When a new manager arrives at a club, there is generally a new-found sense of hope that accompanies him. The promise of a new start, of new players and of a different style of play brings great excitement to fans.
Arguably none more so than the arrival of Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool in January. With the backing of American businessman John Henry, Dalglish has begun to shape the squad in his image. Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez arrived in January, with Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing having followed in the summer.
Kenny Dalglish’s transfer dealings were always going to be scrutinised by fans and the media as he looked to rebuild confidence in a team that appears to have been dented over the past two seasons. Some have suggested that his transfer policy is likely to lead to the Anfield club playing an unattractive, results-based game this season. But will it be a case of substance over style this season?
It is clear to see from Dalglish’s purchases that he has targeted players who will not be afraid to get stuck in and pull the team forward. Under Roy Hodgson, the team appeared to lack the ability to put in the hard graft, which resulted in lacklustre displays and lost points. Jordan Henderson signing for the club raised a few eyebrows, mainly due to the £20 million price tag that he carried, but he is without a doubt a player who is willing to put in the hard yards for the sake of the team. Jay Spearing managed a similar job towards the end of the last season, and his performances received the praise they deserved as a result. Having two players that can play this role will be important for the squad, allowing other players to fully express themselves on the pitch.
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Whats your overall point?
This is complete b*****ks. We are building a perfectly balanced team well capable of mixing their style of play unlike previous teams such as Houllier or Hodgson and to a lesser extent Raffa. We now have a genuine winger in Downing and lots of players who can pass the ball such as Aqualani, Mereles, Adam & Gerrard. There is then the option of playing it long to Andy Caroll but that doesn’t mean we are going to stick to one style and one tactic. We also have a very creative fullback in Glen Johnson. With this team we can play total football and keep the opposition guessing. All we need is a first choice left back as we have plenty of younger players who can cover that position as back up to say Enrique or whoever comes in.