Liverpool legend Alan Hansen believes this summer could be the “most crucial” in the club’s history. The former Reds defender states that Rafa Benitez’s side may need 10 or more new players but the lack of Champions League football may hinder any such plans. He wrote in the Daily Telegraph:
“Liverpool. . . may need to go into double figures before they have a squad worthy of returning them to where everyone at the club feels they deserve to be. The worry now that their exclusion from next season’s Champions League has been confirmed is whether they will be able to attract the right players to help rebuild the club. Liverpool’s supporters are the best in the world, but players do not join clubs because of the fans. They come first for money, and then for what is on offer. Without the lure of the world’s biggest club competition, Liverpool simply cannot compete. The only solace is that Liverpool are still Liverpool; they still have the history and tradition to attract players. That will only last so long, though. Should they go three or four seasons without Champions League football, even that lustre will fade. That is why this is the most crucial period in the club’s history. At the end of last season, it would have seemed impossible that they would be in the position they are now. That is the nature of football, though. It is easy to fall from grace, but extremely difficult to rise to prominence again.”
Mr. Hansen tells it like it is. As a life-long Liverpool fan who has been a supporter for 30 years, this is the lowest I can remember things being. Not because of the situation, per se, but because of the lack of hope it can change soon…
The owners aren’t committed to the club, don’t want to put any money into it and are only looking to make a profit by selling it (so no quick sale either). Benitez will surely go, and God only knows how we attract a top manager in our current state. And with that, how many of our big players will want to commit to Liverpool? If Torres, Mascherano and Gerrard have good World Cups, then plenty of clubs will come hunting for them – and the owners will be only too happy to sell to reduce the debts…
Aaargh. Miracles needed sometime about now, please…
If you have the finance and the ownership in place the players will come!
City and Spurs attracted the right sort of players to put them on the brink!
Liverpool are a huge club they’ll be right in amongst it next yearr with the correct investment.