EmptyRed Column: The Transfer Blues?

Concerned?
By EmptyRed
September 16 2006

In his fourth article, columnist EmptyRed looks at our lack of activity on the transfer market this summer. Should it be a concern and will it affect our chances of winning back the Premiership crown?

So the transfer window came and went and we only bought one player and a 'keeper in on loan. For some, it was almost time to slash their wrists or drown their sorrows in Vodka. But let me paint you a picture of a truly depressing scenario. Its coming to the end of the season, we are just behind Leeds chasing for our first League title in 25 years. We have to go away to Anfield, a win and we are still in the race, defeat and the title goes to Elland Road. Well we were dire; Liverpool beat us, a poor Liverpool side. Yet, what hurt was not losing the title, after 25 years we had become immune to it. Nor did it hurt that Leeds won the title. What hurt was that we had a better side, man for man and yet, we just couldn't get across the finishing line.

On that day, all I can remember hearing from thousands upon thousands of Scousers was the chant "You lost the league on Merseyside, you lost the league on Merseyside." You would have thought that it was Liverpool who had won the title.

My point is this. That season we were the favourites to win the title. We had brought together a good squad of players. Several of the Leeds players like Gordon Strachan and Lee Chapman were winding down their careers. For most of that season we lead the league, but just could not shake off the terrier Leeds United. And then we hit the rails and Leeds went passed us and onto glory. You see, sometimes, players come together and achieve more than their individual worth. West Germany did it in 1954, when they won the World Cup and the remarkable thing about that achievement is that all the players were amateurs.

We have a good squad of players. We have two of the best young players in the world. We have one of the best defences in all Europe. Last year in took us until October to score 10 goals, this season we have done it in only 3 games. We may not win the title, this season. But if we don't win, it will because of what happens on the pitch, not because of who we didn't buy.