Tip-top Transfer Window For Reds?

AFTER the ultimately disappointing 2-2 draw away to Arsenal, Brendan Rodgers was asked about the possibility of us signing any more players.

The manager replied that it would be “difficult.” That may just be a euphemism for dealing with Blackpool and their obtuse chairman, but it does sound as though Jim White will not be having a breakdown live on screen because of Liverpool FC.

I’m happy with our business so far, as Daniel Sturridge has settled well and has scored three goals in his short time at the club already. The signs are definitely there for him. We’ve also landed Coutinho who for me is a bit of a surprise signing. I honestly can’t comment about the quality of the lad because I’ve never seen him play. But he is being signed as a “number ten.”

Rodgers spoke in a press conference held recently and was asked by this site’s Editor about signing a “number ten”, and stated how it was going to have to wait until the summer. Seemingly, that has been pushed forward. I don’t know if Coutinho was on the radar long-term or if the chance to sign him at good value has simply manifested itself. Either way, we have acted quickly to bring him in.

Only time will tell how wise a move it is, but there are a number of other signings I would like to have made to make this a truly brilliant window for us.

I can’t help but feel we’re one light in midfield. Nuri Sahin, to me, is no great loss as I thought he was at the very best ordinary when he played for us. But I am worried that there is no natural alternative to Lucas in that defensive midfield position. I love the battling Brazilian, but he is up and down with his form at the moment. I have that down as being understandable as his season’s preparations were ruined after five minutes of the second game of the season following on from another serious injury.

However, we have no alternative to bring on if he isn’t playing well. Joe Allen isn’t comfortable as a holding midfielder, and Jordan Henderson looks a much better player further up the pitch. I would like to have seen us address the midfield position with another player.
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I don’t mean a massively expensive one, but someone like Diame from West Ham would have been ideal as a short term solution. Not necessarily him, but a similar type of player. A robust, physically dominant destroyer, which is something we have a big problem competing against, incidentally.

Further down the list, I’d like to see us trying to sign Jack Butland. Chelsea had a bid accepted and he turned them down as he wants first team football. We are in a similar position as Reina is clearly our first choice. Rumours persist that he will be leaving in the summer however and we need to begin thinking ahead if this is the case.

Signing Butland (or someone similar) would improve our options on the bench as I am long standing in my opinion that Brad Jones is error prone and a cock-up waiting to happen. If not, loan him back to Birmingham and we’ll see him in the summer.

Overall we have had a good window I think. We’re still light on experience in crucial areas of the pitch but we have a young team that work hard. There’s still a lack of quality but I now feel we can get through to the summer as we have started to score more goals. We just need to go on and improve our results. Rome isn’t built in a day and we can’t buy five or six players in January.

But I still hope we get Jim White on the precipice of excitement with a last minute deal to make a good window very good – but it won’t happen.
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