Starting from this August, I positively demand a full season (or as close to it as possible) of the Skaggerwocky guarding our dear Pepe. With Johnson and Enrique at either flank most of the time, and a reinvigorated Lucas screening. A FULL SEASON.
Get Coates starting every round of every cup - FA, Europa, Carling - to give one of the beast's heads a rest, and so the poor bastard doesn't wonder why on Earth he's even here.
After we bring in [I hope] some more [proper] attacking [and midfielding] quality in the summer, I'm utterly desperate to see what can be achieved with a mean defence, and a strong midfield, and an efficient offence.
I steadfastly refuse to believe that a team of Reina; Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique; Lucas, Ingredient X; Gerrard; Suarez, Ingredient Y, Ingredient Z, and a squad of young backups that we've pretty much already got, cannot put up an impressive fight in the premiership. We're only "shit" because a couple or so of the cogs clearly need replacing, and that makes the whole engine falter. Adam, Carroll, Henderson and Downing can still play an important part, but as a supporting cast; perhaps more, but only if they show the inititiative, learn the game and how to make the most of their opportunity to perform for Liverpool FC. Kelly, Robinson, Spearing, Shelvey, Bellamy... those are superb subs, worthy of 20+ significant appearances a season. We have Sterling, Suso and Adorjan coming through pretty fast, who might well form a formidable trio for years to come if given a fair shot when the time's right.
I simply cannot concede that these are merely mid-table foundations here, I cannot. Just 2 or 3 inspired top-drawer signings (and believe it or not we have done a similar thing recently in nabbing Suarez, Bellamy and Enrique for a total of ~£30m), some greater tactical clarity and consistency, and our most vital performers staying fit - we'd be whispering about challenging for the title again before too long (and not in a delusional sense)! A wasteful/underwhelming summer could seriously fuck things up though. For the future of Kenny, Steve, Luis, Pepe... it's looking increasingly crucial.
So why post that in this thread? Because aside from picking up the first piece silverware in over half a decade, the single greatest, most hope-inspiring thing to come from this season for me has been the emergence of a true, proper partnership at the heart of the defence. Two quality footballers in their own right when mind & body are right, their combined contribution to our side's stability has been thrown into sharp relief by its absence, even though Skrtel's still been bringing it. This is the only genuine natural duo in our team at present; Gerrard-Suarez is in its early days yet, and fngers crossed for Lucas-Whoever at the heart of the side, whenever that appears. I'm probably happier this season with Martin and Dan than I am with anyone else, including Craig, Jose, Glen, Steve, Jay and Raheem. Accentuate the positive.
