DT: I've been a Liverpool fan
since I was 10. I only ever had a passing interest in football when I was a kid
growing up in St Helens, a rugby league town, but as I got older I took an
interest in both sports and went to my first game when I was 10 in 1995. I've
had my season ticket since the summer of 2004, as hard as it is to afford these
days.
KH: Too
long... I'm 44 now and I cannot remember not being. I can just about remember
Keegan leaving and thinking it was the end of the world.
Why Liverpool
DT: It's a family thing, dad was a big red in
the 1970s and the 1980s before I came along, going home and away. He never put
any pressure on me at all to become a Liverpool fan, I
just did, he offered to take me to games and so on but he left me to make my own
choice. Admirable parenting actually considering most people in St Helens
support the devil down the M62!
KH:
God knows, I
think it was too young to be a rational decision. I was probably an early
adopter on the glory hunting.
Favourite all-time
Liverpool player
DT: Really tough question. It's a toss up
between Sami Hyypia and Didi Hamann, two players I watched when I started going
to games regularly. Sami probably gets the nod because he was just sheer class
from start to finish of his LFC career, it took Didi a season to get going. But
both of them are up there for me.
KH: It goes
without saying that when Keegan left, despite my childlike fears, the world did
not end, it just got better. The imperious, the impeccable Kenny Dalglish will
always be a legend for me and others of my generation.
Thoughts on last
season
DT: Gross underachievement that wasn't
necessarily all down to the manager. I know we won a cup (and it should have
been two, Carroll should have started against
Chelsea, for which
I do believe the manager was at fault) but 8th place was a massive let down. We
are better than that, a lot better than that in fact. You can sum our season up
in one game, our 1-0 loss to yourselves at Anfield late last year. A game which
we played really well, totally controlled for 90 minutes, wasted a series of
gilt edged chances and ended up losing 1-0. A complete summary of the season in
90 minutes, it really was. There were games where we were awful don't get me
wrong but our attitude and approach to the game was spot on mostly - positive,
attacking and creating chances. But ultimately it ended it almost complete
failure.
KH:
A mixed bag.
Two trips to Wembley, first trophy for six years, the blessed relief of not
having to listen to bumbling Roy any more (sorry). On the other hand, the poor
home league form, finding it easier to hit the post than the goal, the new
signings failing to step up, the off field distractions and media shitstorm and
finally the shoddy treatment of a club legend by our absentee owners left a bad
taste in the mouth.
Happy with Brendan
Rogers
DT: Yes, very. If we were getting a manager
from this country he was top of my list. I like the way
Swansea play and
we couldn't get the ball off them in our two games last year. The main reason
behind that is now at Anfield, we just chased Joe Allen around hopelessly. I
don't like the way he has dealt with the Andy Carroll situation and I don't
think he fancies him but other than that, very impressive away from the dug out.
He talks a good game. We just need to give him time.
KH:
Yep, unlike
Roy he says the right things, and you probably think this is silly but for a
Liverpool manager that is important. We need a messiah to follow, someone we can
believe in. Time will tell if this is a step up too soon for Brendan but his
Swansea team passed us off the park at Anfield and if he can produce that sort
of cohesion in the red ranks then we'll soon be moving in the right direction
again.
Pre-season form
DT: It's hard to say. Our pre-season was
interrupted by international football - those recovering from the Euros and
those at the Olympics. We had our Northern American tour but that was barely the
first team squad. If we treat the two Europa League Qualifiers as friendly
matches (because
Gomel
were pretty bad) then we looked ragged in one and superb in the other, but in
the home leg we had our full team out. We did smash
Leverkusen
on Sunday as well, but we've only had two, maybe three games where we can be
assessed.
KH:
To be honest
I was happier back in the days when pre-season games were in Norway and merited
no more than a footnote in the Echo. People read far too much into these games.
But we have apparently looked pretty good in our last two outings against Gomel
and Leverkusen.
Happy with summer
transfer dealings
DT: I think I'd be better giving you an
answer at
midnight
on August 31st with this one... So far I'm pleased. Borini looks sharp and
creative. Allen, as I said earlier, was a class above almost anything else I saw
at Anfield last season, he keeps the ball a lot and we need that. We need to get
a few in yet though, we need another wide player (Walcott, Adam Johnson or Tello
for Barcelona are all credible links) and I think another striker. We are also
looking to try and bring Nuri Sahin in on loan. We've lost Bellamy, Maxi and
Kuyt and that's a big trimming down of the squad. We need replacements. I think
Dempsey is coming in and we need to stick to our guns and try and keep Daniel
Agger. I don't want to see Carroll leave either. I get the feeling it's going to
go to the wire this summer.
KH:
It is too
early to say really. So far so good. I think Borini and Allen are sensible
buys that will improve the team. Brendan clearly doing the safe thing of getting
in some heads that he knows and who will stand up for him in the dressing room
first off. How successful the whole summer has been will depend on what happens
between now and the end of the month though. A couple of big departures and no
additions could leave us feeling far less optimistic.
Prediction and
thoughts for the coming season
DT: Again, it's hard to say. At the moment
I'd say top six comfortably, if we get 2 or 3 in then we may have a tilt at the
top four if everything falls into place. Although we might lose Agger and
replace him poorly and we'd be looking at where we finished last season again.
Same goes if we sell Carroll and don't replace him, all it takes is injury to
Suarez and we're screwed. I have confidence in the manager to get it right, but
I am just wondering if time is against us to get the quality in for a 4th place
finish.
KH: I think
it will be a rocky road and there will be questions asked of the manager's
approach but overall I think we will improve on last season's league form. Not
enough to bridge the gap to the top 4 but enough to keep us happy and hopeful
that we can get back into the CL, where we think we belong.
Player to watch
DT: Luis Suarez. The lad is class. Take away
any controversies, he's an unbelievable footballer. He has some skills that no
other player in the league can do. If Ray Winstone's big fat head ever offers
you odds on Suarez to make 3 or more nutmegs in a match, take them! Outside of
Suarez who is obvious, Lucas is an immense defensive midfielder and we missed
him last year. Watch how much ground that lad covers in a match. Lung bursting.
KH: Our main
threat will remain Luis Suarez and I think we are all hoping for a big season
for him this year especially with the new manager seeming to prefer a fluid
attacking formation that should get the best out of him. Of the new youngsters
breaking through then the most likely prospect this season will be Jack Robinson
at left-back. Raheem Sterling also looks promising but this is probably one
season too early for him.
Prediction and
thoughts on
Albion’s forthcoming season
DT: It's a big season for WBA, losing Hodgson
to the England
job is a blow (he's anything but my cup of tea but he did a good job for you)
but I think Steve Clarke is a shrewd managerial appointment. Getting Ben Foster
on a permanent deal from
Birmingham
is a good bit of business and Lukaku is raw but has the talent and the potential
to be an incredibly good striker in this country. I'll be keeping my eye on him
because I wanted us to sign him to replace Torres. I don't see a massive
weakening of WBA, I think you'll be higher mid table again.
KH:
Interesting
one, I think you have made a good appointment in Clarke and it will be
interesting to see how he does as the main man rather than as a coach. I think
he will make you defensively solid and hard to beat which should see you
comfortable in mid-table.
Albion player you
admire
DT: I've always liked Foster, but I would as
a paid up member of the goalkeepers union! Mulumbu has looked a good player
whenever I've seen him, I rate Brunt's left foot, but for me from the outside
looking in, Shane Long is a good player. He would have scored more last year but
wasn't it him that Hutton did?
KH:
I kind of
suspect he may be one of those players who looks good in highlights and thus
draws praise from the casual observer much to the annoyance of the regulars who
see him disappear for long periods but Zoltan Gera has always looked a tidy
player when I've watched you play.
Thoughts on WBA
fans and The Hawthorns
DT: Always liked the Baggies to be honest. I
respect the way you fought to come up, but stayed within your budget and went
back down, before going through the process again. You now look here to stay.
The Hawthorns is a good place to watch football, as are most grounds in the
midlands to be honest.
KH:
One of the
better aways for me.
Premier League
Champs
DT: Man City look to
me a cut above anyone else at the moment, but Chelsea will be there or
thereabouts and with their attacking line up their vulnerable defensive squad
might not be exposed. You can never rule United out in spite of the fact they
are at their weakest in a good while. One of those three, but it should be City.
KH:
Predictably Manchester City. Chelsea, despite all the big spending to implode
spectacularly around Christmas time.
Teams for the drop
DT: You look at the promoted teams and you
question whether or not they have it in them to stay up.
Southampton and
Reading will be there or thereabouts, I think Allardyce will keep West Ham up,
it'll be harder again for
Swansea and
Norwich, Wigan's
luck has to run out eventually. Stoke are also slowly beginning to go backwards,
they might get sucked in this year. But I'll say
Southampton,
Reading and Wigan.
KH: Man Utd,
Everton and Villa. This is the dream section isn't it?
Prediction for game
DT: I can
see a low scoring draw, perhaps a 1-1. A win would be nice but games like this
are hard to predict when there's been so much managerial upheaval. I'll go with
1-1.
KH: Ach... I
hate this bit. I think you'll be tight but eventually we'll wear you down and
nick it 2-0.