The new year begins with an unwelcome intrusion from the real world outside the fantasy world in which footballers and their fans often reside. First there was the big freeze currently gripping Europe and North America leading to many games being postponed, leaving many footballers, managers and fans worried about the resultant fixture pile-up as though that were the most important outcome of the record low temperatures. And then there is the still unfolding drama in far away Angola where separatists attacked the Togo national team bus and killed 3, including their reserve goal keeper.

And this is without considering the problems plaguing Portsmouth which is finding it hard to pay its players' wages, and the recent reports about Manchester United's mountain of debt. Having said that, it is not as if Liverpool doesn't have its own share of serious problems. Still, as is customary for this time of the year, let me try and look ahead to 2010 (and not just the January transfer window) and see what I would like to see happening at the club.

Let's begin with the players. The good news is that our own 3 idiots, Dossena, Voronin and Degen, are either out or close to the exit. I think that in itself should help improve spirits in the dressing room. Though if Degen goes, it puts extra responsibility on young Darby's shoulders given that Johnson is crocked. One other player I would like to see out, though it probably won't happen, is El Zhar who I think has nothing to offer.

Two players whose situation I would like to see resolved one way or the other by summer are Babel and Riera. I still have a faint hope that the former will come good, but it is apparent that he does not have a football brain to accompany his obvious football talent. So, he needs a patient mentor in the mould of "Nikumbh Sir" (Taare Zameen Par) who believes in him and can draw the best out of him. Whether Rafa, or someone in the Liverpool coaching set-up can step up to the role remains to be seen, but I hope they do. Riera, on the other hand, I think is not really good enough to cut it at this level. He gives the ball away too much, does not produce enough quality crosses, does not track back sufficiently and does not score enough goals. So, he needs to go. Finally, such a discussion cannot end without talking of Lucas. My take is that he deserves to be in the squad as a foil for when Masch gets himself sent off, but surely not in the first XI when all are fit and available. The million dollar question (we may not get much more than that for him!) is whether Rafa can take off his rose-tinted goggles when Lucas is the subject of discussion, and also see this.

About players I'd like to see coming in, I really hope the Maxi deal goes through asap. He's good, proven and available cheap ? just what Liverpool needs, provided of course that he adjusts to the Premier League quickly enough. I haven't seen Chamakh but if Arsene's been making eyes at him, chances are he's good. So if we can pull off the pre-contract stuff, that would be great! Even if just these two deals happen, I think it would be a vindication of the Benitez-Purslow team in the transfer market. Apart from these, the only real need for Liverpool will be a good, proven creative mid-fielder ? that too in the summer and not now. A Van der Waart or Sneijder would have done nicely, but now both are unavailable.  Maybe a David Silva or Juan Mata, but with the deal done and sealed before the World Cup as it is quite likely that the tournament will inflate their prices to a level we cannot afford! All the other ins I would like to see would really be gradual promotions from the youth set up. For all the good things heard about Nemeth, Pachecho, Ayala, Darby, Spearing, Kelly, Amoo, Ecclestone etc. they are hardly seen. If Insua can come good, why not give these kids a chance? Hope we don't get into the "ghar ki murgi, dal barabar" syndrome and throw money after seemingly star acquisitions and ignore some home grown treasures.

Coming to the higher echelons of the club, I am currently of the view that getting rid of Rafa (or even him quitting, though that's less likely than Carra scoring a hat-trick) wouldn't be a good idea. Yes, he has his limitations and problems, particularly his stubbornness, but then who doesn't? And, given our current state, who would want to come to us (Klinsmann, you say? No, thank you). He has undoubtedly improved the squad significantly over the last 5 years. So, though we're under-achieving badly this season (and, as some have suggested, over-achieved last season), the sensible option is to persist with him for at least one more season. And, keeping Rafa naturally means all the other backroom staff will also be retained.

Climbing even higher, as I've said earlier, I like what I see and hear (admittedly, very little, but that's part of the allure) about Christian Purslow, the current CEO. He managed to get the Standard Chartered shirt deal, has been reasonably good with closing transfers and hopefully will manage the business end of things well for the club as it goes forward.

That leaves the owners. It's obvious that they are broke and their relationship is broke and it is not a healthy situation. But a hurried fire-sale to the first, and very likely, dubious investor who comes along may actually nudge us neatly from the frying pan to the fire. So, yes, a change of ownership will be good, but in a measured way where it is clear that the new owner(s) are here to offer something positive for the club's future and not just to ride on its glorious past. Hopefully, as the year passes, the financial situation (and the weather!) will thaw a bit and there would be some genuine investors interested in the club.

And then, the biggest wish of all: hopefully the club will find the finances to kick-start its much needed and long overdue stadium project.

Wishing everybody a happy 2010 and hoping that the club turns a new leaf in the new decade. The signs for 2010 are positive ? Pune FC won its first game in the I-league when it restarted after a break for the Fed Cup, significantly easing relegation worries!