LIVERPOOL confirmed this week that Manchester City centre-back Kolo Toure will join the club on a free transfer when his current contract runs out on July 1st.
The news, despite being common knowledge for the best part of a week now, has been met with an assorted reaction.
Some have suggested that his experience and lack of fee means it is a shrewd piece of business by Brendan Rodgers. However, on the other hand, some fans have expressed their disappointment that Liverpool have turned to a player that they consider to be ‘over the hill’.
With a reported wage of £75,000 a-week, a number of supporters have baulked at this figure and have suggested that somebody who they believe to be considered as back-up should not be rewarded with such a substantial salary.
To these people I would just like to ask for their patience and question their realistic expectations of the club in its current situation.
Sometimes I get the impression that a surprisingly high percentage of the club’s followers believe that we are in a position where we can throw money about in a similar fashion as the likes of Manchester City and PSG have done in recent years.
The sooner they come to terms with the tight-fisted approach of the owners, the better. Their initial approach of backing the manager with over-priced transfers clearly didn’t work and the change of attitude is one we unfortunately will have to deal with, until a) they change their minds (they won’t), or b) they leave.
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It is clear that Liverpool Football Club is in the midst of a defensive overhaul and with one of our greatest ever defenders leaving for nothing (retirement). It meant that it would not have been possible to replace Jamie Carragher with a big money signing and therefore it will be Martin Skrtel, who looks likely to leave, making way for, hopefully, one of Europe’s better defenders.
After a season of recruiting younger, promising players many fans spoke of the need for experienced heads to balance the equation. However, with our first summer signing being confirmed as a player that has captained two huge Premier League clubs (Manchester City and Arsenal) as well as an international team (Ivory Coast), those same supporters have now turned their attentions to complaining about the desire to get somebody in who is ‘a bit younger’. In other words, Rodgers can’t win.
As for his age, Kolo Toure is 32. The club has just come to the end of a season where a 35 year old has marshalled the defence superbly. This isn’t a suggestion that Kolo Toure is in the same league as Jamie Carragher, nevertheless, it is in indication that it is possible to get three full seasons out of a player that will cost us no transfer fee whatsoever and with the club no longer paying Carragher a wage, fans should not be concerned about how many 0’s are on his cheque.
Life would be so much easier for all those connected to Liverpool Football Club if 99% of its supporters concentrated on supporting the club and put to one side the constant agenda against Brendan Rodgers, the owners and those that run the club.
However, as we know, life isn’t easy. For those fans who love a good whinge, I have two words for you in connection with Kolo Toure – Craig Bellamy. Now he wasn’t bad was he? Believe. Support. Enjoy.
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Kolo is a decent signing but we as fans don’t need plonkers like this author telling us how to react and behave
Kolo is a player but now i thought is contribution but till season starts then will put trust on him.
Dumb article. What are we suppose to do ? Jump up and down wit joy cos of a free transfer that noone else wants
Cop on man