Welcome to Issue 316 of Red All Over The Land.
After the Diogo Tribute issue, followed by the catch-up Issue, I’m hoping that normal service has now resumed. The transfer window does feature in this issue. Just about everyone had something to say.
The first three games of the season reaped nine points, I’m not quite sure how but I’m not going to worry about it. One game was played on a wave of emotion; one that bordered on a kind of premeditated lunacy and, one that was played with a bit more sanity, so much so I think even Mikel Arteta left without complaining.
I’m old and have lived through transfers of varying kinds during my life of following and watching football. I’m not sure I know of one so acrimonious as the Alexander Isak one. Had Liverpool not been involved I wouldn’t have given it more than a curious glance before getting on with something more interesting, but Liverpool was involved. I’m sure it could have been handled better by all parties but when apportioning criticism, to the naked eye, it seemed as if Newcastle came out of it mainly unscathed. Simply because the media tried to paint a picture of a player holding a club to ransom and Liverpool trying to prise Newcastle’s prized asset away. I’m not going to regurgitate the bile that was spewed but I will defend Liverpool’s part. We wanted the player, the player wanted to come, and Liverpool did what is the normal practice. We made Newcastle an offer that they refused. Newcastle didn’t exactly say Isak wasn’t available at any price, so we put in a further offer and on the final day of the transfer window a Liverpool offer was finally accepted. Newcastle got portrayed as the team that had lost a player they wanted to keep. What was conveniently forgotten is that Newcastle would have happily sold the player to a Saudi club offering far more money than Liverpool, but the player wanted to stay in real football. That Saudi club also has interests in Newcastle. Carpet and brush etc, etc.
Arne Slot is now under pressure. Last season was easy because expectations weren’t so high, and Arne was new to English football. Not even the most ardent of Liverpool fans expected what was delivered and delivered with a squad that lacked genuine depth. This time around it will be different. New players in abundance. Genuine world class players at his disposal. In the modern age of football I don’t know if we’ve ever had it so good on the player front. Any result the mass media, the national press, TV or the keyboard warriors feel falls below expectations will be scrutinised in every detail and knives will be sharpened. The project Liverpool have invested in isn’t just for today it’s about the tomorrows as well. The FSG investment should be judged in the years ahead and not now.
Apologies for a couple of glaring errors in the last issue. Life isn’t treating me well. I’ve been PC-less and as I put this together internet-less. I’m so glad we live in the AI age of technology [cough, cough].
JJP: Where we’re bound for no one can tell but tomorrow is a long time.