Anfield’s Unknown Arrivals and Sad Departures

With friendly fixtures with Wrexham, Crewe and Lincoln City to whet my appetite before Liverpool?s forthcoming Premiership campaign, and a largely disappointing World Cup still a very clear memory, I?ve yet to get that warm glow that normally pervades the prospect of nine months of domestic football.

The Arrivals

Aurelio, Fabio-less?

Still, I know little about Liverpool?s signings for the season ahead (aside from Craig Bellamy, who I covered in an earlier article), and the prospect of a 26-year-old Brazilian left-back (Fabio Aurelio) fills me with nothing but fear, and the 20-year-old Gabriel Paletta smacks of Carling Cup third round player only. Although the idea of Mark Gonzales offering wing-play that hasn?t been seen in a Liverpool shirt since McManaman departed these shores excites me no end, I?ve never actually seen him play!

So Long and Good Riddance?

Bruno Chey-who?

Some of the dead wood has been cleared out too; the disappointing Nando Morientes was sold to Valencia at a ?3million loss and Bruno Cheyrou is finally off our books, along with the youngsters Conal Platt, Zak Whitbread, Daniel Raven, Ramon Calliste and Paul Willis (amongst others) cleared from the reserves, and ?promising Spanish full-back? Antonio Barragan likely on his way to Deportivo La Coruna. July has also seen the perennially injured Chris Kirkland sign another long-term loan deal with another ?lesser? Premiership club (this time Wigan), and Djibril Cisse seems likely to make his comeback from the broken leg he suffered prior to the World Cup as a Marseille player (again on a loan basis).

Please Mind the Gap

With the only other deal on the horizon being the signing of full-back Daniel Alves from Sevilla (pending the agreement of a fee in the region of ?10-?12 million ? he?d better be good), Liverpool still seem short in two key areas ? centre-back (Rafa seemed unwilling to trust anyone in the squad outside of Hyypia-Carragher last season, even the multi-million Agger) and striker (with Bellamy, Fowler and Crouch the main options, I think we need a fourth unless Pongolle or Mellor are to finally be given a real chance). I guess we’ll have to wait and see how Rafa takes advantage of any Italian divident.

Didi-n’t He Do Well?

Didi Departed

Another gaping hole in the squad has been left by the departure Dietmar “the Kaiser” Hamann, who today completed his free transfer to Manchester City (unlucky Bolton). Now Didi was seldom a spectacular player for Liverpool, but in my eyes he was certainly one of the most influential in our recent history.

Since his arrival from Newcastle seven years ago Hamann has been the backbone of the Liverpool midfield (playing in a similar role to that of Carrick at Spurs for those who need a reference point), holding steady whilst the likes of Gerrard, Murphy and McAllister did the ?glory work? for the ?Treble? winning side of 2001, and more recently rising from the bench to offer the same services in the 2005 Champions [sic] League and 2006 FA Cup wins. His performance against Kaka in Istanbul being particularly noteworthy. Although Alonso has been a more than useful replacement in terms of passing and even shooting, I feel he isn?t quite the steadying influence that our great German was. Sadly even the great footballers get old.

Also, who can forget Hamann?s career with Germany, a stunning goal against Northern Ireland in 1999 grinds me still, and his was the final strike at the old Wembley (what was Spunky doing?) in 2000. In 2002 he also became the first Liverpool player to feature in a World Cup Final since Roger Hunt in 1966.

Hamann leaves Anfield as our most successful European import ever with a total of nine winner?s medals (Champions [sic] League, UEFA Cup, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 2 European Super Cup and a Charity Shield) and four runners-up (Premiership, League Cup, World Club Championship and Community Shield) ? a worthy haul in addition to those he won in his native Germany with Bayern Munich.

Auf Wiedersehn Didi, and best of luck at Eastlands (except for when the Reds come marching in!).

Back to the Future

Anyway, onwards to the 2006/07 season, I might warm to it when I finally see the new Adidas Liverpool kit, I ?m hoping for something retro to go with the title!

Our last Title Winning Shirt!