Innies…
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- Posted by pst at 2:39 PM IST
- Category
- Filed under Transfers
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- Tagged with Adam Hajdu, Brad Jones, Christian Poulsen, Danny Wilson, Fabio Aurelio, Joe Cole, Jonjo Shelvey, Milan Jovanovic, Paul Konchesky, Raul Meireles, Suso
The transfer window finally shut this week, bringing to an end a summer of speculation and random linking – so is our squad better or worse of now that the summer chicanery is complete?
Let’s look at the In’s first (I’ll look at the leavers over the weekend) -11 in total but 10 realistically given the boomerang signing of Aurelio:
|
Jonjo Shelvey |
Charlton |
May, 2010 |
|
Milan Jovanovic |
Standard Liege |
July, 2010 |
|
Joe Cole |
Chelsea |
July, 2010 |
|
Danny Wilson |
Rangers |
July, 2010 |
|
Fabio Aurelio |
Re-signed |
July, 2010 |
|
Christian Poulsen |
Juventus |
August, 2010 |
|
Brad Jones |
Middlesbrough |
August, 2010 |
|
Raul Meireles |
FC Porto |
August, 2010 |
|
Paul Konchesky |
Fulham |
August 2010 |
|
Suso |
FC Cadiz |
August 2010 |
|
Adam Hajdu |
MTK Budapest (temporary deal) |
August 2010 |
Shelvey, Suso and Hadju have all been signed with the future in mind rather than week in/week out first team action (presumably, that is) – I won’t pretend to know anything about anyone other than Shelvey – highly rated for his 40+ performances for Charlton and now as a England U19 player, he definitely seems on his way to better things and can be regarded as a positive.
Both Shelvey and Jovanovic were both signed by Benitez and as such have a lot to prove to the new boss. Jovanovic has impressed so far but I worry that he’s the left sided Dirk Kuyt – no bad thing but he doesn’t seem to be the speedy, tricky winger that we’ve needed for a while? But what he has done he’s done well – another positive.
Joe Cole is without doubt our biggest signing of the summer – I’ve covered my thoughts on his signing here previously and my opinion hasn’t changed – he really could have done without getting sent off on his debut but once he’s back and fit he’s going to be a great asset to the team, with his versatility if nothing else. Positive number three.
Wilson has come from Rangers – a bonus as he won’t have to ‘settle into the English game’ as foreign players always have to, he used to the pressure of playing big games for a big club and he’s got Champions League experience. He can also play left back or centre back, something which could come in handy as the other player in the squad that can do that, Danny Agger, has little to no luck with injuries. Another improvement to the squad.
Which brings me on to Fabio – an immensely talented player with great control and technqiue and a very quick footballing brain, he’s also immensely injury prone – I can’t really count his return as a positive until he’s had a run of games in the side injury free. Not a positive but not a negative either.
Poulsen and Meireles are established internationals with European experience joining from big name clubs – it’s going to be interesting to see how Woy balances his midfield – he’s got to fit Cole, Poulsen, Meireles, Kuyt, Jovanivic, Lucas and possibly Stevie in there somehow. I won’t porestend that Poulsen is an improvement on Mascherano technically – Masch is probably the best in the world at the spoiling game at the moment – but I’d rather have a less gifted player that wants to play for Liverpool than one who doesn’t. More on Masch in the Outties section over the weekend but the addition of these two players can only be viewed as a plus.
Brad Jones – presumably only bought to ensure that the reserve keeper space on the bench is kept warm by a home-grown player and therefore probably no better or worse than Cavalieri. Another neutral signing.
And so to finish on Konchesky – I’m not going to pretend that he’d be the first left-back I’d want to be at Liverpool (I can’t actually think of many – there aren’t many going) but he’s played for Woy before and therefore has the managers full trust. He’s an established Premier League player and played his part in Fulham’s relative success last year. Insua has gone out on loan, leaving only Aurelio as our only dedicated left back. I’m not expecting the second coming of Paulo Maldini but I do expect a fully commited performance from Konchesky every time he plays and he can therefore be viewed as a positive (albeit a limited one).
So a slightly mixed bag but I think overall the squad has improved with the transfers in – a smattering of internationals, mixed with some promising talent and some versatilty, all in all a good perfomrance from the new manager given the limitations placed on him financially.
Over the weekend I’ll have a look at the players who have left the club – the outties!
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9 Comments
Comment by Self Pity City
Paul Konchesky. How’s that for a reality check!?!?
http://poorscousertommy.com/realistic-targets/
Comment by pst
Well, to be fair, the post from 11 months ago is based on the supposition that the Yanks would be out and we’d have a load of Middle Eastern money pumped into the club. We’ve not had either and the manager has publicly said that his hands are tied until we get new owners so he’s gone in for a player he knows well and that he obviously views as reliable.
I think I’ve been realistic about Konchesky’s abilities – if, and at the moment it’s a big if, we get new backers and an improved financial situation, I don’t think either him or Aurelio are going to realistically expect that they won’t be replaced. Neither would be first choice left back for any of the big teams in the Prem or around Europe, they’re squad players.
Until we get new backers, we’re not going to be in the lucky position of being able to spunk over £7m on homeless Portugese that could have been picked up for £150k the season before…..
Comment by Self Pity City
Well then may I commend you, and your fellow Liverpool supporters, in your dramatic turn around in expectations during the past 11 months, and your realistic adoption of a small club mentality.
Comment by pst
I wouldn’t go that far – the acceptance of our current situation and the need for that situation to change does not constitute a small club mentality, merely that this season (or until we get new owners) our collective expectations need to be carefully managed.
Comment by Self Pity City
So just a small club until a wealthy backer saunters in then? Is that not what happened to Chelsea? Were they not accused of buying the title? Oh, hang on… I can feel a history lesson coming up…
Comment by pst
No, see last comment – “does not constitute a small club mentality, merely that this season (or until we get new owners) our collective expectations need to be carefully managed.” – we’ve not suddenly become a small club, it’s just that the ownership situation leaves our new manager with a squad that isn’t his and his hands tied in the transfer market, leading me to my next comment – “our collective expectations need to be carefully managed.“.
We’re not in the Champions League, we’re not going to mount a title challenge but if new owners can be brought in, then the manager will be able to sign players he wants, not players he can afford and the process of making the squad his can begin properly.
Financially/Evil Ken Bates aside, Chelsea were doing more than alright on the pitch as it was – it was only their qualification for the Champions League in 2003 that assured them, rather than Spurs, Roman Abramovich’s money. Personally I don’t buy into the whole Chelsea and lack of history thing, it’s just a good way to wind up their idiotic & graceless (well, the ones I’ve encountered – literally screaming in the faces of Liverpool fans as they’re leaving Anfield) fans and it works a treat.
Comment by Self Pity City
Well that all sounds hunky-dory! Whichever way you choose to dress it up. No, in fairness i realise you’ve not just turned into a small club. But certainly a club in transition, & you cant blame me for revelling in it! I think Woy, given time, is just the sort of back to basics, no-nonsense kind of man you need. I just don’t know if the powers-that-be, and the fans, are patient enough. Or willing to potentially see the club sink further, even if its necessary in order to build it back up from scratch.
& bless him, Paul Konchesky is a fine example of that. As you say, he does the basics well, & Hodgson obviously knows how to get the best out of him, a safe bet. I’m just sayin, its a far cry from the musings over Philip Lahm you were having last year!!
Comment by pst
Well every club has to have it’s transition periods – I often wonder what your lot are going to do when Fergie finally gives in? But a transition season with some positives is definitely the best I think we can hope for this year. Woy, like you said, is the perfect manager at the moment – he’s experienced and not prone to the same histrionics that Rafa was.
But what he needs is time and patience – thankfully, we’re not a club prone (historically, anyway) to getting rid of managers in a hurry, sometimes even to our detriment but the fans have put up with a lot of shit over the past few years and patience is not in great supply amongst Kopites at the moment. I’d like to think the fans aren’t daft enough to start calling for his head any time soon. It’ll be interesting to see how his new signings fit in at the club and what his plans are for integrating the kids.
I’ve not met one Liverpool fan who’s claimed anything different than what you’ve said about Konchesky – not a world beater by any stretch. He’ll do for now like. We’re all mostly just grateful we didn’t sign Carlton Cole!!!!
There’s another transfer window in a few months, we’ll sign Lahm then!!!
Comment by Lord Luis
I think at some point I pointed out that when Mr Hodgson became manager we would be signing players like Konchesky and chasing absolute retarded donkeys like Carlton Cole.
On the whole though, we’ve not done too bad. Joe Cole is a great signing, who bought a massive ray of sunshine to a club going under it’s biggest cloud in years (bar the Souness Years) and with a bit of time I think Jova will do a job. The thing we have missed out on most is signing a striker! It’s the one place we desperately need cover for. N’gog is now injured and Torres does not have the best track record of staying fit at moment. That leaves us with the enigma that is Ryan Babel and the Boy Wonder Pachecho….. who IMO is a good little player but is being heaped with unfounded pressure and expectation before he’s even had a run in the first team.
Wilson is the SPL Young player of the year, so at least he comes with some experience and a reputation. I like the look of him and think he will be a good signing.
A good friend of mine who is a Cardiff fan has been RAVING about Jonjo Shelvy ever since the lad tore the Bluebirds a new one a couple of years back. He thinks we’ve got a hell of a player at an absolute steal….. I’ve not seen the lad so I possibly can’t comment.
Like you boys have said Konchesky is solid, and has Premiership experience…. he just doesn’t fill me with great optimism.
I will re-iterate a previous statement I have posted -
ANYWHERE WE FINISH ABOVE 7TH IS A BONUS THIS SEASON.
and that my friends is a fact!