The State of Merseyside Football

[Damo W]

As the title suggests I am questioning what has happened to Mereyside Football.

I suppose the origins of this post came from a discussion with several friends after this weeks events. Both Everton and Liverpool are humiliated by lower division teams, both a poor start to the season in the League and havent made a mark in the transfer window this summer and that is just this season.

Looking at the bigger picture, Goodison, seen better days and several attempts to replace have fell apart. Anfield, looking to replace as although selected for world cup in 2018 can't really compete with Old Trafford and Emirates. We were hoping that little bit of investment and maybe we can establish ourselves as a top 4 team. Friends who support Liverpool where syaing just that little bit more investment and they may have had a chance of winning the title. In the transfer market, neither of us appear to be able to compete with Tottenham, even before they got Champions League.

I am first to say the grass isnt always greener and I would rather keep Kenwirght than trade him in for a Gillet or Hicks. But what has happened to the Mersey Millionaires, yes I know we don't have the support of the Moores Family, or is that it?

This may sound like a bit of a rant, I hope not, it is an attempt to qustion where has it all gone wrong, will we ever see Merseyside Rule the Footballing world again. I was born in very early eighties I just about remember Everton winning the league and several cups, I don't know if it is true but when both giants of English football were competing at the very top of the footballing world, I hear stories of fans chanting Merseyside, Merseyside at Wembley. I long for those days to return although with Everton always finishing higher or winning the cup.

So how would I try and ansewer this, well they knew football (I don't know if they know the modern game) but would the return of the Moores Family to owning and running Merseyside Football restore the status of this once proud and great footballing mecca.

 

[chicoazul]

The Welsh took a bribe off Manchester and poisoned our water mate, that's what's happened here.

They've put loads of pencils in to up the lead count and our players are knackered.

 

[Damo W]

The Welsh took a bribe off Manchester and poisoned our water mate, that's what's happened here.

They've put loads of pencils in to up the lead count and our players are knackered.

Ha Ha, that expalins it then, I always thought the water around Walton tasted a bit funny.

 

[billycopper]

I do think it's ridiculous that people are talking about getting rid of Hodgson. He put a Carling Cup side out. There were no Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Gerrard, Cole, Kuyt, Torres or Poulsen. Nobody is calling for the head of Mancini, Ancellotti or Redknapp because their respective teams went out. Whilst I'm sure that Roy was disappointed with the result, the team that he put out shows how much of a priority the competition was.

In the league they've faced Arsenal, City and United, gaining a creditable draw against the Gunners and being unfortunate to come away from Old Trafford without a point, despite not playing especially well. In their other games, St Andrews is never an easy place to go and West Brom are more solid than in previous seasons.

Under Benitez, Liverpool were almost a two man team. With neither Gerrard or Torres at the top of their game just now, it was always going to be difficult for the former Fulham manager to win matches. On a positive note, both N'Gog and Lucas have started to find their feet at this level.

Hodgson has had his hands tied financially. Meireles and Cole are certainly quality players and Poulsen is a cheap yet experienced replacement for the disruptive Mascherano. The manager is right that the club won't be able to move forward until the ownership issue is settled. In the meantime I'm sure that the group of players at his disposal are good enough to move up the table once they gel.

As for the blue half of Merseyside, I have every confidence that we'll tighten up as a defensive unit and grind out a few results to steady the ship. The confidence will come back and, rather than panicking on the ball, we'll start to play the brand of football that we know we're capable of. The two biggest issues for me at the moment are that Moyes has had his thinking muddied by having options. He's happiest getting the most out of a small group of players. The other problem is that the manager is either too afraid or too unimaginative to experiment.

The club is well run and has the most talented personnel, probably, since we last won the league. I'm sure that the status quo will be resumed sooner rather than later and that we will see this as the blip that it really is.

 

[Muggins]

I thought you were planning a military coup to turn Merseyside into its own independent state.

*puts away RPGs and propaganda prepared for Leonbils new world order*

on a serious note, something has got to give. Someones gonna get a new stadium, and the success will follow, I just hope its us.

I am slightly concerned by Transport links being an issue though.

 

[dixie1928]

I thought you were planning a military coup to turn Merseyside into its own independent state.

*puts away RPGs and propaganda prepared for Leonbils new world order*

on a serious note, something has got to give. Someones gonna get a new stadium, and the success will follow, I just hope its us.

I am slightly concerned by Transport links being an issue though.

I wonder if a railway loop system might be of help with transport links?

 

[Robert Jarvis]

I think Liverpool FC will emerge from their current perilous state in a reasonable condition. They have good merchandising receipts, good gate receipts and has to be said more of a worldwide exposure than Everton. In truth Anfield is a better stadium than GP no getting away from that but they want a bigger stadium because they believe they can get more people through the gates so more money. The club owns Anfield and it's training ground.

By comparison Everton may not have have as much debt in real terms but neither do we have cash for transfers nor do we hold much in the way of assets. Bellfield is not worth that much without PP and the club does not own Finch Farm, in fact it was sold and we now lease. What happened to the money from the sale. I cannot see any way at all of Everton being able to get a new stadium or to develop GP, we simply do not have the werewithall to do so. In this respect Liverpool have more behind them than we do. Apart from the G7H fiasco people can see there is a very succesful business here unlike Everton.

The simple truth is Yes Liverpool FC will emerge and be just as potent as before with a little time but I cannot see Everton rising to the heights of the 60s to 80s.

 

[Sharpys top lip]

Who gives a fukk about them.

Hope that club dies a horrible death.

 

[Robert Jarvis]

Sorry Sharpy that is sticking your headf in the sand, Liverpool FC notwithstanding their debt will emerge in a better state than Everton the way matters currently stand and that is being realistic.