Damien Comolli is a man in the know – it seems. Early this month he was appointed as Liverpools new ‘director of football strategy’. Where “scout” was an appropriate name in the first place commentators are stumbling over the new role in football management. From what we’ve seen so far he’ll be responsible for the comings and goings of players… but isn’t that the job of the manager?
Liverpool’s appointment earlier this month of Damien Comolli as director of football strategy was described by the club’s owner John W. Henry as “just the first step” in a new player development philosophy.
He’s done a good stint with Wenger (at Arsenal from ’96 to ’03) where he “gets credit for bringing Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and Gael Clichy to North London”. Sounds promising, eh? There’s more. A short hiatus from English football and he was back in the premier league with Spurs where he “spent three years acquiring numerous talents who would go on to become top names: Bale, Modric, Assou-Ekotto, Gomes, Kaboul, Hutton, Pavlyuchenko, Bentley, Berbatov”. So what’s in store for us? I’m glad you asked…
One of the first things on the cards is kicking Poulsen to the curb. Oftentimes I club Lucas and Poulsen in together because they seem to have similar footballing brains. Long winded “conversations” with fellow Reds fans has left me feeling guilty for my low opinion of Lucas, but it’s fair to say that he’s changed a lot since he got here. Poulsen is in a similar place Mr Leiva was a year or so ago: maybe he’ll turn into a good player, but we’re not in the right place to let him spend the next few months getting in his groove. I’m glad the decision has gone this way.
Frenchman Yann M’Vila of Rennes was given a looking over by Roy when they played against Auxerre on Sunday. It looks like Comolli has given the thumbs up – with good reason. M’Vila is a strong defensive midfielder. This is a much more positive move than clutching at Poulsen after Mascherano jumped ship: M’Vila is gaining reputation at a young age (20) and we’d do well to follow through with it, despite his hefty price tag of £15mil. He’s playing in the up-coming match against England so keep your eyes peeled.
It’s such a change from the scaremongering of the weekend rags about our money troubles to be able to gather around the transfer gossip pages like a gaggle of school girls. In all fairness, as much as we might lay a claim to having it all under control all along, it was pretty tight for a few days. Administration was looming – and we’re lucky to be out of the shadows. Money continues to be a problem across the board for those teams not lucky enough to have found a bailout plan. Dundie Utd refuses to give up on luck, though, as a golden egg has been delivered from their recent plummet into admin for the second time in 7 years.
£420,000 down in tax to get things going, followed by administration and a 25 deduction point reduction generate a fairly unsightly series of events. The luck came strong and fast when Mhairi Philp – “Miss Dundee FC” started thinking on her feet. That type of ladies underwear that is designed to attract the proverbial bees has been donned and shot in a calendar set for release at the turn of the year. The article reports that the WAG underwear extravangaza is optimistic to raise £8,000. Obviously that’s a drop in the ocean in the footballing world, but where debt and administration are concerned I’d say it’s a pretty good silver lining!
It was a crazy weekend of football – Villa and Man U squaring up to a 2-2 draw after 70 minutes of goalless play and Sunderland frankly hammering Chelsea. I suggest you go over to Footytube to check out one or two of the many goals. Match of the day was one of the best this season even though we had a sob story. Long story short: we lost to Stoke. 2-0.
Oh and it looks like Torres is out for a bit.
Happy days are here to stay.
