It's nice to know players still care

Apr 11 2007 Red Watch by Andy Proudfoot, Liverpool Daily Post

IT WAS interesting to read John Arne Riise’s comment last week that the players were suffering from anxiety over their future at the club pending the arrival of new players in the summer funded by the ‘soccerdollars’ of our new owners.

Not only because it’s gratifying to know that some of the players are experiencing the emotions common to supporters regularly attending their games this season, but also because of the intriguing insight it provides into the Norwegian’s mentality.

Could it be that his recent improved form is due to a figurative kick up the backside to match the literal one allegedly applied by Craig Bellamy last month?

Maybe the lack of a serious challenge to his place this season, as the likes of Warnock, Gonzalez, Garcia, Aurelio and Kewell failed for one reason or another to establish their place in the side, has been behind his poor form this season?

If this is so then Rafa’s pronouncement over the weekend that he wants two players contesting every position should be welcomed, providing of course that it’s not the likes of Pellegrino and Paletta fighting for a starting spot.

Given that it’s likely that there will be people leaving Anfield during the summer as well as arriving, who then is sitting in the departures lounge anxiously scouring the screens to see if they are booked on a flight to Alicante, Alkmaar or Accrington Stanley?

By my reckoning as many as 15 of the current playing staff with first team experience have cause to be wondering whether they’ll be wearing the red shirt again after the end of the season.

Of course some of these won’t be particularly bothered, since they’ve effectively gone anyway: the likes of Cisse and Houllier’s disappointing starlets Pongolle and Le Tallec. Lee Peltier may also find his stay at Hull to be more permanent that he’d hoped, given his committed but underwhelming performances in cup games this season.

The other loanee, Scott Carson, presents one on the more interesting conundrums facing Benitez: if we assume Dudek will be given a chance to finish his career warming his hands rather than his hind parts, then will Scott be given the chance to become the ‘Kit Cat’ and oust Pepe from the team?

Sadly, it looks like Robbie’s Second Coming will soon be over, giving him the chance to become the first player to have his salary paid by ten clubs simultaneously.