BLEACHERS BREW EST. MAY 2006

Someone asked me how my blog and newspaper column came to be titled "Bleachers Brew". It's like this, it's an amalgam of sorts of two things: The bleachers area in the stadium/arena where I used to sit when I would watch baseball, football, and basketball games and Miles Davis' great jazz album Bitches Brew. That's how it got culled together. I originally planned on calling it "The View from the Big Chair" that is a nod to Tears For Fear's second album, Songs from the Big Chair. So there.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

No excuses. It's time.

It is incredible how people think that Fernando Torres’ superb debut season in the EPL was written in the stars. Far from that. He was a star on the rise with Atletico Madrid but from some quarters, his signing was suspect and filled with doubts. They also thought that they had the answers to their solutions when they signed away Peter Crouch from Aston Villa. Ditto with Dirk Kuyt. But an unpredictable system and rotation has pretty much squelched any hopes of consistency and harmony. Liverpool even during Gerard Houllier’s time play only good in stretches then that’s it.

The truth about Liverpool is that it is on the decline. Since the European title in 2005, they’ve placed third a couple of times and fourth last season. So what magic they attribute to Rafa Benitez is nothing but smoke and mirrors. The 2005 European title was several years ago and they finished fifth in the EPL that year and were unable to defend their title in the Champions League the following year because of that. In the meantime, Manchester United hoisted its 10th domestic trophy since 1991.

Benitez has tried it with very good players and fringe players. To even suggest that they sign superstars is not well informed. It doesn’t work out for everybody. Ask Real Madrid and Barcelona.

So who did they add this year?

Easily the biggest name is Robbie Keane from Tottenham. They also signed Andrea Dossena from Udinese, Philipp Degen from Borussia Dortmund, Vincent Lucas Weijl from AZ Alkmaar, Diego Cavaieri from Palmeiras, and David Ngog from Paris St. Germain.

Is that supposed to strike fear into the hearts of foes?

Look who they lost – Crouchy to Portsmouth, Harry Kewell to Galatsaray, John Arne Riise to AS Roma, Anthony Le Tellec to Le Mans, back-up keeper Scott Carson to West Brom, Sebastian Leto to Olympiakos, and David Martin to Leicester. That’s a lot of (misplayed) experience they just jettisoned.

Almost everyone went to better clubs where they will play with renewed passion unlike in Anfield where they were in Benitez’ doghouse. But who knows? Maybe they just might pip Chelsea and ManU. It really depends on their health and if Keane can really help Torres up front.

Posted by Rick Olivares

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