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Laying down the transfer gauntlet: the time is now

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Liverpool-goalkeeper-Simon-Mignolet-saves-a-penaltyTICK-tock, tick-tock, the noise of the metaphorical second hand of the transfer clock is getting increasingly louder and more ominous as we wind down towards that excitable Jim White and the dramatic SLAMMING SHUT of the window.

I want to take this opportunity to paraphrase a famous House of Commons speech (special prize if you can name the who gave the original!):

I warn the Fenway Sports Group that the people of this club will neither forget nor forgive an owner which…denies to the hopes of Liverpool Football Club…of that ancient liberty of silverware challenge which our predecessors of Anfield vindicated for themselves at the point of pass and move.

I had images of myself shouting that to a load of Scots, or screaming it defiantly at the Balrog as Coutinho and Allen scurry away with the ring!

I have previously written at the start of the summer about how this transfer window is huge for Liverpool Football Club and how we should be looking to take advantage of such unique circumstances.

In my mind this certainly has changed, in fact it has probably become even more crucial that Rodgers is backed in light of what has transpired so far.

We all expected Manchester City and Chelsea to do serious business, I still expect Arsenal to spend some money, but it is the recruitment at Spurs causing concern.

Obviously they are significantly helped by a ludicrous sum of money coming from Madrid (really? He is worth more than you paid for Ronaldo? Really???) There is no doubt our business this summer has left us in a stronger position than at the same point last year, but the worry is whether or not we have learnt our lessons or were our fingers burned too badly?

Looking at our business first; I think best buy so far has to be Kolo Toure. Filling the shoes of someone like the Cultural Attaché of Bootle, Mr Carragher, was an impossible task. Yet in the Ivorian, I’m not sure there is anyone else that could have come as close.

He brings leadership, experience, knowledge of success, he can jump 8 foot in the air, and is seemingly an all round nice chap. Whilst I didn’t want to lose Reina I think Mignolet is an excellent replacement and agree with the club’s decision making, there (hey – read about this too).

Iago Aspas looks at this stage like the result of top scouting and cheap fee paid as he looks to be a good fit into our system. As for Luis Alberto, it is far too soon to make judgement but he comes with huge praise from those who know more than me (most people) and certainly looks tidy.

As for players leaving, I don’t think as yet there has been too much upset at their departure, possibly Reina aside (Suarez still a Red at time of writing).

FSG and the club made a big whoopsie around this time last year though, made more ridiculous by the activity of Spurs this summer. Whereas last summer we looked to offload Carroll before any serious moves on players coming in, Spurs have pretty much spent the King’s ransom (probably a more literally correct statement than you think knowing Real’s money troubles) they are certainly getting for the Welsh wizard before he has gone. Risky strategy granted but leaves them very healthy and dangerous if he goes or stays!

There is no denying that FSG’s fingers were burnt during that time of Dalglish and Commoli and in light of the time under Rodgers has seen the serious investment at that time prove to be a seriously costly error. Nobody will ever know whether we would be in a different position had Kenny stayed on and allowed to work longer with his signings but this is a mute point.

What is fact is that FSG got hammered with Carroll, Downing and Adam as well as having to deal with the likes of Aquilani and Cole (damn we have wasted some money) and have been left suitably bemused by football dealings which are distinctly different to those of American sports.

Whilst I find it commendable that they are taking stands such as we have seen with Willian and not succumbing to agent demands such a relative moral high ground could prove to be damaging to the club’s prospects of that coveted top 4 spot.

Unfortunately the top players are afflicted with the money sucking leaches and to have an ambition to sign such a player we will have to deal with them and probably pay more than we value them at.

FSG have backed themselves into a corner this window twofold. Firstly by vowing not to sell Suarez and secondly by continually talking about a marquee signing. For me, marquee is misleading; I would be far happier with say two £15m players than one £30m player as the one very expensive player could disrupt the squad ethic we seemingly have developed! See Asprilla to Newcastle!

It’s a huge week coming up for FSG, with the Coates injured, the need for a centre-back is more urgent. Downing leaving leaves a gap in the squad for a left side forward and personally losing Spearing (rate him or not) leaves us with no natural cover for Lucas who is still recovering from two nasty injuries.

To me that’s three signings we need by close of play, although I would take two. The biggest mistake FSG could make is bringing in nobody after letting people leave and promising incomings. The mood could change for the worse come September when it should be all about the football!

The gauntlet is laid down! Agree? Disagree? Opinion? Comment here and come find me on twitter @timdibs

Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at live4liverpool@snack-media.com

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21 comments

  • GORDONWMILWARD MILWARD says:

    Well said its like filling your plate with half the food you could of had and down comes the shutters. When will these yanks understand you don’t win out with nought.
    Miracles only happen with backing of the top men,the manager is doing great but we need a winger and centre half so to the yanks get your finger out.

  • Tron says:

    I have been saying this for a very long time, LFC still lack a strong squad and not everyone is playing in the position I feel is suited to their strengths. Also LFC I believe have the worse transfer history imo. A very wasteful club indeed. Buying a player like Aquilani with a serious injury and then can’t play is a disgrace. I can only say that some people must be making some lovely backhanders at the expense of the clubs fans. FSG I do feel are way over their heads as they cannot compete financially with the likes of the main top 4 clubs. In this day and age where money really is king, you can only work wonders every now and again. LFC wont be reaching top 4 this season or for a while until money is spent that will bring in the right personnel to get them to that level. LFC has improved but they are still some way short in my books. The question I ask is, will FSG really be the owners in the next 5 years if LFC fail to get into the champs league? Luis and Stevie will definitely not be at the club by then so who do we replace them with when we are not currently attractive enough now?

  • damo says:

    Hopefully this is the year just need a centre back and Juan Mata from Chelsea. Joe Allen good enough to replace Lucas while 2 wins in 2 is good when Luis Suarez is back we will be even better YNWA

  • Bill says:

    Well said, I have myself been voicing your concerns and unfortunately we are unlikely to bring in one top signing never mind the four we need, You forgot we have lost not one but three keepers this year with only one replacement. And jones fills me with anything but confidence, more like dread.

    FSG with failure to back BR in bringing Willian have sent a message out that they want success on the cheap, selling Downing also supports that fact, he had made good progress but they want the wage bill down, Downings wages will pay for two cheaper players.

  • Willie says:

    Sustainable progress?

  • innocent ogbonnaya says:

    3 signings as u said.cover 2 Lucas,left sided attacker n a central defender.But shd Suarez leaves that makes it 4 (his replacement).Here I sugest,in suport of ur proposition against marquee signing,Arda Turan or Capel,Toby or Ilori n a an athletic yet calculative cover 4 Lucas.

  • gio says:

    Some of these comments hahahaha Juan Mata??? What are you smoking!!! I think a cb and LW is our biggest need as everyone knows but we have to be realistic. It might not happen overnight since we don’t have sugardaddys to bankroll all our transfer but I feel this Dortmund approach to running the club with prove a success in the end. Buy young and produce our own stars

  • Ray says:

    Aspas looks very average , and Alberto is one for the future so we won’t benefit from him this season or next

  • U2LfCFan says:

    I like BR’s signings to date, the ones we lost like Dempsey and Siggurdson didn’t do much for Spurs, though was very disappointed in losing Willian

    I still think we will get a “marquee player” before end of window

  • Raam says:

    Dont think J.Mourinho will let Mata go just like that. Especially to Liverpool. Lets be realistic in what we’re hoping for. Even when Willian sircus was debated,some of us knew it wont happen simply because FSG didnt even went beyond £22m for the Armenian who was obviously our prime target. So to think that FSG would release £30m for Willian is too naive.. As for these last 8days i’m just crossing my fingers toes and even my legs, BR can find someone similar like Coutinho,Sturridge and Kolo. At least till we capture CL spot.

  • allaboutanfield says:

    Let’s all be realistic here. FSG will never spend big money on one player again. We know who wasted 100 million pounds on some deadwood players. As a result FSG is desperately trying to reduce the wage bill. We just have to make do with what we have and hope for the best.

    • FSG Out says:

      They already recouped most of the money, 50m for Torres, 15m for Meireles, 6m for Babel, these three players alone brought in 71m. Stop making excuses for FSG. If they dont want to spend then they can sell up and go.

  • Max says:

    A marquee signing will be announced on friday to boost the players for united game.

  • pino pino says:

    fsg is a real shame,deceiving us with the word marquee,as for aspas very average,and why does rodgers continue to expose our midfield by playing hendo on the wing and playing average aspas who cannot even run,i dont understand rodgers experiments simple y.n.w.a

    • Mattie says:

      We have won two games out of two with Aspas and Henderson starting. Keep your negativity to yourself until it actually makes sense. Rodgers has been bang on in the opening two games tactically so your comments are strange.

      • paullfc76 says:

        I agree, I believe Rodgers seems to be finding his feet now, the only thing I would say he did wrong on Saturday was when he Bought Aspas off for Cissokho, it was a tactical change as well hoping to defend the 1-0 lead, but I thought it invited Villa on to us and before that we seemed to be on the constant attack, best form of defence is attack, but besides that, Rodgers has been spot on with his tactics so far.

      • FSG Out says:

        Scraping through against two relegation teams makes us world beaters now? LOL! Bring on Barca and Bayern then!

  • pino pino says:

    ,deceiving us with the word marquee,as for aspas very average,and why does rodgers continue to expose our midfield by playing hendo on the wing and playing average aspas who cannot even run,i dont understand rodgers experiments simple y.n.w.a

  • paullfc76 says:

    Just want to say how well we have started the season, Sturridge has really surprised me with his goals and all round play, amazingly if he carries on the way he is scoring so freely he could well match Torres and Fowlers 100 goals in very quick time, I have criticised Rodgers in the past but he is also getting it together now, thought the Substitution of Cissokho for Aspas invited Villa to attack us which they did, but all in all he is doing a good job at this moment in time, esp considering the lack of funds from FSG.

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