JOE COLE

                                                JOE COLE

Really happy with today's signing of Joe Cole I think this is a massive signing for the club one which proves we are still one of the top clubs and can still attract good players to the club even without the attraction of Champions League football. I knew that there was a lot of talk about Cole maybe coming but you tend to take rumours with a pinch of salt especially with two or three other teams chasing him.
  I think this is massive in so many ways, firstly Cole is one of the top English players and still young enough to see his best years, also he is a very clever and creative player who plays wide and for me is just the type of player that we were needing, I think he will be a massive player for us and will be used a lot more than he was at Chelsea which will only help him as he is a player that likes to play regularly. Cole is a very experienced player as well which is also invaluable and I'm sure he will help the less experienced players around him.
 I have to say I had my doubts about Cole coming up to Merseyside as I thought he would rather have stayed in London with the likes of Arsenal and Spurs chasing him and also with both of them playing Champions League football this season. I have to applaud Roy Hodgson with his effort in bringing Cole to Anfield I think its a major coup for him.
  I also think this signing will make some unsettled players rethink about maybe wanting to leave, the likes of Mascherano, Torres even Gerrard where there has been so much speculation since the season ended. I really think this signing will make a big statement of the clubs intentions for the future that it will still be up there challenging for honours and still capable of bringing quality players to the club. I really think that we'll hold on to our key players now, I really think this signing will sway things in our favour.
  I also think this shows how clever Hodgson can be in the transfer market, he knew we needed we needed a quality wide man and he went out and got him. Now he must bring in a left back as we are really short with Aurellio and Insua leaving recently, but I'm sure he will and look forward to seeing who he brings in next.
  So now I'm starting to get really excited about the new season with our new manager leading us and with I'm sure some more new signings. Lets look forward to a new era and today is just the start.

YNWA

ROY HODGSON

                                          ROY HODGSON

                     

I would just love to say that I am so relieved that we have a new manager at last it really was starting to drag on far to long and with our season starting earlier than usual this season it had to be sorted out. I am very happy  with Roy's appointment although my first choice would have been Martin O'Neill. But Hodgson would have been a close second choice for me.  I think he has great experience and gets the best out of his players sets his team out in a very disciplined manner with great tactical awareness.
  But Roy really does have a massive job on his hands I would honestly put his task as big as the one in which Shankly faced with the fact that that this season is a massive one for Liverpool with the fact that after finishing lower than fourth in the League it has the club missing out on Champions League football so it is vital that we get back into the top four quickly because it is financially so important but also it serves as a carrot to intice players to the club and also in keeping the ones happy that are at the club just now. Failure to get back up there this season could see us drift further down and God forbid be like another Leeds United the way they declined.  Especially with our financial situation and this ongoing saga with our American owners it is really going to be tough for Hodgson.  Also days into the job and he has already lost an important player in Benayoun going to rivals Chelsea, not a good sign, I really fear more leaving, I think it is so important that Hodgson can convince the players we have to stay especially Gerrard and Torres they are a must. If he can keep what we have and maybe get a left back, a left midfielder and another striker then I think we could do quite well next season but its going to be really tough for Hodgson especially with not much money in the kitty for transfers.
  But I really dont think we could have picked a much better man for the job with the way he has shown that he can get the best out of what he has to work with and has shown great shrewdness in the transfer market, his experience and expertise will be put to the test though over the coming season .
  It will be interesting to see if he can get more out of the likes of Babel and maybe give some of the younger players more chances with the likes of Pacheco.  I really think he will do a good job and I have a lot of faith in him, his recent job at Fulham was another tough job but what a transformation he made. 
  I would just like to see us all get right behind him and i'm sure we will all do that as we are the greatest supporters in the world.

All the best Roy    YNWA