Wingers and left backs have been Liverpool Football Club’s two problem positions for a long time now. The departure of John Arne Riise and the constant injuries to Fabio Aurelio have left the Reds floundering to find a replacement in the left sided full back position. Andrea Dossena, Emiliano Insua, Daniel Agger, Paul Konchesky and most recently Glen Johnson have all tried to fill Liverpool’s most problematic area. As for wingers, most Reds fans would have to think back to Steve McManaman and John Barnes to think of a genuine out and out winger who could trouble opposition full backs with their speed and skill.
With the arrival of Fenway Sports Group back in October though, the new American owners vowed to rebuild the club and with their actions in the January transfer window, most Reds believe that they are good as their word. Some may say that there was only a net spend of about £2m, but according to Kenny Dalglish, even before the sale of Fernando Torres, there was a sizeable sum available to invest in new players. In fact he stated that the owners were disappointed that they couldn’t get more players in during the transfer window. So it looks like then we can expect some more movement in regards to transfers in the summer. So it is clear that FSG are not poor but I think, with their Moneyball strategy in play, they will be keen to get value for money for the players they bring in.
INTRODUCING WINDOWS PHONE 7! . . .
The most highly touted players who have been linked with Liverpool’s problem positions of left back and on the wings are certainly pretty pricey. Benfica’s 22 year old left back Fabio Coentrao is valued between £25-30m while wingers such as Ashley Young (£18-20m) and Charles N’Zogbia (£15m I’d suggest as Newcastle has a £12m bid rejected) looked to be priced quite beyond their current contract situations and actual value. There are however a couple of cheaper alternatives who could fit the positions being sought just as nicely.
Taye Taiwo (25 year old Marseille left back) – The Nigerian international is only three years older than Coentrao and as his contract runs out in the summer, he is available on a free transfer. Formerly Marseille’s captain and has 40 caps for Nigeria already, Taiwo has a great deal of experience. Although Coentrao is certainly a lot more exciting in the forward areas, Taiwo is definitely more solid defensively and can also be a threat in the final third too with a blistering long range shot on him. A price difference of perhaps £25m, Taiwo could be the way to go for the Reds.
Ibrahim Afellay (24 year old Barcelona winger) – The Dutch international only arrived from PSV Eindhoven in January but has yet to start a league match and reports emanating from Spain suggest that he is concerned a lack of first team football will hamper his international ambitions. Afellay was only signed for €3million due to his contract expiring in the summer and although he now has a contract extending to 2015 with Barca, it is unlikely they will hold out for the £15-20m demanded by the likes of Aston Villa for Ashley Young or Wigan for N’Zogbia. Barca may be happy to make a £5-10m profit on their investment, and for a player who has pace, trickery and 31 international caps, the risks to signing him are very low.
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Mavinga for leftback and fans need to stop pressuring the club to spend ridiculous sums of money on players like Coentrao.
i agree, i wud prefer taiwo over coentrao…
but i wud get affelay only if we cant get hazard or young…
Kenny are you Mavinga’s dad or something? I would guess he’s behind Danny Wilson at the moment. Could he be good? Yes but get real if you think he’s going to be one of our 2 left backs next season you are deluded, it won’t happen. In times gone by we may well have given him a chance but with the transfer window now meaning you’re stuck with what you’ve got whilst it;s shut there is no way we will take that chance. Coentrao may or may not come (I can’t see it unless Mourinho is our manager, which I can see happening although I’d much rather have Kenny stay in place), Taiwo may or may not come but either you have little understanding of how football works or you are deluded over Mavinga’s current abilities. Let’s not forget our last left/ centre back from France Djimi Traore. He was meant to be something really special and let’s leave it by saying he wasn’t and he’d never make a best ever Liverpool team.
Would you Andy prefer the club scrap the whole youth setup because all the fans who say the club needs to spend tens of millions in the summer on players such as Coentrao clearly are only pretending to support NESV’s desire to make the youth system produce a constant and steady stream of players to play for the first team in the Premier league. So because Mavinga is French like Traore was you feel he has no right to be given a chance in the firstteam. Mavinga played for the French team that won the U-19 European championship last summer despite according to you Andy not being up to scratch.
@kenny- look mate,i can see that you concern more on the financial of the club rather than anything else.Do you think carroll worth the 35 million??
Owner or the real KENNY was happy w/that so why are you so fuss bout the club money???
As you can see all the FANS would love to see the youth progress to the first team but its up to the manager to give the word GO otherwise they’re gonna rot in the reserved.
I’m sure all LFC fans would wishes we’re financially stabil and to have a youth system like BARCA have and i believed we’re on the way there, Have faith with the club and fans aswell kenny 🙂
Afellay is not on. They won’t let him go for a small amount and it will lead to a protracted negotiation we can well do without. This summer we need clear defined targets and rapid solutions. No more these lengthy drawn out talks getting only to last day panic buying!
why does everyone have a problem with lengthy lengthy transfer negotiations..just because the fans are impatient doesn’t mean the owners have to be too..i think its a smart way to get a player without overpaying, its a part of negotiating and as long as we get the player in the end, i dont knw why it shud be a problem…
in jan, even after the long drawn out talks, we got suarez with time to spare..the panic buying on the deadline day was because the traitor left us with little or no time to replace him…
In response to red33,1.8 million net spend in January plus a reduction in the wage bill which I applaud on both counts from NESV.
Forget about signing Coentrao for 20 or 25m. He’s good but he’s way overpriced and overrated. Bring in Taiwo on the free and our left back problem will be solved. The guy’s strong and solid defensively and has a decent left foot. Fabio Aurelio is 31 and past it and plays like 15 games a season because of his injury problems and should be sold in the summer. Mavinga should be promoted to the first team and cover at left back. The kid’s on loan in Belgium right now so he’d be back with some valuable first team experience.
As for wingers, N’Zogbia should be bought for 10-15m. Might seem a bit overpriced but the guy’s still only 23 and could only get better. Andy Carroll needs to be supplied with crosses and only a natural winger can provide him with that.
I have a feeling that, most English supporters possess a negative (underestimating) attitude to French players. Comparing the performence of French national team, French EPL players & French youth teams in Europe or world stage, I think it’s from inferiority complex.
France has a far better youth system than England & anyone playing regularly for French national youth system in different age group must be talented enough to invest on. Wheather Mavinga ‘ll be a success (I am benchmarking Evra, Clishi, Sagna, Galas, Desaily or Blanc; not trarore) or not is a different story, but he is worth considering a second choice after Taiwo, rather spending £25 mn on Contaro.
I would rather go for Taiwo & Santon with Mavinga compiting for the long term successor. At 26 Taiwo ‘ll be at his peak for next 4-5 years by then Mavinga or Santon ‘ll be ready.
We ‘ll have to develop a proper club system, not a pet of any sugar daddy.
There is no way i would be wasting 20 to 25 million on Contreao when they could get Taiwo on a free.
The money saved there could be spent on 2 quality wingers.
Those players will not be coming unless the club takes some shortcuts, i estimate the club could have 30 to 40 mill to spend before sales.
You’re an old fart? Please, I’ve had my AARP card for seven years now