With Istanbul still reverberating in my memory I couldn’t treat the start of last season seriously. I’m sure the players did, at least I hope so, but for me the events of at the Attaturk rendered all football meaningless for months. It was so intoxicating to look back upon, day to day league football seemed inadequate in comparison. That’s not to say last season wasn’t a blast, we improved so much in the league and the FA Cup final was special, all the better for being at Cardiff. Still, last year I didn’t really get that buzz as the season started. Already this season feels different.

The Liverpool squad is beginning to look like Rafa’s team, resembling a side built in the image of it’s manager. Each position has a number of possible occupants, from seasoned pro’s to promising youngsters. Although perhaps the outgoings have been a little disappointing. Such is the burgeoning squad as we struggle to get rid of the fringe players it’s starting to resemble Rafas waistline. A couple of outward transfers might’ve given the manager more freedom in the market.

Whatever the frustrations concerning Alves and Kuyt seemingly out of our reach we’ve made good progress in this transfer window. It’s a lot harder to find an obvious weakness in this side than at the same time last year. We look like a squad which is set for a sustained tilt at the title. It will be tough, the standard Chelsea set last year will be difficult to match but there’s every reason to hope that this year could see the title back at Anfield for the nineteenth time.

With sufficient time and distance Istanbul is now a glorious memory rather than a heady distraction. I’m ready for a new season, ready to see dreams become reality once more. Bring it home Rafa!

Seemingly determined to object to the club’s new stadium plans at every turn, and depress us to death in the time it takes to build it, the Post used its City Pages to have another dig on Saturday:

No regeneration? Then no stadium

The signing of two players intimate with the scales of justice provoked questions about Rafa’s judgement among some. The purchase of Jermaine Pennant and Craig Bellamy may have been controversial, but they provide two things that Rafa loves. They bring balance and possibilities to the squad.

Rafa obsesses about possiblities - he mentions them nearly as frequently as furniture in his press interviews. A strong squad gives him the tactitcal possibilities to outwit other managers on the pitch. But the squad has to be balanced. It must have balance between the left and right hand sides; between composure on the ball and pace to explode past the opposition; and between defence and attack.

Looking at last season it was clear that when Steven Gerrard played centrally we looked weak on the right, allowing the opposition to double up on our stronger left. Signing Pennant immediately solves this issue.

We were also short of effective pace (as opposed to Cissé pace). Both Bellamy and Pennant bring this to Rafa’s possibilities party. They’re signings that have added value. There may be better individual players out there, but would they as successfully improve Liverpool’s balance of possibilities?

Back in 1973 on seeing his brilliantly reconstructed team win the League Title for the first time in seven seasons, Bill Shankly pointed at the elegant trophy and described it as the club’s bread and butter.

I’ve thought for a number of years that the whole attitude of the club has since changed. We’re now more atuned to Europe than the English League - and by this I include the fans, players and management.

Just look at us, the fans. We have increasingly turned away from anything English, the flags, the national team etc and revelled in our European outlook, songs, style and travel to exotic destinations.

Domestic aways? Get up early, pay £40 for a ticket, £30 for travel, £30 on scran and beer to visit another depressing part of the UK before returning home to plan spending another £100 in two weeks.

Europe’s our new bread and butter, or beurre et croissant for the footballing gourmets.