First Weekend Ramblings

 So the first weekend of the season has come and gone and it's good to start with a win after last season's disappointing opening result. There were good and bad points from our performance but overall it was encouraging and a good way to begin our campaign.

 Firstly the obvious, Simon Mignolet. Our new 'keeper looked a bit nervy early on but that's understandable and his save in the last few minutes from Walters' penalty will help him settle in no end. It's the second time in a row our season has begun with a 'keeper saving a penalty conceded by Daniel Agger, but this time it led to a far happier ending. 

 I'd also like to mention Kolo Toure. When we announced his capture I didn't think he would be first choice but it seems he is, and he looks to have found his feet within the group very quickly. He's good in the air and very forward thinking and will be a good addition to Liverpool Football Club. It was interesting to see how a player who has been there and seen it all before slots in compared to the less experienced youngsters we've recruited over the last few years. It wasn't just his performance that impressed me but the way he was the first to congratulate his team mates when they did something good, it looks as if he will be a strong and positive personality within the squad.

 I'll be the first to admit I was slightly underwhelmed when we shelled out £12 million on Daniel Sturridge but so far he's been worth every penny. Fast, persistent and confident with a much better long range shot than I'd previously thought, he is more than capable of leading our attack.

 Stoke are a team we tend to struggle against and it was nice to beat them, and in truth it should have been by more. There's no denying we were far better than they were and that Asmir Begovic was the best player on the pitch, but the one goal margin of victory was slightly concerning. We should have had four or five but weren't as clinical as we will need to be over the coming months. Stoke hit the bar, had one cleared off the line and failed with a late penalty. We got the thoroughly deserved three points but only by a matter of inches, if we continue being so wasteful in front of goal there will be times when we don't get the points our dominance will deserve.

 Elsewhere it was interesting to see Arsenal go down at home to Villa, this will surely spark a reaction from Arsene Wenger in the transfer market. Will the come back in for Suarez? Personally I'd be surprised if they don't. I'm not saying they'll get him but they're sure to try again, it's a saga that isn't over despite it going quiet over the last few days. If you're going to buy a player and pay him £150,000 a week but he's suspended until October why wouldn't you leave it until the last minute to sign him? Every three weeks you wait to buy him would save you almost half a million pounds, and for that reason I still expect more bids for him as the transfer deadline approaches, and possibly not just from Arsenal.

 It's also interesting to see Everton turning down £28 million from former manager David Moyes for Baines and Fellaini. Personally I think that is a fair price, £12 million for a 29 year old full back sounds about right, anything more would be excessive. And £16 million for Fellaini also sounds about right. He could have gone for £24 million before his release clause expired but nobody bid, suggesting his market value is well below that figure. Of course it's Everton's prerogative to turn down any bid the feel makes the deal not worthwhile for them, I think it's more a measure of Man Utd's desperation if they have to come back with a higher bid. It's frustrating that we've not managed our marquee signing yet despite targeting Mikatarhyan, Costa and Willian but we've still fared better in the transfer market so far than Man Utd and Arsenal.

 It's rumoured our pursuit of Brazillian Willian for £30 million (a poet's dream...) will either succeed or fail in the next couple of days, with Spurs also interested. I've not really seen him play so I'm not getting too excited about his potential arrival but he's reportedly a very talented player. Right now there's not a lot to choose between us and Tottenham but they can offer him life in London, something that appeals to many foreigners so in my opinion I'd have them as favourites over us for his signature, though it would be nice to be wrong.

 Anyway, that's more than enough of my ramblings, will leave it at that for now. Bring on Villa away at the weekend, let's hope their midweek game at Chelsea takes plenty out of them and we can take full advantage on Saturday.

Welcome To The Jeremy Kyle Show Luis Suarez And Brendan Rodgers.....

JK – Good morning ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Jeremy Kyle show. Today we have with us Luis and Brendan. Luis desperately wants a baby but so far Brendan hasn’t been able to give him one, Luis claims Brendan promised him a baby and after a year of trying without success he wants to end the relationship. Luis has also said he’s had enough of the neighbourhood gossips and wants to move to a new estate. Let’s not wait any longer and bring out Luis.

(Some applause, some booing)

JK – Now Luis, this seems a fairly common situation, tell us your side of the story.

LS- I’m very happy with Brendan but I’ve had enough of the gossips on the council estate and I need to move house. They say things about me that aren’t true and I need to get away from them. They don’t treat me the same way they treat everyone else and it’s not fair.

JK- Is that the real reason? It strikes me that if you’re happy in your relationship you can get past that.

LS – OK, the real reason is that I’m 26 and I want a baby now, I can’t wait any longer. Last summer Brendan promised me a baby within a year and we haven’t had one so I want to leave him and find someone else who can give me the child I want so badly. I’d be a great parent, I really deserve a baby.

JK – What’s your relationship like with Brendan? How does his family treat you?

LS – I’ve had a great year with Brendan, probably the best year of my life so far, but we haven’t managed to have a baby yet. And I really want a baby. His family have been really good with me, even when I wrote horrible things on Facebook and embarrassed them they stuck up for me and always ‘liked’ my status updates. But I’ve had enough of the gossips on the council estate and I want a baby.

JK- We’ve heard from Luis, now let’s bring out Brendan.

(Muted applause)

JK- Welcome to the show Brendan. We’ve heard from Luis, now let’s hear your side of things.

BR- I’ve never promised Luis a baby, I’ve told him we’ll try really hard for one but I’ve never promised he can leave if we don’t have one. I really want a baby too and I want that to happen with Luis.

JK- So you’re saying you’ve never promised him he can leave if you don’t have a baby?

BR- That’s exactly what I’m saying. Luis will be a great parent and deserves a baby, but if he’s patient I can give him that.

JK- And what about all this stuff about the gossips on the council estate?

BR- He’s saying that, but it turns out he now wants a baby with someone else on the same street!!

JK- Is this true Luis?

LS- So what? It’s not like it’s with our next door neighbour or that lot across the road that we don’t get on with, it’s all the way down the other end of the street. And Brendan promised me a baby and I want to leave him.

BR- I never promised him a baby.

JK- Have you been trying much lately?

LS- I tried really hard to get us a baby.

BR- Luis hasn’t tried very hard lately as he’s had an STI for the last few months and it won’t clear up until October time.

JK- Now that is a revelation! Luis, how has Brendan and his family treated you since you’ve had your STI?

LS- They’ve been really good with me, always saying nice things and trying to make me feel better.

JK- And you don’t feel you owe them anything in return?

LS- I want a baby, Brendan promised me a baby. I want someone else to give me a baby now.

JK- So how are you going to find someone else?

LS- I’ve told the neighbourhood gossips that I want a baby with someone else and now I’ll see who comes over to chat me up next time I’m in the pub.

JK- The same neighbourhood gossips you say have been making your life miserable?

LS- Yes, those ones. And Brendan promised me a baby.

BR- I never promised a baby.

JK- Ladies and gentlemen, I think it’s time for a lie detector test…………………