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Worrying Signs As ‘First Team Quality’ Continue To Exit?

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ANOTHER week has gone by, and at the time of writing, if rumours are to be believed, two big names at Liverpool will be heading for the exit very soon.

Alberto Aquilani, the £20m Italian midfielder who Rafa Benitez signed several years ago, has reportedly been shipped off to Fiorentina somewhat ignominiously in a move that I feel will have Liverpool fans split down the middle.

Equally contentious (or perhaps even more so) would be Brendan Rodgers’ reported consideration to send Andy Carroll out to West Ham on loan, in spite of his earlier claims that a loan deal would be out of the question, and Andy Carroll’s own assertions that he’d only move to a club offering European football.

However one feels about the manager’s decisions to release these two much-debated players, one thing is for sure: our squad is, at the moment, much weaker than it was last season when we finished 8th.

The transfer window has seen us lose several prominent names. Maxi and Kuyt, two of our more clinical goal scorers, were the first two to be deemed surplus to requirements.

We did sign Borini, but the Italian is young, and might be more of a prospect for the future than an immediate solution to our goal scoring woes.

That being said, replacing two ageing attacking midfielders with one young attacking forward brimming with potential still left us in quite a comfortable position.

We still had at this point midfield options aplenty, and even if many of us don’t think Charlie Adam is good enough for Liverpool’s first team, having a player of his calibre on our bench was a good sign that we had strength in depth in this area of the field.

Taking Aquilani out of the equation changes this happy equilibrium quite dramatically though, and it looks to me like we’re now about to lose the most technical, composed, and precise midfielder we have at our disposal.
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But at least we’ve still got a potent strikeforce, haven’t we? Not anymore, by the looks of it! Suarez, Borini and Carroll up front did sound quite intimidating I think, but it looks like we won’t get the chance to see the trio in action, since our formidable target man is now almost certain depart.

And where does that leave us? It leaves us short of players, that’s where. If the Aquilani and Carroll rumours ring true, we’ll be losing a total of four big players with first team ability, and so far, we’ve only replaced one of them.

I really do hope that we have at least one or two more replacements lined up already, and while the names Gaston Ramirez, Joe Allen, and even Theo Walcott have been thrown around a lot, a part of me is also wondering, what does Brendan Rodgers think about Suso and Raheem Sterling?

The two youth stars impressed during pre-season together with Jonjo Shelvey, and I must admit, a big part of me thinks that the three of them do have the ability to fill in the gaps left behind by our departing players.

Whatever our manager decides to do, let’s hope he announces it soon. The season’s not that far away, and I’m sure many Liverpool fans around the world like me are all very concerned!

Comments are appreciated.

YNWA

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22 comments

  • Gwil says:

    You might need to add Agger to that list also! Very worrying 🙁

    • mucheki says:

      aah,let these leave and lets even sell downing for 8m adam for 6m cole 5m,aqua for 7m,carol for 18m,and if agger no nonger wants let him go for 20m.we will buy players who want the red jersey

  • gareth says:

    I could see as i read through your article that you don’t believe everything your saying? Im so tired of this debate! It goes a little something like this. Aqua has never wanted to be here! he is on between (depending who you believe?) £100k-£125k a week, he has cost liverpool fc (not including wages) £9m so far! if he plays again this season he will cost (i believe, from stories) another instalment of £4.5m this season! for a sub/cover player thats a big outlay! now if we can get him off the wage bill, as we did with maxi, Kuyt and maybe carrol that is just a touch under £400k per week off the wage bill! now i don’t need to tell you that it’s a saving of £19.2m a year (i think?)and with sterling, suso, shelvney, robinson, flanaghan, sama etc etc who will all need to be given game time this season to devlop isn’t this the change we have been screaming for? look at the league! Man City, chelsea, arsenal, man Utd and spurs are all better than us at the moment and even if liverpool spend £100m again this summer it’s no garentee that we will win anything and doesn’t money add pressure to a managers job? I say give the youth time and take the defeats that will happen as we adapt, this will only help rodgers build a team with his ethos! this isn’t an over night job! it’s long term and I, like you, hope that BR signs a few more players? another striker is a must but i have seen enough from BR’s to know i like what i see and as a liverpool fan he has my total support! i trust him! i think every fan of LFC should practice what they preach and after the last few years of preying for the liverpool way to come back, start supporting the liverpool way! BR’s has already stated that alot of transfer activity will be done right at the end of the window. YNWA

  • shane says:

    What first team quality are you talking about. Carroll Downing Henderson and Adam couldnt hit a barn door all year. Aqua hasn’t actually played for Liverpool so he won’t be missed. Maxi wanted out because ‘he never played’ and Kuyt simply was the most frustrating player to ever watch, how many times when he was used as an outlet did the ball bounce off him and the move break down. So please what first teamers ( that actually play ) are you referring to with your headline. If you going to write about the club do it with a bit more knowledge and not SUN sensationalism

    • Jimmy Areabi (Editor) says:

      Before you start pointing your accusing ‘sensationalist’ finger, how about you re-read your own nonsense? We can all agree (or disagree) that Carroll, Downing, Henderson and Adam were poor for the most part of last season, but like it or not (that is another issue) they are/were deemed as first team players. Add to that Maxi & Kuyt also (Maxi should have featured more) whilst Aquilani is defo first team quality (maybe not in heart/desire but talent, for sure) and that makes 7 players of ‘first team’ quality in the eyes of previous management – like it or not, that is a fact. If you can’t see (just to try and argue a point that isn’t true) that these players are part of the first team squad then you’re making yourself sound very silly…

    • shibashis says:

      your comments about Dirk Kuyt is an embarrassment, really really do not like such a dedicated professional to be belittled like this.

  • maxi is a huge loss and his departure was underappreciated. arguably he is replaced by cole who you omitted but I wouldnt blame you as he is rubbish imho. im not too worried re aquaman leaving and again you could argue lucas is back which is a huuuuuuge plus. if you take kuyt out and borini in and assume you replace carroll and maxi with someone like ramirez and dempsey I am happy enough.

    borini-ramirez-suarez with gerrard-lucas-henderson/dempsey behind them works for me……

    • shane says:

      I agree with Joey, re Cole, but I find it hard to agree that maxi is a great loss.. How many times did he start a match last year? Lucas was a great loss, it will be as you say huugggeee to have him back. It will also be great to have a fully fit Martin Kelly back. I don’t know how good Borini is, but Liverpool have found it very very difficult over the years to sign a great goal scoring striker, that hasn’t come through the Anfield ranks. Time will tell.

  • edward zee says:

    I said it before, br is leaving late to get new players in…do you honestly think then that they (that is, the new players if they do come in ) will have time to gel with our present players? Whats more we are playing to BR’s system, which is a new system for all…with these 2 factors plus another important factor and that is we havent seen the first team in any real playing action so far in pre season games, by golly…we better be real about where we be heading in the league table this coming season!…Gerrard is mad, literally, to declare that we are gonna finish in the top 4..come on man, doesnt he have football brains? We may end up worse than 8th position this season and perhaps be close to relegation..and its going take some time before we can think of champions league man…remember, the Manures were relegated too, before they came up and started conquering the league…so we might end up the same, down before going up –

    • You heard says:

      Calm down Edward…. We are not going to be worse than last year – that is impossible. We were un lucky in quite a few games. Now, do I think we will finish in the top 4? No, but I do feel we will be 5th. I love it that Gerrad said what he said, I would much rather have our captain say that then the normal… “we will do our best speech”.

      I agree that we are at a disadvantage with regards to our top guys not getting first team reps but we are giving the young lads a chance to be fit for the start of the season and the vets will come to play when the time comes. Its just bad timing with the Euro’s & Olympics being in the same year. Luis & hopefully Gaston will get there little rest then by game 3 – they will be ready to reck havoc

      Have faith ….

      YNWA

      You Heard

  • RedRoy says:

    I would be worried if Agger or skirtel went. We’ve never really had Aquaman so won’t miss him, carroll could be of use, so i’d be tempted to give him a bit more time. Pity we’re not talking about Adam and Downing here, would’nt miss those two! Feel sorry for Maxi though, should have played more, did get in the box to score, then miss out next game. Kuyt good worker, bit slow. I feel the squad and supporters need a lift with a couple of good signings, then bring in youngsters like Sterling, suso and Shelvey. YNWA.

    • Jimmy Areabi (Editor) says:

      Absolutely spot-on! Can’t believe Downing escapes the criticism all the rest have to bear. It’s like he hides away and people forget about him…sounds suspiciously like his on-the-pitch contributions!

  • Chris Smullen says:

    Brendan rogers mangerial career @ anfield will be shorter than woy hodgsons. He is a total yes man, one minute we wouldnt load a player who cost 35 million, yesterday morning on talksport saying carrolls going no where, ye the same day accept loan offer. I dont think hes being kept in the loop, and is being told whats happening. The guy looks like a total muppet and clearly got the job because he was prepared to let big decisions be made by the higher ranks, to me he now looks like a complete muppet….. Another year of turbulence at anfield – ps Dempsey for 10 mill ? Nuff said………….

    • d says:

      You might have a point to some degree. i wouldn’t insult the guy though, but i think it’s possible that’s the reason FSG did not want Rafa back in charge.

      • kumber says:

        or they might not have wanted rafa back because of the way he left the club in last time. do you remember the words liverpool nearly bankrupt.

  • micael says:

    as fans we just have to hope there is a plan at work here. it looks like their getting rid of high earners who simply arent worth the money their paid. it all just depends on who comes in. werner said on taking over they didnt mind the high wage bill but they were concerned they wernt getting enough for the money. he was bang on. if we can free up all this money suarez,aggar and skrtyl can have new contracts then with some smart buys like dempsey,ramires,allen also the kids we have should be given the thursday night duty. would love to see coates and kelly at the back together.

  • micael says:

    chris smullen dont believe every thing you read.

  • shane says:

    Hi Jimmy.
    Thanks for the response. Its great to stimulate debate. But Maxi was not classsed as good enough for the first team last year. He didnt play and he has left because he didnt play first team football. He will not be missed. Aqualani did not play for Liverpool last year. He will not therefore be missed. Who are the seven first team players you are talking about? I mentioned Downing, Carroll, Henderson and Adam in my conversation, and yes that is another conversation, nothing to do with your headline. So please… where are the worrying signs, which of the first 11 that played last year on a week to week basis are leaving?

    • Jimmy Areabi (Editor) says:

      No problem Shane, that’s what opinion pieces are about; to stimulate debate. We are not in the business of publishing sensationalist rubbish just for the sake of it – there are certain other fansites out there that do this (I’m sure you are aware of who they are!)
      On the actual debate, and whilst Maxi didn’t play as much as he should have, he was still classed as a first team player, in the squad sense of the word – as was Aquilani (would we miss him, as he hasn’t really played? Many seem to think so). They were not bought as youngsters with promise, or to just make up the reserves. Kuyt featured in almost every game since signing (and even though he didn’t play as much last season, he still appeared 34 times), and obviously £35m Carroll wasn’t signed to make up the reserves (35 appearances) – hence what my writer was stating: that is (possibly, if Carroll/Aqua go) four players of first team standard/quality that we may lose, whilst only one has been signed. No sensationalism there, and certainly not in league with the SCUM newspaper you mentioned.
      I mentioned Adam, Downing & Hendo in response to you, who brought them into it.
      We obviously don’t know Rodgers’ first 11 yet, and can only go by our first team squad – as the writer does.
      Hope this clears an apparent misunderstanding up, and thanks for your comments.

  • shane says:

    I agree Jimmy, I get the sentiment behind the post, and I think in the pre season build up its great to get a bit of excitement regarding whos going and coming.. I did mention the SCUM newspaper as I knew it would cause some ‘anger’ shall we say.. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next few weeks, I think as it stands the ‘squad’ is ok but the first 11 -14 is not strong enough.. if that makes sense. A squad with lots of ‘potential’ but the first 11 isn’t able to compete with city / chelsea / utd. I would be worried if Agger goes.

  • Jack says:

    You people would believe anything!! Kuyt and Maxi are the only two players who have left. If it was down to the media, Reina, Agger, Skrtle, Carroll, Suarez and Bellamy would be gone up to now. Really people!! All you do is blame the media and then swallow everything they spout. Cop on!!!!!!

  • murt says:

    I would hate to see either of our c/backs go anywhere,as regards quality ,how you describe Aqua/Carroll as class is takin the piss a bit.1 costs us a fortune,the other 1 has flopped since he arrived for Kenny.i would be happy to see both gone,we need players who are going to deliver results,not embarrassement.Maxi in fairness any time he got a game he delivered,Bellers the same,we cant watch A.C flopping about for another season.plus aqua off the payroll will pay for the likes of borini/allen wages.

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