Players morale

[Brian78]

Having read the latest story out of Anfield that Dirk Kuyt was to be sold to Hamburg to help finance the Barry deal has left me wondering how is it effecting the players morale?

So far Xabi Alonso Steve Finnan and now Dirk Kuyt have all been used as pawns in the barry deal with others like Pennant and Voronin  have also been linked with sales to help fund the deal. Alonso looks certain to stay as does Kuyty with finnan likeley to refuse a move also but how do they really feel now. Ok they can dig in to prove a point and start off great but if the going gets tough will it come back to haunt us that we tried to offload these players. Granted pre season has gone very well so far but I thought Xabi didnt look very happy when he scored against Valerenga and did Kuyt throw his shirt to the crowd because he thought he was off?

Players arent pieces of meat im sure these lads are not too impressed with being used as bargaining tools and I for one hope that they react by having the season of there lives   

[_Dimitri_]

I think the players know when it's true that they will be sold and when not, so they don't make a big deal out of it when the papers say that they will be sold to buy someone else.

[clint_call01]

with all this media talking their morale will reduce for sure, by how much I don't know. brain you forget benayoun too.

[Magillionare]

Im sure that they dont pay attention to it. If they were pawns in the Barry deal, they'd be gone already IMO

[JD]

Uncertainty does not help gel a team which is one of the important parts of a pre-season.

Where the hell is Rick Parry anyway?

This saga has dragged on long enough.  Xabi Alonso out one minute, Dirk Kuyt out the next minute.  I actually can't wait for that transfer window to shut.

[7-King Kenny-7]

Where the hell is Rick Parry anyway?

probably sucking up to gillette and hicks so he can keep his job

[Magillionare]

probably sucking up to gillette and hicks so he can keep his job

Rick "ooo george no wonder youre names gillette your the best a club can get"

The worst thing is... I can see it

[bartman49]

They must be aware of speculation but hasn't every club got to deal with the same issue's and seeing Rafa today put a lid on these story's like he did shows he is stamping on any rumors before they have a chance of gaining momentum...

[LFC Viking]

I actually can't wait for that transfer window to shut.

I second that.
I was looking forward to it around March-April because I was looking forward to new players but I really can't wait for it to end.
The Barry deal has just been a nightmare!

[redkenny]

It is a good point. It can't help a players morale not knowing how their future might pan out.

Personally though I believe both Alonso and Kuyt are positive enough to ride the storm - they don't seem like selfish players. That goes for Finnan too. And I'd say there seems a good team spirit amongst the lads these days after last seasons off-field farce. Hopefully that's brought more togetherness.

I suppose it's part and parcel of having owners who make so many promises and fail to keep to them, that makes things like this happen.

As within our football triumphs lately, things are never usually plain and simple. It seems our transfer activity has caught that rollercoaster bug. I'm optimistic things will turn out for the best though. Our players, manager and all us just have to ride the storm.

[dunlop liddell shankly]

Every club has these transer bollocks every year. "will he go, will he stay"

Personally I don't think it will affect the players. I'm pretty sure the press had Riise, Carson, Guthrie and Crouch's transfers as extra bread for the Barry deal. We've made our intrests in Gareth Barry very very clear, so any transfer action resultin in the player leavin Anfield will just rise the speculation that we are lookin to fund the Barry transfer. Whover plays against Liege shouldn't be any doubt where their immidiate future (aka this season) lies. They'll know Benitez wouldn't cup tie you if he was plannin on sellin you. A bit like Owen when he left, if Xabi or Kuyt or any other big name player is left out (unless injured like Gerrard) it'll rise the speculation in the press again and that's when it may hit them hard.

[Court LFC]

It is a good point. It can't help a players morale not knowing how their future might pan out.

Personally though I believe both Alonso and Kuyt are positive enough to ride the storm - they don't seem like selfish players. That goes for Finnan too. And I'd say there seems a good team spirit amongst the lads these days after last seasons off-field farce. Hopefully that's brought more togetherness.

I suppose it's part and parcel of having owners who make so many promises and fail to keep to them, that makes things like this happen.

As within our football triumphs lately, things are never usually plain and simple. It seems our transfer activity has caught that rollercoaster bug. I'm optimistic things will turn out for the best though. Our players, manager and all us just have to ride the storm.

Spot on Kenneth. 

I'd also say it all depends on when the next spat between our owners will happen?  Surely not after a victorious Champions League Quater Final, surely not!

Must add that Rafa must not be a bit unprofessional with some of our bigger names it could unsettle a small minority of players due to not knowing what could be around the corner as of their futures.  I know Rafa was struggling for a bit of cash.  But I'm surprised Xabi has come out of this storm nicely insted of sticking two fingers up at Rafa and driving out of the Shankley Gates one last time.

Still no word from Steve Finnan.  Fingers crossed that he still wants to stay.  It would kill me to be used as bait to bring Gareth Barry to the club.

[lil cisse]

Of all our players recently I felt the most sorry for crouch because of the way he was treated but of the players left here its Alonso due to the whole juventus saga. The thing that made it worse for me was that every fan I spoke to (not on here) agreed he should be sold in favour of barry and imagine reading in the paper everyday that your manager wants to sell you to buy someone who isnt as good as you. That must crush you. It really at one point was made out that we would sell him to anyone, whoever had the money could take him. I dont know if thats really how it was but it must have been painful to hear that.

I wanted to be a football player and hearing something like that would tear me apart, I think all of it depends on the player personally. One thing that does worry me is how different Xabi looks now compared to before, after his goal in the valerenga game the first thing I noticed was the lack of happiness in his face, he just looked kind of fed up and I really hope he gets some serious reassurance from somewhere within the club. Another thing that worried me was reading rafa saying today that he has held talks with Yossi and Dirk about them being part of his plans but that just makes me think what about Xabi, why has he not been reassured that he is part of rafa's plans.

With Yossi and Kuyt I think the two of them deep down already knew that rafa wanted them to remain at the club and had no intention of selling them. It is different for a few other players aswell, e.g. Pennant, Voronin, Finnan. Pennant although he seems the loud life and soul of the party type I do think it would have hit him hard hearing that he could be sold, I think he really does want to be here. Its hard to say about Finnan but I do think he wants to stay here and most probably end his career at liverpool.

Voronin must feel bad, I think he knows he hasnt been good enough hence his, I will try to be better in my second season comments. No matter what I dont think he deserves to be boo'd or anything of that sort and if he goes I wish him luck with his new club.

I dont know who would be the person to reassure the players now, we all know rafa is a very stubborn and at times ruthless man as gerrard has stated a few times, it was a drastic change from the constant shoulder to lean on that seemed to be provided by Houllier. It seemed as though before he betrayed us and left, Pako was the man to reassure the players but I could see Sammy Lee doing it now, he seems the type that is laid back and likes to have a laugh but he knows when to be serious. Whatever happens I hope the players in question have someone to turn to if they feel that they need some added confidence and reassurance that we do want them at the club, its never nice to feel unwanted and as a footballer it can seriously affect your career, lets hope our players all feel confident and want to remain at the club.

[solodee]

When I read about the Kuyt possible sale and also Benayun, the prospect of buying Barry became so unattractive; Much as I really want him to come to LFC, I dont like the way some of our players have been made to look like they're surplus to requirement.

I feel for Alonso, Benanyun, Finnan & Pennant (Especially), Their morale must have hit an all-time low. But its all part of the game.

[el nino9]

I think Sammy will help with morale and is the link to the players of course. Players have come and have gone this summer with a few more to change over no doubts. As for the players left out, yes they would understandably be upset but I don't think any of the players could have been any lower than last season. Watching the board squabbles with our beloved Rafa upset all of us.

I hope that we don't have a repeat of last year and I think the board have taken a step in the right direction with the starting of the new stadium and maybe a finance plan for Gareth Barry. I just hope they are not getting the club in the Sh*te big time, because we already know they have taken the Transfer equivalent of David Ngog last year to pay for their expenses and so they can massage supersize meals into their faces.

This year will be the turning of a new leaf I hope, and the players will rise to the challange. We know, Rafa knows and the players know what we must do this year and how close we really are. This could be a year to remember.

[brezipool]

Rafa backed Kuyt & Yossi today, the only players that have some uncertainty is Pennant & Voronin, and I don't think many of us will be unhappy to see them leave, morale is high, the young guys have just won 3 trophy's they are breaking into teh 1st team, we have bought 4 good players who are settling nicely, we have 3 players doing well at the olympics, we have no serious injuries (touch wood) the spaniards just won Euro 2008, with Torres scoring the winner, we have had a very good pre-season..

I think morale is very high. will be even higher, if we get past the qualifiers for champions league & beat sunderland on day 1.

[Richobaz]

Morale should be very high.  The players whom may not be feeling too happy - who cares, they're not good enough anyway!!!!

[EddieC]

Morale should be very high.  The players whom may not be feeling too happy - who cares, they're not good enough anyway!!!!

So you don't feel Brian has a point about the players that have had question marks over their futures all summer?

[Richobaz]

So you don't feel Brian has a point about the players that have had question marks over their futures all summer?

Those players should have question marks over them.  That's part of the footy world now, and they all know the score.  They're also being paid a huge amount of money...so morale shouldn't be that bad - let's be honest!

Dirk - bought as a forward.  No longer a forward and not a good right winger 
Pennant - Hasn't lived up the potential
Alonso - Had a good 1st season, hasn't performed to those standards
Voronin - Just not good enough for us.

What Liverpool and Rafa haven't done is sold these earlier.  I don't know the reasons why he hasn't sold them...and that is the problem.

We now have a huge squad - GUESS WHAT...ROTATION will be a fecking issue again next season.  Then Morale will drop!!!!!!

[crouchinho]

Those players should have question marks over them.  That's part of the footy world now, and they all know the score.  They're also being paid a huge amount of money...so morale shouldn't be that bad - let's be honest!

Dirk - bought as a forward.  No longer a forward and not a good right winger 
Pennant - Hasn't lived up the potential
Alonso - Had a good 1st season, hasn't performed to those standards
Voronin - Just not good enough for us.

What Liverpool and Rafa haven't done is sold these earlier.  I don't know the reasons why he hasn't sold them...and that is the problem.

We now have a huge squad - GUESS WHAT...ROTATION will be a fecking issue again next season.  Then Morale will drop!!!!!!

Firstly, a pay check doesnt buy you morale. People have feelings and some things cant be bought.

Secondly, Kuyt is not even used as a forward anymore. He is first choice on the right of the front 3 for his national side while he is up against an abundance of talent. His cross may be poor but he is the difference in most mtches and Nando was said how much he values having Kuyt in the team.

Thirdly, Xabi hasnt been used as he knows how to play. He is the one missnig out in our side because we dont have a position that plays to his strengths but it does for everyone else. That will change this season with a more advanced role.

Fourthly, Pennant was always a long shot but has proved to be a much better player than most thought he would be. He has big hype as a kid from Arsenal but didnt live up to it and that has stuck with him his whole career. If you look past that, he was best player in the CL final in Athens, proved to be more than handy against the lesser sides which is when he plays all the time and hasnt really put a foot wrong when he has stepped on to the pitch, great back up for us IMO.

Fifth, Rafa hasnt sold Xabi because Juve didnt meet our expectations. He wont be sold for peanuts for the sake of it. Dirk is no way leaving, Rafa knows his value for us. Pennant and Voro will leave soon. Maybe interest didnt develop untill recently?

We have always had a huge squad, now it consists of successful young men who want to force their way into the biggest club in the world while before we had Diouf, Traore, Diao and Le Tallec running around who were useless.

I think morale is aboe average, it will reach almost 100% should we get a winning and dominant start to the season and if we can manage a win over Scum and Everton in the first few rounds then by George are we a shot of getting close to no.19.