7 Things learnt from Liverpool vs. Indonesia Friendly

1. Raheem Sterling and Jordan Ibe will prove unbelievably important this season
   
   
   The reds started the match with a starting XI which Brendan Rodgers will feel is very close to his best XI, albeit without the likes of Luis Suarez. Yes, this is a great team, but eleven players cannot put together a great season in the premier league on their own. The youngsters must play a big part in this season’s campaign and both Raheem Sterling, 18, and Jordan Ibe, 17, have thrown their hats into the ring with impressive performances in the first two preseason matches against Preston North End and Indonesia respectively. Both of these young players have one attribute that is simply priceless and cannot be taught, speed. Watching Ibe put on the afterburners to beat 2 players down the line in the lead up to Liverpool’s second against Indonesia was simply brilliant, and was just a sample of what Ibe can provide to the first team this season. Speed, agility, enthusiasm, skill, confidence. The man who put the ball in the back of the net at the end of that move, Sterling, is by no means slow, and possesses similar attributes, with these two on the wings, fullbacks will be puffed out just watching them sprint down the wings of Anfield! These young players will provide great backup for the likes of Downing, Alberto and Coutinho who could all see themselves occupying wing positions at some stage this season.
2. Thank god for the pitches of the premier league
   
   
   It was almost like playing in someone’s backyard! The ball bobbling all over the place and strikers, namely Iago Aspas, having no choice but to simply blame the playing surface. Its times like this that you simply lay back and think to yourself, “thank god we don’t play in Indonesia every week!” The stadiums of the premier league are simple a godsend for football and their groundsmen simply do not get enough credit. Without these pristine green arenas, never could we see players ping long balls with the most remarkable of accuracy, never would we see goals struck from outside the box, a la Gareth Bale, and worst of all, players who dive would land on a rough and bumpy surface! Perhaps actually injuring them and saving them a yellow card for simulation!
3. Jack Robinson represents a viable option at left back instead of Jose Enrique
   
   
   Jack Robinson replaced Jose Enrique at half time against Indonesia, adding some much needed composure and structure and left back. Whilst Enrique is a quality left back whose attacking runs can bother even the best of defenses, he simply lacks the attributes in the very thing his position requires, defending. Robinson represents a young option who can be blooded for years to come as a starting left back at the Reds, possessing a cool head, great defensive skills and a mind for the game, if I were Brendan Rodgers, I would be giving him as much first team experience this season as possible, at the expense of the inconsistent Enrique.
4. Lucas must be replaced or challenged for a first team spot if Liverpool are to challenge for top 4
   
   
   Whilst Lucas Leiva has been a stalwart in the Liverpool midfield for many seasons, proving his doubters wrong in the process, he has simply lost his touch and has consistently been below par since the tail end of last season. To put it simply, he gives away more fouls than is acceptable and has less control over the midfield than Tiger Woods has over his libido. If Liverpool are to challenge for top 4 this season then it is imperative that a defensive midfielder is brought into the side. An enforcer would be preferred, someone who can provide that physical edge as well as taking control over the ball and the midfield. It is a shame Liverpool did not contest Southampton for the signing of Victor Wanyama, I believe he provided the perfect attributes to the fill this role. Hopefully Brendan Rodgers has realized this issue and will scour the transfer market to sign a player in this mould before it slams shut on the first day of September.
5. The Worldwide appeal of Liverpool Football Club
   
   
   Hearing You’ll Never Walk Alone ringing in Jakarta simply makes one realize exactly the world outreach that a club like Liverpool has in the modern age. Liverpool can travel to anywhere in the world and fill a stadium, even if it seats 88,000 and they are playing against the national team of the country in which they are playing stadium will still be overrun with support for the Reds and they will be cheered for until the final whistle. Nowadays, sport is a business and Liverpool FC is right up there with the world’s biggest brands, something that advertisers and businessmen and women are no doubt aware of, the worldwide reach of football is phenomenal. As Liverpool continue their tour of Asia and Australia expect to see hundreds of thousands more fans decked out in the Red and White of Liverpool to show their support to the 5 time European champions. 
6. Work on set pieces is desperately needed
   
   
   Put simply the set pieces against Indonesia were of a level which could be rivaled by my grandmother…. or any other woman over the age of 75. Whether it was a corner or a free kick, whether it was taken by Steven Gerrard or Allen or anyone else, it simply never found a Liverpool player nor the back of the net. In a match against opposition of substantially less quality then themselves, Liverpool should have been looking to find the back a good amount, say at least 4 times, especially as the same side conceded 7 to Arsenal just last week. Liverpool’s set pieces were an absolute let down and often a bigger waste than the signing of Paul Konchesky. Brendan Rodgers will no doubt have realized this problem in his side and will hopefully work on it in training throughout the week in order to give a better showing against Melbourne Victory on Wednesday night at the MCG.
7. The importance of Luis Suarez staying or being replaced by a similar player
   
   
   The impotent goal scoring tendencies of last night’s Liverpool attack showed exactly why Brendan Rodgers is giving his all to keep the walking controversy, striker Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan finished as the Premier League’s second top scorer last season, with 23 goals in 33 appearances. He was absolutely clinical on his way to this impressive goal tally, righting the wrongs of his previous disappointing returns in past seasons. Suarez has states his preference to leave Merseyside this window, with Real Madrid and Arsenal, who have already had a £30m bid rejected, lurking in the shadows, he could perhaps be on a plane to Madrid or London rather than to join the Reds in Melbourne if he has his way. However, Rodgers and Ian Ayre will do their best to secure his support for this season as his goals will be absolutely key to Liverpool’s cause, attempting to retake their rightful place in the top section of the Premier League. If Suarez was to leave, then he must be replaced, options touted lately by the tabloids include Galatasaray’s Burak Yilmaz and Arsenal target Gonzalo Higuain.
   
   
   That’s Rosey’s wrap on the lessons from Liverpool vs. Indonesia,
   
   
   Thanks for Reading!
   
   
   By Jake Rosengarten
   
   

5 Predictions for the Upcoming July/August Transfer Window

Below are my five predictions for the upcoming transfer window, feel free to comment below on anything you agree or disagree with… Enjoy!

1. Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United transfer saga

In every transfer window there is one rumour which keeps coming back, in this window I predict Ronaldo to United to be in the papers almost constantly. As the window progresses, the move will look more and more likely, however it will not manifest, no doubt due to the unwillingness to haggle of modern day Ebenezer Scrooge, Sir Alex Ferguson.

Frankly, I can’t see Ronaldo leaving Madrid for a long time, he seems to be perfectly happy and scoring at will, what more could a player ask for.

2. Spurs to sign a world class striker

Andre Villas Boas will surely be looking to open up his wallet this window in order to take some scoring pressure off his team’s seemingly only goal threat, PFA player and young player of the year, Gareth Bale. The Welshman has been in scintillating form this season and has won all sorts of plaudits, but it has come time that someone else with the ability to put the ball into the net signed for Tottenham Hotspur. Hopefully it will help Spurs fans to put behind them the disturbing displays they have witnessed from Emmanuel Adebayor this season.

Who will be signed is anyone’s guess, it could be any one of a number of strikers, one thing is for certain though, they will already be on the verge of signing for Liverpool. But on a more serious note, options range from Brazilian Leandro Damiao to relegated QPR’s Loic Remy to Borussia Dortmund’s Polish hit man Robert Lewandowski. I am unsure who AVB will sign, but my gut tells me it could be Lewandowski.

3. Arsene Wenger to say he will spend big.... then sign Thierry Henry again

All in good fun! But seriously, I can see Wenger promising to spend big again this window, as he does every window, and only delivering an average player. I feel sorry for Arsenal fans around this time of the year, as their hopes sky rocket with their claims “in Arsene we trust,” only for their dreams to be dashed by the very man in which they held their faith.

The gunners have done well this season to hold onto a top four position thus far, and if they wish to perform well in Europe next year as well as even have a run at the title, they will need reinforcements. Wenger will surely know this, but whether or not he will make the right choices in the market remains to be seen.

4. Jose Mourinho to return to Chelsea 

It’s been all over the internet for the past week or so, but I am just going to come out and say it, I believe that José Mourinho will be the manager of Chelsea next campaign. Rafael Benitez has given it his best, but the fans are simply not all behind him and this is a big problem at a club whose fans have such high expectations as those of Chelsea. Sure, Benitez’s side hasn’t been in all that bad form but he certainly does not have them at the levels which Mourinho could. Knowing Roman Abramovich, the axe well be wielded as the Russian oil tycoon moves to reunite with his former Portuguese colleague.

If the rumours are to be believed, then Mourinho will be bringing with him Atletico Madrid’s Columbian powerhouse Falcao. This could spell trouble for the rest of world football, as a Mourinho led side which features Falcao as well as Eden Hazard, Juan Mata and others could well stake their claim to the premier league title and even the champions league title in the coming season. 

5. Luis Suarez to stay at Liverpool

After his controversial bite on Branislav Ivanovic and subsequent 10 match ban from the FA, there was talk that Luis Suarez could well have played his last match for Liverpool Football Club. However, I do not believe that this will be the case; I believe that the Uruguayan will come back stronger than ever in the 7^th match of next season. I cannot give a rationale for this prediction, it is just a gut feeling, based on Suarez’ previous behaviour. Whilst some feel he is of questionable character, he has always showed nothing but loyalty to Liverpool for everything they have given to him and I believe he will remain at Anfield for long enough to see them return to the champions league.

That’s Rosey’s predictions for the upcoming transfer window,

Thanks for Reading!

By Jake Rosengarten