Evolving Or Revolving At Anfield This Summer?

THIS summer is quite possibly the most important period in the modern history of Liverpool Football Club as a complete new structure both on and off the field takes shape.

With Brendan Rogers unveiled as the man to lead the Reds into a new era and a new football/sports department taking shape behind the Anfield doors, there is plenty of cause for optimism for the men from Merseyside.

As the transfer window gradually creeks open the football world will be watching with a keen interest on the comings and goings at Anfield.

The first key decision for the former Swansea City manager will be to make an immediate decision on the futures of Liverpool’s so called big money flops. Does Liverpool’s new man in charge give the likes of Carroll, Henderson, Adam and Downing the chance to prove that the so called “big club syndrome” was the main factor in a hugely disappointing season? Or does he take a hit on the huge transfer fees paid for the British quartet and overhaul the squad all together.

Perhaps the end of season form of both Andy Carroll and Jordan Henderson may well prove to be enough for Rogers to give the reds duo another crack at launching their stop start careers. The fact that both are still young men learning the game and also the ingredients needed to succeed at one of England’s most high profile clubs will most definitely work in their favour. Henderson in particular should be the most secure, particularly when considering how many games he played away from his natural position. Carroll’s new lease of life at the tail end of the season and some dominant displays against John Terry were enough for the big Geordie to make Roy Hodgson’s Euro 2012 squad, and with the absence of Wayne Rooney for the first two group games Carroll will find himself spearheading the England attack for the beginning of the tournament at least. There were real signs of promise in those last few weeks of the season and more than enough to make you feel that his number 9 shirt is safe for now.

Stewart Downing and Charlie Adam on the other hand are different cases altogether. Downing has been heavily and on occasion unfairly criticised for his role in the Reds poor league form last season and will be hoping for a successful Euro 2012 this summer to help erase some of the memories of a disappointing debut season at Anfield. Because of the England wingers market value compared to Liverpool’s outlay last summer it would be a huge surprise if Downing was shown the Anfield door this summer.

Another player who failed to hit the heights of his previous club in a red shirt was Charlie Adam. The Scottish pass-master looked extremely ordinary in his first season at Anfield and is perhaps fortunate that his season was ended prematurely through a serious knee injury picked up in the away defeat to QPR. It is difficult to see how Adam will fit in to the style of play that Brendan Rogers will demand; there is little doubt that Charlie’s strength is with his long searching passing and not his short passing game and only time will tell if we are to see Adam pull on the number 26 shirt next season. Whatever the decision it is difficult to envisage anything other than a season of working progress and an inevitable absence from Europe’s elite competition.

It seems highly unlikely that Rogers will be given the sort of budget that King Kenny was given this time last year given the teams performances over the last 12 months and the inability of the £100 million plus worth of talent to justify the investment made on them. So with the month of June already underway, exactly what scale of re-building is required from Liverpool’s new manager if we are to improve on last season’s disappointing 8th place finish?

Despite an uncharacteristically rocky end to the season you would imagine that Pepe Reina will still be around next season to guard the Anfield goals. For me Pepe is still pound for pound the best GK in the Premier League and one of the world’s finest and it would be a travesty if he was to leave for pastures new. Much will depend on how the talismanic Spaniard views the appointment of Brendan Rogers and with it Liverpool’s short term chances of return to Champions League football.
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Defensive reinforcements would be minimal unless the likes of Skrtel, Agger or Johnson decide to succumb to the lure of the Champions League and move on. Despite a bumpy end Jose Enrique did more than enough in his debut season to suggest that he will be a permanent fixture at left full back. With the likes of Kelly, Coates, Flanagan, Robinson and England U21 international Andre Wisdom coming through, things look pretty healthy at this moment in time. Much will depend on the ability of the current Reds back line to adjust to the tiki-taka style of play which Brendan Rogers adopted at former club Swansea.

It is the midfield area where most Reds fans feel there needs to be some serious strengthening. The right wing/midfield area immediately jumps out as being the most pressing of positions to reinforce particularly with the departure of cult hero Dirk Kuyt to Turkish giants Fenerbahce and the probable loss of unsung Argentine Maxi Rodriguez. Both departures will no doubt raise a few eyebrows particularly if you consider the pairs knack of scoring crucial goals during their time at Anfield.

Every winger across the football planet has been linked with Liverpool like clockwork for what seems like the last ten years, and this summer will be no different. The most realistic options include Adam Johnson, Ibrahim Afellay and Victor Moses, all three would add pace and guile to a too often predictable point of attack. Bologna’s Uruguayan sensation Gaston Ramirez, Swedish starlet Rasmus Elm, Crystal Palace’s flying youngster Wilfred Zaha and Blackburn winger Junior Hoilett are all slightly lower profile alternatives.

With Joe Cole almost certain to re-join the Reds this summer having being described by Brendan Rogers as “a special talent”, Italian misfit Alberto Aquilani could also be set for an Anfield lifeline with Rogers paying him an equally glowing reference and AC Milan declining the opportunity to trigger a release price for the cultured midfielder. If you add to that Gerrard, Shelvey, Henderson, Spearing, Downing, Adam, Lucas and Bellamy along with exciting youngster Raheem Sterling the Reds aren’t exactly short of options. Once again the style of play question mark will dictate any movement in or out of the Reds midfield this summer and it will remain to be seen exactly who from the current reds crop will fit into the Brendan Rogers system.

The most documented problem that Liverpool had during last season’s dismal 8th place finish was of course scoring goals. With just over 20 goals scored between Liverpool’s £60 million striking partnership of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll it is clear that a proven goal scorer has to be on the shopping list of new manager Brendan Rogers. Names such as Llorente, Higuain, De Joong, Van Wolfswinkel and Demba Ba have all been mooted as additions to the Reds forward line in recent months. However, it is unlikely that Rogers will be given the sort of money needed to sign the likes of a Fernando Llorente or a Higuain and the harsh reality is that at this moment in time that particular calibre of player is out of our reach until a return to Champions League football can be achieved . What Liverpool missed last season and simply have to have next season is an out and out goal-scorer, someone who doesn’t need to start every game and can make an impact from the bench as well as from the start. In my view that person would be Jermaine Defoe, Premier League experience in abundance, pace, hunger, a proven goal scorer for club and country and a reasonable price (£8-10 million) in the current market.

There is little doubt that the Reds will add to the squad this summer with Brandan Rogers assessing the current squad as we speak. The size of change will once again be dependent on the ability of the current playing staff to adjust to the Rogers philosophy. The question of whether evolution or revolution is required will become much clearer over the coming weeks and Liverpool supporters will be waiting with anticipation to see exactly who will be coming through the Anfield doors during a crucial transfer window.

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