One of the biggest bug-bears among some Reds at the moment is the fact that Liverpool are seemingly targeting purely English players who are overpriced and overrated. While there maybe a case for some being overrated and perhaps overpriced, the fact is the Reds will have to go over the valuation for some players to improve their squad. People may counter this by saying that there are clearly better, cheaper alternatives abroad and they cite players such as Eden Hazard, Juan Mata, Ever Banega and others as players who should be targeted.
The problem is, although I would love to see these players ply their trade at Anfield, I do not feel they can be realistic targets whilst the Reds are not in the Champions League. For sure we have to be ambitious, and the fact that we are Liverpool Football Club will hold some sway in the transfer market, but many of these players mentioned as alternatives to our current targets will be playing in the Champions League next season. It is not necessarily true they will want to move to LFC in the first place, and this is why to some extent I believe there is a domestic focus to our summer transfer policy. Below I have listed our targets and perhaps why foreign talents were not targeted instead.
Jordan Henderson – An alternative could have been Ever Banega, but he continues to play pretty regularly for Valencia. The Spanish club finished third last season, and will be in the Champions League next season. For me, although Banega may have been cheaper than Henderson, it is quite apparent that the former Sunderland player would have more motivation to move from the Black Cats, who finished 10th last season.
Charlie Adam – An obvious alternative to Adam would have been to Eden Hazard. He is however being chased by Real Madrid, Barcelona and Arsenal, all clubs which are in the Champions League, and his current side Lille are also playing in the CL next campaign. Adam was relegated with Blackpool, the Reds are certainly a more attractive option for him than Hazard.
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hazard is the obvious alternative to adam?? not sure i’d agree with that, completely different players….but the overall argument is cogent.
remember what rafa said : i’ll make him a striker.gerrard is second striker…yeeha.thats why charlie is in
Some people keep bringing the ‘Champions League’ league into it, but WHY?, what about SUAREZ than?, if he was as negative as yourself he would not have signed now would he?.
We have more than enough english players for now and, if Dalglish is trying to go back to how it was in the 70’s and 80’s, than we are in for a rough ride, that way, will NOT work now!, you only have to look at the England team, no technical awareness at all!!!.
Absolutely right. We seem to be over doing it on the English players philosophy. We may be in champions League next year with hardly one or two international quality players. Will we start selling a number of youngsters signed this year? European football requires that kind of experience. This policy apart from being financially painful seems to ignore long term developments. I hope we end up buying at least two more top quality foreign players. It is also important in helping that minority of foreign players settle better as a group instead feeling depressed and isolated like Tevez is doing in Manchester.
Agree,couldn’t have put it better myself.
We haven’t bought any players from overseas yet because the transfer window for most european countries does not open until July! Wait til July and see who we sign then
I really all these guys are not aware that the European window does not open until July…hehe!!! I agree with you Derby, that’s when we will see some european talent come in.
This crap about liverpool being unable to attract high class players because we are not in champions league is ridiculous!
How did the likes of chelsea and man city do to attract world class players? as far as I know they were not in champions league before being bought by billionaires roman abramovich and sheik mansour…
By overpaying players big time. Offering them 150k a week. Thats not Liverpool policy
re Jack 7.44pm: There were precious few Englishmen in the Liverpool teams that Kenny played in or managed. He wants the best and come July we will sign some top foreign players
I reckon you’re right. A lot of fans have been saying we need to sign ‘world class’ and ‘elite’ players, but the unfortuante truth is that they probably won’t come to us, for the reasons you mention. Hopefully we can still sign good players, and finish the top 4 this season, so we can then go out and get the world class players next summer, but we have to be realistic with the type of players we expect to sign this summer.
do you get paid for that crap, email me and i will tell you about football and players etc.
this is a joke
juan mata will be a liverpool player im sure of it he might also buy downing mata is away at the u21s i believe liverpool are still talkin to valencia just keepin quiet till they know hes in the bag that wont happen till hes back from playin at the u21s
And this is why I keep saying we wont challenge for the title next season. Top 4 yes, but not the title.
Come on Mike…the season is not even in sight and you’re putting the negative spin…thats not the Liverpool way. Have some faith in Kenny.
Come on guys we all know that if all LFC went public on all our transfer targets then we would have the vultures circling above. Look at Jones, now Gervinho, etc … have some faith in Dalglish and Comolli. I am positive there will be some surprises coming our way from Europe – let’s sit back and wait till July – now start striking of the days on your calenders.
we are simply trying to snap up the english players we can. once the european transfer window is lifted in july then we will see some forieners coming in. we are trying to do buisnes early with the english players as we can sign them now!
just a bit of history for the people who say that kenny is staunch on english. the 86 cup final, liverpool had 1 english player and he was on the bench!!
the main thing is we want players who want to pull on the red shirt and play with pride. i’m not interested in players who simply want to join lfc because we are in the champs league. there are to many mercenary’s in the game and it makes me sick.
My question in with all these midfield players:
Gerard, Lucas, Merelis, Spearing, Henderson, Adam (if it happens), Maxi, Kuyt, and if he buys 2 wingers…where are they going to play.
Anfield.
Except for away games obviously.
On the wings 😉
Red Sky, our problem for a long time now (20 odd years) has been a lack of depth and obvious talent – now we can challenge without the injury woes that have dealt us some and shocking blows in the past.
We need at least 2 players for each position. Some players will get injured so we don’t want to be having the reserves like last season. We need to have a squad big enough for the league FA cup and the carling cup. We need creativity in players we sign, someone who can take a game and change it. Suarez & Stevie G can’t always be relied on to change games. N’zobia will be a good signing along with Mata.
Charles N’Zogbia is available for 9m and is a homegrown player but despite this, Kenny still wants to sign an average Stewart Downing for 20m.
good point dixie. Its not just english for the sake of it anyway Its players used to the league so they bed in and dont need 6 months to settle. Kennys not pig headed or stupid, if theres better in europe he’ll go after them when the markets open
ive got a funny feeling liverpool will 4 3 3
reina
RB CB CB LB (range of players to play here)
RM DM LM (henderson, adam, gerrard, lucas, meriles, shelvey)
RF CF LF
(maxi, saurez, carrol, gerrard, meriles, kuyt, new CF)
as you can see kenny will multiple players across multiple positions
There is no funny feeling here.. Everybody else dont know whats going on here!
Kenny is going for English or Home Grown players only because of the EU cup policy. Now that Liverpool are Not in any continental competition, that does not hold stead.
But then again, they will be come the season after this. And looking at the Liverpool squad, Kenny will want players who have already gelled and can play the beautiful football, Liverpool way, rather than buy then and hope they gel!
The current squad has too many foreign players. 8 Home grown-based in England (to be registered) and 4 Home grown-groomed by LFC (to be registered)… as simple as that!
@Shaka: hey, hw many trophies have u won? do u attend ur press conferences or send ur assistant manager? did u really sell Torres?? what year are u???
don’t f***ing act like u dont no what am talkin about.
I think Comolli and FSC are adopting a two-pronged strategy:
1. “Shock and awe” as some observers have put it, i.e. acting fast and decisively without looking at the pennies to bring in recognised targets; and
2. Looking to to unearth some hidden gems, whether in English or foreign football (although most likely outside England and probably outside Europe).
Can anybody name me any top British players that change their club just for champions league football only?
Thought not. I can name you lots of foreign players that do/have though!
Liverpool have for too long bought second rate players due to financial restrictions! I don’t care how much the player costs as long as you’re paying for your first target at that position.
If you study Dalglish when he originally got the Liverpool managers job in the 80s his first move was to get rid of the old guard (Alan Kennedy and Phil Neal) and buy young hungry British players.