Liverpool Know Money Can't Buy Happiness, But It Sure Can Buy Some Options

Money cannot buy you happiness, but in the world of football it sure can buy you some options and save you lots of haggling, doubt and uncertainty.

And this certainly is the case with two of the Red’s most important midfielders.

By the looks of it, Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano are on their way out of Anfield with designs on plying their trade in Spain.

Both players were rumored to sign with Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively, rumors that were flatly denied at the start. The very thought of these players leaving Anfield was laughable.

But as time went on, the rumors persisted. The players began speaking out, both intimating at a desire to leave the club.

These turn of events may have seemed unthinkable to Liverpool supporters, mainly because of the massive amount of success both the team and players have achieved on Merseyside.

Hence the backlash, a mere heartfelt plea heard as a whimper from Rafa Benitez, “you don’t love us anymore?”

Many reports are stating that Rafa is quick to remind the players that loyalty is a value that far outweighs any financial compensation they might receive from any one club. He is quick to remind the players of their status and how much is owed to Liverpool for making them what they are.

Perhaps a bit of analysis would help at this point.  Would these players be such big stars had they not played for Liverpool? The answer is no for Alonso, and yes for Mascherano.

The sad truth is, out of the two players, it is Alonso who owes a great deal more to Rafa’s insight of the player’s talent. After all, it was Benitez who plucked the youngster from the depths of obscurity in Spain and to the manager’s credit, saw something in the player the other clubs could not.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure Alonso would have been noticed eventually, but it would have been a great deal longer and a great deal more difficult where he was at.

However, if Real Madrid is every Spanish footballer’s dream, why isn’t Fernando Torres playing for them?

The top clubs in Spain have a bad habit of not signing their homegrown talent when they should, partly because they are not allowed to sign players under a certain age.

But still, if Madrid wants the best players from Spain, they should sign them when they have the chance.

Now, Mascherano is a different story, here is a truly gifted midfielder whose talent did not go unnoticed at West Ham, if it wasn’t Liverpool to sign the young lad it was going to be another big club.

Where his loyalty fails, is the fact that Liverpool released him from the bondage of that terrible contract he was under with his “sponsors”.

He owes a small debt for not only that but for heightening his reputation across the world as Argentina’s most important midfielder, as Maradona put it, “Argentina is Mascherano and ten others.”

So how does money buy you options?

Well if these two players are leaving now, wouldn’t it have been nice for Liverpool to already have signed Gareth Barry, who is not only English but also plays in the midfield?

Without a player like Barry, who will play in the central holding role if these two players leave?

I mean at least Liverpool would have had the option to play Barry alongside Gerrard in the midfield in support of Torres up top with say another striker like David Villa and by my estimation, that’s more than just an option.

Unfortunately, as it looks like what may happen, Liverpool may be left without a solid alternative if they don’t get something in return for both these players.

I’m sure this club has options; don’t get me wrong, they’re not a huge and successful club without the ability to sign big talent.  But it just seems that Liverpool is handicapped when it comes to competing with the rest of Europe in signing what they need when they need it.

Gareth Barry would have been a spectacular player at Anfield, as would David Villa had been, and signing them both would not have been frivolous spending.

The ability to buy what is needed when it is needed belongs to big clubs who hold no doubts about their financial viability. Is Liverpool not a big club?

Yes, Liverpool is a destination, not a stepping stone and the lack of proper funding could make Anfield less than what it should be.

Respected, as these two players are having trouble doing right now.