Liverpool need better full-backs

Irrespective of whether Liverpool win the Premier League this season or not, Rafa Benitez has to make a few signings to strengthen his squad this summer in order to challenge on all fronts next season. Early indications are that there is going to be another chase for Gareth Barry, in addition to a signing in attack most probably from Benitez's favoured Spain. However, one area that can be certainly improved upon but is very rarely commented upon is the quality of Liverpool's full-backs.

Alvaro Arbeloa and Fabio Aurelio have been first choice at right-back and left-back for most of the 08/09 season. Many Liverpool fans appreciate both these players for their efficiency and stability. Aurelio has certainly developed a bit of a cult following with his recent free-kick prowess. Arbeloa has developed an excellent understanding with Dirk Kuyt on the right flank, which has resulted in him delivering a few assists. Despite these positives the reality of the matter is that Arbeloa and Aurelio would not be starters for any of the other big guns in the premier league or for that matter, the top teams in Spain and Italy.

Most pundits would vouch for their stability, and indeed against most teams that Liverpool face in the Premier League, their full-backs really don't need to be all that spectacular. However, when playing against top teams this deficiency is quite noticeable. It is of course very easy to overlook this deficiency when Liverpool have won an impressive 14 out 18 points in the mini league of the big 4.

When the situation arises that Liverpool are chasing a game against tough opposition, Aurelio and Arbeloa don't provide much of a threat in terms of their final ball or ability to beat defenders from the wings. Furthermore the two are equally capable of making mistakes under pressure, as was evident in the recent games against Arsenal and Chelsea. Another factor that hinders both of them against quality opponents is a lack of pace. This is crucial against the best teams, as it impacts their transition from defence to attack and conversely, from attack to defence. For evidence, one can see the goals that Liverpool have recently conceded. Almost all of them have been as a result of the opposition exploiting space when the two have gone forward to support the attack.

At the end of the day both players are certainly worthy of being in Liverpool's squad. However, now that Liverpool have finally proven themselves capable of challenging on all fronts, they need players who will take the team's play to a higher level. Its often said that the acquisition of better wingers to supplement their excellent midfield and Torres is the final piece of the puzzle for Liverpool. On deeper inspection, better full-backs to supplement their excellent centre-backs and goalkeeper is necessary as well.

Semi finals between Hamburg and Werder set to be classics

At the beginning of the season, if you asked any fans of German football to name one team that could possibly challenge Bayern Munich for the title, most would have answered Werder Bremen. If you would have asked them to name one team that would be languishing in mid-table but good enough to go on a few cup runs, for most the pick would be Hamburger SV. However, as we enter the final stretch of the season, these predictions have been reversed to the shock of many a pundit.

Hamburg under the stewardship of Martin Jol, are in with the possibility of capturing an amazing treble. They are just three points behind league leaders Wolfsburg, and are in the semi finals of the German Cup and the UEFA Cup. Werder on the other hand have been horribly inconsistent in the league, at times thrashing the table-toppers, only to lose at home to the bottom-dwellers the next weekend. It was the same story in the Champions League, whereby they were undefeated against Inter Milan, yet contrived to miss out on the knockout stages following horrendous performances against underdogs Panathinaikos and Anorthosis Famagusta. Yet, unbelievably they could be on for exactly the same cup double that Hamburg are chasing.

The most intriguing aspect of both the cup challenges is of course, that Hamburg and Werder play each other in the semi-finals of both the DFB Pokal and the UEFA Cup. It would be fair to say that for neutral observers of German football, these two teams have been the most entertaining to watch. Martin Jol has always had a reputation for pursuing attacking football at the expense of defensive solidity. However, there are times when Bremen under Thomas Schaaf can make even Jol's teams look dull. Their emphasis on continuous attacking has led to some great victories over big names, and also some heart-breaking losses. Ideally it would be great if both these teams just split the cups, with Werder winning the UEFA Cup and Hamburg the German Cup.

Looking at matters practically though, the advantage might actually be in Bremen's favour. They don't have anything to play for in the league, and can thus muster all their effort and concentration towards the cups. Ever since their brilliant comeback in the San Siro to knock out AC Milan, Werder have been a team transformed. Diego is back to his diminutive best, scoring and creating in equal measure. One could also say that Werder Bremen have paid their dues in European football the past few years, consistently giving a tough time to many a giant in the Champions League, and thus merit at least a UEFA Cup final experience.

Hamburg on the other hand are team with more pressure to deliver. One can't rule out the positive energy and adrenalin as a crucial factor in their demanding conclusion to the season. However, chasing a treble can drain teams mentally and physically, and one gets the feeling that one loss in any of the competitions they are involved in, could possibly derail the dream. Furthermore, for all his charm and personality, Martin Jol doesn't seem to be the kind of manager who is ideally suited to keep his players focused consistently when faced with continuous string of high pressure games. For Hamburg, the key in the run-in is going to be the form of attacking triumvirate Trochowski, Olic and Guerrero.

There is always a huge risk when analysing these two teams. Unpredictability is the only thing that is predictable about Werder Bremen and Hamburger SV. In fact, it is quite conceivable that whoever wins, will eventually lose to Bayer Leverkusen and a Ukranian opponent in the German Cup and Uefa Cup finals respectively. Nonetheless, what is predictable is that these three semi-finals, and for that matter the league game at the Weserstadion will provide us exciting attacking football, defensive lapses and hopefully classics to remember.

Third Podcast

A quick review of the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals in the third edition of Wasim's Sports WARP Podcast!

Second Podcast

Its a review of the tennis from Indian Wells and Miami in the second edition of Wasim's Sports WARP Podcast!

Dropping of Powell was long overdue

The West Indian squad to tour England has been announced. A quick glance through the list reveals the absence of Daren Powell, a player who has been in the starting eleven for a considerable period of time. While some may advocate that his experience can come in handy in what is bound to be a difficult tour, the hard facts suggest that it is quite a miracle that Powell hadn't been axed earlier.

In his last 14 tests Powell has managed only 25 wickets at a frankly awful average of 60.80. Considering his career average in the first place is a hardly inspiring 47.85, one has to ask why the selectors and team management have persisted with him for so long. Several other fast bowlers in the Caribbean might validly ask why they have been discarded on the basis of a few poor matches while Powell has been rewarded without consistent excellence.

It can't be forgotten that Powell did have his own contribution to the recent series victory over England. His excellent rearguard action in Antigua, as a night watchman in the first innings, followed by tremendous application in the last session on the final day ensured the West Indies got the draw that maintained the momentum for the West Indies in the series.

That being said, the reality is that Powell was in the team to win matches with his bowling, an aspect of his game that was unfortunately not up to the task. In fact one could say the quality and hostility of his bowling were both regressing. Furthermore, Powell had the alarming tendency of giving a four-ball or two every over, enabling the opposition batsmen to score at a fair quip. This particular tendency must have been especially infuriating for the Windies, in light of Jerome Taylor and Fidel Edwards troubling the batsmen to start the innings, through swing and pace respectively.

The baton now passes on to Grenadian Nelson Pascal, who has really impressed in regional competition with his pace and wicket taking ability. The inclusion of Darren Sammy is also a good option for the Windies, especially in light of the conditions that are prevalent in England at this time of the year. Lionel Baker and Andrew Richardson are the other seam bowling options in the squad.

There is no doubting that for the West Indies to succeed as a bowling unit, Taylor and Edwards will be expected to provide most of the damage. Nonetheless, it is imperative that the other seamers provide good back-up and are able to maintain pressure. Its now up to the likes of Sammy, Baker, Pascal and Richardson to seize their chance and ensure that the long overdue exclusion of Daren Powell was the right move.

West Indies cricketers stance disappointing

Considering the current enthusiasm that is returning to cricket in the Caribbean, the possibility of a strike affecting the final one day between West Indies and England is extremely disheartening. It seems that for every small step forward, West Indian cricket ends up taking two giant steps backward.

In the immediate aftermath of their first significant series victory in a long time, there was considerable talk of a realistic, albeit slow revival in the fortunes of this once great team. The test series display by the West Indians included one truly memorable innings victory in Kingston, coupled with two determined last day batting efforts that led to draws in the face of intense pressure by England. Although one might argue that the quality of pitches and the subsequent quality of cricket wasn't of the highest order, the West Indies were nonetheless deserving victors.

Following the test series the West Indies easily outplayed England in the only Twenty 20 game. Furthermore, were it not for Duckworth Lewis, it would be fair to say that the home side would have already wrapped up the ODI series as well. However, with the series tied, every cricket fan in the Caribbean, especially in St. Lucia was looking forward to the series deciding one-dayer.

Sadly, in the backdrop of what should be an exciting on-field climax, the WICB and WIPA have decided to take attention once away with their off-field shenanigans. For fans of West Indian cricket, such politics is nothing new. For the past few years, it had started to become a laughing matter, as it coincided with one of the worst standards of performance by the team on the field.

That the WICB have become a bi-word for organizational incompetence in cricket is nothing new, what with the pitiful hosting of the 2007 World Cup, and the recent Sir Vivian Richards stadium farce in Antigua. However, in the current scenario one has to ask some serious questions of the players. A fact made more galling, that some of the individuals who are the leading voices of dissent are supposed to be the bedrock of this team.

One would think that after a momentous test series win, the West Indian players would love nothing more than doing the double over England, a feat they haven't managed against significant opposition in a while. Of course, I do believe that players should receive the right amount of remuneration, and they have principles that should be adhered to, and demands that should be met. However, its only reasonable to expect them to put the pride of the team first above everything else, especially since there is only one deciding game left in the series.

Its easy enough to say both organizations are to blame for this incompetence, however it really is sad to see that instead of riding on the crest of a cricketing wave, the players themselves are willing to let down the thousands of fans in the region who only just started to enjoy the feeling of victory again.

Throughout this series many pundits have claimed that there is a genuine camaraderie and resilience in this West Indian team that hasn't been seen for a while. Through some difficult and at times humiliating experiences, certain players have fostered a mental toughness. Sadly, they don't seem to have realized that to have a complete winning mentality, the foundation stone has to be pride for team.