remains football; Milan would be more of a lifestyle decision. The La Liga connection at Anfield might hold some serious sway.
As well as a right-sided midfielder, a striker and centre back are still being sought. Real Zaragoza defender Gabriel Milito seems an interesting and surprising option at centre back, given he's the same height as Luis Garcia, but the lad has won rave reviews in Spain, and is from the Fabio Cannavaro school of short-but-damn-good defenders.
Rather than making a move for one £30m signing, Rafa appears to have overhauled the squad within that budget.
Almost certain to be leaving and thus generating more funds will be Jerzy Dudek and Milan Baros, given both are being kept away from European competition, so as to not cup-tie them. Both have a lot of talent, but neither has done enough on a consistent basis (although Dudek's first season was sublime).
I'll be sad to see both go, especially Baros, as he's a terrific individual when on form, and unlike Dudek, has another decade ahead of him. But I also understand the decision to tempt offers, given how difficult Baros is for other players to partner. Benítez likes to employ three attacking midfielders, and that means the striker has to be able to hold the ball up, and be aware of support arriving. Baros is too much of a maverick, but he, like Dudek, played his part in the remarkable European Cup success, and that's never a bad note to go out on.
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