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      OPPOSITION VIEW - LIVERPOOL Q&A

In the build up to Saturday's home game with Liverpool, we spoke to Daniel Thomas (DT) of live4liverpool.com and Red and White Kop's Kev Howson (KH) about their thoughts on the coming season . . .

How long a Liverpool fan

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.

 


 

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