Internationals Wrap Up

Sorry for 'spamming' the comments section, but thought you might be interested i these...

From Holding Midfield
You Don’t Win Anything With Kids 04/09/11
September 4, 2011By Rob McDonaldcloseAuthor: Rob McDonald
Twitter: @schmuckdonaldAbout: See Authors Posts (20)
This is generally going to be something that follows the fixture list of the Next Gen Series, but as there haven’t been any matches since mid-August, I’ll take the opportunity to give a brief run through some of the younger lads in the Academy.In an up and down few weeks for the Liverpool youngsters, there have been several positives, particularly among the Under-18 players. In what are two young generations at both levels, the learning curve has been steep to adapt to, with Rodolfo Borrell firstly introducing the young crop of players, who have since made the step up to reserve level, at Under-18 level then taking a lot of them with him to the Reserves. Many of the current Under-18 squad are first year scholars as several from last season have been promoted – Raheem Sterling, Jack Robinson, Jon Flanagan, Andre Wisdom, Conor Coady and others – to the reserve team, and onto the cusp of the first team.Of the young players who’ve made the step up to the Under-18′s, several have already begun to stand out. Jordan Lussey, who is originally from Ormskirk but has been called up to the England Under-16′s and Under-17′s has already demonstrated a raw talent and good footballing brain and is the kind of player who can do his role almost anywhere on the pitch. He announced himself this season by scoring a fantastic equaliser in the game against Cardiff City and looks to be one of the most talented midfielders in the academy.Signed in January 2011, Yalany Baio is another who has emerged as a player with great potential in the opening games of the season. The tough tackling defensive midfielder, who hails from Guinea-Bissau but came from Portugal, has shown his tenacity as well as a strong passing range in his early appearances. He and Lussey look to have the attributes to form a formidable partnership in the centre of the park for the Under-18 side.Elsewhere, Jack Dunn – who captained the Under-16 side previously, under new Under-18 coach Mike Marsh – showed a good technique when striking the ball with a crisp half-volley against Derby County earlier today and is an all-action attacking midfielder. Matty Regan, who was Under-16 captain before Dunn but got promoted to the Under-18 side last year (as well as making a string of solid performances for the reserves at the back end of last season), looks to assume the mantle vacated by Andre Wisdom.Although he hasn’t been promoted to the reserves like some others, Adam Morgan has been one of the stand out performers of the last year or so and has already got two goals to his name as well as being handed the starting berth in the first Next Gen Series match against Sporting Lisbon. Morgan, who’s mainly known for his goal scoring is a hard-working and intelligent forward. Using the wings well and harrying defenders, he is a demonstrative player who is a constant threat.Much has already been written about the players who have since been promoted to the reserves for this season, so I won’t add to the glowing list of references they have garnered. However, they do face a difficult away game against Molde this week, with a large crowd expected. They will be looking to get off the mark in the Next Gen Series, which should be a fantastic experience for them in their development. A strong team is expected to travel to Norway and it will be the first major test for several of the players.In the game against Swansea, they were unfortunate to face a very experienced side and had to finish the game with ten men following a rash tackle from Emmanuel Mendy, which gifted Swansea the penalty that secured them their victory, but performed admirably.Reserves:Swansea 2 – 1 LiverpoolUnder-18′s:Liverpool 1 – 1 Cardiff City
Porsmouth 0 – 1 Liverpool
Liverpool 2 – 3 Derby CountyJust as a post-script, the descriptions of the younger players is a bit clichéd and vague but I’ve only seen them play a couple of times. Will provide more in-depth analysis as the season goes on, with more specialised pieces on specific players.

From MicroLFC
Early impressions of Dalglish’s new Liverpool give reason for optimism
by George Dugdale on September 4, 2011

Not so long ago, I was a schoolboy. There are many stories from those mischievous years not worthy of a space on this website, but you should know that we were assessed by way of report card every half-term. The first report of the new year would come a matter of weeks after returning to school after the summer break. We all knew that it was too early to make any firm judgements about our prospects, but it had to be done.
As we sit through an international break (or a footballing half-term, as I am viewing it), the time feels right to make some initial observations on the new-look Liverpool.
New Signings
Unless substantial damage had been caused in a science lab mishap, every school report for a new arrival would be positive, usually welcoming the new pupil and setting out positive guidelines for the rest of the year. For Kenny Dalglish’s summer signings, the assessment is very much the same. We are only four games into the new campaign, but the early impressions of the new boys have been positive.
Starting in defence, José Enrique has impressed immediately following his arrival from Newcastle United. The Spaniard is solid defensively and blessed with great pace, as well as great strength, which allows him to recover from any errors he may make. Enrique is wonderfully confident on the football, willing to beat a man and able to deliver high-quality balls into the area. When Liverpool’s front men learn to read the left-back’s crosses, goals are certain to follow. Enrique gets his head up early and varies his delivery into the box, from pull-backs to whipped balls into ‘the corridor of uncertainty’. The left-back slot has been a problem position for Liverpool, but Enrique looks to be one of the bargains of the summer. Considering some of the prices quoted for underwhelming defenders, the fee of approximately £6 million represents fine value for money. Enrique’s arrival took a long time to come fruition, but could prove to be one of Liverpool’s best pieces of business.
Another protracted transfer was that of Charlie Adam. The Scottish midfielder looked set to join in January, but Comolli and Dalglish remained patient to gain his signature for a reduced price this summer following Blackpool’s relegation from the Premier League. Known for being the big fish in the Seasider’s pond, Adam is now surrounded by players of a higher quality. The nagging doubt was whether Adam would adapt to his new surroundings at a large club, but he has shown few signs of being intimidated. Although occasionally wasteful in possession, Adam has continued to exhibit an ability to play passes to stretch the play. Luis Suarez, in particular, appears to be forming a strong partnership with Adam as he learns that his runs, however far away from the ball, will often be found. The nature of Blackpool’s football under Ian Holloway is not entirely dissimilar to Dalglish’s pass and move style and could explain why Adam appears to be enjoying his role in Liverpool’s midfield. Adam also appears far more adept defensively in a Liverpool shirt, no doubt aided by the shape Liverpool maintain when attacking, something woefully absent at Blackpool. Furthermore, his high-quality delivery from set-pieces could prove crucial in tight games where defences are providing stubborn resistance from open play. With a goal and two assists already to his name, Adam has settled well.
Alongside Adam in Liverpool’s midfield is Jordan Henderson. Although his initial contribution was more tidy than spectacular, a strong performance against Bolton shows what Henderson is all about. Always a willing runner ahead of the ball, the England Under 21 captain will have plenty of opportunities in and around the box this season. He makes excellent late runs into the area and will be waiting for the pull-back whenever the likes of Suarez, Downing and Enrique get to the byline. Out of Liverpool’s summer signings, Henderson is the one who will take the longest time to fulfil his potential, in no small part due to his age. However, he will grow in confidence over the course of the season and Liverpool fans can expect his contribution to grow week on week. Henderson has been hampered slightly by constant incorrect reports of the fee paid by Liverpool for his services, but there are plenty of signs for encouragement. The youngster possesses a wicked delivery into the box from the flanks, a good range of passing and importantly, a very good football brain. Over the course of the season, I expect Henderson to come into his own and Liverpool fans to learn what he is all about.
Finally, Stuart Downing has hit the ground running (as ever, very quickly) following his arrival from Aston Villa. By his own admission, Downing has failed to perform consistently at international level, but his club form has rarely been questioned. All the statistics suggest that Downing’s contribution in the Premier League is impressive, but many have preconceived ideas due to his performances on the international stage. Aston Villa fans were thoroughly disappointed to lose Downing and backed him to be a success at Liverpool. On early evidence, how right they were. The winger shows no signs of being daunted by the challenge of providing the first genuine width seen at Anfield in years. He is direct, energetic and able to deliver with quality from wide. His performances thus far have shown consistency and he is effective on either flank, going down the line or cutting inside. When Liverpool were without Luis Suarez last season, the team clearly lacked pace. Alongside Enrique and the returning Craig Bellamy, this is no longer the case. Downing’s individual contribution has shown signs of great promise, but an understanding with Andy Carroll is still lacking. If this can be added over the course of the season, Downing will be a vital player for Dalglish.
It is important to stress that we are only four games into a long season, but each of the summer arrivals has shown why Liverpool were willing to fight for their signature.
The Team
The start to the season has been extremely promising, with two dropped points against Sunderland the only blemish. Victory over Arsenal was important in terms of capitalising on their misfortunes to open up an early gap in the race for Champions League football and the home win against Bolton showed that improvements had been made from the opening fixture. Liverpool turned in a high-tempo, pressing performance throughout the game, with the atmosphere following the third goal and penultimate waves of attack reflecting the realisation among the fans that this side can play. More formidable tests await, but there is great benefit in creating early momentum.
There is also plenty of evidence that this Liverpool team know how to play together. Dalglish wants Liverpool to play quick football on the floor, recreating the pass and move mantra from years gone by. Daniel Agger is the catalyst for this, encouraged to play his natural game, striding out into the midfield. Both full-backs are encouraged to overlap, with Enrique in particular thriving with the license to roam. When Glen Johnson returns from injury, the attacking style of play is also likely to bring the best out of him. However, a fit Martin Kelly provides a formidable barrier in the contest for the right-back shirt.
In midfield, Lucas has picked up from where he left off last season, shielding the back four and allowing others to press forward. He has already formed an understanding with Charlie Adam, who works in similar areas to Xabi Alonso, during his time at the club. Adam often picks the ball up from deep to start attacks, before sweeping up any loose balls thirty yards from goal as these attacks are repelled, driving forward when possible.
Meanwhile, Stuart Downing has shown that he has a good understanding of the game, to accompany his pace and quality delivery. He is willing to move off his wing, dragging the full-back with him. When on the left, this leaves room for José Enrique to gallop forward, or Luis Suarez to peel into his favourite position in the channel, isolating his centre-half one on one in the absence of a full-back. Liverpool’s football may appear very fluid, but there is great intelligence to much of the movement, with one player knowing exactly when to move into the space another player has vacated. Barcelona are masters of this art and it is refreshing to see a Liverpool side doing it well.
The only source of confusion at the moment is Andy Carroll. Put simply, Liverpool look a more effective unit when the big-money signing isn’t involved. Although Carroll suffered a little against Bolton, replacing Suarez and, therefore, being part of a side without the Uruguayan’s flair, he can contribute more to the side. Dalglish has built a side that can produce great quality from wide areas, but Carroll can work harder to make sure he is on the end of their deliveries. Too often, balls have flashed across the face of the goal, begging for a 6’3 Geordie to get his head on it. Carroll should benefit from the arrival of former team-mate Enrique on the left, but must have the belief that the balls into the box will be better than those from last season. If Carroll can get his movement right, there are goals to be had for him.
Furthermore, Liverpool need to be careful to judge their delivery to the big number nine. On occasions, youngsters such as John Flanagan and Jack Robinson have been too eager to cross from deep. Although these balls are intended to serve Carroll, in reality they are asking a lot from him. Liverpool’s build-up play has been superb, so the issue is not getting into the final third. The key is for Liverpool’s midfield and full-backs to remain patient, playing through the opposition’s midfield and then putting quality balls in to trouble the defenders. Carroll appears disillusioned by balls from deep and will surely show a greater appetite to get on the end of crosses if they are delivered from the right areas. Carroll’s header against Arsenal is the perfect example of how Liverpool should play with him in the team. Downing picked the ball up near the byline, delivered a quality cross and Carroll was only denied by a fine save. Carroll’s tough spell is a situation that needs help from both sides. Carroll needs help from his team-mates, but in return they need a striker who is alive to opportunities when they are presented.
The key to Carroll’s future in a Liverpool shirt is patience by all. Dalglish will be patient with Carroll, his players need to be patient in their approach play and Carroll needs to be patient with his team-mates, before coming alive when the opportunity is presented. Carroll’s price-tag naturally means that he is under greater pressure to perform than most, but whilst Liverpool are winning games, there will be no hysteria. Dalglish has got the vast majority of his decisions correct since returning and fans should have every faith that along with Steve Clarke and Kevin Keen, he can bring the best out of his striker. Carroll’s height may result in his selection against Stoke and if picked, it will be a chance for the striker to impress alongside Suarez. Carroll is clearly frustrated by his contribution at times, but will not be hung out to dry by his manager.
This Liverpool squad – and it is a squad now, each of whom feel part of the club – are enjoying the football they are being asked to play and are playing with a smile on their faces.
Transfer Window
This summer has seen an incredible turnaround in terms of the playing staff at Anfield. Damien Comolli asked the club’s owners to trust him with bringing players in early, in the knowledge that large numbers of players would be removed from the wage bill at the last minute. This was a large investment of faith by the ownership, who admit they know little about football transfers, but they have been rewarded for their stance and deserve great praise.
In addition to those who have made débuts, Alexander Doni, Sebastian Coates and Craig Bellamy have joined the club. Whilst Doni arrives to provide cover for the ever-present Pepe Reina, Coates and Bellamy are signed for contrasting reasons. Bellamy’s return is a short-term move, to provide squad depth and versatility in the form of a self-confessed Liverpool fan. Returning with what he perceives as unfinished business, Bellamy is not a signing for the next five years, but one who is a useful weapon for the next two seasons, initially. Bellamy still possesses frightening pace, which when paired with his intelligent movement, is a threat to Premier League defences. He is well known to both Keen and Clarke, whilst his admiration for Dalglish should see the pair form a strong bond.
Meanwhile, Coates is a relatively unknown prospect. The young Uruguayan centre-half is already a Copa America winner and was hailed as the best young player in the tournament, but doesn’t carry the same price-tag as English defenders such as Gary Cahill and Scott Dann. Having spoken to a local ‘South American football expert’ (if such a thing exists), I have been assured that Coates is the real deal. He is a no-nonsense defender when needed, but is calm and comfortable on the ball. He also reads the game well, covering for a lack of burning pace and is a dominant force in the air. Coates will be given time to settle and is sure to be aided by the presence of compatriot Suarez. There is no finer mentor for defending in the English game than Jamie Carragher and with Clarke’s coaching expertise, Coates will be taught how to adapt his game to the Premier League. The signing of an unknown South American defender may encourage concerned flashbacks to Gabriel Paletta, but Coates has already achieved far more in the game. A few errors should be expected as he adjusts, but in the long-term, this could be a shrewd signing.
The entrance to the Melwood foyer has been a revolving door this summer, with Comolli earning his money by finding new clubs for players deemed surplus to requirements at Anfield. Jovanovic, N’Gog, Poulsen, El Zahr, Aquilani, Cole, Kyrgiakos and Konchesky are among those to have found new clubs for this season, at the very least and Degen has terminated his contact by mutual consent. Liverpool’s wage bill has been weighed down by players who are not in the manager’s plans for too long and whilst a percentage of Cole’s wage remains, plenty of deadwood has been shifted. As well as the financial benefits, there are significant gains to having a squad featuring only players who are in the manager’s plans. Everybody at training will feel as if the they have a chance of getting games for Dalglish, creating a competitive but vibrant group. The sale of an unhappy Raul Meireles for £12 million must also be seen as a positive, simply because it maintains the fact that no player in Liverpool’s squad is there against their wishes. Although a talented player, the Portuguese international was not a key part of Dalglish’s plans this season and whilst not being forced out, was always available should the right offer come in.
The Future
The approach of focussing on one game at a time whilst only worrying about matters at this club is a method that is suiting Dalglish’s Liverpool well. The squad is in place to have a successful season, but Dalglish does an excellent job of managing the expectations of fans in his press conferences. Many fans from other clubs had written Liverpool off as an also-ran before the season kicked off, but the impressive start has turned a few heads. Dalglish constantly reminds us that his side are taking each game as it comes and seeing where their performances can take them. The supporters appear to be buying into this attitude, enjoying the return to exciting football and not worrying about what is happening elsewhere.
This is very much that report card for the first half of term, leaving plenty of time for fluctuation before the true judgements at the end of the year. However, this has been an encouraging start to the season and Liverpool fans have every reason to believe that their team has the ability to do well.

It would be great to see the likes of Coady, Sterling, Amoo, Suso and Wisdom get some time in and around the 1st team this year. Like Kelly, Flanno, Spearo, Jonjo and Robbo last year, and especially considering the lack of true depth in our new trimmed back squad, we should really look to use these guys sparingly, surrounded by a storng team, so they can bed in without the pressure of having to perform.

Squad rotation this year will be key to developing our youngsters and keeping a slim squad fresh.

i love how the captain's a complete afterthought in this squad review. he won't be for long, but talk about a new era...

From ESPN:
A revolution in red
September 3, 2011

By Alex DimondTwelve months ago - before his friend and business partner Joe Januszewski emailed him about the plight of his favourite club - John W Henry knew very little about football, let alone Liverpool FC.

The contrast with Kenny Dalglish, a man who has had a passion for the Anfield club running through his veins ever since he arrived as a player in 1977 (and a love for football much longer than that) could hardly be starker. Yet together, in a partnership forged as much through coincidence as judgment, the two have been instrumental in reviving one of the England's most successful sides.
From the darkest days of Tom Hicks, George Gillett, and Roy Hodgson, Henry and Dalglish have yanked the club out of reverse to such an extent the fans that once feared oblivion now believe Champions League football, or even a title challenge, could be back in the offing.
Early performances this season have only bolstered expectations and anticipation. An opening draw with Sunderland (1-1) was a disappointment, but subsequent victories away to Arsenal (2-0) and then at home to Bolton Wanderers (3-1, in swaggering fashion) have sparked hopes that a return to the top four is a genuine prospect for this season, after two years in the relative wilderness.
To an extent, some of that revival cannot be credited to much more than the mere fact the old regime was kicked out. The way Hicks and Gillett ran the club, with Hodgson also out of his depth, almost any change would have been an improvement.
But Henry has gone further than that, impressing with his sensible observations in the press and unifying the club in pursuit of a common goal (a return to former glories), while also showing no reluctance to invest in the playing staff in the pursuit of that target. Charlie Adam (£7 million), Jordan Henderson (£16 million), Stewart Downing (£20 million), Jose Enrique (£6 million) and Sebastian Coates (£8 million) have all been added to the squad, building on the combined £55 million purchases of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll that Henry sanctioned in January.
Henry made his personal fortune by exploiting the imbalances in the futures market for soya beans and followed similar principles to turn around his Major League Baseball team, the Boston Red Sox, into a perennial contender once again.
It was the later overhaul, noted in Michael Lewis' book Moneyball, that led predictions of similar activity - exploiting statistical areas that other clubs undervalue to pick bargains in the market and turn the club around without breaking the bank - in his new venture on Merseyside. After two completed transfer windows, however, that evidently has not been the case.
Indeed, much has been made of Henry's arrival and overhaul of the fabled Red Sox, but before that he actually owned another MLB franchise, the rather less storied or successful Florida Marlins. Interestingly, he was a devout follower of the Moneyballprinciples even then - using them to great effect in his fantasy leagues with friends - but never really had the courage to implement them on the team he now owned.
"For a man who had never played professional baseball to impose upon even a pathetic major league franchise an entirely new way of doing things meant alienating the baseball insiders he employed," Lewis noted in his tome. "In the end, he would have been ostracized by his own organisation. And what was the point of being in baseball if you weren't in baseball?"
Having made little impact, Henry soon flipped the Marlins in a swap deal that eventually saw him own Boston's storied franchise in 2002. Determined not to make the same mistake, he recruited the forefathers of the 'sabermetrics' principle as advisors and hired a 28-year-old Yale graduate with a view of the game that chimed with his own, Theo Epstein, as general manager. Two years later, the Red Sox won their first World Series in nearly 100 years.
Some might fear that we are witnessing a repeat of the failed Marlins experience and not the Red Sox revolution, with Henry reluctant to stamp his authority in a sporting world he knows little about - but in reality he appears simply to be tempering his approach to suit the particular intricacies of football.
"I want to know why we are doing what we are doing on the pitch and with regard to player acquisition," he told the Telegraph recently. "I wouldn't be doing my job in allocating resources if I wasn't able to make sense of the individual steps we are taking within the context of our overall philosophy."
Dalglish, partly through good fortune, and Damien Comolli, after calculated research, are at the core of that. The board have had nothing but praise for Dalglish - perhaps originally out of a quick realisation that to do otherwise would not endear them to the fans, but more recently out of genuine admiration - but it is perhaps revealing that they have focused more on his leadership skills and football brain than his transfer market acumen.
"I can't think of somebody who embodies the relentlessness and the drive and the attitude of excellence better than Kenny," Tom Werner, a part owner in both Liverpool and the Red Sox, said recently. "I think he is a natural leader. I think he's been able to instil a sense of purpose into the club; and when he says something, I think people listen."
When Hodgson received his P45 in January, a host of young managers (notably Andre Villas-Boas) were linked by the media, but they would have wanted control over aspects of the club Henry had already commandeered.
Dalglish, out of the game's sharp end for a decade, could be trusted to marshal the first team but perhaps persuaded to leave some aspects of recruitment and transfer policy to others.
That primary 'other' has become Comolli. The Frenchman's appointment - first as director of football strategy, then simply director of football - was even recommended to Henry by the primary subject of Moneyball, Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane. Despite the sporting divide, the two are friends.
"He [Beane] loves football as I love baseball," Comolli said back in 2010, of the relationship he shares with the man who made the As a MLB heavyweight on a fraction of the budget of his rivals. "Everything I have been doing has come from what the As have been doing in terms of collecting and using data."
Comolli has clearly been pegged as Liverpool's own Epstein - himself the Sox's answer to Beane. Comparisons with two revolutionary thinkers may confuse any Spurs fans that remember Comolli's time at the club (although he was crucial in the signings of Gareth Bale and Luka Modric), but those who have worked with both insist they are incredibly similar.

"There is no question that Damien Comolli is cut from the same cloth as Theo Epstein," Werner noted recently. Football, however, is harder to statistically analyse with any great insight than baseball. "Determining what goes into a goal is much more complicated than determining what goes into a home run," Henry himself recently told the Wall Street Journal. But, while the data acquired can never be as easily applied as in baseball, basic assessments can still be made.
From their initial research, it seems the club have employed a two-fold approach - using statistics as an indicator of which players to target, and the level of 'risk' involved as a barometer for who they should actually go ahead and buy.
Beane may be the subject of Moneyball but most of his ideas were adopted from others. But one of his strictest rules was never to draft a player out of high school, but instead to always go for those with a few seasons of college experience under their belt.
Regular college action produced trustworthy data for each player, data that Beane could then sort for the particular statistical strengths he coveted. High school action only hinted at potential - and potential to Beane was just another word for 'risk'.
That is one example that Liverpool seem to be following. It's interesting to see the sums they paid for Adam, Downing and Henderson - all players with impressive (and recent) full seasons in the Premier League under their belt - while avoiding entering the race for Football League (and high school age) starlets like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (£12 million to Arsenal) or Connor Wickham (£7 million to Sunderland).
"Everyone seemed to think that Liverpool was over-valuing British players this summer. But when there is a substantial homegrown rule, British players are going to be highly valued," Henry told the Telegraph. "Look at the prices paid this year for Wickham and Oxlade-Chamberlain. At Liverpool we have purchased each player for a different reason."
That reason appears to be based predominantly on chance creation. If stats are being employed, this is the area they are first being followed. There is a clear correlation between the top scoring teams and the highest finishing teams each season in the Premier League, so goals clearly are the game's most valuable commodity (a fundamentally obvious point, perhaps, but nevertheless one that is worth being reminded in an era where teams have trended towards being more defensive).
Goals are created from opportunities; so it's logical that the more the team can create each match, the better the chance they have of winning games.
In that light, the midfield buys suddenly don't appear to be any coincidence. All three were in the top eight chance-creators of last season, according to Opta, and all had healthy assist totals for the season. Indeed, only four players have provided more chances than Downing in the Premier League in the last six years ("the stats prove he is much more than a winger," says Comolli).
This is a risky strategy in many ways - many 'experts' remain to be convinced that any of the three are truly top level players, while if Carroll was bought to finish all those created chances then the fact Suarez, a mercurial talent with a genuine X-Factor, is currently keeping him out of the side might be an early warning that you can't try and analyse everything in football.
Similarly, all three midfield buys also took a great number of their previous side's set pieces last season, a stats-inflating benefit that self-evidently not all will be able to experience this season - not to mention the fact that putting all three in one midfield leaves a lot of defensive work for one man (so far, Lucas Leiva) that could be exploited by better or more tactically savvy sides.
Yet, the Enrique and Coates signings are an attempt to counter that weakness by reinforcing the backline - again signing players of notable pedigree for a very reasonable price - while other players, from David Ngog to Alberto Aquilani, have been offloaded. Craig Bellamy's late addition is cost-effective, while the last-minute departure of Raul Meireles was by no means a blow - considering the sum received (a fee rising to £15 million) and midfield options that still remain.
Henry, for all his cheque-signing so far, is adamant the club will not "deficit spend". The American has been a vocal campaigner in favour of UEFA's proposed Financial Fair Play rules, making clear at every opportunity how important it is for the European game's governing body to enforce their rules to the maximum. This is grandstanding to an extent - Henry is too savvy to realistically expect hard-line implementation - but he wants to ensure rules are not allowed to be so lax that certain clubs can run riot.
That is the environment Henry is used to, after all. MLB doesn't have a salary cap but a luxury tax, meaning wealthy clubs are penalised for spending beyond a set amount but not prohibited from doing so - curbing differences in spending but not completely restricting it.
That's the scenario Henry needs again. If Liverpool can then increase revenues as the Red Sox did to a point where they are at least in the same ball-park as the New York Yankee-esque clubs like Manchester United and Manchester City, then they hope a more attuned transfer policy can make the difference on the pitch.

"We need time to build the football operation and we need to build our revenues," Henry acknowledges. "We did that in Boston and we still cannot come close to matching the revenues of the Yankees. But we match them competitively."
Prices will rise at Anfield - just as they did at Fenway Park - but fans will find it easier to stomach if the club are achieving two things; winning, and playing attractive football. That's where Dalglish comes back in.
"The way he wants us to play is pass and move and with a high tempo," defender Daniel Agger said after the Bolton display. "It is not just one thing - it is a combination: a strong squad, a good manager, good coaches around him. Results are the most important thing, but if you can get them playing like this, that is a bonus."
With Dalglish energising the team, Comolli searching for advantages in the statistics and Henry masterminding the business, Liverpool are rightly setting their sights on a return to football's top table.

If Barcelona are the benchmark, it would be interesting to know how many of their players show up on Commoli's reports as players to be interested in ie would any of them show up as top in La Liga for chance creation? Obviously Xavi would show up in a report for passing, but it would be interesting to know if any others do in other areas.
My thought on this is that we may miss out on talent if statistics alone are used. I've read that there's a pretty robust process around player recruitment, but if its stats that are the means by which we are alerted to players, it could be a little flawed.

a pretty fantastic video to watch on an international week.

http://www.dailymotion.com/vid...

Always had this thought that most opinions about Kuyt are that he has very poor technical qualities but it strikes to me that it is quite amazing for a player with such "poor technical ability" to be so consistent in making his penalty shots count.

He might not have the best touch as he'd recently shown in his goal for Holland but he certainly does the business and makes it all count.

Noel, Scotland have 3 more games not 2.  

OK, one is against Spain, which they may aswell not bother playing, even though Spain play Torres just to give everyone else a chance - aren't they nice (well except for Arbeloa anyhow, who had clearly just had an argument with his woman).

Scotland's explanation of the late penalty they didn't get not being a dive, was that "centre backs don't know how to dive".  Classic line.

It's still not goal differential.......

How was Suarez anyone?

according to the bbc, adam has picked up a hip inury

downing was limping a bit 80 min in to the england game, but seemed to be ok - Jimmy Rollins Rule.

never saw him as the cool type.  He's from Glasgue you know.

Gerrard set to be back sept. 18th, Tottenham game.

They had to keep Suarez in a full 90? At a friendly?

is it just me or was englands performance blown out of all proportion by the pundits and media as a whole? Personally i think the score after the first half flattered us as we didnt really create very many chances, fortunately the chances we did make went in but thats not going to be the case in every game, particularly against better opposition.  Sure enough we created chances in the second half but nothing went in which goes some way to proving my point that we didnt dominate and create as many chances as we should have against a team ranked 50-something in the world. I think it may have been phil neville, after the game, who commented on how we controlled the game, what???? for vast periods we sat back and defended deep with most of our team behind the ball. Fortunately bulgaria didnt have the vision or the creativity to pick a defence splitting pass. The likes of Ozil, Sneijder and Xavi will. When eventually we were able to get the ball off bulgaria, we simply hoofed it up the pitch and handed possession right back and against the better teams on the continent that is simply suicidal! There were short periods when we knocked the ball around but frankly we ran out of ideas and looked for the 'hollywood' pass or went back to the keeper. The performance would have been fantastic if were playing a top tier team with good technical ability able to retain possession for long periods but to be reduced to playing on the counter against a team we should consider 'whipping boys' is just not good enough. Sure enough the result was good and we got the job done but for a team of Englands calibre, that should never have been in question. Some may call me a pessimist but I think im just a realist, after all, what scoreline would that performance translate to in the knockout stage of the european championship or world cup? exactly, Englands overpaid and under performing stars should take the praise being lavished upon the with a pinch of salt or the bitter taste of reality will bite hard at the tournament proper.

Thanks for the update. I was wondering did anyone get injured. Good work, cheers and keep up the good work. 

Rooney's haircut gave me a headache, but nothing too serious...

Drat to Suarez playing the full 90. I always feel vaguely guilty for not supporting LFC players more when they go out to play for their countries, given how much it, presumably, means to them--ah well. I can just blame it on FIFA and UEFA being ridiculous with the scheduling of friendlies/qualifiers.

This is kind of off-topic, but that brawl in the Spain-Chile match was *ridiculous*. Sure, it was also somewhat entertaining in that, "what the fuck??" kind of way, but ffs, people--it's a friendly. That kind of posturing and overreacting just serves to make you look more ridiculous. Oh well, at least it gives the players an opportunity to practice their shoving, diving, and yelling before the next round of Clasicos, where they can just do it to each other.

VIVA CHILE, CARAJO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

didnt watch the game so cant comment on the cause of the brawl but it did make me wonder why it is that spanish and particularly barca players seem to get into so many scuffles. is it because they infuriate the opposition with their diving and playacting? i know if i played against busquets id want to knock his block off!

It's not just Barca players, to be fair. Real Madrid has as many, if not more, hotheads on their squad. And the cause of the brawl was basically Arbeloa turning it physical. You can see getting heated in a Clasico--even if I don't excuse it--but in a friendly? What FOR.

Although I've played in many friendlies, I've never played a game that was 'friendly'. Its amazing what happens to you when you cross the white line. 

Abeloa started it. Other then that, yea your right