By LFC Vancouver member Keith Perkins, 02 September 07.

While we have to keep in mind that it’s early in the season, and of course there’s still an awful long way to go to determine the eventual champions, we can’t help but be overjoyed with the start to this campaign. We’ve now played in six competitive matches, with two in the 3rd Qualifying Round for the Champions League, and four in the Premier League. In all, we’ve played three at home and three away allowing for a well balanced evaluation of how we look so far.

Before we look in a little more detail at this season, let’s take a moment and cast our minds back to early last season and then see how we compare. Our first six competitive games included two Champions League qualifiers against Maccabi Haifa, 2-1 at home and 1-1 away, putting us in the draw for the Champions League first round proper (group stage). We’d brought in players like Craig Bellamy, a proven goal scorer, and also managed to sort out the work permit for Mark Gonzalez, bringing us some added speed on the left and allowing for more options in team selection. Both of them looked good in pre-season, and looked even better on their competitive debuts as they scored a goal each against Maccabi Haifa.

In between those two, we had the 2-1 win over Chelsea in the Charity Shield, which had us drooling with anticipation for our first Premier League match of the season away at newly promoted Sheffield United. We had every reason to believe that we were genuine contenders for the Premiership, especially after serving notice that we could beat the two time defending champions with a starting XI that didn’t include Gerrard or Alonso. But then something went terribly wrong.

Kuyt acknowledges Alonso's first goal

We had to fight back from 1-0 down at Bramall Lane with a dubious penalty to salvage a point. Our second Premier League match was better, but not by much, as we had to come from behind again for a 2-1 home win over West Ham. Then followed the disaster to beat all disasters for the season, as we fell 3-0 to Everton at Goodison – that was a humiliation that we would suffer for the remainder of the season. Three Premier League matches played with one win, one draw, and one loss. We managed to score three goals, but conceded five for a goal difference of minus two. If we add in the two Champions League qualifiers, and the Charity Shield, to make up our first six matches, it doesn’t improve all that much. Six games played with three wins, two draws, and one loss. We scored a total of eight goals in those six games, but also conceded eight goals. It wasn’t the start to the season that we had hoped for and had been expecting, but at least we could say that it was early days and we should look forward to the usual strong finish. That didn’t quite happen as we expected either, but that’s another story.

Earlier this year we finally settled the investment issue, with new co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks coming in with the promise of a new era of success for Liverpool. True to their word they arranged the funds to bring in new players like Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel, and Yossi Benayoun. We looked really good in pre-season, with a few pleasant surprises including Andriy Voronin who quickly showed that he wasn’t here merely as a squad player. Our first real test for this season was to be another away fixture to open our campaign, this time at Villa Park.

Our three previous seasons under Rafa have all started with a single point, against teams that we should have been able to beat if we wanted to be considered as serious challengers. But, the omens were looking good for this season as the last time we won our first away match was back in 2002, which was also at Villa Park. If we could do it again, then we should be off and running, and full of confidence. The 2-1 result was just what we needed, especially after the disappointment of giving up a penalty which allowed Villa to draw level. Gerrard’s spectacular winning goal from a free-kick gave us not just a win, but also showed that this time around we’re not going to settle for a single point when we can go for all three.

Babel is a tower of strength

Since then we’ve had the two Champions League qualifiers, with an aggregate score of 5-0, as well as a disappointing draw at home to Chelsea and a 2-0 win away at Sunderland. The draw against the former champions was a case of being robbed by a very questionable (and ultimately agreed as mistaken) penalty call by referee Rob Styles. He was later dropped from officiating, while we dropped two points that we should have gained. So far so good, in spite of some complaints and disappointments, and then we come up against Derby County at home.

In the pre-game press conference before this match, Rafa made a few insightful statements about the season so far. He began by saying how pleased he was with the new signings (just as we all are) and how he is also very pleased with the performance of all of his players. When he was asked about whether he thought we were genuine contenders this year, as was being widely suggested in the press, he shrugged it off by saying that it’s too early to talk about that. But, more tellingly, he also agreed with one reporter saying that of course he’s happy that when people are talking about the possible contenders for this season that Liverpool are seriously considered among them.

Voronin celebrates his second for Liverpool

Rafa then went on to say that this season would be different, in the sense that we would go out and attack more, and would continue to attack even if we are already two or three goals up. In Saturday’s match, that policy was demonstrated with devastating effect, resulting in a six goal display that gave Derby no chance. As if to emphasise the new “take no prisoners” policy of attack, Andriy Voronin was brought on as a third striker to join Kuyt and Torres in the seventy third minute, when we were already four-nil ahead. This season promises more of the same, and there’ll be no complaints from any of us if we see the same results.

Now that we’ve played six competitive matches for this season, we can see the vast improvement over the same period from last season. From those first six we’ve had five wins and one draw, with sixteen goals scored and only two conceded – both of which came from penalties and not from open play. For the Premier League alone we’ve won three and drawn one, with eleven goals for and two against. Whichever way you look at it, that’s a fantastic start. We not only find ourselves in first place as the weekend comes to a close, but we also have a game in hand on both Manchester United and Chelsea - the two sides that were considered to be the most likely champions at the end of this season.

Torres hits Derby for six

We’ve also shown the rest of the league that we’re going to continue to be as solid at the back as in previous seasons, while going forward to attack and score more goals than before. We have a goal difference of plus nine, with the nearest to that being plus four for Arsenal (Chelsea and Manchester United are both plus one). For the first time in many seasons, the rest of the league has genuine reason to fear us. We have the international break now that gives us a couple of weeks to savour our success, and that also allows Carragher, and one or two others to have a rest and recover from any injuries; and of course I’m hoping that Steve McLaren doesn’t risk Gerrard in the upcoming England qualifiers. Two more weeks is also that much closer to the return of Fabio Aurelio and Harry Kewell. If we are scaring the opposition now, what will it be like when we return to League play with a full squad?

Yes it’s early in the season, but the future hasn’t looked this bright for many years. Let’s take the pleasure of it now, and then we’ll see what comes at the climax of the season.

What do you think? Give Keith your comments at keith [at] lfcvancouver.com.

By LFC Vancouver member Ste Speed, 05 September 07.

Skilful Irishman Ronnie Whelan was one of Liverpool’s most important players during the 1980’s. He started the decade as a teenager in the reserves and finished it as first team captain lifting the F.A. Cup.

A young Ronnie Whelan poses

Ronnie was born in 1961 in Dublin, Ireland. His father Ronnie Senior was also a professional footballer who played in Ireland for St Patrick’s Athletic and the national side. His brother Paul was also a decent player and turned out for the famous Shamrock Rovers and Bohemian FC.

Ronnie was signed by Bob Paisley in 1979 for £35,000.00 from Dublin side Home Farm FC. After two years in the reserves he made his first team debut in April 1981 against Stoke City. Ronnie made an instant impression by scoring in the 27th minute. This was to be his only appearance in the first team for the remainder of the season.

During the 1981/82 season Ronnie became a regular on the left flank signalling the end of Ray Kennedy’s Anfield career. It was a great season for him as he helped Liverpool to the League Championship. A personal hilight for Ronnie came in the 1982 League Cup Final against Tottenham Hotspur. He scored two goals in a 3 – 1 victory to help the Reds lift the trophy. One year later Ronnie scored again in the League Cup Final, this time in a 2 – 1 victory against Man Utd. Ronnie curled in the winner late in extra time with a long range classic.

By this time Ronnie was well and truly settled in the side on the left wing. Despite suffering with injury, he played a major part in the 1983/84 season as Liverpool won the treble of League Championship, League Cup and European Cup. The following season was a downer for the Reds as the season ended without silverware and the Heysel disaster.

Whelan lifts the FA Cup

With Kenny Dalglish as player manager, Ronnie had a great season as we won the clubs first League and F.A. Cup double in 1985/86. He had a marvellous game in the all Merseyside F.A. Cup Final against Everton in 1986. He set up two goals in the game including a great ball to Ian Rush for the third after Jan Molby’s superb blind pass. The following season ended trophyless with Everton winning the League Championship. The awesome season of 1987/88 saw Ronnie switching to central midfield when John Barnes took over on the left wing. Unfortunately he ended up losing his place through injury to Nigel Spackman early in the campaign. He was able to win back his place later in the season but unfortunately he wasn’t picked for the 1988 F.A. Cup Final defeat against Wimbledon. It’s a shame Ronnie suffered the injury that season as his skill in midfield would have been a perfect compliment to the hard tackling Steve McMahon in the centre.

Ronnie Whelan represents Ireland

At the end of that season Ronnie was picked by Jack Charlton for the Ireland squad at the 1988 European Championships in West Germany. He was chosen alongside fellow Reds John Aldridge and Ray Houghton. He played in the opening game in which they defeated England in a major upset from a goal from Houghton. The second match of the tournament was against Russia and contained Ronnie’s finest moment in the green shirt. He scored an absolutely spectacular long range volley in a 1- 1 draw. I remember seeing the goal live at the time and thinking it was amazing. I watched it again last night for the first time in nineteen years. Past experience has taught me that great memorable goals haven’t been as good when I’ve seen them years later. However this goal by Ronnie is actually better than I remember it, and it’s one I could watch over and over again. Unfortunately Ireland were defeated in the final group game by the eventual winners, Holland. However their performance in this tournament was a platform they used to gain further success at the following two World Cups in 1990 and 1994.

Whelan wears the captains armband in 1989

In the 1988/89 season Ronnie was given the captains armband when Alan Hansen suffered a long term injury. He took on this role with great pride and played superbly as Liverpool began to chase another double. Once Hansen returned to the side Ronnie was allowed to remain as captain in order to maintain continuity. After the tragedy at Hillsborough Ronnie led by example as the players rallied around looking after the families of the victims. His proudest moment as a Liverpool player came when he captained the club in the emotional F.A. Cup Final against Everton. He went on to lift the famous trophy after a 3 – 2 victory in extra time with two Ian Rush goals. Unfortunately he was denied the chance to lift the League Championship trophy. We lost the title on a Friday night at Anfield in the final game of the season, when an exhausted Liverpool side had their hearts broken in the dying seconds by Michael Thomas and Arsenal.

Ronnie helped the side to win the League again in 1990 and this was his last full season as a Liverpool player. He was involved in a very famous moment in early 1990 when he scored an amazing own goal at Old Trafford. There wasn’t a Man Utd player anywhere near him and he somehow overhit a backpass from thirty yards that flew over Bruce Grobbelaar’s head and into the net. He hit it so sweetly and I still can’t believe it to this day. It remains one of the most bizarre own goals ever scored. Fortunately we still managed to win the game 2 – 1 thanks to John Barnes who scored a different kind of wonder goal after a solo run through most of Man Utd’s half of the pitch.

During the following four seasons he was struck down with a lot of injuries which restricted his appearances. There was still time for one last major contribution when he struck the equaliser in the 1992 F.A. Cup semi final against Portsmouth. Liverpool went on to win in a penalty shoot out to reach the final against second division Sunderland. In a cruel twist he was injured again shortly after this game and was forced to miss the final which we won 2 – 0.

After two more seasons of suffering through injuries Ronnie left Liverpool and joined Southend Utd in 1994. He became the manager in 1995 and spent two seasons there before managing clubs in Greece and Cyprus. He managed Apollon Limasoll and Olympiakos Nicosia in Cyprus and then went on to his greatest success in management with the Greek side Panionios. In 1999 he led Panionios to the quarter finals of the UEFA Cup where they were defeated by the Italian side Lazio. Ronnie is still involved with Liverpool F.C making regular appearances on the official club website and representing the club as an ex player. He also plays regularly for the legends team in indoor tournaments. Ronnie combines his work for Liverpool with TV punditry and his regular gigs on the after dinner speaking circuit.

Ronnie Whelan remains one of the most popular Liverpool players from the 1980’s and is almost always remembered with great fondness. This was reflected in his respectable placing of number 30 in the series ‘100 Players Who Shook the Kop’.

Video Clips of Ronnie:

Classic goal V Russia at Euro 88

100 Players Who Shook the Kop – 30

What do you think? Give Ste your comments at steSpeed [at] lfcvancouver.com.

Standings as of 06 September 07.

Rank	Member	Points
1	Dennis	11
2	Ste	10
3	Kevin	5
3	Pat	5
5	Keith	2
6	Andy	1
6	Glenn	1
8	Dan	0
8	Mark	0

To enter the members contest see the rules below.

RULES:

• Only open to paid LFC Vancouver Members.
• You list the names of the players you think will start the next LFC match.
• You must submit your list to lfcvancouver [at] gmail.com at least 12 hours before kick-off.
• This contest will include every match that LFC plays this season.
• The member(s) that correctly guess the starting XI will be awarded 5 points.
• At the end of the season the player with the most points will win the prize.
• What is the prize? It is a surprise!
• The standings will be included in each week’s newsletter.

Scoring System:

• 11 Correct picks = 5 points.
• 10 Correct picks = 3 points.
• 9 Correct picks = 1 point.
• 0-8 Correct picks = 0 points.

YNWA/JFT 96,

Andy Neumann