My main criticism of how Liverpool has been run recently has been the transfer signings. I was musing over it earlier and came to make a list of the, what I personally deem to be, signings who have had some level of success over the last few years. Here it is:
Lucas
Agger
Skrtel
Johnson
Suarez
Reina
Mascherano
Alonso
Torres
Kuyt
Out of the lot of them, only two had Premier League experience before joining. That's quite astonishing considering the amount of recent signings who have been flops at times who have had Premier League experience.
It's even the same in managers, okay it would be harsh to say Rodgers has not been successful (as I am a fan of his) but of the last four managers only the one who has not previously managed in England before has been a real success.
It irates me when people use the league a player has experience in to determine whether or not to buy him. Jelavic is a perfect example as we consistently slate the SPL but he's been one of the key men in Everton's progress.
Honestly, I really don't believe the Premiership is as good as people like to make it out to be. I admire the range of different playing styles we have, only In England could you be playing the slick style of Swansea one week, and then come up against the brick wall of Stoke. However I think the quality of the league is overrated simply because we have big name players but teams that don't perform.
So why are we carrying on with signing players like Sturridge? I really cannot stand the player and we could sign a much better player in a different league for a cut price. Not to blow my own trumpet but I knew Swansea had a steal in Michu when they signed him and I longed for us to go for him but it would never happen, it's just our mentality in transfer policy.
Am I the only one who thinks that the transfer policy in recent years in the main reason for our decline? Personally a lot of that comes from Kenny for me, sorry if I upset the proud fans who believe that Legends shouldn't be criticisable, just my view.
'Premier League Experience'
posted on 28/12/12
I think what people forget is how difficult it is to attract top players from abroad.
We could only attract Torres, Reina, Mascherano etc, because we had very recently won the CL and were in it for a good run of years.
We only attracted Suarez because he was a big Liverpool fan as a youngster, read any interview with him and he says it was always his dream to play for us, and I don't doubt him, he is not just saying it, it is true.
I am afraid we are not at the top of most very good foreign players list of clubs to go to. Even in England we are below Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea, Man Utd and now even Spurs.
There will always be foreign signings that we look at and think 'why didn't we sign them?', but that goes for every club in the country. Every manager is wishing they had signed Michu right now, but its not that easy.
I think people have a simplistic idea of how easy transfers are. We have made a lot of mistakes, no doubt about that, over the last 20 years, but so has every other club.
Ours are just magnified because of the perception that we have done badly on the pitch in the last 20 years, when in reality in comparison to almost every other English club we have done very well.
Premier League experience is not vital anymore as our game is much more global than it has ever been before, but if Premier League players are largely the only ones you can attract that might improve your team, what choice do you have?
posted on 28/12/12
England isn't a strong league you say?
Champions League winners in 2012, 2008 and 2005 were English.
We've also had a finalist in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011.
Not exactly a bad record is it.
posted on 28/12/12
Michu will have a relatively quite second half of the season I reckon. He's come in and done brilliantly but he's a little hyped. Well worth the money of course but not a great player long term. The media have a habit of hyping up players after half a good season. They did it last year with Cisse who isn't really doing the business this year but everyone was creaming their pants over him at the end of last season, including our own fans. And to some degree they did it with Jelavic, although he has had a reasonable half to the season - 6 goals isn;t too bad, but he';s nowhwre near as prolfic as last season. Defenders figure you out after while. The best players maintain their form though.
posted on 28/12/12
Yeah but you left out Johnson, Enrique, Crouch, Bellamy, Zenden, Fowler(second spell), Hamann etc etc. All good players with Premier League experience. This is vital. However just as vital nowadays is having a balance. We have never had a balance, Rafa nearly got it but was a couple of wide men off it. Now we don't have an atttack, our best midfielder is getting on and we have a load of young players to make up the remaining midfield and attacking positions. The nationality isn't the issue, the balance is.
posted on 28/12/12
TOOR
Hamann hardly played for Newcastle before we signed him, no? Down to injury.
posted on 28/12/12
Huh? I remember he was excellent for Newcastle.
posted on 28/12/12
Says on Wiki he played 23 league games in one season for them.
posted on 28/12/12
I agree with this completely...
If you look at all Rodgers signings he could easily have signed them all for Swansea???
But we are paying decent money for these players that you could get a much higher calibre of player from abroad with...
But we will continue our slump buying over rated English dross England are not even that good as a national team they have a hand full of players who u could really say are class...
Sturridge is a fringe player and will always be a fringe player and he is going to be our main January signing ABSALUTE JOKE!!!!
posted on 28/12/12
Righteous,couldn't agree more friend. I wish we could sign Michu too. What a signing that would be. JimmyTheRed
posted on 28/12/12
Scout the Fecking Bundesliga. So many brilliant gems down there