One of the biggest bug-bears among some Reds at the moment is the fact that Liverpool are seemingly targeting purely English players who are overpriced and overrated. While there maybe a case for some being overrated and perhaps overpriced, the fact is the Reds will have to go over the valuation for some players to improve their squad. People may counter this by saying that there are clearly better, cheaper alternatives abroad and they cite players such as Eden Hazard, Juan Mata, Ever Banega and others as players who should be targeted.
The problem is, although I would love to see these players ply their trade at Anfield, I do not feel they can be realistic targets whilst the Reds are not in the Champions League. For sure we have to be ambitious, and the fact that we are Liverpool Football Club will hold some sway in the transfer market, but many of these players mentioned as alternatives to our current targets will be playing in the Champions League next season. It is not necessarily true they will want to move to LFC in the first place, and this is why to some extent I believe there is a domestic focus to our summer transfer policy. Below I have listed our targets and perhaps why foreign talents were not targeted instead.
Jordan Henderson – An alternative could have been Ever Banega, but he continues to play pretty regularly for Valencia. The Spanish club finished third last season, and will be in the Champions League next season. For me, although Banega may have been cheaper than Henderson, it is quite apparent that the former Sunderland player would have more motivation to move from the Black Cats, who finished 10th last season.
Charlie Adam – An obvious alternative to Adam would have been to Eden Hazard. He is however being chased by Real Madrid, Barcelona and Arsenal, all clubs which are in the Champions League, and his current side Lille are also playing in the CL next campaign. Adam was relegated with Blackpool, the Reds are certainly a more attractive option for him than Hazard.
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I think that Kenny is increasing the competitive nature of the squad by buying young british based players.I love Rafa but we are paying the price his gamble of buying young overseas youth players from 2005 to now the only players to make the cut from his regin were Agger, and Lucas, Skrtel who were already highly thought of players when first signed. Ironicilly the best thing that he did do was change the youth set up which featured bringing back Kenny. So now we have a gap in the 22-26 age area so I think that why we are going for the Adams and Downings Hendersons and Carrolls to fill that gap along side Lucas Suarez and Johnson and skrtel and agger
You just have to look at the signings last summer 3 out of the 4 players 2 were past their prime free transfers and the other one was never fit to wear the shirt…no wonder we had a bad start the season. I’m very curious to see what happens with Raul Meriles as it would be a big call to sell him to bring in Adams. Liverpool’s a team on the up so it won’t be hard to attract overseas players remember we are one of the biggest names in the footballer world.
I’m frustrated by the players we are targeting, Downing is very poor, not developed since his potential at middlesborough and only voted player of the year at villa because and are annoyed with Young not signing a new contract. Downing contributes very little for a man rated at £15m. I agree with the young player philosophy but Henderson will have to become a legend cos we are never making a profit on him. Unsure about Adam, think he might be found out at the level we are aiming for. Mata and Aguero are more viable than you think, Mata is not money driven and would be open to talking to us if a bid was accepted. Aguero is a Liverpool fan. One thing to consider is the age of these players, one year out of champions league is nothing, unlike Torres who was on borrowed time to win it. It’s how you negotiate the deals, I would give these guys a release clause if we failed to qualify. I’d love to know what Henderson will be on, kid is 20 yrs old, £20k a week should be enough.
Kenny has no interest in bringing the likes of Mata and Aguero in. He only wants overrated and overpriced British players like Carroll, Henderson, Downing and Adam. Henderson is reportedly on 60k a week by the way.
if you count up how many midfielders we currently have in the squad we see fo the first time a strategy of real class depth of players.
gerrard
raul
lucas
spearing
shelvey
cole
jovonavic
maxi
poulson
aqaulani ( loan to return )
thats 10 players
but if we sell
cole 3 mil ( attacking , winger )
poulson 3 mil ( defensive )
jovonovic 5 mil( attacking, winger )
aqualini 8 mil ( attacking )
and buy
henderson 16 mil ( Defensive , attack or winger )( playing defensive for england in U21)
adams 10 mil( attack or defensive )
downing 15 mil or simular when market opens in july ( winger )
We go from 10 to 9 players and save about 100k a week off the payroll and get better players. also looking to sell ngog for about 5 mil,Insua and a list of loaned players. so we will have a net spend of about 20 mil but save 5 mil a year in wages, All the players we buy will increase as they are young.
all we need now is a left back and a central defender and we are about there.
and i expect KK and DC to bring in those players this window as well and say good bye to kyi and fabio.
so we are not overspending at all, by buying young we are reducing the wage bill and that allows us to be more competitive in the transfer fee.
your players like sterling will be loaned out like spearing was for expeirence, so the end result will be a team of quality and depth .
The top young players are not being targeted by Liverpool to be top 4 you must match your rivals ambitions.
They can and should look at 2 world class players in this window the likes of Adam do not cut it.
johnson…cara…skertel….enrique
…………..lucas…………….
downing……gerrard……henderson
………suarez…wickham……….
sub >>
doni
dann
Flanagan
agger
caroll
spearing
maxi
kyut
out
cole 6 mil
Ngog 7 mil
aqua 10 mil
insua 3 mil
jova 5 mil
soto 2 mil
poulsen 4 mil
kocesky 2 mil
loan
shelvy
elestone
pacheco
suso
of coz we will go to big 4 again..
The only pattern emerging is MEDIOCRITY.
The other obvious reason why everyone.. EVERYONE is doing their British transfers right now is that the European transfer window ISN’T OPEN FOR ANOTHER FORTNIGHT
🙂
British business will be done and dusted if possible before July… Then Europe opens for business.. It makes sense that any advanced talks will be British at the minute.. Wait and see what happens with transfer speculation in 10 days or so.. It’ll all be about France and spain.
I can fully understand the combination of excitement and trepidation that the rumoured signings have created. I would hope that the July 1 European window will yield a few foreign buys. I looked at the Man Utd 1995-6 team that Mr Hansen wrote off and that contained Beckham, Scholes, Neville etc. This was a team that won the league by combining top local, young talent and a few inspirational foreigners. My question would be are Henderson, Adam, Carroll and Downing in the same league as Beckham, Giggs, Andy Cole and Keane (I’d say no). Do we have a Cantona to add magic to our midfield (I’d say no). A top 4 finish is the target and a realistic one. However should the July window yield a couple of Cantona-esque signings then maybe we can dream of more.. PS Make sure Adam Morgan gets a squad number – scored again last night for the England U17s
If you’re young, expensive and British then you certainly tick the boxes. Comolli can scout good foreign players but it’s clear that Kenny wants most of his signings to be British. Just look at Carroll, Henderson, Adam, Downing, Jones, Dann and Chamberlain, etc. An old-fashioned manager like Kenny will always favour British players over foreign players and sadly the likes of Meireles will most likely be sold to make way for overrated players like Adam. It’s obvious that Kenny is only looking at overrated and overpriced British players.