One of the obvious consequences of failing to qualify for the Europa League last season is that it means Kenny Dalglish and Damien Comolli will have to work harder to bring the best players to Anfield this summer. As footballers have become more and more short-sighted over the years, even one season without European football is almost unthinkable for elite players (irrespective of the fact that they would be joining one the most exciting projects in world football by joining the Reds this summer). All this may add up to Liverpool not being able to attract a ‘marquee’ signing this summer. However, it will not necessarily mean that we cannot still be confident of a top four finish this season.
When FSG came to Anfield, one of their first observations was that our wage bill is not reflected in the quality of our squad. Most Liverpool fans agreed. It is often said that the big teams can be judged by looking at who they can bring on in the middle of a game to unlock a defence or ensure they don’t concede an equalizer.
When you look around at the teams that qualified for the Champions League last season, their benches regularly included established players such as Dimitar Berbatov, Park-Ji Sung, Nicolas Anelka, Andrei Arshavin, Adam Johnson etc etc. Meanwhile, the only player that could be described as ‘established’ from our bench was Joe Cole, a player who has suffered with form and injury and who seems to personify FSG’s observation.
Even Tottenham, the team that finished above us in fifth, boasted Defoe and Pavlyuchenko on their bench for their recent trip to Anfield. More than anything else, this gives Managers such as Harry Redknapp (not to mention Messrs Ferguson, Wenger, Villas-Boas and Mancini) more options than those currently open to Dalglish. This lack of options is why Rafa, Roy and Kenny have not been able to finish above 6th over the last two seasons. The managers above them have had far more attacking options open to them.
Although making a £40m breathtaking signing (a ‘Torres for 2011? if you will) would be great for the hopes of the fans, it will only give Dalglish one more option than he already has. Instead therefore, signing players such as Henderson, Downing and Adams – all players who can play in more that one position – will open a plethora of options for Dalglish going into the 2011/2012 season and equip us with the depth that at least Spurs and Arsenal have at their disposal. Kenny would have the players to be able to switch between 4-4-2, 4-4-2(diamond) and 4-3-3 with ease. And all for the same price as a ‘Torres for 2011?.
The players we have been linked to this summer may not have the pulses racing in the way of those linked to the likes of Wesley Sneijder and Alexis Sanchez , but this is the time for the sort of calculated spending that will take us above the likes of Tottenham and Arsenal next season. It is not the time for putting all of our eggs in one basket in the hope that one player will be able to win us the league at FSG’s first attempt.
Once European football has been achieved next season, the players who are not considering coming to Anfield this summer will do anything to join King Kenny’s Red Revolution. That will be the time to look for the marquee signings.
Article courtesy of AJ Mann at Live4Liverpool
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Finally some sense has been written. I am disillusioned, not by FSG, Comolli or Kenny, but by the plethora of ridiculous supporters and yanks writing crap about LFC.
Kenny identifies targets, Comoli gets them within parameters set by FSG. If we do not get a target or bid on one that is thought to be a good prospect, there can be a lot of reasons. Just because there is money to spend on the right long term, young, potential player. It does not mean buy him at all costs at the expense of other targets, Wickham.
On January 1st the window for European players is open. We will buy more soon. The scooping of some useful foreign talent may well determine which English players are purchased now negotiations have been happening for a while. The problem with the internet is too many young, impatient, and people with a lack of general business knowledge suddenly get a voice. Most too young to remember Kenny. I feel disgust every time I hear his name being tarnished.
Please judge Comoli at the end of the transfer window and judge Kenny at the end of the season.
YNWA
Agreed, we don’t need panic purchase. A lot of those good players, asking for a CL spot before moving into a club would have loved to join LFC this year & if we can have enough depth in the squad to finish in top 4, we definitely can bring 3/4 marque signings next year.
However, my only concern is that, we are purchasing or offering too much for average English players. May be with same amount we can get better players from mainland Europe or south America.
totally agree…. international players cost half as much and add different edge to a team…. i think kenny and comolli need to start shoppin on the continent more often :)having internationals on your squad also make the team more attractrive to other players, as everyone wants to play with the best players in the world.. its the same with us fans, we want the best players at our club, but we’re getting a 27 year old stewart downing (over rated and goes against the buy young policy which comolli and co made), charlie adam, scott dann, wayne bridge and jordan henderson….. :S and people wonder why we are getting frustrated :S its clear with names like these constantly surfacing….. pure crap!!!!
Luis Suarez and Alexis Sanchez in one Team.
LFC. 😉
You can definitely see your enthusiasm within the work you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers such as you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. Always follow your heart.