Liver n' Onions does Liverpool's deadline day summary.

Today it's all Onions on Liver n'Onions, as you can' t get more eye watering, breath spoiling, and layered than the transfer window deadline day.

I awoke this morning still slightly hungover from the 2 nights prior when I celebrated my 21st birthday, but my  head spinning, stomaching turning reality couldn't hold a flame to the head spinning induced from the transfer day deadline madness. I felt sick, even thought the excitement of moving players sets my teeth on edge. With a pro-active summer of signings, I did not expect Dalgleish to have dipped his toes into the market any further. I figured the releasing of players would be the ethos of the Scots approach to  the dwindling hours of the window. This he did but someone should have warned him not to do it after smoking a doobie. 

Quickly going to my bookmark bar I clicked Liverpool.com, opening to find:

Whaaaat? 

It's a bit of a broadside. I can only pin this on Dalgleish for not giving him playing-time. Not knowing the reasons, it looks like a player wanting to leave because he isn't getting to play, knowing full well he deserves to be on the pitch. Liverpool's best player last year, has been ousted by Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson. Where is the Logic in that?  Jordan is young and promising, but inexperienced. Charlie Adam has looked quality  early in the season, but picking him ahead of  Meireles is like choosing a donkey for the Kentucky Derby instead of a horse. All we did was help Chelsea securing a better player, than who they were after. Failing with a 40 million pound bid to sign Luka Modric, AVB should be counting his chickens that Ol' Arry stayed firm on not selling Modric, for they have secured a much better player for a bargain price of 12 million pounds. A shock to my system, which can only be remedied with Adam and Henderson stepping up in the big games. This result does not sit well with me at all. An exciting player, who I loved watching red, now will be seen in blue, which will only make me feel…blue.

A less gut wrenching piece of business sees Joe Cole sent out on a year long loan deal to Lille . The English man has a big task ahead of him adjusting to the culture, language and playing style of the reigning French champions. A good bit of business done by Lille,  adds depth the the strong squad, in which Cole will most likely play a substitute role, as he forages for form. This move sparked rumors of Eden Hazard jumping, with Cole serving as his replacement, but that looks like a bunch of bollocks. Adding some astuteness to the deal, is Liverpool trying to cultivated  first refusal on signing Eden Hazard, by paying 60% of Cole's wages for the next 12 months. Dalgleish and Damien Comolli hope to beat their competitors in courting the talented Belgium, with Cole clearly acting as a sweetener.

Christian Poulsen has left Anfield  to join league 1 side Evian after failing to break into the first team squad. A deal worth 4.5 million pounds has been finalized for the Danish International, who since the introduction Adam has had a reality check that playing time would be at a premium. 

David No'good has been snatched up by Bolton for 4 million pounds, finally relieving Liverpool fans from having to see that poser any longer, Good riddance .

Phillip Degen's contract has been terminated, which is no great loss to the squad, and it just clears out some dead weight.

 Dani Pacheco has also been offloaded, with the Spanish striker joining Atletico Madrid.

Now for the newcomers…

The Liverpool hierarchy seem to have been studying their math of late…coming up with this complicated formula: Uruguayan team + 4th place finish in World Cup 2010, Winners of Copa America = Good Uruguayan players. Liverpool's signing of Sebastion Coates is putting that formula into action. Signing  from Nacional, a player who at this years Copa America was voted "best player" after commanding performance  after commanding performance. Fellow country-men Luis Suarez  played an important role in bringing the 20 year old to Anfield, that and a fee of 7 million pounds. I see this man "Coates," "Fitting" into Dalgleish's system just fine.

The Nutter with the Putter.  Yes, it happened. Bellamy will be making his second bow at the Merseyside club. If you want more please  read my piece in the WFD kick about section on the  " nutter," because it's  nut-rageous.

Transfer Deadline Day Madness...Brace Yo-Self!

Okay where to start??? Guess you gotta jump right in and take the plunge, here we go...


Joe Cole to Lille.

 Loaned out to Lille for the season from Liverpool, the English man has a big task ahead of him adjusting to the culture, language and playing style of the reigning French champions. A good bit of business done by Lille adds depth the the strong squad, in which Cole will most likely play a substitute role. This move sparked rumors of Eden Hazard jumping, with Cole serving as his replacement, but that looks like a  bunch of bollocks.

Asamoah Gyan to Tottenham?

Reports seem scarce on this transfer, but it gets the call-up due to its Uber rumor status. Supposedly the Ghanaian handed in his transfer request to Sunderland today. Rumors of a Crouch swap deal is possibly in the offing. We will wait to see how this pans out.

Scotty Parker to Tottenham

Nice. I love the player, model professional, hard-worker, and the reigning PFA player of the year has signed for Tottenham for a fee of 6-7 million pounds. Adding work rate to the Spurs' midfield Scotty would be a decant replacement for Modric, If he leaves.

Diego Forlan to Inter Milan

The Michael Bolton look-alike has signed a 2-year contract for Milano, after the departure of Samuel Eto'o and Goran Pandev. The prospect of him linking up with Giampaolo Pazzini and Diego Milito could be one to savor.

Per Mertesacker  to Arsenal.

Geman International Per Mertesacker has singed for the Arsenal, finally showing some intent from the under-fire Wenger. The 6'6 center back is by no stretch of the imagination going to solve their defensive problems completely, but provides an experienced and commanding alternative to the likes of Djourou and Koscielny.

Andre Santos to Arsenal

Furthur-more, Arsenal has snatched up Brazilian left-back Andre Santos from turkish side Fenerbahce, on a long-term contract. He will wear the No. 11 shirt.

S. Korean Park Chu-Young as also signed for Arsenal, after the secret agent Wenger performed some distasteful business in nipping a head of Lill in signing the forward. The evening before a deal was to finalized between the Korean Strike and the French club, Arsenal's manager phoned up the player and offered him a spot on the Gunners roster leaving Lille's higher-archy fuming. He will wear the No.9 shirt

Owen Hargreaves to Man City

May prove to be an  astute bit of business done by Roberto Mancini, as when fit is a fantastic player. This has been a rare trait for owen struggling with knee problems

Liver N'Onions week of 8/22

Your Liver:

On paper its looks a good result for Liverpool,  2-0 win against Arsenal, though be it a struggling Arsenal. If you are like me -devoted- staying up for kickoff at 1pm hawaiian pacific time, or 4am on the west coast, you would know it was anything but. Two dodgy goals saved Liverpool fans from another speed bump in their seasons takeoff, but the brace exists as only as a blanket, covering their blemishes. 

A wins, a win, and it was this that saved Liverpool from further scrutiny. The started as an exciting spectacle with Wenger playing a youthful midfield, more by restriction than choice. Frimpong added some youthful steel to the midfield in which youth and the decisions that come with it earned him a sight at red. Suarez sat from the beginning with Kenny giving him the most rest possible after a long summer of football. When brought on the  major realization for me and hopefully the world over, of how absolutely key Luis Suarez, is to this team was plain to see. When introduced midway into the second half, the light bulbs were a-flashing over the heads of the reds, acting as the catalyst to all things good for the merseyside club. Before this the midfield of Henderson, and Adam  looked solid against the soft Arsenal center, but still lacked that creative spark. Suarez's movement is second to none, and with the introduction Meireles from the bench spoke of his importance to the team as well. He must start for me! He had a fantastic  last season, and his importance was cemented at the Emirates. In my mind it's a case of Dalgleish playing favorites. He brought in these new English boys and he wants to play them. There're are two classy players sitting on the bench, with limited shots in proving they belong in the team from the start. I have spoke of Meireles and you know how I feel on that subject. The second is Alberto Aquilani. Rumors this week preach interest from AC Milan, which might actually be a go vs. the  roller coaster  summer of transfer links associated with the Italian.  The player who at Liverpool, failed to impress, though chances were limited due to injury and lack of form, rendering him with the price tag, a flop. I say Give him a shot! This summer he looked hungry,wether prove himself at Liverpool or to put himself in the shop window is unclear but the taste for games is there.

Your Onions:

More Rumors this week coming from Italy is the re-emerging like between Dirk Kuyt and Inter Milan.  The blue collar Dutchman works tirelessly for Liverpool and his departure would not be a welcomed one. As an elder statesman up-top, his experience is key and is a figure to look up to from the youthful Carroll and Henderson.  Starting roles may be scarce, but this aging utility man will give 358% what ever position he is put in.

Other rumors come in the shape of EPL new-boys QPR, pursing a loan move for shabby shabby Joe Cole. Cole has strait up disappointed at Liverpool!  Out of form, shape, mindset…you name it. Has had limited playing time as well, but when given a shot to do anything good he  has absolutely failed. Get him out, and playing football. A Loan move would be the best option as  he racks up some  regular time, and manages to increase his stock, Liverpool can sell him for a higher price.  At a team like QPR that frankly will need all the help they can get, Joe can play some foot and come seasons end  Dalgleish can asses wether he's worth keeping.

After the Merciless Meireles  set up Suarez for the second goal, cameras caught the radical misfit flipping Lucas the bird, then poppin a grin….next time it will be the kiss from the Godfather, " I know it was you, and It warms my heart!" Was it a joke? Who cares? There needs to be some bite. 

Last week's underperforms face off tomorrow.

Out of the opening fixtures to the EPL the two most disappointing performers Arsenal and Liverpool will  dook it out for their first win of the 2011-12 season this Saturday. The highest profile match so-far  with teams in the once fabled top four, should be an exciting spectacle, with both teams going for the throat to grab a win. Arsenal started their season with a flat performance against Newcastle, where a flash point between Gervinho and Joey Barton was the high point in the 0-0 draw. A game played without recently departed captain Fabregas, and next to leave Nasri, Arsenal struggled to impose themselves and secure a win. 

With all the hype of the coming season for Liverpool, signings and all, flattered to deceive in their opening match v. Sunderland, with a second half capitulation. Dalgleish spent a lot on young English talent this summer to justify this, he needs a win. In the first half Liverpool sprung from the gates like a bat out of hell,  but this frenetic energy did not last done by a fantastic strike by Seb Larsson. For Dalgliesh's boys to get off the mark, they need to win silencing, the doubters and installing confidence. 


This need to win should create a fantastic atmosphere, and looking at last year's fixture can re-affirm that. Last year's opener between these clubs ended1-1 with Joe Cole getting sent off on his Liverpool debut. An uncharacteristic howler from Pepe Reina in the final minute, provided service for Chamakh to bury it canceling out an David N'gog strike earlier in the match. This match may serve as the tonic to the hoodoo currently troubling  Joe Cole, assuming he plays. Nasri will not play as he inches closer to his move to City, so the Middie's of Ramsey, Ro-shitsky, and Song must have a good game against the rising tide that is Liverpool's midfield.


Prediction:
Arsenal will still struggle to start, as they lose 2-1. Suarez and Carroll will both score for the Liverpool, and RVP for the Arsenal. 


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