Rodgers Looking For ‘Goal-den’ Midfield Formula

IT’S been quite a week for Liverpool Football Club.

In what was easily the busiest period of the summer so far there was movement both in and out of Anfield as Italian international striker Fabio Borini become Brendan Rodgers first summer signing and Argentinean Maxi Rodriguez followed fellow Anfield icon Dirk Kuyt out of the club by returning to his native Argentina with former club Newell’s old boys.

With the blink of an eye Liverpool’s goal threat from midfield now looks considerably weaker with both players possessing a knack of chipping in with their fare share of crucial goals.

The now former Liverpool pair scored almost 50% of the goals from midfield during last season’s disappointing campaign and new boss Brendan Rodgers now faces a tough task replacing both players, particularly in terms of goals per game return.

Despite losing both players, the return of Joe Cole, Alberto Aquilani, and Dani Pacheco along with the timely return of influential Brazilian Lucas the Reds midfield looks to have an embarrassment of numbers, if not riches, amongst it. Add captain Steven Gerrard, Henderson, Bellamy, Downing, Adam, Spearing and Shelvey to that trio along with brilliant youngsters Raheem Sterling and Suso, then Rodgers will certainly have a selection headache or two this season regardless of his choice of formation.

The jury is very much still out on whether or not Rodgers will in fact give players like Cole, Pacheco and Aquilani another chance to cement a place in the Ulster man’s first Liverpool squad. It’s difficult to see how all three will be involved come August, with former Chelsea man Joe Cole the most likely to be part of the first team picture.

Whatever happens over the next few weeks one thing that is extremely unlikely is Rodgers beginning the season with all of the 13 mentioned players. According to widespread newspaper reports Rodgers will make 2 more additions to the Reds midfield, with players like Clint Dempsey, Joe Allen and Gaston Ramirez all heavily linked with a switch to Anfield since the start this summer.

If the recruitment does happen as expected then that would leave 15 players vying for 5, 4 or 3 midfield positions depending on the choice of formation that Rodgers adopts during his debut season.

The most likely outcome is that the number will be cut down to 10 players, 2 players for each position with wide players, holding midfielders, central midfielders and attacking midfielders the 4 categories.

Brendan Rodgers will no doubt use the current tour in North America to run the rule over the current crop and decide on which of the 15 mentioned players will form part of next season’s first team squad. Club captain Steven Gerrard and Lucas are certain to be part of the squad. Jonjo Shelvey will also be included after just committing to a new long term contract. Being the only recognised wide player at the club Stewart Downing will get a chance to improve on his disappointing debut season and Jordan Henderson will also figure after Rodgers recent glowing recommendation.

Starlets Suso and Sterling will form part of the squad unless Rodgers views a loan move to a Premier League club that will offer more game time and development opportunities as a better option for the youngsters. This could work for Liverpool in a similar fashion to Jack Wilshire’s season at Bolton.
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Jay Spearing appears to be a Rodgers style player and could easily fill the Joe Allen type role for the reds if the Reds fail to prize Swansea’s crown jewels away from the Liberty Stadium. With Rodgers recently describing Spearing as having the heart and soul of the club inside him it’s difficult to see young Jay being moved on.

That leaves another two to four places up for grabs. Logic tells us that at least two if not three places will be used to cover wide positions, particularly given Rodgers reliance on pacey, direct wingers during his time at Swansea. If, and it would be a big if, that at the tender age of 17 Raheem Sterling is one of those three then former England international Joe Cole will almost certainly be given the nod to claim one of the other two places given the level of experience that the former England international possesses.

The usual summer dilemma will almost certainly be what do with Italian Alberto Aquilani. Having spent the last two seasons on loan with Serie A giants Juventus and AC Milan the former Roma man has undoubted talent but despite a solid spell with both clubs neither Juve or Milan decided to take the option of a permanent transfer. The likelihood is that Aquilani will be sold, with clubs from all corners of Europe likely to be interested in the now seriously deflated price that Liverpool can demand.

Despite barely half a season at Anfield Charlie Adam could find himself surplus to requirements under Rodgers despite being one of only four senior players at the club who are naturally left footed; indeed balance of the side may work in Adam’s favour and give the Scottish international a lifeline in which to save his Liverpool career.

Finally that leaves young Spaniard Dani Pacheco and Great Britain Olympic international Craig Bellamy. At present Bellamy is the one alternative to Stewart Downing on the flanks. It may just be that unless the cheque book is opened up for reinforcements then Bellamy’s ability to play as a winger in 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 but also as a striker in 4-3-3 could well prove enough to keep the fiery Welshman at the club for the coming season.

Former Barcelona youth player Dani Pacheco has never really been given a chance at Anfield despite a fantastic reputation gained from some sensational reserve team performances. The talented Spaniard was loaned to Atletico Madrid last summer who bizarrely loaned him to fellow La Liga side Rayo Vallecano. Pacheco did have a short and successful spell in the Championship with Norwich City, and a similar spell in the Premier League with the likes of Reading, Norwich, Swansea or Villa will help to establish whether the young man has a future in the Premier League with Liverpool.

Games against Toronto, Roma and Tottenham will provide some clarity for Brendan Rodgers in his search for the magic midfield formula. With new arrivals expected and players playing for their Anfield careers, the tour of North America will be nothing short of intriguing. The road to the Hawthorns has commenced and the 35 strong squad will be giving every inch of effort and talent in the hope of being involved on the 19th of August.

YNWA!

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