One of the obvious consequences of failing to qualify for the Europa League last season is that it means Kenny Dalglish and Damien Comolli will have to work harder to bring the best players to Anfield this summer. As footballers have become more and more short-sighted over the years, even one season without European football is almost unthinkable for elite players (irrespective of the fact that they would be joining one the most exciting projects in world football by joining the Reds this summer). All this may add up to Liverpool not being able to attract a ‘marquee’ signing this summer. However, it will not necessarily mean that we cannot still be confident of a top four finish this season.
When FSG came to Anfield, one of their first observations was that our wage bill is not reflected in the quality of our squad. Most Liverpool fans agreed. It is often said that the big teams can be judged by looking at who they can bring on in the middle of a game to unlock a defence or ensure they don’t concede an equalizer. When you look around at the teams that qualified for the Champions League last season, their benches regularly included established players such as Dimitar Berbatov, Park-Ji Sung, Nicolas Anelka, Andrei Arshavin, Adam Johnson etc etc. Meanwhile, the only player that could be described as ‘established’ from our bench was Joe Cole, a player who has suffered with form and injury and who seems to personify FSG’s observation.
Even Tottenham, the team that finished above us in fifth, boasted Defoe and Pavlyuchenko on their bench for their recent trip to Anfield. More than anything else, this gives Managers such as Harry Redknapp (not to mention Messrs Ferguson, Wenger, Villas-Boas and Mancini) more options than those currently open to Dalglish. This lack of options is why Rafa, Roy and Kenny have not been able to finish above 6th over the last two seasons. The managers above them have had far more attacking options open to them.
Although making a £40m breathtaking signing (a ‘Torres for 2011’ if you will) would be great for the hopes of the fans, it will only give Dalglish one more option than he already has. Instead therefore, signing players such as Henderson, Downing and Adams – all players who can play in more that one position – will open a plethora of options for Dalglish going into the 2011/2012 season and equip us with the depth that at least Spurs and Arsenal have at their disposal. Kenny would have the players to be able to switch between 4-4-2, 4-4-2(diamond) and 4-3-3 with ease. And all for the same price as a ‘Torres for 2011’.
The players we have been linked to this summer may not have the pulses racing in the way of those linked to the likes of Wesley Sneijder and Alexis Sanchez, but this is the time for the sort of calculated spending that will take us above the likes of Tottenham and Arsenal next season. It is not the time for putting all of our eggs in one basket in the hope that one player will be able to win us the league at FSG’s first attempt.
Once European football has been achieved next season, the players who are not considering coming to Anfield this summer will do anything to join King Kenny’s Red Revolution. That will be the time to look for the marquee signings.
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I rate Arda Turan better player than Adam or downing, moreover he is Red Supporter…bring him in exchange with Aquilani..
I still want Aguero 😛
The side lacks world class talent marquee signings are a must.
The other thing being the club were able to get Suarez so i do not find no champions league as an excuse.
If wage bill is a major factor the how can it be a good thing to be paying the evident talent of Aquilani who we already have AND adding Adam who is quite mediocre to the accounts? Doesn’t make economic sense. If Aqui is staying there is no need to increase the wage bill with Adam!
Kenny is stuck in the 80s!
The author do not know about the Financial Fair Play kicking in from next season. Any club will have to use only funds generated by itself to buy players and spend on wages etc. The Abramovich and Sheiks money cannot be used directly to buy players. That is why all the pundits are expecting a really hot transfer window. This can be viewed as the last market where teams will be overspending. We should be getting all the important and expenseive players during this market, else it will be difficult to compete with the likes of Man U, Arsenal etc in terms of transfer budget.
Fully agree. This article is based on a downbeat premise that it is better to buy some “squad players” because we have no chance of attracting top quality players. RUBBISH!! Not true we cannot attract players because we are not in the CL – explain how we managed to attract Suarez then?? Would love a team with the equivelent of someone at Suarez’s level in every position! Also, there is little difference in cost between buying Adam or Honda, Downing or Mata!
Thanks for the comments guys!
I don’t think that we wont be able to get a £20m player who united, city, chelsea are NOT also after (i.e. Suarez in january). I just think the lure of the champions league is too much for us to get the £30-40m players who those teams ARE also after this summer. Don’t get me wrong, i would love for us to sign 1 or 2 £30m+ players, i was just trying to say that i’d prefer the budget (whatever it is) to be spent on 3 or 4 £15m – 20m players instead to add overall depth.
Regarding the financial fair play rules, many commentators also agree that they will only have the effect of lowering how much clubs spend. Meaning the same players will still be bought and sold, just for lower sums. A return to the pre-abromovich era, if you will.
Chambers – I agree with you in that having too many players wont be good for the wage bill, but that’s why I think kenny will be shifting aqua one way or another this summer (perhaps on loan again). It’s a shame as he showed sparks of what he can do, but has been unlucky with injuries and the fact that his arrival co-incided with a tough season for us.
I Agree whith u man all u said is true.
having to many crap players(players who are earning money for little or naff all contribution) are very very bad for any buisness – company – clubs resources and thats the buttom line?
Liverpool have a huge issue with so many average and very very poor money grabbing players making the wage bill far to high, while the wage bill not providing the worth and value for it being that high in the 1st place!.
out must go these players who are just eating up great resource that we could put to bettter use?
cole, poulsen, konchesky, degen, darby, insua, brad jones, el zhar, ngog, aquilani, and maybe even aurelio and agger if they just cant get fit and stay fit.
i we can flog the above players maybe not auerlio and agger then we are in buisness, we will then save around 15- 20 mill per year and give that money to other means.
I would love to see us play 4-3-3 with the team been
Reina
Johnson Carragher Dann Cissokho
Gerrard Lucas Adam
Suarez Carroll Mata
Subs
A new keeper
Kelly Skrtel Agger Warnock
Henderson Spearing Meireles
Kuyt Wickham Chu-Young
Then the young lads can come in from there
@wc: do u realise we can only field a maximum of 7 subs???
Yes but u need more than just 7 subs
If LFC signs Santi Cazorla (LW), Juan Mata (RW), Aly Cissokho (LB), Dejan Lovren (CB), a left footed defensive midfielder (Matiudi or Veloso), Jefferen and O’Connor or Chu-Young Park and clean house by selling Konchesky, Poulsen, J. Cole, Degen, El Zahr, Jovanovich and Ngong this team will win trophies left, right and center! Come On Reds! Let’s kick some a..!!! YNWA
Marquee means ‘buzz’ and newsworthy, not effective for a season. We want a team, one capable of top 4 in the PL. Marquee sounds like ‘press worthy, whether PL material or not’. I’m not interested, judge us season end. Jd