The second part of Roy Hodgson’s statement about only bringing in players who can make a “big difference” to the side also looks to be towing the party line which Henry and FSG have so far set out in their public statements. No one expects them to spend big cash like Manchester City but if the Reds are to compete again at the top of the table, they will need to improve the squad in the short term, as well as the long term, as otherwise players currently playing could also be disillusioned with the club’s plight. Some essential areas of the team need to be strengthened in January, such as left back, striker and wide midfield positions, but no money will be wasted, rushing to buy players who might not improve the team all that much.
Certainly nobody would like to see the furious rush of transfers that characterised Liverpool’s last transfer window where Javier Mascherano acrimoniously departed for Barcelona while Paul Konchesky was brought into fill the vacant left back spot at the last minute. At that point, Roy had not particularly planned who his transfer targets would be and allowed Managing Director Christian Purslow to make decisions for him, including partly the signing of Joe Cole. For that reason Roy signed players “he knew” including Christian Poulsen and Konchesky, both of which have since proven to be mistakes.
No doubt FSG will not want to make the same mistake during this transfer window, and hopefully the “consensus” decision making over transfers will help Roy make the right decisions, and to sign players he might have otherwise turned down. Damien Comolli, Eduardo Macia and the scouting team have a big responsibility in this transfer window not only to find the right players at the right price but also ensure that Roy doesn’t make the same mistake in regards to signings. It’s a safety net that the Reds desperately need as they have to buy a standard of player that can move this side up the table, as if by the end of the season, the Reds are again without Champions League football, what will the senior players be thinking?
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Not sure if club structure will make Roy a shrewder dealer. The man’s been inept for 35 years and will continue to be. But at least it’ll result in better deals as a result of giving Roy less power.
Considering we have Hodgson as our manager and his decisions to bring Konchesky and Poulsen to the club, I’m more than happy with the appointment of Comolli. Roy will no doubt be looking at tried and tested Premier League players like Charlton Cole, Wayne Bridge, Shaun Wright-Philips and David Bentley. These are average players and are not the ones to improve our current squad. To be in Roy’s team, you have to be either British, 29/30 years of age or you’ve played under Roy before.
Although NESV have not made any big changes, they’ve done the right thing by appointing Comolli. Surely Roy will be given less power in the transfer market and will largely be advised by Comolli as to who to buy. I for one hope NESV make the next change by sacking Roy and appoint a new manager who’s actually capable of managing a club like Liverpool.
Put Phil Thompson as manager, he knows the club inside and out. In Houllier’s absence, he organised the team superbly and got them playing lovely football eg the 6-0 away win at Ipswich. Their is no point in bringing in another manager who has never had any connection to Liverpool.
We are now the equivalent of 13 points behind Man Utd after their draw at Birmingham. In 1989 Liverpool pulled back a 13 point deficit on Arsenal. Instead of concentrating on rubbish like FA Cup and the Europa League, Liverpool should push on and win the Premier League this season.
Lovin your optimsm kenny lad and thommo would be a good man to bring in temporarily if your namesake can’t be persuaded. We have underachieved massively under uncle werthers and until he’s gone any talk of titles, or even champions league, is pointless because the guy just doesn’t have it or even get it…the media blindspot about the man is baffling. I’ve rarely seen ANY tv or print journo point out the bleedin obvious re. roy. He would appear to be beyond wepwoach…despite throwing players under the bus, making rafa a scapegoat for his failings, inviting transfer speculation on nando and pepe and setting up the proudest and most successful club in the land to play as cynically and defensively-minded my first senior club in the third division of a provincial league in ireland.
Kenny, you’ve been copy and pasting that same passage on the last 4 or 5 articles. I do admire your optimism, but do you really think Liverpool can win the league this season with the current manager and our current position in the table (12th with 22 points, 16 behind leaders Manutd)? Getting fourth place is a more realistic target and I would not be surprised at all if we finish out of the top six.
The best deal Woy scratch me chin & rub me gob Hodgson could make is to do one down the M6 and never come back.
Comollies record does not inspire me completely as Bale and Modric were chased by plenty of clubs and Saint Etienne were not too impressed.
The truth be known he has got to be better than Roy and maybe the scouts can unearth some real gems on the cheap.