DURING the Premier League thrashing of Swansea I pondered the contrasting fortunes of Brendan Rodgers buys. The Reds boss has been getting hammered lately for strategy, selection, tactics and most of all, his judgement in the transfer market.
His primary focus has been on youth; both bringing them through and acquiring young, promising talent. New signings have been brought into a world of pressure; the demands and spotlight are much greater than at your average club. They enter the dressing room to find clothes pegs belonging to household names and luminaries of the game. Its rise or fall time; ego tells them they have earned the right to be there, doubt makes them feel like an imposter.
In a time when nobody can be happy when we look at the table, results have been a mixed bag and so have performances. This makes it a good time for our new recruits to stake a claim in an unsettled side. Some have thrived while others have a lot to do to win the hearts of the Kop faithful.
Fabio Borini arrived with little fan fare. A decent and promising roving forward came with a mandate which suggested he would constantly press and probe, pushing the side forward and creating space for Luis Suarez while contributing to a forward line which was wasteful last term. A nomad in his young career, barely spending more than a year wherever he goes he strikes me as a lonely figure just wanting to be loved and accepted in his environment. Big hopes and a big price tag encouraged Rodgers to deem the elephant in the room – Andy Carroll – surplus to requirements.
Despite the fact that, along with Suarez and rookie Adam Morgan, they were the only senior forwards at the club, he has flattered to deceive with a solitary goal against FC Gomel in the Europa League to show for his efforts. Injuries haven’t helped matters. A broken foot in October followed by his scream of anguish which followed the dislocated shoulder he suffered last Sunday. At least he attempted to cheer himself up with a trip to McDonalds which he shared with us via Twitter. A lost boy in need of a change of fortune.
It has become more and more apparent that Oussama Assaidi has been procured as nothing more than a back-up player, a meagre 3 league appearances will testify to this. While the African Cup of Nations posed a headache for a host of European clubs, the Moroccan was out there for some badly needed match practice. The renewed faith the manager has in Stewart Downing has been to the detriment of his chances. An odd eye catching run here and a shimmy and cross there is all we have seen of the wide man. Since his arrival we are none the wiser as to the quality of this player, one thing is for sure, he is not fancied by the management and he has so far not fitted into the Rodgers picture.
It is unclear as to what reasons he was signed as he is not particularly young at 24, perhaps it was just to make up the numbers – a baffling purchase. I would put Nuri Sahin in a similar bracket, used sparingly despite having a glowing reputation Europe-wide. I believe his problem was that at Borussia Dortmund, where he is a star, he was central to the way they played, the central figure in an effervescent side. At Liverpool, that man is Luis Suarez. After starting brightly he quickly faded and injuries took hold, as they did at Real Madrid. A fine player but unfortunately it didn’t work out for him and this happens sometimes in football.
I have discussed Joe Allen many times on the website, his pros and cons have been widely publicised. The Welshman is a long way from winning over the doubters who have multiplied in the last few months. Brendan Rodgers’ “eyes and ears on the pitch” has been taken out of the firing line recently. It remains to be seen how he will react to such a setback, with baying crowds on his back due to his form being sub-standard, he has found himself at the brunt of all that is wrong with the side at the moment. In the midst of the lowest ebb of his Anfield career, we will now learn more about his mental strength and his will to succeed at the club.
Our most recent and extravagant purchases have given us extra attacking zeal. Daniel Sturridge has surprised me not by his ability, but how quickly he has show telepathy with Suarez. His all round play has been superb but his instincts around the box have finally made us look like we may finish off the bits and pieces in and around the six yard box which he has proven already. We have missed him on the occasions he has been cup tied or injured. We also seem to play an extra five or ten yards up the pitch when he is tying up defenders with clever touches and movement. We have high hopes for him for seasons to come.
Philippe Coutinho has arrived with a glowing reputation, hotly tipped for a big future in the game this speedy dribbler and clever link man was close to perfection against Swansea, prodding, probing and scoring. He certainly is a young man with a big future but opinions need to be put in check until the end of the season after we have had a good look at him, but so far so good.
All in all, a mixed bag really. Disappointment, underachievement and hope are the underlining emotions I feel when I think of what these players have brought and may still bring to the squad. How they fit in attempting to reverse the clubs fortunes remain to be seen.
Comments welcome.
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Assaidi reminds me strongly of a you Ian Callaghan.
Ian Callaghan is a lovely nice man , and a LFC legend ., He doesn’t deserve shocking insults like that .
Behave yourself
He couldn’t lace Callaghan’s boots, he’s not a pimple on his backside.
The 4 summer signings were a complete and utter waste of 31m . Allen is probably the most useless negative player i have ever seen play for LFC , and is certainly a rival to Andy Carroll as the clubs biggest waste of money
Allen ,Borini , Assaidi and Sahin – none of them Liverpool class . Sturridge looks good buy . And its too early to talk about coutinho . So 4 disasters & 1 Good signing .
Rodgers has NOT been concentrating on youth , he played a few of them because he left himself short in september , since Enrique and Lucas have returned from injury and Sturridge signed, all the young guys have been dropped , so not doing a good job of them either
@Geoff
So you are trying to compensate KK’s howlers by comparing Allen & Donkey Carroll’s purchase. Grow up kid, people are not as idiot like you.
Fabio Borini is a fantastic forward in making, hampered by injury & the pace of English game, but within a year he ‘ll be perfect replacement for Suarez after 70mins. He is an Italian, I repeat Italian International & even if he doesn’t suit the English game, we can always recoup at least 80-90% of the investment, OK for Allen, it ‘ll be 10mn recoup, if he doesn’t fulfill his potential. Donkey Carroll is the biggest bluff of this millennium, within a year he has depreciated to 1/3 of his price & I see him going back to Championship on free transfer.
Try to go through Shahin’s CV before passing comments that make you even bigger idiot. He was the German League player of the season for Burushia Dortmund, I repeat Burushia Dortmund, the side winning back to back Bundes Liga ahead of Bayern; & then went to Real Madrid. It was unfortunate that he wasn’t played at his best position & he had to go back again at Dortmund, where he is again starting regularly.
BR is not playing the talented youth because of their level. Raheem Starling is massively over ratted, just like so many over hyped, over paid & over priced English garbage. Let Suso & Yasel get a bit stronger, BR ‘ll definitely play them.
BR had 1 average signing – Allen (at 22, he is home grown & can be a very good squad player for a decade at reasonable salary), 1 reasonable signing Borini & 3 brilliant signings Sturridge, Coutinho & Shahin; unfortunately he tried to justify Allen’s purchase & had to sacrifice Shahin. KK had so many disasters that we are even now struggling to off-load them & had he not make those howlers, BR would have got enough money to by 2/3 more real quality players.
Now you are talking rubbish .total delusion . Wake up man .your living in fantasy land if you think borini Will ever be any good . And Allen IS more useless than Carroll . Carroll contributed and scored vital goals etc – Allen contributes nothing – absolutely nothing. Your just being biased towards Brenda
Yes @M , the men in white coats will be around to get you soon
….haha , anyone thinking Borini could replace Suarez ….. lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol
sorry , thats the biggest laugh ive had all week
BR transfer policy has been WORSE than KD by a mile . And Allen is the worst waste of money ever . 15m for that lightweight wimp ? disgraceful
I think borini will be good he has had bad luck with injuries. As for Allen if u look when he was most effective he wasn’t playing the holding midfield role he played great against zenit along Lucas and assaidi is a wild card he only cost like 3 million so he was a gamble.
@ Daniel
& apart from Allen, I believe, each of them ‘ll have a higher resale value. If all 5 fulfills their potential, 31mn investment ‘ll be at least double in 2 years time. KK’s purchases were so poor that excluding Enrique his 5 purchases (Donkey, Clown, Henderson, Adam & Coates = 85/86mn) are already less than half the value within 1 year & we might have to run through Carroll & Downing’s contract (or buy out like Cole) because at that fee or salary no body ‘ll off-load them from LFC book.
Response to your mail just made my Sunday bitter, recalling those horror days.
You believe ? You are delusional . Total biased fool who believes all the bull Brenda trots out .wake up and stop being soooooo naive
Another thing with borini,Sturridge,Allen,coutinho we will be a be top 4 next season mark my words. Br needs to sure up defense we need more depth for next year
Rodgers blew 31m on pure dross in the summer , dramatically weakening our squad . Only a dummy would think them players were good enough for Liverpool . Thats what you get for hiring a championship manager
People need to stop expecting players to come in and light the epl up this is the toughest league in the world. A perfect example is Henderson n Allen they have both been played outta position when played in there right position they are good players. Also borini has been injuried and is still only 21yo
awwwwww , only 21 . 11m international thats what he is , but simply NOT good . Did Suarez or Sturridge need time ? NO …. because good players fit in straight away , rubbish players dont
@ Scouse Ed
You ‘ll understand what it needs to make Italian Cap at 20, the day England wins 4 World Cups or an Euro. Suarez is in a different league & that’s why he ‘ll cost 35mn+ (I deliberately put that figure of 35mn, you know…) but Sturridge had been groomed in this league & he is 23, 2 years additional experience at the start of career does matter. Think about Daniel moving to Italy 3 years back & play for Roma against those Italian Centre Backs.
@M. .so everyone else here is wrong ? And u a right ? NO . Your just up Rodgers ass : defending everything he does because for some strange weird reason you believe everything he says . Kop on man .you are being a fool
Allen – embarrassment
Assaidi – never Liverpool class
Sahin – had the quality , but why didnt Rodgers use him ?
Borini – 16 apps 1 goal – pathetic
Sturridge – looking top class
Coutinho – ????
1 success 4 failed 1 dont know
That is a disgraceful transfer record . Worthy of the sack alone
So you understand why the last Manager was sacked? Then why boast so much with that miki-mouse Cup?
The Rodgers apologizer strikes again . Worst manager in our history : and this clown praises everything he does
Well said. Rodgers out
Studying BR transfer strategy? What’s there to study? No knowledge of the transfer market. Signed players he has worked with. Sturridge ( when he was an apprentice at Chelsea ). Borrini and Allen Swansea. Recently he has decided to take a gamble, bought coutinho!
As for asaidi… Not worth mentioning .
Failed in the market and its a fact. If his interview skills were half as good as his ability to spot players, we would be flying high
Yes Rodgers has shown himself clueless in judging players for LFC _ He has wasted more money than Kenny did .
The resale value of Allen and Borini is probably 1 or 2m each – thats how poor they are , while an 18m fee has been agreed for the sale of Carroll
I cant believe my eyes when i see people defending rodgers transfers . They have been shocking .
Kenny overpaid massively , but at least they were good players . rodgers threw our money away on rubbish
Nonsense comments by M . pure nonsense . defending the signings of allen and borini just makes him look a fool
LOL – trying to defend Rodgers transfer policy is harder job than Oscar Pistorius lawyers defence
Allen – Major dissappointment. That’s not to say that he will never be a player. Clearly we have over paid here and there must have been better options at $15m
Borini – How would we know. Doesn’t look like a t $10m player but i’m prepared to cut a bloke some slack following the injuries he’s had after arriving at a new club.
Assaidi – Clearly brought for nothing more than squad depth. Would have liked to see him play more
Sahin – Right idea that didn’t work.
Sturridge – Looks every bit the goods.
Coutinho – Too early. Might end up being a star. Having said that, I don’t thing this is the type of player we needed given where the squad is at. Another baby who’s years away from hitting his peak.
Overall, it’s the Borini and Allen signings that destroy the report card. With the lack of output from both of them, i’d give the total transfers a
5 out of 10. If one of allen or Borini work, it’s more like a 7
Disgraceful transfer record
Allen is probably the worst signing ever , the guy is 100% in every department – Rodgers should be sacked just for this huge error in judgement alone
Borini and Assadi are nowhere near Liverpool level . Both total wastes of money
Sahin is a class player , but Rodgers wasted him . Why ??? because he favours his little pet Allen
even though Sahin IS good enough – all 4 were wastes of money
32m down the toilet
Sturridge looks class , but coutinho is too early to say
Most good managers get more right than wrong , thats what makes them good … but Rodgers hss way more wrong , not just a little wrong , embarrassingly wrong
Joe Allen = Rodgers little pay off to swansea . should be arrested for it